Andrea Aliverti • Antonio Pedotti
Editors

2014

New Insights from New Technologies

Although in the last two decades most of the funds and efforts in respiratory research have been focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms, there are no doubts that a full understanding of the more “classical” respiratory mechanics at organ and system levels is far to be completely reached. And understanding the mechanics of breathing is important. As described by Peter Macklem in “A Century of the Mechanics of Breathing” (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 170:10–15, 2004), the progresses in the knowledge of mechanics of breathing gained in the last century had an enormous impact in the clinical practice and allowed great benefits in terms of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases.