Thistext, as the tide states, is acompilationofpapersdevoted to the studyofath- erosclerosis,hypertensionanddiabetes.Thesethree distinctdisease entities,although not entirely unrelated, are three ofthe most important disease conditions in the world today.As such, this volumeofresearch papers isofobvious medical impor- tance.Thejustificationofthe energy,time and financial resources directed towards the studyofeachofthese three diseases requiressome discussion. The majority of papers amongst the three diseases that are discussed in this volume are dedicated to the studyofatherosclerosis.This is not by accident.Car- diovasculardisease isthenumberonekillertodayintheworld. IntheUnitedStates almost61 millionAmericanshaveoneormoreformsofcardiovasculardisease.These diseases claimed nearly 1million lives in 1998 alone.Although approximately 80% ofthosewho dieofcardiovasculardisease are 65 yearsofageorolder,asignificant numberofpeople are killed by cardiovascular disease below the ageof65.Ather- osclerotic heart disease in the eoronary vaseulature eausedapproximately~ million deaths in the United States in 1998.At least 12,400,000people are alive todayin the United States with a historyofmyocardial infarctions or ehest pain or both. Clearly,atherosclerotie disease inthe heart isamajormedicalproblem.This disease affeetsbothmenandwomen.Althoughmen are more likelyto experienee aheart attaekand are atgreater risk for eardiovaseular disease,more then ~ofthe people alive today with a historyofheart attacks or angina are females. As weIl,women whodo havemyoeardialinfarctionsare twice aslikely to diefromtheeventwithin afew weeks.Atheroscleroticvasculardisease isnotlimitedtojustthe heart.Anath- erosclerotic ischemic event is the primary causeofstroke today.Although it isnot weIl appreciated, stroke is the number 3 killer inAmerica today and the leading causeofdebilitatingneurological damage.Atherosclerotic vascular disease therefore, has acostintermsofhuman life,qualityoflifeandfinancialburden today thatno otherdisease canmatch.Theseriousnessofthis medicalproblemdemands research attention.

Whenever the heart is challenged with an increased work load for a prolonged period, it responds by increasing its muscle mass--a phenomenon known as cardiac hypertrophy. Although cardiac hypertrophy is commonly seen under physiological conditions such as development and exercise, a wide variety of pathological situa tions such as hypertension (pressure overload), valvular defects (volume overload), myocardial infarction (muscle loss), and cardiomyopathy (muscle disease) are also known to result in cardiac hypertrophy. Various hormones such as catecholamines, thyroid hormones, angiotensin II, endothelin, and growth factors have also been shown to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Although the exact mechanisms underlying or pathological forrns of cardiac hypertrophy are poorly under the physiological stood, an increase in the intraventricular pressure is believed to represent the major stimulus for the development of cardiac hypertrophy. In this regard, stretching of the cardiac muscle has been shown to induce the hypertrophic response, but the role of metabolic influences in this process cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, different hormones and other interventions in the absence of stretch have been observed to stimulate protein synthesis in both isolated cardiomyocyte and vascular myocyte preparations. Nonetheless, it is becoming dear that receptor as well as phospholipid linked signal transduction pathways are activated in some specific manner depend ing upon the initial hypertrophic stimulus, and these then result in an increase in the size and mass of cardiomyocytes.

Molecular Defects in Cardiovascular Diseaseprovides an in-depth discussion of the molecular mechanisms underlying the genesis of cardiovascular defects and the implications this has on current and emerging targeted therapeutics. Divided into three sections, this book covers the scientific foundations of our present understanding as well as the array of clinical manifestations and their treatment. The first section covers Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Disease, with discussion of the development of cardiovascular dysfunction. The remaining two sections provide a more clinical focus. The second, Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure deals with metabolic derangements, Ca2+ handling, and subcellular remodeling. It illustrates the wide variety of molecular defects which may serve as targets associated with the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to advanced heart failure. The third section, Hypertension and Diabetes, provides molecular rationale for the pathogenesis of hypertension and diabetic cardiomyopathy, as well as highlighting the importance of hormones toward this end.

