Lost in Translation: Issues in Translating Basic Research to Clinical Practice
Peter M. Buttrick, University of Colorado, Denver, U.S.A.

Structural Biological Approach to Cardiovascular Diseases
Hidezo Mori, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka Japan          

Parallels between the Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Diseases
Jeffrey Robbins, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A. 

The Biology of Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Hyo-Soo Kim, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea       

Vascular Progenitor Cells - Putative Role in Atherosclerosis
Noel M. Caplice, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.      

Endothelial Dysfunction in Ischemic Heart Disease: Ready for the Clinician Use?
Pasquale Perrone-Filardi, Fererico II University, Naples, Italy

Endothelial Biomedicine and Cardiovascular Health: Unique Opportunities for the 21st Century
George A. Mensah, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.         

Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: Mechanisms and Treatment  
Louis P. Perrault, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Flow-Mediated Dilation and Arterial Stiffness: Are Really Useful Clinical Indices?
Spyridon Koulouris, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece        

Diabetes and Arteriosclerosis - The Role of Endothelial Dysfunction
Nikolaus Marx, University of Ulm, Germany

Nitric Oxide / Nitroxidative Stress Imbalance in the Failing Heart - Nanomedical Approach
Tadeusz Malinski, Ohio University, Athens, OH, U.S.A.          

Reactive Oxygen Species and Neovascularization    
Masuko Ushio-Fukai, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.       

Oxidative Stress, Antioxidants and Atherosclerosis
Shing-Jong Lin, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan       

Hifs: New Players in Vascular Redox Signaling
Agnes Gorlach, German Heart Center Munich at the TU Munich, Germany         

Vascular Oxidative Stress: Relative Importance of Pro- and Antioxidant Enzyme Systems   
Ulrich Forstermann, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany          

Oxidative Stress and Extracellular Sod in Cardiovascular Disease
Tohru Fukai, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

Decrease in Il-10/Tnf-alpha Ratio and Increase in Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure
Pawan  K. Singal, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 in the Heart
Ralph V. Shohet, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, U.S.A.

INFLAMMATION AND ATHEROGENESIS: SESSION 1

The Role of Crp in Atherothrombosis
Ishwarlal Jialal, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, U.S.A.     

Does C-Reactive Protein Orchestrate Inflammation in Acute Coronary Artery Diseases?
Janos G. Filep, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada     

Origin of Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation: Implications for Vascular Diseases
Doron Aronson, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel       

Does C-Reactive Protein Reflect Inflammation of the Atherosclerotic Plaques in Coronary Arteries?
Harisios Boudoulas, Academy of Athens, Greece       

Prostanoids and Isoprostanoids in Atherogenesis
Domenico Pratico, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.     

The Role of Antigen-Presenting Cells in Cardiovascular Disease: a Potential Therapeutic Target?
Alexander Niessner, Medical University of Vienna, Austria        

Diet vs. Infection Atherosclerosis: What Have We Learnt
Salomon Amar, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

INFLAMMATION AND ATHEROGENESIS: SESSION 2

The Inflammatory Response in the Neonate and Its Management
Timothy F. Feltes, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.    

Immune Response to OXLDL and its Impact in Atherosclerosis
Xinghua Zhou, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden       

The Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Atherogenic Effects of Insulin
Paresh Dandona, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, U.S.A.     

The Interplay of Dyslipidemia and Inflammation in the Evolution of Atherosclerotic Plaque
Andrea Mezzetti, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy

GENETIC BASIS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

The Role of Variations in the Innate Immune Response in Viral Myocarditis
Neil E. Bowles, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

New Insights into the Genetics of Dilated Cardiomyopathies
Luisa Mestroni, University of Colorado Bioscience Park Center, Aurora, CO, USA

Genetics of Vasovagal Syncope
Robert S. Sheldon, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada    

Pursuing Genes that Contribute to Coronary Artery Disease - An Idea whose Time has Come
Robert Roberts, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, ON, Canada          

Comprehensive Approaches for Identification of Susceptibility Genes to Myocardial Infarction
Mitsuhiro Yokota, Aichi-Gakuin University, School of Dentistry, Nagoya Japan    

Clinical Genomic and Proteomic Approaches to Understand Cardiovascular Disease           
Cam Patterson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, U.S.A.

