The Formation of the Heart and its Regulation reviews in considerable detail the major events in heart development and their control via genes, cell-cell interactions, growth factors and other contributing elements. In addition, there is an extensive and useful overview of the field of heart development taken as a whole. The book will appeal to all students and researchers working on cardiovascular development and to pediatric cardiologists.

The definite treatment ofaortic disorders goes back to the resection ofisthmic coarctation by Clarence Crafoord in 1944. It took another third of a century until all portionsofthe aortabecameaccessible to highly standardized surgery. This progress, delayed as it was in relation to most other cardiovascular in- terventions, depended on the availability of safe protective methods for the heart and central nervous system, of reliable vascular grafts and atraumatic instruments, novel suture material and tissue adhesives. The development ofadvanced surgical techniques went hand in hand with, and depended upon, the emergence of proper diagnostic tools, starting with aortography andultimately culminating inCT-scanning, transesophageal echo- cardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. These tools now allow for the rational planning and conductofany aortic intervention which may be surgical or, more recently, catheter-guided. Nienaber's and Fattori's new book aptly is addressing both the diagnos- tic procedure as well as the treatment of aortic disease. The authors are well known experts in the fields of advanced diagnostics of aortic pathology, both spearheading a remarkably innovative group of aortic interventionalists as well. On account of their expertise, their chapters are able to answer any question rising in conjunction with these subjects.

This book surveys healthy and diseased vascular systems in a multitude of model organisms and systems. It explores a plethora of functions, characteristics, and pathologies of the vascular system such as angiogenesis, fibroblast growth factor signaling, lymphangiogenesis, junctional signaling, the extracellular matrix, vascular permeability, leukocyte extravasation, axon guidance factors, the angiopoietin system, and chronic obstructive lung disease. Following a preface from leading researcher Dr. Holger Gerhardt, the text is divided into three sections- the first examining the development of the vascular system in a variety of contexts, the second delving into its homeostatic characteristics, and the third discussing its pathophysiologies. The sixteen chapters, which represent international clinical and research perspectives, highlight the importance of molecular and signaling pathways for translational basic science and clinical medicine. Additionally, the text explores new and exciting fields in vascular biology research. Comprehensive in both content and approach, Vascular Signaling in Health and Disease is ideal for graduate students, researchers, and clinicians interested in vascular biology, pneumology, and molecular biology.

This book presents a new method for analyzing the structure and function of the biological branching systems of fractal trees, with a focus on microcirculation. Branching systems in humans (vascular and bronchial trees) and those in the natural world (plants, trees, and rivers) are characterized by a fractal nature. To date, fractal studies have tended to concentrate on fractal dimensions, which quantify the complexity of objects, but the applications for practical use have remained largely unexplored. This book breaks new ground with topics that include the human retinal microcirculatory network, oxygen consumption by vascular walls, the F hraeus-Lindqvist effect, the bifurcation exponent, and the asymmetrical microvascular network. Readers are provided with simple formulas to express functions and a simulation graph with in vivo data. The book also discusses the mechanisms regulating blood flow and pressure and how they are related to pathological changes in the human body. Researchers and clinicians alike will find valuable new insights in these pioneering studies.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains the most accessible and inexpensive diagnostic tool to evaluate the patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial ischemia. It plays a crucial role in decision making about the aggressiveness of therapy especially in relation to reperfusion therapy, because such therapy has resulted in a considerable reduction in mortality from acute myocardial infarction. Several factors play a role in the amount of myocardial tissue that can be salvaged by reperfusion therapy, such as the time interval between onset of coronary occlusion and reperfusion, site and size of the jeopardized area, type of reperfusion attempt (thrombolytic agent or an intracoronary catheter intervention), presence or absence of risk factors for thrombolytic agents, etc. Most important in decision making on reperfusion therapy and the type of intervention is to look for markers indicating a higher mortality rate from myocardial infarction. The ECG is a reliable, inexpensive, non-invasive instrument to obtain that information. Recently it has become clear that both in anterior and inferior myocardial infarction, the ECG frequently allows not only to identify the infarct related coronary artery, but also the site of occlusion in that artery and therefore the size of the jeopardized area. Obviously, the more proximal the occlusion, the larger the area at risk and the more aggressive the reperfusion attempt.

