Approximately eight to twelve million individuals in the United States are affected by peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Thus this disease is common and well represented in nearly all adult medical practices. Peripheral arterial diseases include diverse clinical entities that encompass atherosclerotic, aneurysmal, vasospastic, and inflammatory disorders that affect the arteries. The Peripheral Arterial Disease Handbook presents a unique compendium of evidenced-based and expert approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial diseases, written for all practitioners who care for adults with these disorders. This comprehensive, easy-to-use book presents both epidemiological and pathophysiological data in succinct form, along with a practical clinical review of the diagnosis and treatment of the most important areas of peripheral arterial disease care.

Contents:
Part 1. Endothelium-Derived Vasoactive Factors / Endothelial Dysfunction 1. 'Nitric Oxide Deficiency' in Cardiovascular protection by Restoration of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production 2. Sickle Erythrocyte Interaction with Endothelial Cells Causes Endothelial Dysfunction 3. Uncoupling of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase: A Molecular Basis for Atherosclerosis 4. Endothelin Receptor Changes Following Angioplasty of Porcine Coronary Effect of the Endothelin-A Receptor Antagonist, LU 135252 5. A Potentialk Role for Endothelin-1 Peripheral Vascular Disease 6. Endurance Exercise Preserves Endothelium Dependent Arterial Dynamics in the Elederly 7. Effect of AT1-Receptor Antagonists on Endothelial Function 8. 'No Touch' Technique Harvesting Saphenous Vein with its Surrounding Tissue for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Provides an Intact Endthelium and a High Mid-Term Patency Rate Part 2. Intracellular Signaling in Vascular Cells 9. NO Signaling in Blood Vessels 10. Ca2+-independent Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation in Endothelial Cells 11. Adhesion Molecules in Diabetic Vasculopathy 12. Regulation NF-kB in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells 13. Flow-Mediated Activation of MAP Kinases Part 3. Apoptosis and Vascular Remodeling 14. The Role of Intimal Cells in Atherosclerosis 15. Macrophage Resistance to Apoptosis in Vascular Diseases 16. Cytokines in Endothelial Cell Survival and Apoptosis: A Role for Protein Kinases and Caspases 17.Altered Mitotic Checkpoint in Rats Predisposed to Hypertension 18. Innervation of the Pig Vein Graft: A Potential for Vascular Nerves on Graft Occlusion part 4. Sex Hormones and Vascular Protection 19. Estrogen Receptor Knockout Mice: Molecular and Endocrine Phenotypes 20. The Potential Role of Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERa) in Cardiovascular Protection 21. Differential Effects of Estrogen on the Initiation and Progression of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Hypercholesterolemic Animal Models 22. Protective Effects of Estrogen on Global Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Males and Females 23. The Estrogen in Women with Athersclerosis Study: Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Plasma Concentrations of Lp(a) Lipoprotein and TGF-B1 Part 5. 24. Dual Role for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme - and Chymase-Angiotensin II Generation in Human Vascular Tissues 25. Insulin and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in Atherogenesis: Evidence Relationshipin Dyslipidemia and Hypertension 26. Antiatherothrombotic Actions of Statins are Mediated by the Arterial Wall Part 6. 27. Platelet Glycoproteins and Thrombosis: From Bedside to the Bench and Back to the Bedside 28. Alterations in Hemostatic Gene Expression in Obesity 29. Biological Functions and Proteins in Platelets with Inherited Large Platelets 30. Are there Differences Between Central and Peripheral Indices of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Part 7. Clinical Medicine: Nivel targets and Therapies 31. Gene Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases: An Overview 32. Therapeutic Angiogenesis and Nitric Oxide 33. A Novel Nutritional Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease 34. New Insights into the Cellular Basis of Coronary Artery Disease Mechanisms of Plaque Instability and Coronary Events: Potential Targets for Therapy 35. Vascular Protection: From basic Science to the Clinic

Vascular Protection explores advances in vascular biology and how they translate into innovations in drug therapy for vascular disease. It addresses recent advances in the knowledge of endothelial vasoactive factors and other biologically active molecules as well as gene therapy. Written by leading experts, the book emphasizes the mechanisms and pathologic consequences of vascular disorders, highlighting the clinical ramifications of these insights and the potential for new therapeutic strategies. The book provides critical new information for researchers and clinicians, as well as to industrial scientists in pursuit of novel therapies for cardiovascular disorders.