Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Consequences

I. Introductory Perspectives.- Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Current Concepts in Clinical Research.- II. Epidemiology and Natural Course of IDC.- Epidemiology of Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- Natural History of Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- III. Basic Molecular Concepts Toward Understanding of IDC.- Molecular Analysis of Cardiac Growth and Development in Transgenic Mouse Model Systems.- The Promoter of the Human Cardiac ?-Myosin Heavy-Chain Gene Is Controlled by an Upstream Enhancer.- Growth Factor Expression in the Cardiac Myocyte.- IV. Structural Abnormalities in IDC.- The Cytoskeleton and Extracellular Matrix in Human Hearts with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- Macro- and Micropathology of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- Detection of Disruption of Sarcolemmal Membrane by Indium-111 Labeled Antimyosin Antibody Scan.- Extracellular Matrix Expression, Organization, and Interaction with Heart Myocytes During Development and Disease.- V. Contraction and Relaxation.- Ventricular Remodeling in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathies.- Mechanisms of Deficient cAMP Generation in Heart Failure.- Abnormal Calcium Metabolism in Heart Muscle Dysfunction.- Energy Requirements of Contraction and Relaxation of the Heart.- VI. Microcirculation and Oxygen Supply in Cardiac Hypertrophy and IDC.- Capillary Density, Distribution, and Length Parameters Related to Oxygen Supply in Myocardial Hypertrophy and Atrophy.- Microcirculation in the Cardiomyopathic Syrian Hamster and in Human Congestive Cardiomyopathy.- The Microcirculation in Cardiac Hypertrophy.- Myocardial Oxygen Consumption in Patients with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Effects of Vasodilating and Inotropic Agents.- Regression of Cardiac Hypertrophy with Pharmacotherapeutic Regimen.- VII. Ionic Channels and Signal Gating.- ?-Adrenergic Receptor Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- Na+ Channels as Molecular Substrate of Cardiac Excitability: Elementary Properties and Responsiveness to Drugs.- The Involvement of Gs in Regulation of the L-Type Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channel.- Inositol Phosphates in Cardiac Regulation.- VIII. Virus and Cardiomyopathy.- Enterovirus-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Molecular Analysis of Acute and Persistent Myocardial Infections.- Direct Damage of Myocardium by Enterovirus.- Natural History of Enterovirus Persistence in the Murine Model of Coxsackievirus-Induced Myocarditis: A Quantitative In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry Study.- Detection and Typing of Enteroviruses.- Specific and Nonspecific Heart Defenses in Enteroviral Infections.- IX. Immunological Factors in Cardiomyopathy.- Heart Autoantibodies in Human Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy: Virus and Skeletal Muscle Cross-reactivity.- Are Anti-cardiac Antibodies in Dilated Cardiomyopathy “Natural” Antibodies?.- X. Therapeutic Options in IDC and Myocarditis.- Animal Models for Therapeutic Trials of Viral Myocarditis.- Immunosuppressive Therapy in Human Myocarditis.- Interferon Therapy in Enterovirus-Associated Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- The Role of ?-Blockers in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Effect and Molecular Mechanism.- The Role of Calcium Channel Blockers in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- Gene Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease: Realistic Possibilities for the Future.