ADVANCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH, VOLUME 1 -- ADVANCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH, VOLUME 1 -- Contents -- Preface -- The Mitral Valve: Development, Structure, Pathology & Tissue Engineering -- Abstract -- I. Development of the Mitral Valve Apparatus -- II. Histological Anatomy of the Mitral Valve -- III. Surface Topographical and Ultrastructural Anatomy of the Mitral Valve -- III.I. Surface Topography of the Mitral Valve -- III.II. Ultrastructure of the Mitral Valve -- III.II.I. Endocardial endothelium (EE) -- III.II.II. Valvar interstitial cells (VIC) -- III.II.III. Extracellular matrix (ECM) -- III.II.IV. Neural elements -- IV. Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (Canine Model) -- IV.I. Clinical Features and Natural Disease Progression -- IV.II. Pathology of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease -- IV.III. Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease -- V. Mitral Valve Regeneration & Tissue Engineering -- V.I. Cell Sourcing for Mitral Valve Tissue Engineering -- V.II. Scaffold Development for Mitral Valve Tissue Engineering -- V.III. Bioreactor Development for Mitral Valve Tissue Engineering -- V.IV. Challenges in the Field of Mitral Valve Tissue Engineering -- References -- Review of Treatment of Ventricular Fibrillation -- Abstract -- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation -- Drug Therapy of Ventricular Fibrillation -- Introduction -- Amiodarone -- Sotalol -- Automated External Defibrillators & Public Access Defibrillation -- Introduction -- The Modern AED -- Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) -- The Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator -- Introduction -- Primary Prevention -- Summary -- Secondary Prevention -- Introduction -- Early and DUTCH Trials -- Summary -- Cost effectiveness of ICDs -- Summing up and Future Directions -- Abbreviations -- References.

A Historical View of Advances in the Resuscitation of Patients in Ventricular Fibrillation from the Perspective of Emergency Medical Services -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Cardiovascular Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death: The Demographics and Survival Rates of Patient in VF -- Mechanism of Sudden Cardiac Death and Ventricular Fibrillation: The Arrhythmogenicity of Myocardial Ischaemia -- Establishment of the International Liason Committee on Resuscitation to Develop a Concerted International Approach -- Conclusion: A Look to the Future -- References -- The Ambiguous Role of Epinephrine in Ventricular Fibrillation -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Epinephrine in CPR -- Epinephrine in the Human Organism -- Pathophysiology of CA -- Three-Phase Ventricular Fibrillation Model -- Adverse Effects of Epinephrine -- Factors Influencing Epinephrine's Effectiveness -- Epinephrine's Dose -- Epinephrine in CPR Research -- Alternative Pharmacologic Agents -- Adrenergic Agents -- Causes of Discrepancies between Laboratory and Clinical Trials in CPR -- Conclusion -- References -- Defibrillation: Mechanisms, Waveforms, Energy Levels, Transthoracic Impedance and Automated External Defibrillators -- Abstract -- Definition and Mechanisms -- Waveforms and Energy Levels -- Transthoracic Impedance and Optimal Defibrillation -- Automated External Defibrillators -- Conclusion -- References -- Acute Kidney Injury after Coronary Artery Bypass -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Incidence and Prognosis of Acute Kidney Injuries after Bypass Surgery -- Risk Factors Associated with Acute Kidney Injury -- Mechanisms Leading to Acute Kidney Injury -- Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury after Coronary Artery Bypass -- How Can We Prevent Acute Kidney Injury after Coronary Artery Bypass? -- Conclusion -- References.