CARDIAC REPAIR AND REGENERATION: SESSION 1

Myocardial Restoration with Stem Cells and Bioartificial Tissues; Pandora's Box on the Scale        
Theo Kofidis, National University Hospital, National University Singapore         

Stem Cells and Vascular Diseases      
Qingbo Xu, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, England         

Therapeutic Angiogenesis Using VEGF-E/Human PLGF Chimeric Genes       
Toyoaki Murohara, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

Injectable Biomaterials for Myocardial Repair
Jonathan Leor, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

Labeling of Stem Cells for Noninvasive Delivery and Tracking in Cardiovascular Regenerative Therapy
Dara L. Kraitchman, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

Human Cardiomyocyte Progenitor Cells Differentiate into Functional Cardiomyocytes in Vitro 
Pieter A. Doevendans, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands

Skeletal Myoblasts for Chronic Heart Failure
Peter Smits, Medical Center Rijnmond Zuid (MCRZ), Rotterdam, The Netherlands         

CARDIAC REPAIR AND REGENERATION: SESSION 2

Progenitor Cells Mobilization in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Ilka Ott, Deutsches Herzzentrum, Munchen, Germany        

Novel Endogenous Myocardial Repair Strategies for the Treatment of Heart Failure
Y. Joseph Woo, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.   

Long-Lasting Plasticity of Slow-Twitch Skeletal Myoblasts with Connexin-43 for the Efficient Engraftment and Functional Improvement of Failing Heart
Teruhiko Toyo-oka, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan  

Unlocking the Mysteries That Govern Vascular Cell Life and Cell Longevity
Kenneth Maiese, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.          

Therapeutic Angiogenesis in Ischemic Diseases
Jeran-Sebastien Silvestre, Hopital Lariboisiere, Paris, France       

Cell Transplantation to Improve Heart Function: Myogenesis, Angiogenesis or Matrix Modulation
Ren-Ke Li, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada      

Myocardial Regeneration
Roger Laham, BIDMC/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, U.S.A.         

MOLECULAR IMAGING: FILLING THE GAP BETWEEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL ARENA

Metabolic Imaging of the Heart: Beyond Anatomy
Vasken Dilsizian, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.          

Molecular Imaging in Atherosclerosis
Masanori Aikawa, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.          

Molecular Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases
Elena Aikawa, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, U.S.A.    

Atherosclerosis Lab Risk Markers Today: Research and Clinical Implications
Wolfgang Koenig, University of Ulm Medical Center, Germany

Biomarkers in Unstable Coronary Syndromes
Dimitris Tousoulis, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece

NEW CONCEPTS IN STRESS TESTING AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Exercise ECG in the Interventional Era: Out of Date or Evergreen?
Riccardo Bigi, University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy         

Stress Echocardiography and New Technologies
Rosa Sicari, CNR Institution of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy       

Value and Significance of E/E' by Doppler Echocardiography: More than Meets the Eye?
Cristina Pislaru, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.        

Role of Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Roxy Senior, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, UK

Assessing LV Function by Echocardiography: the Challenge Continues
Fausto  J. Pinto, University Hospital Sta Maria, Lisbon University, Portugal  

Three Dimensional Echocardiography 2007
Folkert J.Ten Cate, Thoraxcenter Ba 304, Rotterdam, The Netherlands    

3D Echocardiography - Clinical Applications and Future Directions
Smadar Kort, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.

Acute Heart Failure: New Diagnostic and Therapeutical Perspectives
Francesco Fedele, Universita Degli Studi Di Roma "la Sapienza", Roma, Italy        

The Future of Stress Perfusion Imaging In the Era of CT
Rory Hachamovitch, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.       

Revascularization in Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction: The Role of Viability Testing
Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

The Emergence of Cardiovascular CT in Clinical Cardiology
Joao A.C. Lima, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.        

Multi-Slice CT- and Its Role in Clinical Cardiology
Stephen Schroeder, Division of Cardiology, Tuebingen, Germany

A Comparison between Coronary Angiogram and Multislice CT in Coronary Artery Disease. A Study of 150 Cases
Sergio Dalla-Volta, Universita degli Studi di Padova, Italy

Considering Coronary Artery Calcium
Elizabeth L. Barrett-Connor, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. CA, U.S.A.        

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts and CT Angiography  
Leonard Kritharides, Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia

Is There a Role for CT Coronary Angiography in Clinical Practice?
Mario J. Garcia, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.       

Atherosclerosis Imaging: Where are We and Where are We Going?
Sanjay Rajagopalan, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, U.S.A.      

