Atherosclerosis: Diet and Drugs (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 170)

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the - jority of industrialized countries. The most frequent underlying pathology, namely atherosclerosis, and its clinical sequelae, namely coronary heart d- ease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease, remain common although for a long time we have been made aware of avoidable or mo- ?able etiological factors such as smoking, fat-rich diet or lack of exercise, and although these adverse lifestyle factors have been extensively addressed by population-wide primary prevention programs. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality also remain high despite successful anti-hypertensive and lipid lowering drug therapies which help to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by about 30% in both secondary and tertiary prevention settings. This can partly be explained by the increasing life expectancy and growing p- portionofelderly people,especiallyinEuropeandNorthAmerica. Inaddition, the World Health Organization makes the alarming prediction that probably in response to the spreading of western dietary behavior and lack of exercise resulting in an increasing prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypert- sion, cardiovascular diseases rather than infectious diseases will become the most frequent cause of death worldwide. This volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology entitled “Atherosclerosis” is divided into four parts and intends to give an overview on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, established treatment and prevention regimen, and of perspectives for the development of new treatment modalities. The Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis....Pages 3-70 Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease....Pages 71-105 Metabolic Syndrome: Therapeutic Considerations....Pages 107-133 Physical Activity, Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases....Pages 137-163 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerotic Risk....Pages 165-194 Dietary Cholesterol, Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease....Pages 195-213 Plant Sterols and Stanols....Pages 215-230 Carbohydrates and Dietary Fiber....Pages 231-261 Dietary Antioxidants and Paraoxonases Against LDL Oxidation and Atherosclerosis Development....Pages 263-300 Soy, Isoflavones and Atherosclerosis....Pages 301-323 Homocysteine and B Vitamins....Pages 325-338 Alcohol....Pages 339-361 Lipid and Non-lipid Effects of Statins....Pages 365-388 Fibrates....Pages 389-406 ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists....Pages 407-442 Inhibition of Platelet Activation and Aggregation....Pages 443-462 The ABC of Hepatic and Intestinal Cholesterol Transport....Pages 465-482 Inhibition of the Synthesis of Apolipoprotein B-Containing Lipoproteins....Pages 483-517 Therapy of Hyper-Lp(a)....Pages 519-536 Modulation of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Metabolism and Reverse Cholesterol Transport....Pages 537-561 Inhibition of Lipoprotein Lipid Oxidation....Pages 563-590 Correction of Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome....Pages 591-617 Protection of Endothelial Function....Pages 619-644 Modulation of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration: Role of Smooth Muscle Cell Heterogeneity....Pages 645-663 Modulation of Macrophage Function and Metabolism....Pages 665-695 Inflammation Is a Crucial Feature of Atherosclerosis and a Potential Target to Reduce Cardiovascular Events....Pages 697-722 Autoimmune Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis....Pages 723-743 Drug Therapies to Prevent Coronary Plaque Rupture and Erosion: Present and Future....Pages 745-776 Reciprocal Role of Vasculogenic Factors and Progenitor Cells in Atherogenesis....Pages 777-783 Gene Therapy of Atherosclerosis....Pages 785-807 Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the - jority of industrialized countries. The most frequent underlying pathology, namely atherosclerosis, and its clinical sequelae, namely coronary heart d- ease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease, remain common although for a long time we have been made aware of avoidable or mo-?able etiological factors such as smoking, fat-rich diet or lack of exercise, and although these adverse lifestyle factors have been extensively addressed by population-wide primary prevention programs. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality also remain high despite successful anti-hypertensive and lipid lowering drug therapies which help to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by about 30% in both secondary and tertiary prevention settings. This can partly be explained by the increasing life expectancy and growing p- portionofelderly people, especiallyinEuropeandNorthAmerica. Inaddition, the World Health Organization makes the alarming prediction that probably in response to the spreading of western dietary behavior and lack of exercise resulting in an increasing prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypert- sion, cardiovascular diseases rather than infectious diseases will become the most frequent cause of death worldwide. This volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology entitled "Atherosclerosis" is divided into four parts and intends to give an overview on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, established treatment and prevention regimen, and of perspectives for the development of new treatment modalities This book gives an overview on important mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis and thereby presents targets some of which are used and others which may be useful for therapy and prevention of atherosclerosis. Since atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease the scientifc approach must be multidisciplinary. Accordingly, the authors of this book represent different areas of methodology ranging from basic, clinical and population research as well as different fields of expertise ranging from metabolism to immunology and inflammation biology and to vascular biology Editor, Arnold Von Eckardstein ; Contributors, J. Ahrens ... [and Others]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web.