Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Function: Tools for the Next Decade
Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Function: Tools for the Next Decade

Author: Julio E. Pérez

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 355

ISBN-13: 1461561450

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For over a quarter of a century, echocardiography has made an unparalleled contribution to clinical cardiology as a major tool for real-time imaging of cardiac dynamics. Echocardiography is widely used to assess cardiac function, and provides noninvasive information which is invaluable for the diagnosis of various disease states. In spite of its numerous advantages, in the clinical arena echocardiography has remained mostly qualitative and subjective. However, continued progress in our understanding of the interactions between ultrasound and tissue characteristics have brought about several new developments which allow quantitative analysis of ultrasound data. Among these new developments are endocardial boundary detection (frequently referred to as Acoustic Quantification), Color Kinesis and Doppler myocardial imaging. The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with the background necessary to understand and successfully utilize these methodologies. Chapters summarize in detail the studies that have validated these techniques thus far, and discuss their future applications.

Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine
Transoesophageal Echocardiography in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine

Author: Jan Poelaert

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-04-15

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 0470759968

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Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) has a major impact on patient management during the perioperative period. It is an evolving tool in diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and haemodynamic assessment. The knowledge required for the examination and the practice of TOE is enormous and is continuously evolving. Consequently there is a clear need for a new comprehensive text written by experts involved in the perioperative care, not (only) by the cardiologists or full time echocardiographers.

Gene Transfer in the Cardiovascular System
Gene Transfer in the Cardiovascular System

Author: Keith L. March

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 552

ISBN-13: 1461562775

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The goal of gene transfer is protein expression. a process brought about by the insertion of a gene coding for a foreign protein into target cells resulting in the synthesis of the foreign protein For gene therapy, a tmnsferred therapeutic gene must be expressed at a level beneficial for the patient. This chapter provides an introductory overview of the rapidly evolving field of non-viral approaches for gene delivery to rnarnrnalian cells. Although currently there are fewer ongoing clinical trials using non-viral approaches than those using viral based systems, the number of non-viral trials is increasing. The long range goal of some research groups is the development of a genetically engineered artificial virus targeted to specific cells in the human body. An arurual conference, organized by Cambridge Healthtech Institute entitled "Artificial Self-Assembling Systems for Gene Transfer", brings together researchers interested in this field [1]. Assembly of an artificial virus is very complex; other research groups aim to develop simpler delivery systems consisting of a plasmid combined with delivery agents. Viral-based systems are very successful for gene delivery, but despite their successes, viral-based systems have some geneml limitations and system-specific limitations. When employing a viml-based system, the following limitations should be considered: • size limitation of the inserted gene due to packaging constraints (e. g. adenovirus, retrovirus) . • potential tumorigenesis (e. g. retrovirus) • potential for insertional mutagenesis (greater than plasmid based systems) • potential imrnunogenicity (e. g.

Social System Accounts
Social System Accounts

Author: Karl A. Fox

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 1997-11-30

Total Pages: 278

ISBN-13: 9780792380368

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Non-Invasive Imaging of Atherosclerosis is a primer, reference and review of some of the key features of current activities in the field of atherosclerosis. The Editors' goal is to provide material and stimulating ideas to basic scientists and clinical researchers in order to extend the application of vascular imaging and to further develop methods suitable for investigation of the arterial wall. The first section presents current knowledge about pathology, vascular mechanics and compensatory mechanisms active during atherogenesis. It explores the early lesion, complications of plaques and early detection of plaques. Section II reviews several key methodological issues of B-mode ultrasound imaging and some of the most current data. Quantitative B-mode ultrasound is an established non-invasive tool widely used in large epidemiologic studies and interventional clinical trials of atherosclerosis. The last section addresses the most promising areas of development in vascular imaging. This involves new techniques to evaluate the atherosclerotic bed, to follow atheroma progression/regression and to evaluate vascular mechanics in atherosclerotic arteries. The last chapter places the application of non-invasive imaging in perspective.

Cardiovascular Genetics for Clinicians
Cardiovascular Genetics for Clinicians

Author: P.A.F.M. Doevendans

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9401010196

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All physicians practicing medicine encounter patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. This book has been outlined in such a way that vascular surgeons, general internists, neurologists and cardiologists should be able to use it. The book covers the complete scope of cardiac diseases in addition to chapters on hypertension and atherosclerosis. In many patients there is a family history of cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction or peripheral arterial disease. Also in patients reporting collaps, palpitations and arrhythmias the family is crucial and can provide clues to a genetic cause of the disease. This book is published to guide physicians in the process of determining whether a genetic component is likely to be present. Furthermore, information is provided what the possibilities and limitations of DNA diagnostic techniques are. Finally, the importance of newly identified categories of potential patients, i. e. gene carriers without symptoms or any inducible sign of disease, is highlighted. For some patients a genetic diagnosis is essential to determine appropriate therapy and for counseling? In some other diseases DNA diagnostic tools are available but the relevant for the patients may be less clear. In other families the search for a disease causing gene is ongoing and the possibilities to find genes and to unravel the pathophysiology of the disease is limited by the lack of patients. To give insight into the current state of genetic diagnostics, the authors have classified the cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular Specific Gene Expression
Cardiovascular Specific Gene Expression