Thomas Cowan was a 20-year-old Duke grad―bright, skeptical, and already disillusioned with industrial capitalism―when he joined the Peace Corps in the mid-1970s for a two-year tour in Swaziland. There, he encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner and Weston A. Price―two men whose ideas would fascinate and challenge him for decades to come.

Both drawn to the art of healing and repelled by the way medicine was―and continues to be―practiced in the United States, Cowan returned from Swaziland, went to medical school, and established a practice in New Hampshire and, later, San Francisco. For years, as he raised his three children, suffered the setback of divorce, and struggled with a heart condition, he remained intrigued by the work of Price and Steiner and, in particular, with Steiner’s provocative claim that the heart is not a pump. Determined to practice medicine in a way that promoted healing rather than compounded ailments, Cowan dedicated himself to understanding whether Steiner’s claim could possibly be true. And if Steiner was correct, what, then, is the heart? What is its true role in the human body?

In this deeply personal, rigorous, and riveting account, Dr. Cowan offers up a daring claim: Not only was Steiner correct that the heart is not a pump, but our understanding of heart disease―with its origins in the blood vessels―is completely wrong. And this gross misunderstanding, with its attendant medications and risky surgeries, is the reason heart disease remains the most common cause of death worldwide.

In Human Heart, Cosmic Heart, Dr. Thomas Cowan presents a new way of understanding the body’s most central organ. He offers a new look at what it means to be human and how we can best care for ourselves―and one another.

This volume is the fifth in a series on quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA). The following topics, which all currently are and continue to be issues of extensive discussions in the research and clinical communities, are covered in great detail in this volume: endothelial function; comparisons between digital and cine coronary arteriography; inter-laboratory variation between QCA Core Laboratories; the developments in digital archival media; intracoronary pressure, coronary blood flow and flow reserve; quantitative and qualitative features in regression/progression studies; QCA in recanalization studies; and finally the current position of rivalling modalities as coronary angioscopy, intraluminal imaging with ultrasound and fluorescence spectroscopy. This book provides a comprehensive, overview for all clinicians and physicists actively involved or otherwise interested in current developments in quantitative coronary arteriography.

Hemostatis and Desmopressin: Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Responses to DDAVP; S. Hashemi, et al. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics of Desmopressin: Toxicity of Desmopressin and Related Peptides; L.B. Kinter, et al. Desmopressin in Renal Disease: Control of Bleeding in Uremic Patients; Y. Sultan. Desmopressin and Platelets: Desmopressin in the Treatment of Congenital and Acquired Defects of Platelet Function; M. Cattaneo, P.M. Mannucci. Desmopressin and Surgery: Desmopressin, von Willenbrand Factor, and Surgery; M. Weinstein. Desmopressin and Blood Donation: Effects of Desmopressin on Normal Donors in Plasma Exchange Donations; R.J. Sassetti, B.C. McLeod. Clinical Applications of Desmopressin in Hemophilia and von Willenbrand's Disease: Intravenous and Subcutaneous Desmopressin; M. Kohler, G. Mariani. SideEffects and Adverse Reactions of Desmopressin: DDAVP and Tachyphylaxis in Healthy Subjects; V. Vicente, et al. Recapitulation: General Recapitulation and Search for a Consensus; P.M. Mannucci, et al. 33 additional articles. Index.

