Cardiologia

During the past decade great progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of many cardiovascular disorders, and such information is already beginning to impact on clinical practice. This book provides cardiologists with a concise summary of what is presently known about the genetic basis of monogenic and polygenic cardiovascular disorders. Each disease is reviewed in identical manner: clinical features, etc. The glossary provides a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of genetic terminology and techniques. Aimed primarily at cardiologists, this book also provides much of interest to clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors. With its quick reference format it intends to be readily appreciated by busy practitioners. The main part of this book summarises inherited cardiovascular diseases, from HCM through Marfan's syndrome to Di George syndrome. There are sections on monogenic forms of hypertension, polygenic forms of hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis. It aims to provide a concise, easy reference for a syndrome, with a glossary at the back to give explanation.

Following the success and great interest in Lipids: Current Perspectives, John Betteridge has created a new book on new developments as well as contentious issues in the field of lipids. This is a comprehensive overview and personal insight into topics of current interest which will stimulate thought and guide the practitioner in his clinical practice.

In the words of Dr. Douglas Zipes, "the AV [atrioventricular] node is the 'soul" of the heart, and whoever understands its anatomy and electrophysiology will unlock the key to understanding the anatomical and electrical workings of the heart itself. This book reviews what we know and do not know about the AV node, and as such, serves as a good road map in our search for that elusive key." The book is divided into two parts, basic and clinical. The basic chapters discuss the fundamentals of AV nodal anatomy and morphology in the normal and diseased heart, the principles of slow conduction, the functional property of the transmission through the AV node, its cellular electrophysiology, its control by the autonomic nervous system as well as its behavior and participation in arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.The clinical chapters are devoted to a wide array of problems, including the clinical pharmacology of the AV nodal conduction, slow and fast pathway ablation in AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, unusual electrophysiology of the human AV node in relation to AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, AV nodal modification and/or ablation for control of ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation, and the effects of radiofrequency ablation on autonomic regulation of the AV node. Renowned specialists from around the globe share their different, sometimes controversial, opinions on these subjects, thus giving the reader the opportunity to evaluate the current knowledge through the experience of different schools.This book was written to serve as an important source of information for cardiologists, electrophysiologists, anatomopathologists, biophysicists, and biomedical engineers. The authors believe it will be useful "both for those that remember the growth of our knowledge in the past (20th) century, and for those that will finally be able to resolve the remaining mysteries in the next."