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could go on for several pages. Thus the book edited This book emphasizes the fundamental, functional aspects of cardiology. Within the last thirty years, by Sperelakis IS a potent reminder of the almost for­ the rift between clinical and investigative cardiology gotten fact that cardiology has twO sites, inextrica­ has widened, because of the overwhelming devel­ bly related. opment of new clinical procedures, both diagnostic The book deals with subjects in which Dr. Sper­ and therapeutic. Almost forgotten is the fact that elakis has pioneered: ultrastructure of heart muscle, we owe most of the clinical advances to theoretical electrophysiology, cardiac contractility, and ion ex­ and experimental observations. I need not remind change. An extension of these subjects is the chapter the reader of the work of Carrel, who performed the dealing with fundamental topics of the coronary cir­ first experimental coronary bypass in 1902, or the culation. work of the brothers Curie in 1880, both physicists, This book is indeed a timely reminder of the im­ who discovered piezoelectricity, the keystone in ech­ portance of the fundamental aspects of cardiology. ogradiography; of the works of Langley, who intro­ Emphasis on clinical aspects of cardiology alone will duced the receptors concept; of Ahlquist in 1946, result in a sterile and unproductive future for a field who first differentiated between alpha and beta re­ that has made such stunning advances during the ceptors; of Fleckenstein, a physiologist who pi­ last thirty years to the benefit of millions of people.

A variety of metabolic processes are known to be intimately involved in the maintenance of cellular structure and function. It has also become clear that metabolic events involved in the synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP as well as for the synthesis of proteins and phospholipids are essential for cellular health. The regulation of cell function is generally achieved through participation of a wide variety of hormones and different signal transduction mechanisms for the activation/deactivation of some specific metabolic processes. In this regard cyclic AMP and calcium seem to play a crucial role. Various hormones are also known to affect the genetic machinery of all the cell; however, the exact signals for genetic control of cellular function are not well defined. In particular, the sequence of events concerned with remodelling of different types of cells under various pathological situations is poorly understood. In this book we have therefore dealt with some of these issues from biochemical, molecular biological, physiological, and pharmacological viewpoints. Special emphasis has been laid on understanding heart function and metabolism in health and disease in general, and cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease in particular. It is hoped that this multidisciplinary information will be of value to basic scientists and clinical investigators.

Knowledge of cardiac ion channels and transporters has advanced remarkably in the last two decades with the development of patch-clamp and molecular biological techniques. This textbook offers a comprehensive overview of structures and functions of ion channels and transporters in the heart. Readers are first introduced to the molecular biology and electrophysiology of all the important ion channels. After discussing their developmental changes, the pharmacology and pathophysiology of clinically-relevant ion channels are reviewed. Molecular aspects of the cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and intracellular Ca2+ regulation by ion transporters are also described. The book will be useful to electrophysiologists, cardiac physiologists and pharmacologists, and molecular biologists interested in ion channels at all levels. For research specialists, the book will provide a perspective of the field. The book can be used as a reference source for working scientists in the fields of ion channels, biophysics, cardiac electrophysiology, and pharmacology. It is aimed at graduate and medical students, designed for use as a textbook for graduate and medical courses.

The first edition of this book was quite successful. As in the first edition, the book is divided into two major sections: cardiac muscle and coronary circula­ Several complimentary book reviews appeared soon tion. The book is multidisciplinary and includes after the first edition was published, and written and membrane biophysics, electrophysiology, physiol­ oral words of praise and appreciation were given both ogy, pathophysiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, to the publisher and to me by quite a few individuals. and ultrastructure. Thus, the book attempts ro It is because of such positive comments and reactions that the publisher and I decided to embark on a integrate all relevant aspects of the factors influenc­ second edition of Physiology and Pathophysiology of the ing the function of the heart as a vital organ under Heart. The second edition was long in preparation, normal and various abnormal conditions. The book taking over a year to complete. All chapter contri­ also attempts to set the foundation for an under­ butors were asked to revise, improve, and update standing of the action and mechanism of action of a their articles, and all have done so with enthusiasm number of classes of cardioactive drugs.

Nature is totally amoral! There are at least 3-4 million people in France alone who suffer from arterial hypertension, and whose cardiovascular system is submitted day and night to both a haemodynamic and hormonal stress. In all cases, the vasculature hypertrophies as does the myocardium. This growth process is obviously mainly detrimental at the outset since it lowers compliance of the arteries and makes them stiffer. In contrast, myocardial hypertrophy is initially beneficial since the growth process multiplies the number of contractile units and by so doing improves external work. In addition, according to Starling's law, wall stress is lowered. Growth factors playa major role in this amoral process as a trigger for hypertrophy at the vascular level, and very likely at the level of the myocardium. Another major point of interest is the role of growth factors as determinants of restenosis after angioplasty and also of atherogenesis. Several chapters in this book are directly or indirectly concerned with this problem which is far from being purely academic since several groups are currently trying to control these processes by gene transfer. Certainly, one of the major clinical questions arising from such studies is why restenosis is not more frequent in clinical practice. After de-endotheliazation, the biologist would predict on the basis of recent studies on growth factors, and in contrast with current clinical opinion, that hypertrophy would occur in all cases with more or less complete restenosis.

Potassium channels (K+) are membrane-spanning proteins which serve many important functions and are becoming a hot topic in physiology. K+ channels determine or modulate many functions of vascular smooth muscle, endothelial and inflammatory cells, and thus are central to regulation of arterial tone and control of cell proliferation. They are also promising targets for antihypertensive treatments with drugs which open and close specific types of K+ channels, making for an active field of research. With their ability to control vascular tone, voltage-gated K+ channels play a significant role in both pulmonary and systemic hypertension as well as in cardiac arrhythmias. This book will highlight the latest discoveries by leading researchers pertaining to the role of K+ channels in the heart and blood vessels in normal physiology and a variety of disease states.