A necessary resource for clinicians and researchers, this book elucidates the experimental basis of the practice of cardiology. It is the culmination of our advances in the understanding of cardiovascular molecular biology and a blueprint for the efficacious use of targeted therapies.

In 1982, as chance would have it again, an opportunity appeared to Jom the Department of Physiology at Kuwait University. P. Braveny spend four years there, teaching, doing some research, recovering former international contacts. Coming back home, he faced the same gloomy, motionless disfavor as before. November 1989 turned P. Bravenfs career upside down. Immediately after the fall ofthe communist regime, he was elected vice-dean and later dean ofthe Faculty of Medicine, promoted full professor in physiology and appointed the head of the Department ofPhysiology. From 1992 to 1998 P. Braveny served as the vice-rector of Masaryk University. His professional career culminated in his presidency of the XIV World Congress of ISHR in Prague. Understandably, in the following years, he become interested (in his tutor's footsteps) in history of physiology and pub- lished two monoghaphs (E. Babak andV Kruta). This CV would be an incomplete one without mentioning his broad interests in natural sciences and in art, particu- larly music and painting. As a tutored amateur he has acquired certain success in the latter. When reviewing P. Bravenfs whole-life work, largely done under adverse cir- cumstances with minimum financial support, his almost two hundred papers, innu- merable essays and four monographs are a commensurate result. In appreciation, he was awarded honorary membership of the Czech Medical Society, Physiological Society and Cardiological Society, Gold Medal of Masaryk University, Ministry of Education Award etc. Bohuslav Ostadal Makoto Nagano Naranjan S.

Whenever the heart is challenged with an increased work load for a prolonged period, it responds by increasing its muscle mass--a phenomenon known as cardiac hypertrophy. Although cardiac hypertrophy is commonly seen under physiological conditions such as development and exercise, a wide variety of pathological situa tions such as hypertension (pressure overload), valvular defects (volume overload), myocardial infarction (muscle loss), and cardiomyopathy (muscle disease) are also known to result in cardiac hypertrophy. Various hormones such as catecholamines, thyroid hormones, angiotensin II, endothelin, and growth factors have also been shown to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Although the exact mechanisms underlying or pathological forrns of cardiac hypertrophy are poorly under the physiological stood, an increase in the intraventricular pressure is believed to represent the major stimulus for the development of cardiac hypertrophy. In this regard, stretching of the cardiac muscle has been shown to induce the hypertrophic response, but the role of metabolic influences in this process cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, different hormones and other interventions in the absence of stretch have been observed to stimulate protein synthesis in both isolated cardiomyocyte and vascular myocyte preparations. Nonetheless, it is becoming dear that receptor as well as phospholipid linked signal transduction pathways are activated in some specific manner depend ing upon the initial hypertrophic stimulus, and these then result in an increase in the size and mass of cardiomyocytes.

Over the past three decades, impressive progress in the field of pathogenesis, prevention and therapy of ischemic heart disease has resulted in a marked decline in mortality in the Western World. However, the incidence of this devastating disease is on the rise in developing countries. The Ischemic Heart is based upon a recent symposium in Tokyo on the subject. This volume is organized into two sections: (i) Pathophysiologic Mechanisms of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and (ii) Preconditioning and Protection of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, and contains up-to-date information concerning the current concepts of ischemia-reperfusion injury, the sequence of events resulting in the loss of contractile dysfunction, and mechanisms of cardioprotection by several drugs as well as the role of ischemic preconditioning in attenuating problems associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

In an attempt to clarify the situation regarding the diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapeutics of cardiovascular dysfunction in diabetes, an International Symposium on Diabetic Heart was held in Tokyo, Japan during October, 1989. Thirty-two selected articles from the poster presentations, compiled in this book, have been grouped in four sections, namely (a) Evaluation of Cardiovascular Problems, (b) Interactions of Diabetes and Hypertension, (c) Pathophysiological Aspects of Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Diabetes, and (d) Pharmacological and Therapeutic Aspects of Diabetic Heart. It is hoped that the contents of these chapters will provide adequate information regarding the current status of cardiovascular abnormalities in diabetes and this book will be of great interest to both clinical and experimental cardiologists as well as endocrinologists interested in diabetes.

