Advances in Vascular Medicine / Edition 1

by David Abraham, Clive Handler, Michael Dashwood, Gerry Coghlan

Overview

Understanding the many complex cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human vascular diseases is essential in improving the treatment of this important and wide-ranging group of diseases that affect a large proportion of the world po- lation. This book is based on lectures presented at an International Vascular Biology Workshop held in London and chaired by Professor Dame Carol Black. The c- tents are complemented by some invited chapters, all written by world experts in areas of basic science and clinical medicine highly relevant to vascular biology and disease. We are particularly grateful to Professor Arshed Quyyumi, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at Emory University, who with his research group and clinical colleagues, has provided a substantial contribution to this book. In common with our previous book – Vascular Complications in Human Disease: Mechanisms and Consequences published by Springer in 2008, our aim with this book is to highlight some of the established relationships between basic science and clinical medicine, and to outline new and exciting fields of research and practice in vascular biology and pathobiology. There are two sections: Basic Science of Vascular Biology and Clinical Aspects of Vascular Biology. In the first section, dealing with basic science, we have included three important growth areas: “Genetics and Gene Therapy” cover approaches to gene therapy and delivery systems, “Animal Models to Study Vascular Disease” with chapters on animal models of scleroderma, animal models of atherosclerosis, and finally on the endothelin system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848826366
Publisher:	Springer London
Publication date:	02/19/2010
Edition description:	2010
Pages:	451
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.06(d)

About the Author

Professor David Abraham, Professor of Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK.

Dr Clive Handler, Consultant in Pulmonary Hypertension, The Royal Free Hospital, and Honorary Senior Lecturer, The Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, London, UK.

Dr Michael Dashwood, Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK.

Dr Gerry Coghlan, Consultant Cardiologist, The Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

The Editors – two clinicians and two basic scientists, are all well known in their respective fields, and bring together this essential collaboration for this book dealing with scientific principles and clinical practice.

The Authors

These are world famous leaders and internationally acclaimed experts in the field.

Table of Contents

Genetics and Gene Therapy.- Oligonucleotide Therapeutics to Treat Dyslipoproteinemia and Atherosclerosis.- Gene Delivery to Cardiovascular Tissue.- Animal Models to Study Vascular Disease.- Animal Models of Scleroderma: From Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms to Novel Antifibrotic Strategies.- Animal Models of Atherosclerosis.- Animal Models of the Endothelin System.- Molecules and Mediators and Therapeutic Applications.- Endothelin-1 and Systemic Sclerosis.- The Role of the Homeodomain Transcription Factor Nkx2-5 in the Cardiovascular System.- Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease.- Tissue-Engineered Vascular Substitutes: New Models Toward Successful Small Diameter Grafts.- Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Vascular Function.- Endothelium: Dysfunction and Repair.- Clinical Aspects of Vascular Biology.- Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.- Pathophysiology of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH).- Surgical Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH).- Imaging in Acute and Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolic Disease.- Vascular Disease in Connective Tissue Diseases.- PAH in CTD – Clinical Trials Criteria and Performance.- Disease Progression in Systemic Sclerosis Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.- Connective Tissue Disease Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Special Cases?.- Advances in Vascular Medicine.- Cardiovascular Disease.- Coronary Heart Disease in Women.- Recent Strategies to Improve Graft Performance in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Are Best Results Achieved by Improved Surgical Techniques of Graft Preparation?.- Cardiovascular Risk Prediction by Measurement of Arterial Elastic Properties and Wall Thickness.- The Metabolic Syndrome.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Judith L Meadows, M.D.(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This book is based upon a series of lectures which present the spectrum of vascular medicine from basic science to the clinical management of patients with vascular disease. This collection presents focused discussions on the current understanding of endothelial function, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, systemic sclerosis, and chronic thromboembolic disease. Each of the topics identifies the challenges and future directions in research and clinical care of vascular disease.
Purpose: The collection illustrates the strong connection between basic scientific investigation in vascular biology with clinical research into and management of vascular diseases.
Audience: It is directed at a diverse audience of scientists and physicians who specialize in vascular disease. The collection provides clinical insight, which is useful for basic scientists and clinical researchers. It also offers vascular surgeons, cardiologists, rheumatologists, and vascular medicine physicians unique exposure to investigations and future directions of research in vascular disease and its management.
Features: The first of the book's two sections focuses on the forefront of basic science of vascular biology and emerging investigations into therapies for vascular disease. This section covers gene-based therapeutics with its potentials and challenges, animal models of vascular disease and similarities/differences between animal models and human disease, and a discussion of endothelial function and possible targets to address endothelial dysfunction. In the second section, the chapters transition to clinical aspects of vascular medicine. Chapters focus on chronic thromboembolic disease, connective tissue disease, particularly systemic sclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease with a focus on challenges unique to CAD in women and in metabolic syndrome, a discussion of the nontraditional cardiovascular risk factor of arterial stiffness, and a focused update on vein conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting. Unlike a textbook which attempts to provide an unified overview of an entire field, this is a unique collection of discussions about emerging topics in vascular medicine. Despite somewhat disparate subjects, a unifying theme emerges that our growing understanding of endothelial function and therapies to address vascular pathophysiology offer potential to manage a broad spectrum of vascular disorders.
Assessment: This book collects current reviews on vascular biology and vascular disease and presents authors' opinions about their vision of the potential impact and challenges of scientific investigations in this field. The high quality writing offers stimulating and relevant ideas to both investigators and clinicians.

Doody's Review Service

From the reviews: “This collection presents focused discussions on the current understanding of endothelial function, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, systemic sclerosis, and chronic thromboembolic disease. … It is directed at a diverse audience of scientists and physicians who specialize in vascular disease. … provides clinical insight, which is useful for basic scientists and clinical researchers. It also offers vascular surgeons, cardiologists, rheumatologists, and vascular medicine physicians … . The high quality writing offers stimulating and relevant ideas to both investigators and clinicians.” (Judith L. Meadows, Doody’s Review Service, May, 2010)

From the Publisher