It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits, and not to seek exactness where only an approximation of the truth is possible. Aristotle With the development of imaging techniques, the in vivo study of human anatomy and physiology has become possible with increasing "approximation of the truth. " Advances have been made not only in data acquisition, but also in processing as well as visualization of functional and morphological data. Following the successful application of planar two-dimensional imaging approaches, more recently three-dimensional data acquisition and correspond ing tomographic image reconstruction has become possible. With the rapid growth of computer support, advanced processing allows for user-friendly interaction with complex data sets. Classical x-ray imaging techniques have matured to excellent spatial resolution and contrast, which provide specific delineation of anatomical changes occurring in cardiovascular disease. In parallel, the use of tracer principles supported the successful introduction of nuclear medicine procedures for the functional characterization of physiology and pathophysiology. The application of such techniques were initially limited by relatively poor spatial resolution, but excelled in high sensitivity 30 years, scintigraphic imaging emerged from and specificity. In the last rectilinear scanning to planar gamma camera imaging and single-photon xvi Preface emISSIOn tomography (SPECT). Based on these advances and the experi mental success of autoradiography, the potential of scintigraphy as a clinical and research tool has been well appreciated.

Cardiac Valve Replacement: Current Status is the proceedings of the Fourth Interna tional Symposium on the ST. JUDE MEDICAL@ valve. The first three symposia on this topic were held primarily for designated investigators involved in clinical trials of the ST. JUDE MEDICAL valve. The last meeting, chaired by Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., was held in November 1982 [1], immediately before the valve was released for general clinical use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. These proceedings then are the first comprehensive compilation of clinical data since that time; and they include, particularly in the discussions, the experience of physicians other than the original clinical investigators. Over the past 5 years the character of these symposia has changed. Whereas the first two dealt almost entirely with the ST. JUDE MEDICAL valve, the last two have evolved into a more generic cardiac valvular surgery meeting, focusing primarily on valve replacement rather than valve repair [2]. Thus, these proceed ings contain a wide spectrum of topics, including a keynote presentation on criteria for selection of cardiac valve substitutes in 1984, complications of cardiac valve replacement and their treatment, a review of the current status of cardiac valve substitutes other than the ST. JUDE MEDICAL valve and a consideration of cardiac valve replacement in special circumstances. Among these special circum stances are four presentations on pediatric use of the ST. JUDE MEDICAL valve.

Prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disorders by lifestyle management is the most understood and effective applications of this emerging field. The focus of this book on prediabetes, diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases is timely and will be a welcome addition to clinicians who wish to gain more knowledge and competence in the area. This book will focus on the metabolic syndrome, which is the largest non-communicable disease of our time, and lifestyle approaches that drastically reduce the risks and adverse effects of this condition. Presents a detailed review of clinical evidence and guide for implementation. Provides a toolkit to counter both the high cost of medications and the need to address metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance early, before or simultaneous to when medications are indicated.

Subjects of the book are Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation, two emerging pathologies in the field of cardiology, to which many investigators are now addressing their research. Their diffusion in the sick population represents a major public health problem at the beginning of the third millennium. The volume aims to present the latest approaches to the management of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, emphasising in particular the intrinsic relation existing between them, the results after 10 years of biventricular pacing, the innovative pacing techniques now available, and the use of new drugs, devices or ablation procedures for the prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation recurrences.

Cardiac anatomy had already been a subject of and its control in health and disease has been great interest for centuries when Harvey de- published. Studies of hypertrophy, heart failure, scribed the dynamic nature of blood flow, but ischemia, and infarction have been vigorously the concept of defining ventricular function was pursued in experimental animals and in human first introduced with the measurement of a subjects, and as a result new areas for study have emerged. These include the process of hypertro- mare's blood pressure by Steven Hales in 1733. Amidst the important contributions of a number phy as an adaptive mechanism, the coronary vas- of European physiologists, the primal relation- cular reserve in hypertrophy, the role of the ship between the mechanical energy of the heart microvasculature in myocardial failure, active and the length of a myocardial fiber was enun- relaxation and other diastolic mechanisms that contribute to the syndrome of congestive heart ciated by E. H. Starling in 1912; this became known as the "law of the heart. " Perhaps the failure, ventricular interaction and the role of the normal pericardium, ischemic-stunned- first major refinement of this law was suggested by Sarnoff and co-workers, who introduced the reperfused myocardium, and vasoactive drugs in concept of homeometric autoregulation to ex- the treatment of heart failure.

