The mechanism by which cigarette smoke causes or contributes to inflammatory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer remains unclear. This book discusses the assessment, consequences and possible modulation of these effects.

The mechanism by which cigarette smoke causes or contributes to inflammatory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer remains unclear. Recent developments in our knowledge of cellular signalling suggest that cigarette smoke may cause oxidative stress in cellular systems. The assessment, consequences and possible modulation of these effects are discussed in this book.

Definitions: What is oxidative stress?.-Tobacco Smoke Constituents Affecting Oxidative Stress.-Oxidative modifications of proteins and lipids by cigarette smoke (CS). A central role for unsaturated aldehydes in CS-mediated airway inflammation.-Cigarette Smoke-Induced Redox Signalling and Gene Expression In Vitro and In Vivo Models.- Redox effects of Cigarette Smoke in Lung Inflammation.-Oxidative Stress in the pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.-Modulation of cigarette smoke effects by diet and antioxidants.-Modulation of Cigarette Smoke Effects by Antioxidants: Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Diseases.-Smoking depletes vitamin C: Should smokers be recommended to take supplements?.- Models of exposure in vitro .-Oxidative Stress in Laboratory Animals Exposed to Cigarette Smoke, with Special Reference to Chronic Obstractive Pulmonary Disease.-Pulmonary effects of cigarette smoke in humans.-Smoking and Oxidative Stress - Vascular Damage.-Nrf2: A transcription factor that modifies susceptibility to cigarette smoke induced pulmonary oxidative stress and emphysema.-Tobacco smoke and skin aging.-The role of oxidative damage.