Atherosclerosis. Pathology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Significance

This book covers all aspects of atherosclerosis from human pathology to experimental studies, from basic science to clinical applications. It comprises 20 chapters including human pathology of human atherosclerosis, cellular biology of atherosclerosis (endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, monocyte/macrophages, dendritic cells and so on), molecular biology of lipid metabolism and hyperlipidemia, pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome, plaque vulnerability and plaque rupture, aortic aneurysms, peripheral atherosclerosis. The chapters begin with the history of atherosclerosis followed by different “hypotheses” regarding atherosclerosis. Through these introductions, readers can learn the state-of-the-art information from human pathological observations to basic research, from experimental animal studies to clinical practice. The book includes more than 100 color pictures along with schematic illustrations. An effort has been made to show real pathological observations with clinical implications side by side. This book not only helps researchers and clinicians understand the molecular basis of atherosclerosis, but also guides them to explore the unknown questions based on the experience of the authors. It also serves as a useful reference for medical students interested in learning about cardiovascular diseases or those planning to participate in atherosclerosis research.