Rapid advances in molecular medicine have led to pronounced new developments in experimental and clinical cardiology. In the embrace of modern molecular biology and bridging the gap between the clinical and the genomic, cardiovascular medicine has seen major strides in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression. The ability to rapidly identify candidate human genes for cardiovascular diseases lends itself to the development of diverse strategies for disease treatment and management. The wide variety of gene expressions proffers excellent targets for novel therapeutics. Gene therapy is steadily increasing in viability and represents a fascinating arena of research and clinical focus. This book is based on two international Mendel symposia on "Genes and the Heart," joint meetings of the Japanese and European sections of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Highlighting selected symposia contributions, this book explores the role of molecular biology and genetics in the basic knowledge, genesis, and clinical interventions of cardiovascular diseases.

Molecular Defects in Cardiovascular Disease provides an in-depth discussion of the molecular mechanisms underlying the genesis of cardiovascular defects and the implications this has on current and emerging targeted therapeutics. Divided into three sections, this book covers the scientific foundations of our present understanding as well as the array of clinical manifestations and their treatment. The first section covers Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Disease, with discussion of the development of cardiovascular dysfunction. The remaining two sections provide a more clinical focus. The second, Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure deals with metabolic derangements, Ca2+ handling, and subcellular remodeling. It illustrates the wide variety of molecular defects which may serve as targets associated with the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to advanced heart failure. The third section, Hypertension and Diabetes, provides molecular rationale for the pathogenesis of hypertension and diabetic cardiomyopathy, as well as highlighting the importance of hormones toward this end. A necessary resource for clinicians and researchers, this book elucidates the experimental basis of the practice of cardiology. It is the culmination of our advances in the understanding of cardiovascular molecular biology and a blueprint for the efficacious use of targeted therapies.

Over the past three decades, impressive progress in the field of pathogenesis, prevention and therapy of ischemic heart disease has resulted in a marked decline in mortality in the Western World. However, the incidence of this devastating disease is on the rise in developing countries. The Ischemic Heart is based upon a recent symposium in Tokyo on the subject. This volume is organized into two sections: (i) Pathophysiologic Mechanisms of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and (ii) Preconditioning and Protection of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, and contains up-to-date information concerning the current concepts of ischemia-reperfusion injury, the sequence of events resulting in the loss of contractile dysfunction, and mechanisms of cardioprotection by several drugs as well as the role of ischemic preconditioning in attenuating problems associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

In 1982, as chance would have it again, an opportunity appeared to Jom the Department of Physiology at Kuwait University. P. Braveny spend four years there, teaching, doing some research, recovering former international contacts. Coming back home, he faced the same gloomy, motionless disfavor as before. November 1989 turned P. Bravenfs career upside down. Immediately after the fall ofthe communist regime, he was elected vice-dean and later dean ofthe Faculty of Medicine, promoted full professor in physiology and appointed the head of the Department ofPhysiology. From 1992 to 1998 P. Braveny served as the vice-rector of Masaryk University. His professional career culminated in his presidency of the XIV World Congress of ISHR in Prague. Understandably, in the following years, he become interested (in his tutor's footsteps) in history of physiology and pub- lished two monoghaphs (E. Babak andV Kruta). This CV would be an incomplete one without mentioning his broad interests in natural sciences and in art, particu- larly music and painting. As a tutored amateur he has acquired certain success in the latter. When reviewing P. Bravenfs whole-life work, largely done under adverse cir- cumstances with minimum financial support, his almost two hundred papers, innu- merable essays and four monographs are a commensurate result. In appreciation, he was awarded honorary membership of the Czech Medical Society, Physiological Society and Cardiological Society, Gold Medal of Masaryk University, Ministry of Education Award etc. Bohuslav Ostadal Makoto Nagano Naranjan S.

