Recent advances in molecular and cellular biology have markedly changed our understanding of the heart, and this is having tremendous ramifications for the clinician. This unique reference offers a comprehensive and critical evaluation of this contribution in the field of cardiovascular molecular medicine providing the reader with a sense of new directions in which molecular medicine might be applied. It begins witha detailed primer that makes readily accessible recent molecular, genetic and cellular techniques. Rounding out the coverage of this exciting field are critical and comprenhesive discussions on the use of molecular, genetic and cellular techniques used to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of specific cardiac diseases. * Discusses diagnostic and therapeutic options available not only in the adult and aging individuals but also in infants/children * Numerous illustrations and flow-charts * Explans cutting-edge molecular techniques, including analysis of mitochondria, their role in cardiac dysfunction and updated analysis of Cardioprotection and Metabolic Syndrome * Presentation of recent translational studies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is included (e.g., gene therapy, pharmacological treatments and stem cell transplantation).