In several liver diseases, the underlying cause cannot always be eliminated, i.e. the progression of liver disease cannot be prevented. This is particularly true for non-responders to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). It is relevant for more than 40% of patients with HCV genotype 1 and up to 20% of patients with genotype 2 or 3. Several approaches are now underway to prevent or ameliorate mechanisms of disease progression. In Asia, and particularly in Japan, Glycyrrhizine-SNMC has been widely used for this purpose. At present, SNMC is under clinical evaluation in Europe.

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This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 138 on "State of the Art of Hepatology: Molecular and Cell Biology" (part of the XII International Falk Liver Week 2003 in honour of Hans Popper's 100th birthday, held on October 20--11, 2003), and reflects the tremendous advances in the science of hepatology both at the molecular as well as the cellular level.

The book comprises four major sections. In Section I, the basic aspects of liver cell biology are covered, including RNA metabolism, regeneration, transport and metabolic functions, as well as fibrogenesis and malignant...

This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 135 held in Prague, Czech Republic, on September 12-13, 2003, and is dedicated to the important issue of immunological aspects of diseases of the liver andgut. Without any doubt, immunological pathways are among the most important and universal factors in the pathogenesis of all diseases. Their importance is also constantly increasing, because these principles have beenadopted in clinical practice for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Chapters by prominent experts will stimulate new ideas and set the scene for productive...

In 1992, the Falk Symposium No. 70 dealt with the topic Immunology and Liver'. At that time basic mechanisms of immunology as well as immunopathogenetic mechanisms in viral and autoimmune liver diseases were discussed. Now, 7 years later, the Falk Symposium No. 114, held in Basel, Switzerland, October 20-21 1999 (Part I of the Basel Liver Week 1999), focused on immunology in autoimmune liver diseases. In the first section basic mechanisms of autoimmunity are presented, including the relevance of superantigens and the role of apoptosis. A further topic is the latest developments concerning...

Das Buch stellt den aktuellen Wissensstand dar, den der praktisch tatige Gastroenterologe in Klinik und Praxis benotigt. Ein Uberblick uber wichtige Leitsymptome und Notfallsituationen gibt ihm die Moglichkeit, kurz und pragnant Wissen zu akquirieren. Weiterhin kann er sich durch eine gute didaktische Aufbereitung der Kapitel schnell und umfassend zu einzelnen Krankheitsentitaten informieren. Durch die Gliederung in symptomorientierte Sektionen konnten molekulare und zellulare Grundlagen von Entzundung, Tumorentstehung, Stoffwechsel und Motilitat jeweils in einem Kapitel zusammengefasst...