Advances in Vascular Medicine

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.

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.

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.