The book covers the basic science and clinical aspects of cardiovascular calcification and bone mineralization. Cardiovascular calcification is the leading predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with a predictive value more significant than blood lipid levels. The presence of calcific mineral in cardiovascular tissues alters biomechanical performance, increasing workload on the heart and potentiating atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent heart attack and stroke. This book examines the role of calcification in cardiovascular disease covering topics such as calcification in the atherosclerotic plaques and aortic valves arteries and valves, aortic valve replacement, peripheral artery disease, imaging of early calcification and target discovery. In addition, various forms of ectopic calcification as well as mechanisms of bone mineralization are discussed. Cardiovascular Calcification and Bone Mineralization is an essential resource for clinicians, researchers, and other medical professionals in cardiology, pathology, and biomedical engineering.

The book systematically describes the clinical and scientific aspects of cardiovascular calcification. Chapters detail the mechanisms associated with arterial and valve calcification, relevant risk factors, pathophysiology and the latest therapeutic techniques. Recent diagnostic technological developments including how computed tomography (CT) scanning can be utilized along with Agatston score to quantify coronary arterial calcification when investigating whether a patient for sub-clinical atherosclerosis are covered. The correlation with the presence of arterial calcification and extent of coronary stenosis is also explored. Cardiovasular Calcification details relevant aspects of the basic science and reviews the latest pathological and therapeutic techniques used in treating patients with cardiovascular calcification. It is therefore an essential resource for practicing cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular specialists and radiologists.

Early Vascular Aging (EVA): New Directions in Cardiovascular Protection, Second Edition continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative resource on premature alterations in artery structure and function. The book presents a novel approach to the problem of cardiovascular disease, showing it in relation to great vessels disease and revealing a comprehensive approach to the problem of increased rigidity of the great vessels, its causes, and further consequences. This second edition contains completely updated content with expanded coverage of basic and translational research, systematic reviews of the most prominent literature, discussion of applicability of new evidence and more. Written by an international team of clinicians and researchers, this is a valuable resource to basic and translational scientists, clinical researchers and clinicians in the cardiovascular field interested in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EVA. - Contains all the relevant information available on the main paradigm shifts in vascular aging research, from different fields of knowledge (from basic biology to epidemiology) - Reviews the most prominent evidence produced on early vascular aging (EVA), highlighting recent research advances, clinical applications, and research opportunities - Formulates, in each chapter, a set of research questions that need to be addressed, challenging the vast research community to take on new directions and collaborations

A comprehensive reference covering all aspects of the clinical management of adult and child dialysis patients. This edition includes seven new chapters including one on EPO use in dialysis patients and one on the HIV positive patient.

Due to population aging, calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) has become the most common heart valve disease in Western countries. No therapies exist to slow this disease progression, and surgical valve replacement is the only effective treatment. Calcific Aortic Valve Disease covers the contemporary understanding of basic valve biology and the mechanisms of CAVD, provides novel insights into the genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics of CAVD, depicts new strategies in heart valve tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and explores current treatment approaches. As we are on the verge of understanding the mechanisms of CAVD, we hope that this book will enable readers to comprehend our current knowledge and focus on the possibility of preventing disease progression in the future.

“Brain circulation is a true road map that consists of large extended navigation territories and a number of unimagined and undiscovered routes.” Dr. Patricia Bozzetto Ambrosi This book combines an update on the review of cerebrovascular diseases in the form of textbook chapters, which has been carefully reviewed by Dr. Patricia Bozzetto Ambrosi, Drs. Rufai Ahmad and Auwal Abdullahi and Dr. Amit Agrawal, high-performance academic editors with extensive experience in neurodisciplines, including neurology, neurosurgery, neuroscience, and neuroradiology, covering the best standards of neurological practice involving basic and clinical aspects of cerebrovascular diseases. Each topic was carefully revised and prepared using smooth, structured vocabulary, plus superb graphics and scientific illustrations. In emphasizing the most common aspects of cerebrovascular diseases: stroke burden, pathophysiology, hemodynamics, diagnosis, management, repair, and healing, the book is comprehensive but concise and should become the standard reference guide for this neurological approach.