This book offers a historical account of the development of the On-X carbon mechanical heart valve, discussing the steps involved in developing the materials, and describes how the design of the valve has evolved over the years. It explores both the scientific and corporate problems researchers have encountered over the years in the journey of making a mechanical heart valve. The chapters provide a detailed description of the design of the mechanical leaflet-based prosthetic valve, with a particular focus on blood flow characteristics. This book includes an overview of the state-of-the-art in the chemistry and physics of carbon, and compiles the advances in carbon-based technology and its applications in cardiac and thoracic surgery. This is an ideal book for bioengineers working on the chemistry and physics of carbon, and other professionals involved with cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Many athletes suffer health and sports consequences related to inadequate nutrition to meet their sports demands. It often goes unrecognized and untreated if they do not have the stereotypical diagnosis of an “eating disorder.” Highly marketable for those looking to gain an extra edge above the competition by maximizing their health through appropriate nutrition and mental work. The book has background information on the problem and serves as an instruction manual for coaches and parents. Female athletes’ personal narratives are dispersed within the information.

In the past few years it has become clear that left ventricular dysfunction, even of severe degree, may be reversible after coronary revascularization in some patients. As a result, myocardial viability has captured the imagination of researchers and clinicians seeking to unravel the cellular and subcellular mechanisms and define appropriate diagnostic modalities. These diagnostic modalities include: cardiac catheterization, positron-emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, two-dimensional echocardiography and single-photon imaging. This book brings together a diverse array of information in a comprehensive and concise fashion using a template of 10 chapters written by experts in the field. It should be of value to cardiologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists and basic researchers and their trainees who are involved in the management of patients with coronary artery disease in whom myocardial viability is a clinically relevant issue.

Noninvasive electrocardiographic monitoring is a fundamental part of cardiology. Depending on continuous improvements and developments of new technologies, these methods are essential for diagnosis and risk stratification of patients. The rapid changes in the capabilities, technologies and diagnostic values of the different methods force us to update our knowledge continuously. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the current state and future developments in the field of noninvasive electrocardiographic monitoring techniques. In addition, related fields such as magnetocardiography, newer signal detection and analysis techniques as well as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are reported. The different methods are discussed with regard to methodological aspects, latest technical developments and clinical value of results. Furthermore, review articles focus on the autonomic nervous system, monitoring of ischemic heart disease, quality control and standardization of monitoring techniques. A group of international experts in science and clinical practice have contributed to this book, which is supported by the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiography (ISHNE). The book is addressed to clinical and academic cardiologists as well as scientists.

In the era of instant global communication, medicine is an international discipline characterized by a wide range of patient referral systems, world-wide discussion of clinical and research findings, and an explosion in the medical literature. Perhaps no field has progressed more than cardiology in the past few years. Contemporary Concepts in Cardiology has been conceived as a supplement to the classic cardiology textbooks for the use of practicing physicians, cardiologists-in-training, medical students, and research investigators. This volume focuses on associations between refinements in the understanding of disease and clinical applications. The material is presented in a way that limns the latest advances and focuses thinking towards future developments in cardiology. The Editors have assembled a respected international panel of contributors so that each chapter is authored by a well-known specialist in his or her field. Every attempt was made to avoid the fragmentation which often characterizes the digest approach. Because the constant flow of information makes it nearly impossible to construct a timely book on advances in cardiology, the chapters in this volume describe the current concepts in cardiology and their underlying rationale, rather than attempting a comprehensive review of the most recent papers in each discipline.

