Ion channels are the major class of membrane proteins responsible for rapid and regulated transport of ions across biological membranes and for the generation and propagation of electrical signals in the brain, heart, and skeletal and vascular tissues. Ion channels are also known to play critical roles in regulation of cell proliferation, insulin secretion and intracellular signaling in a variety of cell types. This book focuses on the roles of ion channels in vascular tissues under normal and pathological conditions. Vascular abnormalities are known to underlie a plethora of severe pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, coronary or cerebral vasospasm, and diabetes. In addition, misregulated angiogenesis is one of the major contributors to the development of tumors. Therefore, it is clearly imperative to obtain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to vascular disorders. This book will be the first comprehensive assembly of assays to present the studies that have been done during the last decade to elucidate the roles of ion channels in different vascular diseases.

Ion channels are the major class of membrane proteins responsible for rapid and regulated transport of ions across biological membranes and for the generation and propagation of electrical signals in the brain, heart, and skeletal and vascular tissues. Ion channels are also known to play critical roles in regulation of cell proliferation, insulin secretion and intracellular signaling in a variety of cell types. This book focuses on the roles of ion channels in vascular tissues under normal and pathological conditions. Vascular abnormalities are known to underlie a plethora of severe pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, coronary or cerebral vasospasm, and diabetes. In addition, misregulated angiogenesis is one of the major contributors to the development of tumors. Therefore, it is clearly imperative to obtain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to vascular disorders. This book will be the first comprehensive assembly of assays to present the studies that have been done during the last decade to elucidate the roles of ion channels in different vascular diseases.

With Cholesterol, Drs. Anna Bukiya and Alex Dopico have compiled a comprehensive resource on biological and clinical aspects of cholesterol, spanning biophysics and biochemistry, as well as the latest pharmacological discoveries employed to tackle disorders associated with abnormal cholesterol levels. Early chapters on basic biology offer guidance in cholesterol lab chemistry, cholesterol metabolism and synthesis, molecular evolution of cholesterol and sterols, cholesterol peptides, and cholesterol modulation. Chapters on cellular and organismal development discuss cholesterol transport in blood, lipoproteins, and cholesterol metabolism; cholesterol detection in the blood; cellular cholesterol levels; hypercholesterolemia; and the role of cholesterol in early human development. Pathophysical specialists consider familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, critical illness and cholesterol levels, coronary artery disease, CESD, cholesterol and viral pathology, cholesterol and neurodegenerative disorders, and cholesterol and substance use disorders. A final section examines pharmacology of drug delivery systems targeting cholesterol related disorders, cholesterol receptors, cholesterol reduction, statins, citrate lyase, cyclodextrins, and clinical management. Cholesterol: From Biophysics and Biochemistry to Pathology and Pharmacology empowers researchers, students, and clinicians across various disciplines to advance new cholesterol-based studies, improve clinical management, and drive drug discovery.