Many groups of biologically important compounds experience cycles of furious research activity and near oblivion. The purines however seem not to be falling into such a pattern. Interest seems to be continuing almost exponentially with no sign of diminution. The result is a frighteningly extensive literature and an increas ing demand for international conferences and symposia. Unfortunately meetings such as these also spawn increasingly voluminous proceedings and it becomes more and more d...

Clinical Cardiac MRI is a comprehensive textbook intended for everyone involved in magnetic resonance imaging of the heart. It is designed both as a useful guide for newcomers to the field and as an aid for those who routinely perform such studies. The first edition, published in 2004-5, was very well received within the cardiac imaging community, and has generally been considered the reference because of its completeness, its clarity, and the number and quality of the illustratio...

This is the third edition of a very successful book that originally emerged from the work of a committee set up by the European Society of Urogenital Radiology in 1994 to consider the safety of contrast media used for diagnostic imaging. The new edition not only fully updates the previous edition, but also includes new chapters on complex topics such as pediatric issues and practical aspects of off-label contrast media use. Comprehensive consideration is given to the many different safety ...

PNL is the gold standard for the management of large and/or otherwise complex renal stones. Since its introduction in the seventies PNL has undergone considerable evolution, mainly driven by the improvement in access techniques, endoscopic instrument technology, lithotripsy devices and drainage management. The conventional prone position for PNL has been challenged in the last two decades by a variety of modifications, including the supine and Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia positions, w...

This book sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms that generate circadian rhythms. It examines how biological rhythms influence physiological processes such as sleep, hormone synthesis and secretion, immunity, kidney function, the cardiovascular system, blood pressure, and the digestive system. Clinical implications are considered while exploring the impact of rhythms on neuropsychiatric disorders and chronotherapy’s potential for reducing cardiovascular risk. Offering a cross-section ...

The use 0\ contrast media within diagnostic radiology has been firmly established for many years now. Radiologic contrast media render immense services in daily clinical practice to innumerable patients all over the world. When the new cross sectional modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance ima ging were introduced into clinical practice it rapidly became evident that the judi cious use of contrast media allows the optimal exploitation of the great diagnostic potentia...

This book comprehensively covers the latest information about ventricular–vascular morphology and function in congenital heart disease (CHD) assessed by various innovative methodologies.Anatomical (morphological) abnormalities in CHD are generally accompanied with abnormal loading conditions, which, in turn, cause ventricular and vascular functional impairments. The functional impairments may also exist independently of the anatomical abnormalities. These two (morphological and fun...

Modern signal and image acquisition systems used in the field of cardiology acquire, analyze, and store data digitally. Surface electrocardiography, intra-cardiac electrogram recording, echocardiograms, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography are among the modalities in the cardiology field where signal processing is applied. Digital signal processing techniques allow us to automate many of the analyses that had previously been done manually with greater precision, accur...

Acute kidney failure is an important clinical area in the intensive care unit setting. An estimated 5–20% of critically ill patients experience an episode of acute kidney failure during the course of their illness, and about 5% of patients admitted to an ICU will eventually require renal replacement therapy. In these patients, in-hospital mortality is extremely high, exceeding 50%. Thus, the early detection and causal treatment of acute kidney problems is vitally important for a successful...

This is the first textbook entirely dedicated to the endovascular treatment of complications related to arteriovenous accesses for hemodialysis (native fistulas and prosthetic grafts). The book addresses the anatomy of upper limb arteries and veins as well as the clinical presentation of patients and the way to perform and read a fistulogram. Many details and illustrations are provided, clarifying the subtleties in catheterization and the dilation of stenoses. From a strategic point of vie...

Cardiovascular complications are not only responsible for more than half of our patients' mortality, they also represent the bulk of everyday problems in a dialysis unit. Yet, the space allocated to them in the major textbooks covers only 2-8% of their total content. The origins of this book lie in many years of day-to-day care of dialysis patients. It gradually became clear to the author that systematic application of well-known pathophysiological principles could improve patients' condit...

The aim of the 4th edition of the Atlas of Nuclear Cardiology is to provide physicians and students in cardiology, radiology, and nuclear medicine who want the latest information in the field of cardiovascular nuclear medicine up-to-date and comprehensive information on advances in instrumentation, radiotracers, protocols, and clinical studies. Unlike other books that are narrow in their scope of either technology and technique or clinical studies, the 4th edition of the Atlas will present...