How is the heartbeat generated? What controls the strength of contraction of heart muscle? What are the links between cardiac structure and function? How does our understanding of skeletal and smooth muscle and non-muscle cells influence our thinking about force development in the heart? Are there important species differences in how contraction is regulated in the heart? How do the new molecular data fit together in understanding the heart beat? What goes wrong in ischemia, hypertrophy, and heart failure? This book paints a modern `portrait' of how the heart works and in this picture the author shows a close-up of the structural, biochemical, and physiological links between excitation and contraction. The author takes the reader through a series of important, interrelated topics with great clarity and continuity and also includes many useful illustrations and tables. The book starts by considering the cellular structures involved in excitation-contraction coupling and then described the characteristics of the myofilaments as the end effector of excitation-contraction coupling. A general scheme of calcium regulation is described and the possible sources and sinks of calcium are discussed in simple, but quantitative terms. The cardiac action potential and its many underlying currents are reviewed. Then the characteristics of some key calcium transport systems (calcium channels, sodium/calcium exchange and SR calcium uptake and release) are discussed in detail. This is then built into a more integrated picture of calcium regulation in succeeding chapters by detailed discussions of excitation-calcium coupling mechanisms (in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle), the interplay between calcium regulatory processes, and finally mechanisms of cardiac inotropy, calcium overload, and dysfunction (e.g., ischemia, hypertrophy, and heart failure). Excitation-Contraction Coupling and Cardiac Contractile Force – Second Edition is an invaluable source of information for anyone who is interested in how the heart beat is controlled and especially suited for students of the cardiovascular system at all levels from medical/graduate students through senior investigators in related fields.

Research centering on blood flow in the heart continues to hold an important position, especially since a better understanding of the subject may help reduce the incidence of coronary arterial disease and heart attacks. This book summarizes recent advances in the field; it is the product of fruitful cooperation among international scientists who met in Japan in May, 1990 to discuss the regulation of coronary blood flow.

On 15 November 1997, the first international symposium "Neural and Chemical Control of Breathing: Pharmacological and Clinical Aspects" was held at Leiden University Medical Center on the occasion of the retirement of one of the members of the Control of Breathing Research Group of the Departments of Physiology and Anesthesiology, Dr. Aad Berkenbosch. Among others, Dr. Berkenbosch, played an important role in this research group, which made a large and significant contribution to scientific research on the regulation of breathing. This book presents the proceedings of that meeting together with papers of several authors who have strong bonds with the Leiden Departments of Physiology and Anesthesiology. All studies represent state of the art work on the subject of respiratory control and cardiovascular medicine, with emphasis on the physiological, pharmacological and anesthesiological aspects of both fields. The book is divided in several sections: Oxygen Physiology. Prof. John Severinghaus presents among other things his ideas on oxygen sensing and high altitude related diseases. Prof. Honda gives results from studies in a unique set of subjects without carotid bodies. The findings of Honda's group support the idea that an intact hypoxic drive from the carotid bodies is necessary for the generation of central hypoxic depression. Dr. Hans van Beek discusses the effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia on cardiac contractility in animal models. Prof. Oeseburg demonstrates the feasibility of Near Infra Red Oximetry for monitoring tissue oxygenation in patients. Central Chemoreception.

The ultrasound velocity tomography allows measurement of cardiac geometries for various phases in the cardiac cycle. The present tomograph makes reconstruc tions at intervals of 20 ms. Because of a lack of clear (intramural) landmarks (except the roots of the papillairy muscle), it is difficult to pinpoint spatial trajectories of particular points in the heart. Therefore, a second method was developed of injecting radiopaque markers in the heart and following their motion patterns during the cardiac cycle with help of a biplane X-ray equipment. The data obtained with both methods can be implemented in our finite element model of the heart to compute intramural stresses and strains. The results obtained sofar with the extended Darcy equation to account for the interaction of blood rheology and tissue mechanics look promising. Further testing with more sophisticated subjects than mentioned in Figure 9 is required before it will be implemented in our finite element model of the heart. We conclude that analysis of regional cardiac function, including regional myocardial blood flow, requires still a major research effort but the results obtained sofar justify, to our opinion, a continuation in this direction. Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge Dr. C. Borst and coworkers for doing the animal experiments and prof. Van Campen and dr. Grootenboer for their participation is some aspects of this work.

The Studies in Physiology series provides a concise introduction to developments in complex areas of physiology for a wide audience. Published on behalf of the Physiology Society, Cardiovascular Regulation provides an up-to-date account of our current understanding of the control of the cardiovascular system that is not covered by existing textbooks. Both students and lecturers of cardiovascular and exercise physiology, medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences will find this book informative and easy to read. Each chapter has numerous summary boxes. 'Essential reading' suggestions provide additional reading for undergraduates and the suggestions for 'Further reading' cover the subject to postgraduate level.

This textbook introduces readers to the scientific basics of cardiovascular medicine and biology. It covers not only developmental but also cellular and molecular aspects of normally functioning vasculature and the heart; importantly, it also addresses the mechanisms leading to and involved in specific cardiovascular diseases. Though the main emphasis is on novel therapies and potential therapeutic targets, specific controversial topics like cardiac remodeling and regenerative capacities are also addressed. All chapters were written by lecturers from the Imperial College London, in collaboration with their students from the College’s BSc Programme in Medical Sciences with Cardiovascular Science. Bridging the gap between clinics and basic biology, the book offers a valuable guide for medical students, and for Master and PhD students in Cardiovascular Biomedicine.