Angiogenesis is a multi-stage process that drives the generation of new blood and lymphatic vessels from pre-existing ones. It is highly active during embryogenesis, largely inactive during adulthood but reactivated during wound healing and under a number of pathological conditions including cancer and ocular diseases. In addition to endothelial cells, which line the walls of the vessels, several other cell types (pericytes, macrophages, progenitor cells ) also contribute to angiogenesis. A number of signaling pathways are activated and very finely tune the delicate morphogenetic events that ultimately lead to the formation of stable blood proof neovessels.

This book reviews recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of angiogenesis, with a focus on how to integrate these observations into the context of developmental, post-natal and pathological neovascularization.

The book was published under the auspices of the French Angiogenesis Society. Most contributors are prominent members of this Society or international researchers who have actively contributed to the Annual Meetings of the Society."

This book analyzes the internal and external causes of acquired and familiar venous thrombosis and proposes the origins and onset of venous thrombus diseases and their triggering factors. It discusses venous and arterial thrombus in two parts, each starting from the genomics and the findings of immunocytological research conducted in a variety of clinical groups and on different experimental models and revealing the mechanisms behind the development of thrombotic diseases and the pathogenesis processes. Further, the book describes the clinical manifestation and the nature of the diseases. The book offers valuable insights important in the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disease.

Written by an eminent cardiovascular physiologist with a strong track record in dealing with issues related to exercise and environmental physiology, this text covers cardiovascular function from the exercise and human physiologist's viewpoint. It provides a solid foundation of knowledge of how the cardiovascular system responds and adapts to the challenges of exercise and environmental change, and analyses the practicalities of measuring cardiovascular parameters in normal human subjects. Case studies in exercise physiology throughout text. Open-ended questions at end of each chapter encourage students to explore common situations facing exercise and human physiologists. Bibliography at end of each chapter directs students to further reading resources. Summaries at start of each chapter and multiple choice questions with explanatory answers at end of book aid revision and help students test their knowledge.

This volume is the fourth in a series on quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) published over the last seven years. Every two years the advances in this exciting field are presented by their leading experts. There is a significant growth in this field which has translated into the increasing sizes of the volumes published over the years. In addition to covering the developments in the more traditional items such as QCA and other modalities, and coronary blood flow and flow reserve, the following subjects have been emphasized in this particular volume: quality control in QCA; QCA in the major regression/progression trials; QCA in the major restenoisis studies; QCA after recanalization techniques; and QCA and infracoronary prostheses. In addition, an extensive overview is given of ZCA equipment and technical requirements. The book provides a comprehensive, overview for all clinicians and physicists actively involved or otherwise interested in the developments in quantitative coronary arteriography.

This book focuses on how ventricular assist devices (VADs) can help provide destination therapy for patients with terminal heart failure, one of the most serious diseases in the world today because of the tremendous number of patients, the high mortality rate, and the cost of care. One means of providing cardiological support for patients suffering from heart failure is with VADs, and more than 10,000 patients worldwide have now been implanted with these devices. Half of them already have lived more than one year, and 2,000 patients more than two years, after surgery. This improved survival means that we have reached a point where VADs can be used for destination therapy, not just for bridge-to-recovery or bridge-to-transplant. In view of the increasing number of patients with advanced-stage heart failure and the availability and longevity of transplanted hearts, VADs can solve many problems. In addition to providing information about the devices themselves, this book includes vital guidelines on long-term management and support of VAD-implanted patients' everyday lives.

The present book reveals the importance of preventive medicine in cardiology and public health, addressing the lack of a broad discussion of this topic in the current literature. It examines the most important risk factors for different cardiovascular diseases, discussing them in detail from a clinical standpoint and presenting important information from a preventive medicine perspective. Further, specific chapters discuss the burden of cardiologic risk factors in special contexts, such as in women, child and adolescents, and in low-income populations. Lastly, a number of conditions that are often overlooked in terms of their cardiological impact are discussed, such as Chagas disease, rheumatic cardiomyopathy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Cardiovascular diseases are still the major cause of death in the world, even though they are considered preventable clinical conditions. The increased prevalence of some risk factors for cardiovascular diseases is an important concern for cardiologists around the world. On the other hand, primary prevention programs have proven their efficacy concerning some known and treatable risk factors, such as with hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes and smoking, but still need to be made more of a priority in public health. Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases is a book intended for multi-disciplinary audience and aimed for all professionals who are willing to face the challenge of cardiovascular prevention