CARDIAC MRI IN CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY

Noninvasive Imaging of Atherothrombosis by MRI    
Roberto Corti, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

Assessment of Atheroma Plaque by Cardiac MR and Cardiac CT: Current and Future Clinical Impact
Luis J. Jimenez-Borreguero, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) 2007 and Beyond
Gerald Pohost, USC School of Medicine, Los Angeles, U.S.A.    

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characterization of Advanced Atherosclerotic Plaques          
Chun Yuan, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.         

PATHOGENESIS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Tissue Factor and Cardiovascular Disease
Felix C. Tanner, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Role of Lox-1 in Atherosclerosis; Lessons from Knockout Mice
Jawahar L. Mehta, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, U.S.A.   

Mast Cells Promote Atherosclerosis by Releasing Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Guo-Ping Shi, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

Vessel Aging and the Development of Atherothrombosis
Paul Holvoet, The Center for Experimental Surgery and Anesthesiology, Leuven, Belgium

Cholesteryl Esters From ACAT2 are Atherogenic in Mice and Monkeys
Lawrence L. Rudel, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, U.S.A.

Atherosclerotic Plaque Development at the Strain / Stress Interface
Stephanie Lehoux, INSERM CRC Lariboisiere, Paris,France

A Role of Coronary Angioscopy for the Detection of Vulnerable Plaques and Vulnerable Patients
Yasunori Ueda, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Thrombus Age in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Tale of the Old and the New
Robert J. de Winter, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

New Approaches to Vulnerable Plaque Detection
Robert L. Wilensky, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.

Imaging of the Vulnerable Plaque: Indications, Challenges and Future Directions
S. David Gertz, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

Cytoprotective and Cardioprotective Effects Of Hydrogen Sulfide
Csaba Szabo, Ikaria Inc., Seattle, WA, U.S.A.

DNAZYMES in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
Harry Lowe, University of Sydney, Australia

Peptide-Induced Cardioprotection - Insights into Novel Mechanisms
Cherry L. Wainwright, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Role of Protein Kinase C in Reperfusion Arrhythmias
Mohamed Boutjdir, NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.

Insulin-Triggered Cell Survival Signaling and its Protection against Myocardial Ischemia / Reperfusion Injury
Feng Gao, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

Limiting Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Preconditioning, Postconditioning and Beyond
Karin Przyklenk, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, U.S.A.

Ischemic Pre- and Post-Conditioning: Clinically relevant or not?
Warren K. Laskey, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, U.S.A.

INSIGHTS INTO THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES

Management and Outcome of Elderly with ACS
Shmuel Gottlieb, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

Laser Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Thrombotic Syndrmoes - The Impact of Technique on Clinical Outcome
On Topaz, McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.

Role of ABCIXIMAB in Primary Stenting for Acute Myocardial Infarction
David L. Brown, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.

Prognostic Importance of Bleeding in ACS
John W. Eikelboom, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

New Insights Into The Benefits Of Antiplatelet Therapy In Patients With CAD
Nasser M. Lakkis, Ben Taub General Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

Facilitated PCI for Acute MI: The Role of Anti-GP IIB/IIIA
Leonardo Bolognese, Azienda Ospedaliera Arezzo, Arezzo, Italy

NEW DIRECTIONS IN CORONARY INTERVENTIONAL THERAPY

Renal Disease Impact on Coronary Interventional Outcomes
George W. Vetrovec, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.

Development of a Novel Bioabsorbable Polymeric Nanoparticle-Eluting Stent by an Actively-Controlled Multilayer Coating Technology
Kensuke Egashira, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

Left Main Stenting: Are we there yet?
Fayaz Shawl, Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park, MD, U.S.A.

Percutaneous Interventional Treatment of Left Main Stenosis. A Critical Appraisal
Harald Mudra, Krankenhaus Munchen Neuperlach, Munchen, Germany

THE ERA OF DRUG ELUTING STENTS: LIGHTS AND SHADES

Cost-Effectiveness of Drug-Eluting Stents
Mark J. Eisenberg, The Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Use of Drug Eluting Stents in Complex Coronary Lesions Anno 2007
Henning Kelbaek, Rigshospitalet & Skejby Hospital, Denmark

Treatment of in-Stent Restenosis with Drug-Eluting Stents - Insights from Intravascular Ultrasound Findings
Thomas M. Schielem, Universitat Munchen-Innenstadt, Munich, Germany

Coronary Stent Thrombosis in The Era of Drug-Eluting Stents  
Raul Moreno, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain

Drug-Eluting Stents: Is the Increased Risk of Stent Thrombosis an Acceptable Clinical Tradeoff for Reduced Restenosis?
Sanjay Kaul, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Anti-Platelet Therapy in Drug-Eluting Stent Era
Myung Ho Jeong, National University Hospital Dong-gu, Gwangju , Korea

Is Long –Term Safety the “Achilles Heel” of Drug-Eluting Stents
Barry F. Uretsky, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX, U.S.A.