Author: P.A.F.M. Doevendans

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-04-17

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 9401593213

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Improving our insights into the genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease is one of the most important challenges in our field in the next millennium, not only to unravel the cause of disease but also to improve the selection of patients for particular treatments. Nowadays, for example, subjects with a cholesterol above a particular plasma level are exposed to a cholesterol lowering regime based upon the beneficial outcome of epidemiological studies which include subjects not prone to the disease, despite a plasma cholesterol above the accepted level. Identification of the patients who are genetically predisposed to the consequences of this disorder will reduce the number of subjects unnecessarily treated and, hence, the costs of health care. Because in most cardiovascular diseases the genetic component is a consequence of more than one gene defect, only limited progress has as yet been made in identifying subjects genetically at risk. For example, in hypertension only in less than 10% of the patients the genetic defect has been identified. It has been known for quite some time that in heart and blood vessels fetal genes are as high blood pressure and upregulated or induced when they are exposed to such disorders ischemia. Little is known about the function of these genes in the cardiac and vascular adaptation to these disorders; only guesses can be made.

Cardiac Arrhythmias, Pacing & Electrophysiology
Cardiac Arrhythmias, Pacing & Electrophysiology

Author: P.E. Vardas

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 461

ISBN-13: 9401152543

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Europace '97 was held in Athens, Greece, on 8-11 June Leads were, as usual, an important topic, with the earl 1997 in the city of classical civilisation and learning. iest mention of the then-new polyurethane leads. Future Though now held in modem surroundings and meeting conferences elaborated on these basic topics while pro facilities, the influence of the ancient city-state was un gressively adding sensors and sensor function, dual mistakable, with the architecture and learning of antiquity chamber pacing, and recognising the development of looming over the city, by its influence over the intellectual clinical cardiac electrophysiology. activities of the symposium. The ancient magnificence of Clinical cardiac electrophysiology and compre the site was matched by the novelty of modem art and hension of arrhythmias has been largely a development science, Europace is a European symposium, begun in of the twentieth century. With the description and 1979, and has occurred every second year since. Con recording of the bundle of His depolarisation, by direct sistent with its importance and continental reach the actual access and by catheter, modem clinical investigation of symposium has moved to different cities throughout arrhythmias and cardiac electrophysiology began. The Western Europe. The first symposium was held in London disciplines of cardiac stimulation and of investigation of and subsequent symposia have been held in Torremolinos, arrhythmias, impulse formation and A V conduction Ostend, Florence, Istanbul and other cities. Because of the were essentially separate for many years.

Surgical Options for the Treatment of Heart Failure
Surgical Options for the Treatment of Heart Failure

Author: R. Masters

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-12-14

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 0585291918

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Despite the significant decline in heart disease mortaht>' rates over the last 25 years, heart failure has remained a significant problem. We are now confronted with large numbers of terminally ill patients for whom conventional therapies for heart failure have been exhausted and for whom repeated hospital visits are necessary. There now is a major thrust towards a management strategy which embraces a comprehensive approach including vigorous preventive measures and earlier surgical interventions. This book outlines the major surgical options for the treatment of heart failure and brings together a very broad base of opinions with contributions from several outstanding individuals. With the improved knowledge and techniques to control rejection, transplantation has become the central pillar in the surgical management of this group of patients. Unfortunately, because of limited donor supply the teclmique cannot be applied to large numbers of patients. A great deal of excitement, however, exists in the potential for xenotransplantation as a supplement to homotransplantation. The use of cardiac assist devices has become a reality with several hundred LVADS and BiVADS implanted throughout the world and cardiac replacement with total artificial hearts continues to be used successfully as a bridge to transplantation. We are on the thieshold of the broad application of assist devices to provide prolonged relief of heart failure and restore patients to an ambulatoiy home environment and hopefully return to the work force in significant numbers.

Chronic Infection, Chlamydia and Coronary Heart Disease
Chronic Infection, Chlamydia and Coronary Heart Disease

Author: S. Gupta

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-11-23

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 0585375984

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Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a major cause of human mortality and morbidity worldwide. Classical risk factors for atherosclerosis fail to account fully for the wide variations in CHD prevalence and/or severity between differing populations. The search for hitherto unrecognised risk factors has recently focused on the potential role of chronic inflammation and common infections. Chronic Infection, Chlamydia and Coronary Heart Disease is the first book to review the wealth of evidence linking various infective agents with CHD, focusing particularly on the proposed pathogenetic role of the main candidate microorganism, Chlamydia pneumoniae. Written by two leading investigators in the field, the book provides a concise, clearly written and up-to-date account of the diverse lines of evidence - seroepidemiological, pathological, animal and in vitro data and clinical antibiotic trials. The possibility of an infective basis to atherosclerosis and CHD has already attracted much scientific interest. Chronic Infection, Chlamydia and Coronary Heart Disease highlights the key published works on the topic, and concludes with information on existing, ongoing, and future lines of enquiry.

Heart Cell Communication in Health and Disease
Heart Cell Communication in Health and Disease

Author: Walmor C. de Mello

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 1461555256

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In Heart Cell Communication in Health and Disease an extensive review of different aspects of heart cell communication is presented. The book starts with the fundamental concept that cardiac cells are communicated, and then proceeds to the role of gap junctions in heart development, the molecular biology of gap junctions, the biophysics of the intercellular channels, the control of junctional conductance and the influence of gap junctions on impulse propagation. This is the first time that a single volume has described cell communication in the normal heart and under different pathological conditions such as heart failure, coronary disease, myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmias. In this way the process of cell communication is analyzed at different levels of complexity, providing the reader with a wide view of this field and its relevance to cardiology.