This book presents the latest findings in the field of research of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in different cells and tissues. Mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction of the heart and vascular cells, in the lung, in bone and joint tissues, in sensor systems and in blood cells are described in detail. This Volume focuses on molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction via cytoskeleton. Integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, the role of actin cytoskeleton and the role of other cytoskeletal elements are discussed. It contains a detailed description of several stretch-induced signaling cascades with multiple levels of crosstalk between different pathways. It contains a description of the role of nitric oxide in regulation of cardiac activity and in regulation of mechanically gated channels in the heart. In the heart mechanical signals are propagated into the intracellular space primarily via integrin-linked complexes, and are subsequently transmitted from cell to cell via paracrine signaling. Biochemical signals derived from mechanical stimuli activate both acute phosphorylation of signaling cascades, such as in the PI3K, FAK, and ILK pathways, and long-term morphological modii cations via intracellular cytoskeletal reorganization and extracellular matrix remodelling. Cellular and molecular effects of mechanical stretch on vascular cells are also discussed. This Volume highlights the role of mechanotransduction in the lung, in bone and joint tissues. For the first time mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction in blood cells are discussed. It contains new insights into mechanosensitive K+ channels functioning in mouse B lymphocytes. This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining current knowledge and future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate intracellular signaling pathways. Knowledge of the mechanisms which underlie these processes is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of different organs and tissues and allows to predict changes, which arise due to alterations of their environment. Possibly such knowledge will allow the development of new methods of artificial intervention and therapies. This book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.

Experimental and clinical evidence supports the view that the activation of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system is involved in cardiovascular pathology including hypertension, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and atherosclerosis. The present volume describes the intricacies involved in these processes, including the in?uence of prorenin/renin, angiotensin II, angiotensin (1-7), and aldosterone on cardiac and vascular functions as well as their involvement in the generation of cardiovascular diseases. Fundamental aspects like intracellular signaling, regulation of cell volume in the failing heart, and the presence of an intracrine renin angiotensin system are discussed. Moreover, the role of the mineralocorticoid receptor as an important c- ponent of the intracrine renin angiotensin system and as a regulator of extracellular action of angiotensin II is described, reinforcing the view that aldosterone inhibitors are helpful in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension. Let us hope the imp- tant topics included here motivate basic and clinical investigators and contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases. We want to thank the distinguished authors and Humana Press for the opportunity to publish this important book. Walmor C. DeMello Edward Frohlich v Contents 1 Systemic Versus Local Renin Angiotensin Systems. An Overview ...1 Walmor C. DeMello and Richard N. Re 2 Clinical Import of the Local Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Systems ...7 Edward D. Frohlich 3 Renin, Prorenin, and the (Pro)Renin Receptor ...15 Genevieve Nguyen and Aurelie Contrepas 4 Local Renin Angiotensin Systems in the Cardiovascular System ...25 Richard N.

The second edition of this work continues to address the intimate pathophysiologic relationship between hypertension and stroke. The editors and authors clearly and concisely synthesize our developing knowledge of this relationship and place epidemiologic and physiologic information into a practical clinical context. Comprehensive chapters present the evidence supporting strategies for stroke prevention and care, including blood pressure lowering therapies, anti-coagulation, and management of other cerebrovascular risk factors. In addition to prescriptive measures for first stroke prevention, the book illuminates current regimens for care immediately after acute stroke and for the prevention of recurrent stroke. This latest edition also features extensively updated chapters from the previous edition, as well as new chapters on the effects of hypertension and stroke on the cerebral vasculature, blood pressure management in subarachnoid hemorrhage, and blood pressure variability, antihypertensive therapy, and stroke risk. Written by experts in the field, Hypertension and Stroke: Pathophysiology and Management, Second Edition is of great utility for specialists in neurology and cardiovascular medicine and a valuable practical resource for all physicians caring for older adults and hypertensive patients.

In this issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics, guest editors Drs. M. Elaine Husni and George A. Karpouzas bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Cardiovascular Complications of Chronic Rheumatic Diseases. Top experts in the field cover key topics such as primary and secondary atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) risk prevention in the rheumatic disease, pro-thrombotic and pro-atherogenic anti-phospholipid antibodies, recommendations for the use of NSAIDs and CVD risk, and more. Contains 9 relevant, practice-oriented topics including atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk stratification in the rheumatic diseases; subclinical atherosclerosis evaluation across various vascular territories; lessons from heart and large vessel biopsies in patients with and without autoimmune rheumatic disease; the role of lipoprotein levels and function in atherosclerosis associated with autoimmune rheumatic diseases; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on cardiovascular complications of chronic rheumatic diseases, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

Cardiovascular MR imaging has become a robust, clinically useful mod- ity, and the rapid pace of innovation and important information it conveys have attracted many students whose goal is to become adept practitioners. In turn, many excellent textbooks have been written to aid this process. These books are necessary and useful in helping the student learn the underlying pulse sequences used in CMR, as well as the imaging findings in a variety of disorders. However, one of the difficulties inherent in learning CMR from a book is that the printed format is not the ideal medium to d- play the dynamic imaging that comprises a typical CMR case. For instance, it may be difficult to perceive focal areas of wall motion abnormality on serial static pictures, but these abnormalities are often easily seen on cine loops. One might say that trying to learn CMR solely from a standard textbook with illustrations is like trying to learn to drive by looking at snapshots obtained through the windshield of a moving car. The learner needs to see the cardiac motion and decide if it is normal or abnormal; he or she needs to be in the driver's seat. An additional limitation of the ava- able textbooks on CMR is that while they often have superb illustrations of abnormal findings, these images have been preselected.

