1 Molecular Mechanism of Heart Failure.- Molecular Aspects of Mechanical Stress-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Failure.- Calcium-Activated Neutral Proteases and Myocardial Protein Catabolism.- Cytoskeletal Changes in the Calcium-Overloaded Heart.- 2 Mechanics of Contraction of the Failing Heart.- Cardiac Utilization of the Momentum of Blood.- Two Major Pumps of the Heart: Difference and Interdependence of the Right and Left Ventricles.- Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats: Model to Study Transitions from Compensatory Hypertrophy to Left Ventricular Failure.- Precordial or Epicardial Input of Phase-Controlled Minute Vibration: Effect on Coronary Flow Rate in Regional Ischemia.- 3 Energetics and Exercise.- Mechanoenergetics of Acute Failing Hearts Characterized by Oxygen Costs of Mechanical Energy and Contractility.- Left Ventricular Contractile and Energetic Dysfunction After Recovery from Acidosis.- Diagnostic Value of the Transient Response of Oxygen Consumption to Exercise in Cardiac Patients: Ramdom Noise Approach.- 4 Medical Treatment of Heart Failure.- Mechanisms of Novel Cardiotonic Agents Developed to Treat the Failing Heart Syndrome.- Positive Inotropic Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure: New Perspective on Therapeutic Strategies.- Cytokines and Heart Failure: Immunomodulating Agents for the Management of Heart Failure.