Interest in the ability of myocardium to adapt to ischaemic stress has continued to grow since the discovery of ischaemic preconditioning in 1986. In 1993, two reports heralded the recognition of a delayed preconditioning response in the heart, now commonly known as the `second window' of protection. Since then, a number of studies have described the ability of delayed preconditioning and related adaptive phenomena to protect against a variety of pathologies in the ischaemic and reperfused myocardium. Our understanding of the cellular mechanisms of sub-acute adaptive cardioprotection has advanced considerably during this period. This compilation of state-of-the-art reviews by those who have made significant contributions to this field provides detailed and critical analysis of this research, from molecular basis to potential clinical relevance. The book aims to provide an authoritative, comprehensive and thoroughly up-to-date overview for scientists and clinicians engaged in, or observing, this rapidly-developing area of heart research. It will also be of interest to those engaged in research on other tissues where ischaemia-reperfusion pathology is of major concern.

Inhalt
1 Delayed Preconditioning Against Lethal Ischaemic Injury.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Background.- 3. Discovery of Delayed Preconditioning.- 4. Characteristics of Delayed Preconditioning Against Infarction.- 5. Delayed Preconditioning Against Myocyte Injury In Vitro.- 6. Delayed Preconditioning Against Ischaemic Injury in Other Tissues.- 7. Mechanisms of Delayed Preconditioning.- 8. Triggers of Adaptation in Delayed Preconditioning.- 9. Signal Transduction in Delayed Preconditioning.- 10. Downstream Mediators and Possible Effectors of Protection.- 11. Conclusions.- References.- 2 Delayed Preconditioning Against Myocardial Stunning.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Pathophysiology of Late Preconditioning Against Stunning.- 3. The Preconditioning Stimulus or 'Trigger' of Late PC.- 4. The Signal Transduction Pathways of Late PC.- 5. The Mediator(s) of the Protective Effects of Late PC.- 6. The Nitric Oxide Hypothesis of Late PC.- 7. Conclusions.- References.- 3 Delayed Preconditioning Against Endothelial Dysfunction.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Reperfusion Injury to Endothelial Cells.- 3. Evidence for Delayed Preconditioning of Coronary Endothelial Cells.- 4. Mechanisms of Delayed Protection.- 5. Mediators of Protection.- 6. Triggers of Protection.- 7. Conclusion.- References.- 4 Delayed Preconditioning Against Ventricular Arrhythmias.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Experimental Background.- 3. From Early to Delayed Protection.- 4. Delayed Protection Against Arrhythmias by Cardiac Pacing.- 5. Time Course and Renewal of Delayed Protection.- 6. Delayed Protection Against Arrhythmias Induced by Prostacyclin.- 7. Delayed Protection Against Arrhythmias Induced by Endotoxins.- 8. Delayed Protection Against Arrhythmias Induced by Catecholamines.- 9. Roles of NO and Bradykinin in Delayed Protection AgainstArrhythmias.- 10. Conclusion.- References.- 5 Intracellular Signalling Mechanisms in Myocardial Adaptation to Ischaemia.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Stress Adaptation in the Heart.- 3. Signal Transduction Pathways in Adaptation.- 4. Protein Tyrosine Kinase Signalling.- 5. Phospholipase D Signalling.- 6. Protein Kinase C Signalling.- 7. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases.- 8. p38 MAP Kinase Signalling.- 9. MAPKAP Kinase 2.- 10. Gene Expression.- 11. Conclusion.- References.- 6 Changes in Cardiac Gene Expression After Ischaemia and Reperfusion.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methodological Considerations.- 3. Pathophysiological Considerations.- 4. Examination of Gene Regulation.- 5. Transcription Factors.- 6. Cytokines and Growth Factors.- 7. Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Regulating Proteins.- 8. Antioxidants.- 9. Miscellaneous.- 10. Perspective and Conclusion.- References.- 7 The Heat Shock Response and Tissue Protection.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Heat Shock and HSP70.- 3. Heat Shock, HSP70 and Inducible Cellular Protection in the Heart.- 4. HSP70 Transgenic Mice and Myocardial Protection.- 5. Function of HSP70.- 6. Inducible Cellular Protection in the Brain.- 7. Other Possibilities.- 8. HSP27 and Endogenous Cellular Protection.- 9. HSP27 in the Heart and Brain.- 10. Conclusions.- References.- 8 Antioxidant Defences in Myocardial Adaptation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Sublethal Ischaemia-induced Cardioprotection.- 3. Sublethal Heat Stress-induced Cardioprotection.- 4. Exercise and Cardioprotection.- 5. Production of Oxygen Free Radicals and Biphasic Cardioprotection.- 6. Conclusion.- References.- 9 Endotoxin, Monophosphoryl Lipid A and Delayed Cardioprotection.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Effects of MLA and LPS on Myocardial Infarct Size.- 3. Effects of MLA and LPS on Myocardial Stunning.- 4. Role of Neutrophils in MLA- and LPS-induced Infarct Size Reduction.- 5. Role of Heat Shock Proteins in MLA- and LPS-induced Cardioprotection.- 6. Role of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels (KATP) in MLA-induced Infarct Size Reduction.- 7. Role of KATP Channels in MLA-induced Attenuation of Stunning.- 8. Role of Adenosine in the Cardioprotective Effect of MLA.- 9. Role of NO in MLA-induced Cardioprotection.- 10. Conclusion.- References.- 10 Adenosine and Delayed Cardioprotection.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Adenosine as a Trigger of Delayed Preconditioning.- 3. Time Course and Maintenance of Adenosine-induced Delayed Cardioprotection.- 4. Signal Transduction Mechanisms.- 5. Distal Mediator(s) of Adenosine-induced Delayed Protection.- 6. Conclusion.- References.- 11 Angina and Cardiac Adaptation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Preinfarction Angina.- 3. From Experimental Laboratory to Humans.- 4. Pathophysiological Studies.- 5. Retrospective Clinical Studies.- 6. Prospective Clinical Trials.- 7. Preinfarction Angina: Is Preconditioning the Only Mechanism of Protection?.- 8. Conclusion.- References.