Cardiovascular (CV) response consists of changes in CV parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, and heart contraction force in reaction to an event or set of events. It is significant for multiple reasons, perhaps most notably because research suggests that it affects the development and progression of heart disease. Disease models vary, but most assume that characteristically strong and prolonged CV responses confer health risk. Psychologists have long suspected linkages between motivational variables and CV response. However, formal study of the linkages was limited for many years. Motivationally based CV response research now flourishes, with researchers in various disciplines considering the role of relevant variables such as effort, incentives, and goals. This book conveys the amount and diversity of motivationally based CV response research that currently is being conducted. Chapters discuss mechanisms of motivational influence on CV response and apply motivational approaches to studying CV response in different life circumstances. Health implications are considered throughout. The volume will appeal to scholars and practitioners in numerous specialty areas, including motivation, emotion, psychophysiology, medical/health psychology, social/personality psychology and human factors/ergonomics. It will be a vital research source and could serve as a text or supplement in classes that address motivational, psychophysiological and health issues.

This special issue of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry good source of information in this regard. contains original research papers as well as invited reviews We wish to thank all of the contributors for their help and dedicated, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the in­ cooperation. We also wish to thank Mrs. Verona Kuhle for auguration of the Heart Research Group in Beriin-Buch that her secretarial help. We are grateful to Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla, today forms a part there ofthe Max Delbriick Center for Mo­ Editor-in-Chief of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry for his lecular Medicine, to Professor Albert Wollenberger, founder interest and encouragement, and for agreeing to publish this of the Heart Research Group and for 21 years its head. issue in honor of Albert Wollenberger. The papers in this issue are written by researchers work­ ing in the field of cardiovascular research who together with ERNST-GEORG KRAUSE and ROLAND VETTER Albert Wollenberger share the belief that an integrative ap­ Max Delbriick Center for Molecular Medicine plication of advances in molecular and cellular biology will Robert-Rossle-StraBe 10 lead to new concepts for treatment and prevention of cardio­ 13122 Beriin-Buch vascular diseases. We hope that this special will serve as a Gennany ALBERT WOLLENBERGER, Professor, Ph. D. (Harvard), Dr. Sc. Med. (Berlin) The dedication is accorded to Prof.

PDQ Evidence-Based Principles & Practice provides a foundation to understanding health care research and how best to evaluate and apply new research findings in health. In addition, the book outlines how best to identify important studies in health care published in large bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE. The text helps the reader develop optimal, effective MEDLINE search strategies with step-by-step suggestions for retrieving sound clinical studies on the etiology, prognosis, diagnosis, prevention, and management of disorders encountered in adult general medicine.

Mitochondria have been pivotal in the development of some of the most important ideas in modern biology. Since the discovery that the organelle has its own DNA and specific mutations were found in association with neuromuscular and cardiovascular diseases and with aging, an extraordi-nary number of publications have followed, and the term mitochondrial medicine was coined. Furthermore, our understanding of the multiple roles that mitochondria play in cardiac cell homeostasis opened the door for intensive experimentation to understand the pathogenesis and to find new treatments for cardiovascular diseases. Besides its role in adenosine triphosphate generation, mitochondria regu-late a complex network of cellular interactions, involving (1) generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion, hy-drogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical; (2) maintenance of the antioxidant glutathione in a reduced state and adequate level of mitochondrial matrix superoxide dismutase; (3) cytoplasmic calcium homeostasis, particularly under conditions of cellular calcium loading; (4) transport of metabolites between cytoplasm and matrix; (5) both programmed (apoptosis) and necrotic cell death; and (6) cell growth and development. It is therefore not surprising that this organelle has come to be the center stage in many current investigations of cardiovascular diseases, aging, and agi- related disease. Concomitant with these advances, an impressive effort is under- way for the development of new tools and methodologies to study mitochondrial structure and function, including powerful ways to visualize, monitor, and alter the organelle function to assess the genetic consequences of these perturbations.

Recent studies have shown that the heart possesses an intrinsic renin angiotensin system that is controlled by tissue-specific parameters that are activated by biomechanical stress. This book reviews the latest information on the way in which both the plasma and cardiac renin angiotensin systems affect heart function. It covers the cell and molecular biology of these systems, with contributions on renin synthesis, uptake and the intracellular signalling pathways. Particular insight comes from transgenic mouse models in which either mouse or human genes for various components of the renin angiotensin system are expressed. Other topics covered include wound healing as well as the trophic effects of aldosterone. Contains the most recent findings on the renin angiotensin system and the heart Written by an international team of distinguished scientists Covers both the cellular and molecular basis of the renin angiotensin system and the clinical relevance of this research

Heart Physiology and Pathophysiology, 4E, provides the foundation for the scientific understanding of heart function and dysfunction, and bridges the gap between basic cardiovascular science and clinical cardiology. This comprehensive text covers all the important aspects of the heart and vascular system. The most important and relevant disorders are presented, with emphasis on the mechanisms involved. The first three editions of this book developed a reputation as the leading reference in cardiovascular science for researchers and academic cardiologists. This recent edition has been updated, expanded, and includes a number of new contributors. It has also been remodeled to expand its usage as a text reference for cardiology residents, practicing cardiologists, and graduate students.Key Features• The most comprehensive book available on this topic• Clear, concise, and complete coverage of all important aspects of cardiovascular physiology/pathophysiology• Completely updated version of the foremost reference on cardiovascular science, including new information on pathophysiology and electrophysiology• Useful tool in bridging the gap between basic science, pathophysiology, and clinical cardiology