Thistext, as the tide states, is acompilationofpapersdevoted to the studyofath erosclerosis, hypertensionanddiabetes.Thesethree distinctdisease entities, although not entirely unrelated, are three ofthe most important disease conditions in the world today.As such, this volumeofresearch papers isofobvious medical impor tance.Thejustificationofthe energy, time and financial resources directed towards the studyofeachofthese three diseases requiressome discussion. The majority of papers amongst the three diseases that are discussed in this volume are dedicated to the studyofatherosclerosis.This is not by accident.Car diovasculardisease isthenumberonekillertodayintheworld. IntheUnitedStates almost61 millionAmericanshaveoneormoreformsofcardiovasculardisease.These diseases claimed nearly 1million lives in 1998 alone.Although approximately 80% ofthosewho dieofcardiovasculardisease are 65 yearsofageorolder, asignificant numberofpeople are killed by cardiovascular disease below the ageof65.Ather osclerotic heart disease in the eoronary vaseulature eausedapproximately million deaths in the United States in 1998.At least 12,400,000people are alive todayin the United States with a historyofmyocardial infarctions or ehest pain or both. Clearly, atherosclerotie disease inthe heart isamajormedicalproblem.This disease affeetsbothmenandwomen.Althoughmen are more likelyto experienee aheart attaekand are atgreater risk for eardiovaseular disease, more then ofthe people alive today with a historyofheart attacks or angina are females. As weIl, women whodo havemyoeardialinfarctionsare twice aslikely to diefromtheeventwithin afew weeks.Atheroscleroticvasculardisease isnotlimitedtojustthe heart.Anath erosclerotic ischemic event is the primary causeofstroke today.Although it isnot weIl appreciated, stroke is the number 3 killer inAmerica today and the leading causeofdebilitatingneurological damage.Atherosclerotic vascular disease therefore, has acostintermsofhuman life, qualityoflifeandfinancialburden today thatno otherdisease canmatch.Theseriousnessofthis medicalproblemdemands research attention."

Rapid advances in molecular medicine have led to pronounced new developments in experimental and clinical cardiology. In the embrace of modern molecular biology and bridging the gap between the clinical and the genomic, cardiovascular medicine has seen major strides in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression. The ability to rapidly identify candidate human genes for cardiovascular diseases lends itself to the development of diverse strategies for disease treatment and management. The wide variety of gene expressions proffers excellent targets for novel therapeutics. Gene therapy is steadily increasing in viability and represents a fascinating arena of research and clinical focus. This book is based on two international Mendel symposia on "Genes and the Heart," joint meetings of the Japanese and European sections of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Highlighting selected symposia contributions, this book explores the role of molecular biology and genetics in the basic knowledge, genesis, and clinical interventions of cardiovascular diseases.

In an attempt to clarify the situation regarding the diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapeutics of cardiovascular dysfunction in diabetes, an International Symposium on Diabetic Heart was held in Tokyo, Japan during October, 1989. Thirty-two selected articles from the poster presentations, compiled in this book, have been grouped in four sections, namely (a) Evaluation of Cardiovascular Problems, (b) Interactions of Diabetes and Hypertension, (c) Pathophysiological Aspects of Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Diabetes, and (d) Pharmacological and Therapeutic Aspects of Diabetic Heart. It is hoped that the contents of these chapters will provide adequate information regarding the current status of cardiovascular abnormalities in diabetes and this book will be of great interest to both clinical and experimental cardiologists as well as endocrinologists interested in diabetes.