Since the introduction of coronary angioplasty in 1977, this procedure has gained a steadily increasing position in the treatment of coronary artery obstmction. From the available evidence it can be estimated, that this thera peutic tool will get even more additional momentum of many ten-thousands of patients to be treated in the next few years, due to a growing fraction of patients who are candidates for this intervention. Information about the indications, benefits and risks of coronary angioplasty is accumulating rapidly in addition to publications about refinements of the technique itself. Recently, a number of investigators have realized that coronary angioplasty is not only a therapeutic tool, but can, during the procedure, be used as a source of diagnostic information. When the catheter is placed in a coronary artery obstruction, inflation of the balloon produces transient myocardial ischemia. Before, during, and after this period of severe ischemia, studies of the perfor mance of the myocardium at risk can be carried out. The fact that therapeutic coronary angioplasty is carried out in a cardiac catheterization laboratory which is by definition optimally equipped for the measurement of hemodynamic parameters, has probably also contributed to the effectuation of these investigations. The combination of hemodynamic and biochemical parameters with morphological information from the coronary angiogram can be utilized for the quantification of myocardial involvement and the success of coronary dilatation with angioplasty. Studies of interactions with pharmacological substances are also feasible and informative."

Clinical practice is evolving at a rapid pace, nowhere more so than in the field of cardiology.Acute Coronary Syndromes, Sudden Cardiac Death, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Syncope, and Prevention of Global Cardiovascular Risk are the main Emerging Pathologies to which many investigators are addressing their researches. Less than 10 years ago, some of them were considered of relevance only to internists, and some others as a common benign arrhythmia or an ineluctable illness. Today, their prevalence amongst the population represents one of the major public health problems at the beginning of the third millen- um. The need to have a state of the art overview of the epidemiology, physiopat- logical and electrogenetic mechanisms, diagnosis, pharmacological or electrical treatment, prognosis, patient management in and out of hospital, organisational and economical implications of these emerging pathologies and the success of the previous edition inspired us to organise the second edition of this biannual International Meeting. This book contains the Proceedings of the Mediterranean Cardiology Meeting held in Taormina, Italy, 7 9 April 2005. Like the previous volume, it boasts the participation of many nationally and internationally renowned spe- ers in the field of clinical and interventional cardiology who will interact actively with the delega

Disease conditions that affect the human heart and the methods used to diagnose and treat them are all covered in one concise volume. Written by a past president of the Boston Chapter of the American Heart Association, Heart Disease is a comprehensive account of the leading cause of death in the West. Sequential chapters describe the structure and function of the heart, the various disease states, and the treatments for each major disease. In addition, the book examines the vast array of diagnostic tests and the most advanced treatments available, from basic drugs for prevention such as aspirin to transplants and artificial hearts. Dr. de Silva, who teaches at Harvard Medical School, also covers historical aspects of heart disease, discoveries about the structure and function of the heart, and the ways in which heart disease can be diagnosed and treated. Underlying conditions that affect the heart are described and linked to the treatments and devices used to correct disease conditions. Illustrations include diagrams of the heart, examples of test results, and images of devices used to treat heart disease A glossary defines medical terms used in the book

Omega-3 fatty acids can limit the inflammation that is the underlying cause of many severe diseases of modern civilization, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Omega-Factor: Promoting Health, Preventing Premature Aging and Reducing the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death presents information on the mechanisms whereby inflammation damages organs and the blood vessels serving them, as well as the hard science on the mechanisms by which the omega-3 fatty acids protect those tissues. It also features peer-reviewed evidence from clinical trials on these topics. The book gives cutting-edge information from state-of-the-art developments such as the test that can be done to measure the Omega 3 status of one's own tissues, the "Omega 3 Index", which can give many years of early warning so that one can take preventive steps and decrease the odds of a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. It explains why a Mediterranean diet plan rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids is protective, and it features a six-day meal plan with recipes that will improve body levels of omega 3s. This book helps readers understand the differences between various sources of omega-3 fatty acids, namely flax seed vs. fish oil vs. algae-derived oils. Features: * Provides evidence-based information on why blood vessels require omega-3 fatty acids to maintain health. * Details best sources of the various fatty acids, including plant-based sources. * Includes "at-home tests" to assess cardiovascular status. * Presents literature to how to improve chances of avoiding heart attacks, peripheral arterial disease, strokes, kidney disease, and Type-2 Diabetes. The Omega-Factor: Promoting Health, Preventing Premature Aging and Reducing the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death is an essential resource for healthcare professionals, clinicians, and dietitians, as well as for the reader who aims to achieve the goal of a much longer health-span, not just a longer lifespan.