Nolph and Gokal's Text Book of Peritoneal Dialysis, Third Edition, covers advances made in the field for the past 30 years. During the past two decades, the time during which this therapy has been increasingly utilized, this text has continued to be recognized as the major source of the discipline's base knowledge. The evolution of this text to its newest edition parallels the growth of peritoneal dialysis from Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis in the eighties to the current therapy that encompasses manual and automated therapies with full emphasis on adequacy of dialysis dose. Peritoneal dialysis represents an intracorporeal technique for blood purification. This unique dialysis system represents one of many human attempts to manipulate nature for sustenance of life. The past few years of advances have focused on further improvement of the technique. Areas that have fueled the interest of researchers include: (1) Physiology of high transporters (and the role of genetics and inflammation); (2) Continued debate over the most appropriate adequacy indices (small solute clearances, large solute clearances, clinical assessment etc.); (3) Understanding, preventing and treating the MIA syndrome in PD patients ( including the roles of leptin, and adiponectin); (4) Pathogenesis and newer management strategies of vascular calcification; (5) Continued improvements in infectious complications including peritonitis; (6) Further improvements in catheter technology; (7) Automated techniques; (8) Explaining and correcting PD underutilization; (9) Rationale and applications of newer dialysis solutions; (10) New understanding and approaches to management of osteodystrophy; (11) Refinements in anemia management including new insights in iron metabolism in PD patients; (12) Further definition of indications for PD; (13) The ideal time to initiate dialysis. Newer insight into host defense mechanisms have also made the past decade of advances in the field more meaningful for clinicians. This text also covers the knowledge gained from animal models of peritoneal dialysis. Nolph and Gokal's Textbook of Peritoneal Dialysis, Third Edition is a compilation of the latest knowledge in the field. It cites and describes in great detail, the new discoveries and the evolution of understanding the subject of these discoveries.

Known worldwide, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease that affects up to 4% of the population with increasing figures also in the developing countries. Life expectancy of patients affected by CKD is shortened compared to the overall population, and only a minority of patients reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with the need for dialysis or renal transplantation; death overtakes dialysis. In the 13 chapters, this book sheds light on the different aspects related to pathophysiology and clinical aspects of CKD, providing interesting insights into not only inflammation and cardiovascular risk but also the interplay of hormones and the functional aspects of endothelial function. In addition, chapters dealing with genetic aspects of polycystic kidney disease and also the clinical handling of patients with CKD and peritoneal dialysis will be beneficial for the open-minded reader.

This is a comprehensive, authoritative, yet user-friendly guide to renal disease. More than any other subdivision of internal medicine successful nephrological practice is dependent on other specialities. The kidneys are affected by many systemic diseases. There is increased incidence of cardiovascular and neoplastic disease in patients with renal

This book is a dedicated resource for those sitting the Part A of the MCEM (Membership of the College of Emergency Medicine) examination. It forms an essential revision guide for emergency trainees who need to acquire a broad understanding of the basic sciences, which underpin their approach to clinical problems in the emergency department. Common clinical scenarios are used to highlight the essential underlying basic science principles, providing a link between clinical management and a knowledge of the underlying anatomical, physiological, pathological and biochemical processes. Multiple choice questions with reasoned answers are used to confirm the candidates understanding and for self testing. Unlike other recent revision books which provide MCQ questions with extended answers, this book uses clinical cases linked to the most recent basic science aspects of the CEM syllabus to provide a book that not only serves as a useful revision resource for the Part A component of the MCEM examination, but also a unique way of understanding the processes underlying common clinical cases seen every day in the emergency department. This book is essential for trainees sitting the Part A of the MCEM exam and for clinicians and medical students who need to refresh their knowledge of basic sciences relevant to the management of clinical emergencies.