The volume contains contributions by leading authorities on the latest research developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, primarily in the areas of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Failure, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Cardiac Surgery. The information included in these articles will prove to be of great value to cardiologists and scientists involved in research and patient care.

We are indebted to the members of the scientific committees and the abstract reviewers, who provided a wealth of important suggestions during the planning phase of the Congress. To the Congress faculty and all other Congress participants, we express our thanks for the quality of their presentations and for their cooperation in submitting manuscripts in a timely fashion. Finally, we acknowledge with great appreciation Dr. Anna Rosa Sailon and Dr. Eleonora Leardini from Medimond Medical Publications, for their help in editing and expediting the publication of this book.