This book will provide both an evidence base and practical recommendations for the treatment of patients with congenital heart disease. It will be a resource to all health care providers, including pediatric cardiologists, pediatric intensivists, pediatric heart surgeons, fetal specialists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, nurses, advanced practice nurses, in addition to trainees in the field. It will summarize world knowledge on the topic of heart failure in patients with congenital heart disease. It will provide an in depth analysis of the current methods of diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. Now that surgical results are at record success rates, more patients with congenital heart disease are surviving, and thus at risk for sequelae from their disease, including heart failure. It will provide evidence based and practical recommendations to the practitioner for the management of heart failure signs and symptoms.

One of the only books discussing new advances in venous ulcer therapy, "Venous Ulcers" provides a comprehensive look at the molecular biology and pathophysiology of venous ulcers. It discusses the many new treatments currently being used that offer non-invasive treatment options to patients with venous ulcerations.
* Leg ulcers are defined as a discontinuity of the epithelial surface; a local defect or excavation of the surface of the skin.
* Venous ulceration tends to take a number of months to heal followed by frequent relapse to further episodes.
* This work discusses the newest tools of patient investigation that have emerged in recent years that help to shorten patient recovery times and provide less invasive treatments

A modern definition of health goes beyond the biological dimension to encompass human functionality and well-being. Quality of life is one of the most popular health-related concepts and simultaneously reflects several dimensions of individual health. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is taken to include physical, psychological, and social aspects of positive well-being as well as negative effects of illness, treatment, and infirmity. Quality of life outcomes are now considered an important indicator of the success of both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In this book, recognized experts discuss the findings of various studies, including their own, regarding HRQoL in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The impact of the newest forms of medical treatment on well-being is considered in patients with arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke as well as in patients who have undergone interventional procedures or have implantable cardiac devices. By summarizing established facts and presenting new data, this book will be an invaluable source of information for all practitioners in the field.

Over the last two decades, the analysis of blood pressure and heart rate variability has been increasingly used to obtain information on the mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular regulation in different physiological and pathological conditions. The evidence gathered so far has strongly supported the ability of this approach to provide unique insights into the factors involved in cardiovascular control. However, studies making use of these techniques have also underlined a number of problems concerning both the selection of the most appropriate analysis procedure to be used in a given situation and the interpretation of the results thus obtained. In this book volume leading experts from both the technological and the medical milieu have deeply addressed these issues. New tools for describing the regulation of the heart and the peripheral circulation in terms of 1/f processes, nonlinear and chaotic and complex systems have also been discussed. The overall result is a collection of contributions which provide the most recent development in this stimulating field.

Pathological heart rhythms are a major health issue. In this book experts from various fields provide an important context for understanding the complicated molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie normal and pathophysiological cardiac rhythms.

Individual chapters cover a full range of topics, including the ionic basis of pacemaking, the role of specific channels and transporters in sinoatrial node pacemaking, altered intracellular Ca2+ handling in response to disease, computer modeling of the action potentials of pacemaker and working cardiomyocytes, genetic and molecular basis of inherited arrhythmias and a review of established and novel antiarrhythmic agents. Due to the key importance of the specialized pacemaker cells and tissue (sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes) in maintaining heart rate and rhythm, special emphasis is placed on the peculiar electrophysiology of these cells.

Heart failure is a serious condition caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure. It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly, most commonly caused by heart attack, high blood pressure or cardiomyopathy (heart disease). This textbook is a comprehensive guide to the latest advances in the diagnosis and management of heart failure. Comprising nearly 1000 pages, the book features 15 sections, beginning with discussion on clinical issues of heart failure, followed by imaging techniques. Each of the following sections covers a different disorder or disease that subsequently may lead to heart failure. Topics include coronary artery disease, stroke, arrhythmia, hypertension, nutritional aspects, cardio-oncology, and much more. The book concludes with rehabilitation, legal aspects, and future directions. Authored by internationally recognised experts in the field, the text is further enhanced by clinical photographs, diagrams and tables. Key points Comprehensive guide to latest advances in diagnosis and management of heart failure Extensive text comprising nearly 1000 pages covering numerous associated disorders and diseases Internationally recognised editor and author team Highly illustrated with clinical photographs, diagrams and tables

Cardiovascular heart disease mortality in African Americans is the highest of all major racial/ethnic subpopulations in the United States. Examining race and ethnicity, Cardiovascular Disease in Racial and Ethnic Minorities will reveal that there are unacceptable healthcare disparities in risk factor prevalence, disease states, and cardiovascular outcomes in the United States. Written by a team of experts, Cardiovascular Disease in Racial and Ethnic Minorities examines to what degree biomedical and scientific literature can clarify the impact of genetic variation versus environment as related to cardiovascular disease. Chapters illustrate the magnitude of cardiovascular and metabolic disparities and the effect of environment on diseases.

