Atherosclerosis and Oxidant Stress: A New Perspective

During the twentieth century we saw a veritable revolution in medicine. Some of the most notable advances have been in the elucidation of the risk factors for and treatment of cardio- and cerebral vascular disease. Identifying these factors through epidemiological studies has led to the development of guidelines for a healthy life style and therapies to control this major killer of the elderly. As a result of these efforts at the present time cardiovascular disease, rather than being the leading cause of death in the United States, has dropped to second behind cancer. Beginning with such seminal studies as the Seven Countries study and the Framingham program, these major advances have resulted from a collaboration among several disciplines, including epidemiology, clinical trials, cell biology, and basic biochemistry. The combined ? ndings from these disparate disciplines have served as the foundation for the institution of public health measures, such as smoking cessation campaigns and new dietary recommendations, as well as the development of medications to prevent disease through the control of such major risk factors as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. One of the major insights into the underlying cause of vascular injury is that it is initiated by oxidant injury to the vessel wall. The current volume is - ganized around the role of oxidant damage in this disease process.

Klappentext

Vascular injury is initiated by oxidant injury to the vessel wall. This volume is organized around the role of oxidant damage in this disease process and provides a collection of the most recent studies, representing various disciplines, that can serve as the basis for further improvements in our understanding and control of cardiovascular and cerebral vascular disease.

Jordan L. Holtzman, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor, Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine and Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Inhalt
The Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Plaque Instability.- Epidemiological Studies on Atherosclerosis: The Role of the Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.- Interventional Trials of Antioxidants.- Oxidative Stress in Arterial Hypertension: Oxidative Stress and Hypertension.- Lipids, Oxidation, and Cardiovascular Disease.- Nuclear Receptors in the Control of Lipid Metabolism.- Diabetes and Oxidant Stress.- Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Atherogenesis.- The Role of Glutathione Pathways in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis.