chapter 1 Coronary Artery Inflammation / chapter 2 Genetic Basis of Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 3 Plaque Rupture: Pathoanatomical and Biomechanical Considerations / chapter 4 Embolization As a Pathological Mechanism / chapter 5 Plaque Vulnerability (Insights from Intravascular Ultrasound, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Thermography) / chapter 6 Differences Between Unstable Angina and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Pathophysiological and Clinical Spectrum / chapter 7 Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The Open Artery and Tissue Reperfusion / chapter 8 Prehospital Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction / chapter 9 Fibrinolysis for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: First and Second Generation Agents / chapter 10 Third-Generation Fibrinolytic Agents and Combined Fibrinoplatelet Lysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction / chapter 11 Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndromes in the Emergency Department: Evolution of Chest Pain Centers / chapter 12 Facilitated Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction / chapter 13 Regional Centers of Excellence for the Care of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 14 The Role of Troponin in Risk Stratification / chapter 15 B-Type Natriuretic Peptides in Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 16 Inflammatory Markers in Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 17 Early Invasive Vs. Early Conservative Strategies for Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 18 Intravenous Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors for Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 19 The Role of P2Y12 Blockade in Acute Coronary Syndromes and in the Catheterization Laboratory / chapter 20 Dosing and Aspirin / chapter 21 Antithrombin Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes / chapter 22 Bedside Anticoagulant Testing -- chapter 23 Bedside Platelet Monitoring / chapter 24 Statins and Plaque Stabilization / chapter 25 Diabetes in Acute Coronary Syndrome / chapter 26 Cardiac Rupture: Pathobiology, Diagnosis, Medical Management, and Surgical Intervention / chapter 27 Microcirculatory Dysfunction in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Evaluation, Management, and Treatment / chapter 28 Stem Cell Therapy for ACS: The Possibility of Myocardial Regeneration / chapter 29 Cardiogenic Shock and Heart Failure Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction / chapter 30 Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction: International and Regional Differences / chapter 31 Quality of Coronary Disease Report Cards / chapter 32 Cost-Effectiveness of New Diagnostic Tools and Therapies for Acute Coronary Syndromes