Indications for Percutaneous Closure of PFOs
Eric Rosenthal, Guy's Hospital, London, England

Application of Angioscopy for Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism
Takanobu Tomaru, Toho University Sakura Hospital, Japan        

TREATMENT OF CAROTID STENOSIS - STATE-OF-THE-ART

Carotid Angioplasty under Protection. Limitations. New Developments
Michel Henry, Nancy, France

Embolic Protection during Carotid Stenting with the New Fibernet Device
Horst Sievert, Cardiovascular Center Frankfurt, Germany  

Carotid Artery Disease: Stent versus Scalpel!  
Satyendra Giri, Baystate Medical Education & Research Foundation, Springfield, MA, U.S.A.

New Insights into Peripheral Arterial Disease
Michael H. Criqui, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.

Endovascular Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Diseases
Debabrata D. Mukherjee, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, U.S.A.

The Changing Paradigm of Renal Artery Stenosis
George A. Stouffer, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, U.S.A.

Inter-Relationship of Coronary Artery Disease and Peripheral Arterial Disease
Verghese Mathew, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

EVOLVING TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR ISCHEMIC CORONARY DISEASE

Treatment of Stable Angina: What works and What is New? 
Udho Thadani, University of Oklahoma HSC, Oklahoma City, OK, U.S.A.

ACE2: Potential Target for CV Therapeutics
Mohan K. Raizada, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.

Advances in Pharmacotherapy Of Angina
Kanu Chatterjee, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA,  U.S.A.

Bleeding and Blood Transfusion Issues in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease
Sunil V Rao, Durham VA Medical Center, NC, U.S.A.

Angina: Effective Therapy or a Waste of Time?
Greg Barsness, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A  

Opportunities with Integrin-Targeted Perfluorcarbon Nanoparticles in Atherosclerosis
Gregory M. Lanza, Washington University, St Louis, MO, U.S.A.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Stenotic Lesiosn caused by Kawasaki Disease
Etsuko Tsuda, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEART DISEASE

CHD and South Asians - The Current Epidemic
Sandeep Gupta, Whipps Cross and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals, Leytonstone, UK           

Heart Disease in Africa: Is there an Epidemiological Transition?
Patrick J. Commerford, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Clinical Profile and Genetic Basis of Brugada Syndrome in the Chinese Population
Ngai-Shing Mok, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Measuring the Quality of Heart Failure Care
Paul A. Heidenreich, Palo Alto VA Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, U.S.A.

Coronary Artery Disease in Asian Indians
Narendra C. Bhalodkar, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, U.S.A.

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT

Why do Men Have More Heart Disease than Women?
Kevin S. Channer, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, England

Migraine and Risk of CVD
Tobias Kurth, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

The Role of Aspirin Resistance in the Setting of Coronary Artery Disease
Michael N. Zairis, Piraeus, Greece       

Aspirin Resistance: Fact or Fallacy?
Lewis C. Becker, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

Mediterranean Diet and Coronary Heart Disease, is Obesity a Link?
Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Risk, Race / Ethnicity and Gender
Michelle A. Albert, Brigham and Women's Hospital, "Boston, MA, U.S.A.

Personalized Prognosis for Decision-Making: Actualizing the Framingham Dream in the 21st Century
Eugene M. Blackstone, The Cleveland Clinic, OH, U.S.A.

Metabolic Syndrome, Subclinical Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular Risk
Nathan D. Wong, University of California, Irvine, CA, U.S.A.

Aggressive Lipid Management: LDL Apheresis
Donna Polk, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

HDL Therapy, Oral APOA-1 Mimetic Peptides
Mohamad Navab, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Increasing HDL: How a 'Garbage' Truck Turned Into a Vessel-Repair Unit
Erik S.G. Stroes, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Lipid Storage in Cells; Mechanism and Implications for Cardiovascular Diseases
Sven-Olof, Olofsson Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden

NOVEL CONCEPTS IN SYSTEMIC AND PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

How low is too low? Is there a Limit to Blood Pressure Lowering?
Clive Rosendorff, VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, U.S.A.

