This forum of comprehensive reviews and research studies on distinct aspects of the pathophysiology of BAV aortopathy provides both the state of the art in the knowledge on this complex disease and novel insights into its causes and consequences. The present collection of focused papers also envisions and proposes new therapeutic strategies, novel biomarkers and original risk stratification criteria, for the improvement of patient management.

This book focuses on congenital heart disease (CHD) and emerging imaging technologies. It covers all clinically relevant aspects of the fascinating new cardiac imaging technologies, including a comprehensive explanation of their basic principles, practical aspects of novel clinical applications, and detailed descriptions of specific uses in the broad spectrum of clinically important adult CHD. Innovations and emerging technologies for diagnosis and therapeutics, evaluation and treatment are continually evolving, and due to these advances in non-invasive diagnosis, there has been a significant improvement in the survival rates for CHD patient. Novel approaches to trans-catheter interventions and advances in echocardiography, MRI and CT imaging are being developed and incorporated into routine clinical practice, while emerging three-dimensional printing technologies are fundamentally affecting patient care, research, trainee education, and interactions between multidisciplinary teams, patients, and caregivers. In addition, translational technologies on the horizon promise to take this nascent field even further. Exploring the applicability of these emerging technologies in improving our understanding of complex congenital cardiac defect anatomy and physiology will provide new treatment options for this unique population. Written by experts in the field who are also involved in patient care, this book discusses the practical application of innovations in advanced multimodality imaging in the daily clinical routine and offers tips and tricks for beginners.

This book examines various aspects of the aorta, both healthy and diseased states, in 40 chapters of in-depth research by experts in cardiovascular disease. It begins with chapters on the embryology, anatomy, genetics, and physiology of the aorta along with imaging studies used to visualize its structure. The bulk of the book focuses on acute and chronic disorders such as coarctation of the aorta, inflammatory and connective tissue disorders, acute aortic thrombosis, infections, tumors, related ocular diseases, and various aneurysms and fistulas. In addition, it explores aortic disease in pregnancy, fetal aortic disorders, and aortic trauma in children. The book highlights the epidemiology and natural history as well as medical, endovascular, and surgical treatments for each disease. It also discusses valve repair, 3D printing applications, and the role of multidisciplinary aortic centers. Diseases of the Aorta is an indispensable and authoritative resource for cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, radiologists, and vascular medicine specialists.

Offers readers an understanding of the development of neural crest cells, which is crucial as many birth defects and tumours are of neural crest origin. Delving into stem cells from different locations of the body, this book explores the best possible source of such cells for the use in medical applications.

This handbook brings together the full weight of contemporary evidence bearing on what is now commonly termed “psycho-cardiology”. It focuses on the role of psycho-social factors in the genesis and clinical management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The book constitutes a critically reviewed compendium of current knowledge in the area, coupled with guides to evidence-based best practice in the field of psycho-cardiology. The following categories are covered: Social/demographic risk for CVD, Personality and CVD risk, Stress and CVD risk, Psychopathology (particularly affective disorders) and CVD risk, The psychological management of those with clinical CVD, Psychology in the prevention of CVD. The book integrates the evidence into a compelling argument that clinicians, researchers and those in public health will discount the role of psychological factors in regard to CVD at their own peril. And importantly for clinicians charged with the care of patients with CVD, the book poses the argument that failure to recognize the links between psychological factors and CVD may well be at the considerable peril of those patients under their care.

Clinical management and signs are the focus of this practical cardiogenetic reference for those who are involved in the care for cardiac patients with a genetic disease. With detailed discussion of the basic science of cardiogenetics in order to assist in the clinical understanding of the topic. The genetic causes of various cardiovascular diseases are explained in a concise clinical way that reinforces the current management doctrine in a practical manner. The authors will cover the principles of molecular genetics in general but also specific to cardiac diseases. They will discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, clinical diagnosis, molecular diagnosis and treatment of each cardiogenetic disease separately. Therapy advice, ICD indications, indications for and manner of further family investigation will all be covered, while each chapter will also contain take-home messages to reinforce the key points. The chapters reviewing the different diseases will each contain a table describing the genes involved in each. Each chapter will also contain specific illustrations, cumulatively giving a complete, practical review of each cardiogenetic disease separately. Special emphasis will be given to advice on how to diagnose and manage cardiogenetic diseases in clinical practice, which genes should be investigated and why, and the pros and cons of genetic testing. Guidelines for investigation in families with sudden cardiac death at young age will also be included. This book will be written for the general cardiologist and the clinical geneticist who is involved in cardiac patients and will provide answers to question such as: Which genes are involved and which mutations? What is the effect of the mutation at cellular level? Which genes should be tested and why? What is the value of a molecular diagnosis? Does it influence therapy? When should the first degree relatives be tested and in which way?

The human body contains many specialized tissues that are capable of fulfilling an incredible variety of functions necessary for our survival. This volume in the Human Cell Culture Series focuses on mesenchymal tissues and cells. The in vitro study of mesenchymal cells is perhaps the oldest form of human cell culture, beginning with the culturing of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts have long been generically described in the literature, arising from many tissue types upon in vitro cell culture. However, recent studies, many enabled by new molecular biology techniques, have shown considerable diversity in fibroblast type and function, as described within this volume. Mesenchymal tissue types that are described within include bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, muscle, adipose tissue, and skin (dermis). The proper function of these tissues is predominantly dependent upon the proper proliferation, differentiation, and function of the mesenchymal cells which make up the tissue. Recent advancements in primary human mesenchymal cell culture have led to remarkable progress in the study of these tissues. Landmark experiments have now demonstrated a stem cell basis for many of these tissues, and, furthermore, significant plasticity and inter-conversion of stem cells between these tissues, resulting in a great deal of contemporary excitement and controversy. Newly-developed mesenchymal cell culture techniques have even lead to novel clinical practices for the treatment of disease.