Rheumatic Valvulopathy: Current Understanding of Pathogenesis and Perspective of Immunobiological Treatments -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Epidemiology and Etiologic Agent -- Genetic Susceptibility and Pathogenesis -- Diagnosis and Clinical Manifestations -- Laboratory Investigation -- Differential Diagnosis -- Treatment -- Treatment of the Clinical Manifestations -- Surgical Treatment -- Vaccine -- Future Perspectives -- References -- Microstructure of the Aortic Valve: Implications for Valvular Mechanics and Function -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Fibrosa -- Ventricularis -- Spongiosa -- Endothelium -- Future Directions -- Conclusion -- References -- Morphological Aspects in Analysis of Postoperative Remodeling of Left Ventricle in Patients with Icmp -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results and Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Functional and Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation -- Etiology and Epidemiology -- Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Assessment -- Surgical Technique -- Current Attitudes and Indications for Surgery -- Conclusion -- References -- Confounding of Genetic and Environmental Factors in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Subjects and Methods -- Results -- Associations between Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and the Genetic Variants -- Confounding Genetic, Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension -- Discussion -- Candidate Genes and their Possible Pathogeneses in the Development of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension -- A Possibility of Individualized Medicine for Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Management of Pregnant Women with Complete Atrioventricular Block -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Complete Atrioventricular Block.

Maternal Hemodynamic Change during Pregnancy -- Review of Literature -- Cases in Our Experience between 1981 and 1996 -- Clinical Trials in Our Center between 1997 and 2004 -- Management of Pregnant Women with Permanent Pacemaker -- Management of Pregnant Women without Permanent Pacemakers -- Intrapartum Management of Women without Permanent Pacemaker -- Obstetric Complications in Women with CAVB -- Long Term Follow-up after Delivery -- Conclusion -- References -- Cardiovascular Risk Following Hypertensive Pregnancy -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Hypertension in Pregnancy and Implications in the Cardiovascular Diseases -- Hypertension in Pregnancy and Subsequent Chronic Hypertension -- Hypertension in Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Diseases -- Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease: Common Etiopathogenical Mechanisms -- Endothelial Dysfunction -- Inflammatory Response -- Prothrombotic State -- Metabolic Alterations -- Conclusions -- References -- Optical Mapping of Intramural Reentry -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Role of Percutaneous Interventions in the Management of Adult Congenital Heart Diseases -- Abstract -- Background -- Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization Vs Imaging in Adult Patients with CHD -- Interventional Catheterization -- Percutaneous Occlusion of Shunt Lesions -- Atrial Septal Defects -- Patent Foramen Ovale -- Ventricular Septal Defect -- Patent Ductus Arteriosus -- Percutaneous Angioplasty and Stenting -- Coarctation of Aorta -- Percutaneous Valvuloplasty and Valve Insertion -- Post TOF Repair -- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis -- Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Stenosis -- Aortic Stenosis -- Miscellaneous Conditions -- Conclusion -- References -- Aortic Stenosis and Systemic Arterial Hypertension: See beyond the Valve -- Abstract.

Coexistence of Aortic Stenosis and Systemic Arterial Hypertension -- Impact of Systemic Arterial Hypertension on the Evaluation of Aortic Stenosis Severity -- Impact of Aortic Stenosis and Systemic Arterial Hypertension: Double Loaded Ventricle -- Characterization of the Double Loaded Ventricle -- Equivalent Hypertension - Effective Orifice Area -- Conclusion -- References -- Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery: Port Access or Catheter-Based? -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Operative Approaches and Techniques -- Intraoperative Anesthetic Management -- Perfusion Techniques -- Surgical Approaches -- Aortotomy Exposure -- Deairing and Closure -- The Catheter-Based Approach -- Clinical Outcomes of MIAVS -- Results of Catheter-Based Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- Aorto-Enteric Fistulas: Our Choices -- Summary -- Introduction -- Secondary Aorto-Enteric Fistula -- Clinical Manifestation -- Screenings -- Operative Management -- Results -- Conclusions -- References -- Cardiac Sympathetic Nervous System Denervation and Sudden Cardiac Death: Studies with Iodine-123 Metaiodobenzylguanidine Scintigrphy -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Structural Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death -- Idiopathic Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death -- Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation and Sudden Cardiac Death -- References -- Low Birth Weight Is a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease -- References -- Disorders of the Haemostatic System in Patients with Solid Malignancies -- Abbreviations -- References -- Vascular Associations of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome -- Abstract -- Purpose -- Methods -- Results -- Conclusions -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Patient Selection -- Ophthalmologic Study -- Biochemical Study -- Statistical Analysis -- Results -- General Descriptive Statistics -- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Group Versus Control Group.

Pseudoexfoliation Group versus Control Group.