A Vascular Apoptosis-Based Theory for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and a Framework for the Development and Translation of Novel Experimental Therapies
Evangelos Michelakis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Clinical Guidelines for the Primary Prevention of Hypertension: Can we do more?
Howard Sesso, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

Chronotherapy in Hypertension: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
Ramon C. Hermida, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicacion, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain

Vascular Signaling in Hypertension - Current Concepts and Future Directions
Rhian M. Touyz, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada

From Hypertension to Heart Failure: Can We Interrupt the Course
Vasilios Papademetriou, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathogenesis and Clinical Aspects
Giuseppe Barbaro, University of Rome ""La Sapienza" Rome, Italy

Cardiac Biomarkers in Pulmonary Embolism and Pulmonary Hypertension
Ijaz A. Khan, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

THE METABOLIC SYNDROME: EMERGING EPIDEMIC OF THE CENTURY?

Developmental Programming of Cardiovascular Control by Maternal Nutrition: Influence of Adolescent Obesity
David S. Gardner, University of Cambridge, England

Targeting Lipoprotein Subclass Abnormalities in the Metabolic Syndrome: New Opportunities for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
Robert S. Rosenson, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

Metabolic Syndrome in Early Life and its Consequences
Gerald S. Berenson, Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, New Orleans, LA, U.S.A.

Benefits of Tight Glycemic Control during Coronary Revascularization
Harold L. Lazar, Boston Medical Center, MA, U.S.A.

Tailoring the Diabetic Platelet
Dominick J. Angiolillo, University of Florida-Shands Jacksonville, FL, U.S.A.

Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Myocardial Perfusion Grade after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Turgay Celik, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

GENDER AND HEART DISEASE

Secondary Prevention of CHD in Women
Vera Bittner, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, U.S.A.

The Direct Implications of Body Fat Mass and Its Topographic Distribution for Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women: From Risk to Protection
Laszlo B. Tanko, Center for Clinical and Basic Research, Ballerup, Denmark

Sex, Age and Regional Differences of L-Type Calcium Channels in the Heart
Guy Salama, University of Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY: VARIOUS ETIOLOGIES

Alcohol and Cardiovascular Diseases: 2007 Update
Arthur L. Klatsky, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, CA, U.S.A.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in the US: Definition, Clinical Presentation and Potential Mechanisms
Uri Elkayam, LAC and USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.,

What are the New Cancer Therapeutics Doing to the Heart?
Thomas Force, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A

New Interventions in the Treatment of Cardiomyopathy Related to Iron-Overload
Peter H. Backx, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Obesity and Congestive Heart Failure
Martin A. Alpert, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO U.S.A.

Viral Induced Cardiomyopathy - Diagnosis and Therapy
Heinz-Peter Schultheiss, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany

Mechanisms of HIV-Associated Cardiovascular Disease
Changyi Chen, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

Role of Viral Infection and Some Inflammatory Cytokines in the Development of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Nodar N. Kipshidze, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapy, Tbilisi, Rep. of Georgia

Myocardial Structural Changes in Long-Term Human Severe Sepsis / Septic Shock May Responsible for Cardiac Dysfunction
Marcos A. Rossi, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, S.P. Brazil

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Heart Failure: Which Link?
Danilo Neglia, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy

Role of Collagen Matrix in the Transition from Hypertrophy to Failure in Hypertension
Javier Diez, University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain

Regression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Outcomes
Jonathan N. Bella, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, U.S.A.

Diastolic Dysfunction - How to Diagnose, How to Treat
Otto M. Hess, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

Role of Digoxin in Diastolic Heart Failure
Ali Ahmed, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, U.S.A.

Role of Phospholipase C Isozymes in Hypertrophy of the Adult Heart
Paramjit S. Tappia, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

VENTRICULAR REMODELING AND HEART FAILURE THERAPY

Metabolic Therapy for the Treatment of Heart Failure
Giuseppe M.C. Rosano, IRCCS San Raffaele, Roma, Italy  

Risk Assessment in Heart Failure
Javed Butler, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.