The volumes in this authoritative series present a multidisciplinary approach to modeling and simulation of flows in the cardiovascular and ventilatory systems, especially multiscale modeling and coupled simulations. Volume 5 is devoted to cells, tissues, and organs of the cardiovascular and ventilatory systems with an emphasis on mechanotransduction-based regulation of flow. The blood vessel wall is a living tissue that quickly reacts to loads applied on it by the flowing blood. In any segment of a blood vessel, the endothelial and smooth muscle cells can sense unusual time variations in small-magnitude wall shear stress and large-amplitude wall stretch generated by abnormal hemodynamic stresses. These cells respond with a short-time scale (from seconds to hours) to adapt the vessel caliber. Since such adaptive cell activities can be described using mathematical models, a key objective of this volume is to identify the mesoscopic agents and nanoscopic mediators required to derive adequate mathematical models. The resulting biomathematical models and corresponding simulation software can be incorporated into platforms developed in virtual physiology for improved understanding and training.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe a range of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart, one such condition is a heart attack. Comorbidity refers to the presence of more than one disorder in the same person. This book is a practical guide to ACS with comorbidities for cardiologists and trainees. Beginning with a general overview of ACS, each of the following chapters discusses the presentation of ACS with another disorder, including stroke, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer HIV and more. Each topic describes history, clinical features, diagnosis and management of the various conditions, as well as a selection of photographs, diagrams and tables. Key points Practical guide to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with comorbidities Covers many different comorbidities from stroke and chronic kidney disease, to cancer, HIV and much more Each topic presented in a step by step manner from history and clinical features to diagnosis and management Features clinical photographs, diagrams and tables to assist learning

Although the importance of calcium (Ca2+) in the maintenance of cardiac contractility was recognized as early as 1880, the critical role of the ion in the contractile process in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle has only been established within the last three decades. As the complexity of the pharmacological actions of the Ca2+ channel inhibitors grows, there is a continued need to further clarify the inhibitors, both chemically and functionally. This volume provides an update of the field based on the work presented at the 5th International Symposium on Calcium Antagonists: Pharmacology and Clinical Research. It reviews the current state of the growing area of molecular biology of Ca2+ channels in the cardiovascular area, in addition to the well-established clinical uses of Ca2+ channel inhibitors, recent work pointing to an application in atherosclerosis is described. The text also includes important uses of Ca2+ antagonists in novel areas of interest such as the gastrointestinal tract, renal protection and multi-drug resistance.

This book aims to clarify the potential association between frailty and cardiovascular disease in older people. Covering the biological as well as the clinical point of view, it allows researchers and clinicians to discover the significance of this topic. The contributions cover the most important aspects in the potential relationship between frailty and cardiovascular disease. In particular, authoritative authors in this field have clarified the definition and the epidemiology of frailty and cardiovascular disease in older people. A large part of the volume is dedicated to the biological mechanisms of frailty and cardiovascular disease, trying to find those in common between these two conditions. Since this book is dedicated to both researchers and clinicians, we have proposed some chapters to the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and frailty. In this regard, the importance of geriatric evaluation in cardiac surgery for older people is well covered. Finally, the importance of cardiac rehabilitation and physical exercise is summarized, being, actually, the most important treatments for both frailty and cardiovascular disease. Written by many well-known and widely published experts in their respective fields, this book will appeal to a wide readership such as researchers in the field and clinicians, especially suited in geriatric medicine and cardiology who, every day, face frail older patients.

This is the first textbook entirely dedicated to the endovascular treatment of complications related to arteriovenous accesses for hemodialysis (native fistulas and prosthetic grafts). The book addresses the anatomy of upper limb arteries and veins as well as the clinical presentation of patients and the way to perform and read a fistulogram. Many details and illustrations are provided, clarifying the subtleties in catheterization and the dilation of stenoses. From a strategic point of view, it is explained for the first time that many stenoses must either be ignored or deliberately underdilated. A wealth of images helps to understand the different stages of access recovery from thrombosis. As the number of incident dialysis patients is increasing by 5% every year, this is a field of growing interest. In testament to this there are several annual or bi-annual meetings held by numerous national and international societies (vascularaccesssociety.com, sfav.org, vasamd.org, dialysiscontroversies.org, asdin.org).