Pathophysiology of Heart Failure brings together leading basic scientists and clinicians, presenting new approaches to this complex problem, involving cardiomyopathic processes and ischemia perfusion injury. The result is a synthesis of state-of-the-art information on molecular biology, cellular physiology and structure-function relationships in the cardiovascular system. The role which excess intracellular calcium plays in the genesis of cardiac dysfunction is described as a fundamental mechanism underlying heart failure; one which may lead to improved prevention and treatment....

The main objective of Cardiac Remodeling: Molecular Mechanisms is to summarize the major research advances in molecular, biochemical and translational aspects of cardiac remodeling over the last 2 to 3 decades under one cover and touch on future directions. It provides a high profile and valuable publication resource on molecular mechanisms of cardiac remodeling for both the present and future generations of researchers, teachers, students and trainees. This book should stimulate future translational research targeted towards discovery and development for preventing, limiting and...

Cellular signaling in cardiac muscle refers to the myriad of stimuli and responses that direct and control the physiological operation of this organ. Our understand- ing of these complex signaling cascades has increased dramatically over the past few decades with the advent of molecular tools for their dissection. Moreover, this infor- mation is beginning to provide tangible targets towards manipulating cardiac func- tion in the setting of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms and factors that regulate cardiac cell growth are of particular interest as both adaptive and maladaptive responses...

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...

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease together account for the largest portion of health care spending compared to all other diseases in Western society. This work seeks to provide an understanding of the causes of diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. As this understanding becomes more widely appreciated, it will serve as a foundation for evidence-based care and wider acceptance of sound science. The International Conference on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, held in Winnipeg, in June 1999, was organized to bring together a multi-disciplinary group of researchers dedicated to...

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...

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...

The relationship between angiotensin II and hypertension was established in 1898 when angiotensin II was shown to modulate systemic blood pressure. Over the intervening decades, a complete characterization of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been achieved, and our understanding of its biochemistry and physiology has led to the directed development of agents such -as ACE inhibitors and receptor antagonists capable of controlling hypertension. More recently, it was shown that angiotensin II is secreted within certain tissues and that these tissue-specific systems operate independently of...

Current evidence suggests that the ischemic preconditioning response is a multi-factorial process consisting of an initial early trigger, an intermediate mediator, and an end effector. Each of these steps in is now its own intense area of investigation. The need to render the heart ischemic for a brief period to invoke the preconditioning response is currently the major factor limiting clinical application of this powerful cardioprotective strategy. Recent research efforts have utilized brief exposures to pharmacological agents, in lieu of a brief preconditioning ischemia, to trigger/mimic...

Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease has been divided into four sections that focus on heart dysfunction and its associated characteristics (hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy and failure); vascular dysfunction and disease; ischemic heart disease; and novel therapeutic interventions.
This volume is a compendium of different approaches to understanding cardiovascular disease and identifying the proteins, pathways and processes that impact it.