The Role of TGF-Beta Signaling in Healing Myocardial Infarcts - Mechanistic Concepts and Clinical Implications
Nikolaos Frangogiannis, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

The (Pro)Renin Receptor: A New Addition to the Renin-Angiotensin System?
Alexander H.J. Danser, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Chemokines in Cardiovascular Remodeling
Christian Weber, Universitatsklinikum Aachen, Germany

Remodeling of the Vasculature in Hypertension: Relation to the Natural History
Ernesto L. Schiffrin, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada   

MATRIX MODULATION IN HEART FAILURE

Differential Matrix Metalloproteinase Proteomic Profiling in Patients at Risk for Heart Failure: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications
Francis G. Spinale, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, U.S.A.

Cardiac Dyssynchrony Induced Inflammation And Extracellular Matrix Degradation
Francisco J. Villarreal, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.

Mitochondrial Mechanism of Metalloproteinase Activation in Congestive Heart Failure
Suresh C. Tyagi, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, U.S.A.

Pleiotropic Effects of Therapeutic Cardiac Drugs and Interventions on the Extracellular Collagen Matrix: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Bodh I. Jugdutt, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

CARDIOPROTECTION

Beneficial Effects of A 5-HT2A Receptor Antagonist in Congestive Heart Failure
Naranjan S. Dhalla, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Protein Kinase C And Heart Disease - from Cardiac Ischemia to Heart Failure
Daria Mochly-Rosen, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA, U.S.A.

BIOMARKERS IN HEART FAILURE

Serial Biomarkers in Chronic Heart Failure: What Happens over Time
Wayne Miller, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

Can NT-PROBNP Levels Help Prevent Cardiovascular Events?
Duncan J. Campbell, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

PRO-BNP Diagnostic Consideration of Dyspnea in Patients with COPD and/or Left Ventricular Failure
Nestor J. Angomachalelis, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece     

Heat Shock Protein 60 in Heart Failure: Friend or Foe?
Anne A. Knowlton, University of California, Davis, CA, U.S.A.

Natriuretic Peptides in the Approach to HF Patients
Paulo M. Bettencourt, Hospital S Joao, Porto, Portugal

DRUG TREATMENT FOR HEART FAILURE: NEW APPROACHES

Aquaretic Agents for Heart Failure
Robert E. Hobbs, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, U.S.A.

The Kidney in Heart Failure: A Therapeutic Target
John C. Burnett, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

Inotropes in Advanced Heart Failure. A Minority Opinion 
John N. Nanas, University of Athens, Greece      

Changing Paradigms of Cardiovascular Interventions
Hanumanth K. Reddy, University of Missouri-Columbia, U.S.A.

Cardiovascular Disease in Renal Failure: What's New?
Rene R. Wenzel, Cardiology & Nephrology-Cardiovascular Research, Zell am See, Austria

The Impact of Beta Blockers on Central Sleep Apnea in Chronic Heart Failure
Akira Tamura, Oita University, Japan

Beta-Blockers and Cardiopulmonary Variables in CHF
Klaus K. Witte, Leeds General Infirmary and University of Hull, UK           

Metabolic Modulation in Heart Failure: Diabetes and Beyond
W.H. Wilson Tang, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, U.S.A.

DEVICES AND SURGICAL THERAPIES FOR HEART FAILURE

Patient Selection of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation - Endlessly Moving Target
Yoshifumi Naka, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Passive Restraining Devices
Randall C. Starling, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.

Baroreflex Activation Therapy for the Treatment of Heart Failure
Hani N. Sabbah, Henry Ford Heart & Vascular Institute, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.

Implanted Hemodynamic Monitoring in the Therapy of Heart Failure
Robert C. Bourge, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, U.S.A.

The Selection of Patients with Heart Failure who Benefit from Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Maria Vittoria Pitzalis, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, U.S.A. 

Percutaneous Left Ventricular Support in the Catheterization Laboratory and Beyond. What can we expect in the Nearby Future?
Jose P.S. Henriques, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Heart Retransplantation - Is it a Viable Option and if so, When?
Maryl R. Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, U.S.A

Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support: New Devices and Latest Developments
Brian W. Duncan, The Children's Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic, OH, U.S.A.

Surgical Options for End-Stage Heart Failure
Roland Hetzer, German Heart Institute, Berlin, Germany

PERICARDIAL DISEASES

Leading Issues and Controversies in Pericardial Disease
David H. Spodick, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, U.S.A.

Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis
Massimo Imazio, Maria Vittoria Hospital, Torino, Italy

RISK STRATIFICATION FOR SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

Fluctuations of ECG and Risk Stratification in Brugada Syndrome
Masahiko J. Takagi, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Update on Management of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia
Rungroj Krittayaphong, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

Population-Based Analysis of Sudden Cardiac Death: Clinical Implications
Sumeet S. Chugh, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, U.S.A.

How Best to Identify Patients at Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death
Michael E. Cain, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.

Current Perspectives in Risk Stratification for Sudden Cardiac Death
Dan Wichterle, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic

Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Individuals: Clinical and Genetic Investigation of the Family
Pascal McKeown, Queen's University Belfast, Ireland

Risk Stratification for Sudden Cardiac Death: Where are we now, where do we need to be?
Sana M. Al-Khatib, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, U.S.A.

ADVANCES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Is it Possible to Reduce Hospitalization Costs for Patients Considered at Risk of Serious Arrhythmias?
Antonio Martinez-Rubio, Hosp. de Sabadell -Cardiology, Barcelona, Spain

Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Occurring Late After Myocardial Infarction using Substrate Modification
Thomas Deneke, University of Bochum, Germany

Rationales, Methods and Preliminary Results of Subcutaneous Only ICDs
Riccardo Cappato, Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy

ICD Therapy in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Firat Duru, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland

NEW DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Spectral Analysis of AF Electrograms and ECGs
Andreas Bollmann, Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Implantable Devices in the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Carsten W. Israel, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany 

ABLATION FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND SVT

Emerging Techniques for Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Andrea Natale, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.

Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure: Role of AVN Ablation and Pacemaker Therapy
Win-Kuang Shen, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.

Role of Real-Time Imaging in Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Introducing New Imaging Modality
Nasir F. Marrouche, University of Utah, Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City UT, USA              

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Shih-Ann Chen, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Determinants of Lesion Size during Catheter Cryoablation
Mark A. Wood, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.

HEART FAILURE, ARRHYTHMIAS, AND DEVICES

CHF and AF: Who is Guilty
Alessandro Capucci, Ospedale ""Guglielmo da Saliceto", Piacenza, Italy

Reproducibility of T-Wave Alternans In Patients With CHF
John E. Madias, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Elmhurst, NY, U.S.A.

CRT In Patients who do not Conform to the Official Guidelines
I Eli Ovsyshcher, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Management and Evaluation of Heart Failure after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Juan M. Aranda, Jr., University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.

ADVANCES IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Sudden Death and Exercise in Patients with Native or Surgical Corrected Chd (Congenital Heart Disease)
Luciano Daliento, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

Outcomes in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Geoffrey Rosenthal, The Children's Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A. 

New Perspectives in MRI in Congenital Heart Disease
Titus Kuehne, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Berlin, Germany

Arrhythmias in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Louise Harris, University Health Network, Toronto ON, Canada

Three-Dimensional CT Scanning: A Routine Comprehensive Diagnostic Tool for Congenital Heart Disease
Phalla Ou, Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE / HEART VALVE SURGERY / DISEASES OF THE THORACIC AORTA

How Does Acute Aortic Dissection Pick a Time to Occur?
John A. Elefteriades, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, U.S.A.

Therapeutic Strategy of Acute Aortic Intramural Hematoma
Shuichiro Kaji, Kobe General Hospital, Kobe, Japan

Medical Therapy for Valvular Diseases - Is it Hope or Reality?
Jeffrey S. Borer, The New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center,New York, NY, U.S.A.

New Insights into the Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Stenosis
Philippe Pibarot, Hospital Laval Research Center, Sainte-Foy, Quebec,    Canada

Bicuspid Aortic Valve: Valvular and Vascular Implications
Pompilio Faggiano, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy

Phen-Fen Valvulopathy 10 Years Later: What Have We Learned?
Neil J. Weissman, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation Treated with External Counterpulsation
Yzhar Charuzi, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

Possibilities and Limitations of Aortic Valve Reconstruction
Hans-Joachim Schafer, University Hospital Homburg, Homburg, Germany

Where Do We Stand with the Stentless Aortic Valves?
Francois Dagenais, Laval Hospital, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada

EMERGING ROLE OF PERCUTANEOUS VALVE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT

Transcatheter Valve Replacement and Repair
John G. Webb, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair: Concept to Reality
Saibal Kar, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.