The pathogenesis of both forms of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, depends on complex immune abnormalities, and the investigation of cytokines has become critical to basic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of these enigmatic entities. This book offers clear, concise, state-of-the-art information on the role of various immunoregulatory and pro-inflammatory mediators in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each cytokine is analyzed in regard to pathogenic and clinical implications, taking advantage of information derived from patients, animal models, as well as immunological and molecular in vitro systems. This volume is of interest to gastroenterologists, clinical investigators, immunologists, cell biologists and any professional interested in mucosal immunity and inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease remain a great therapeutic challenge to the medical community. In recent years knowledge about the pathogenesis of these diseases has progressed rapidly but the cause of the diseases remains completely unknown. It has become clear that dysregulation of the mucosal immune system is the basis for the chronic evolution of the diseases in a genetically susceptible population. Exciting new therapeutic approaches have been attempted in the last couple of years and cytokine and anti-cytokine treatments in particular seem very promising, especially in intractable disease. The format of the Falk Symposium 106 on `Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases', held in Brussels, Belgium, June 18-20, 1998, was somewhat innovative as each session attempted to link the new insights into pathogenetic mechanisms with new therapeutic approaches, resulting in optimal information transfer. The classic therapeutic schemes were updated with a special focus on step-wise build-up of therapy.

This is the state-of–the-art book on inflammatory bowel disease you have been waiting for Written and edited by international experts in gastroenterology this up-to-date volume provides a complete review of the basic science behind inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as evidence-based clinical guidance on diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of IBD. In 50 chapters the authors cover the latest and most promising treatment modalities and the science behind them. There are chapters which cover the advances in the medical and surgical treatment of conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as chapters focusing on nutrition, imaging and complementary medicine. This is an invaluable information resource for all those in the medical team treating patients with IBD. Whether you are a gastroenterologist, gastrointestinal surgeon or GI nurse specialist this book deserves a place in your library.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Bench to Bedside is a detailed and comprehensive story of the local and systemic pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation including management strategies. Research advances and current concepts of etiopathogenesis in the context of what is already known of the clinicopathologic features of these disorders is explored. This volume blends recent advances in the basic and clinical sciences as they relate to inflammatory bowel disease and emphasizes the effectiveness of a team approach of basic scientists and clinician investigators in this field.

The inflammatory bowel diseases, of unknown etiology and for which there are no cures, continue to attract the attention and interest of gastroenterologists, internists and surgeons. International symposia are common and it is safe to say that there is at least one major symposium held somewhere in the world each year. This book encompasses the proceedings of two recent symposia held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The symposia were the fifth and sixth international meetings focused on inflammatory bowel disease in Canada in the last eight years. Once again they were sponsored by Axcan Pharma, Inc. (formerly Interfalk Canada, Inc.) and endorsed by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. As has become traditional at such meetings the faculty was drawn from an international roster ofleaders in the field of inflammatory bowel disease and gastroenterology. The chapters of the proceedings provide a timely, up-to-date review of the major issues, including those within the realm of basic science and others dealing with clinical problems. The first symposium, 'Basic Research and Clinical Implications', was co-ordinated by John Wallace in association with Stephen Collins and Stephan Targan. The themes of this section were organized under the general topics of predisposing factors (genetics, animal models, infection, permeability, and immune deficits) and the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation. The second symposium, Trends in Therapy' was organized by Lloyd Sutherland along with Franc;:ois Martin, Robin McLeod and Noel Williams.

Over the past ten years, a number of cytokines and growth factors have proven to be as effective therapeutics. While these products have certainly established recombinant biologics as a major pharmaceutical growth sector, the continued interest in this class of drugs arises from the fact that today we have a far better understanding of the human immune response, both at a cellular and molecular level. This has resulted in a more methodical characterisation of these factors which has given clinical researchers an opportunity to plan Phase 1 clinical trials that can provide substantial information on the activity of the cytokine in humans. Currently, a great deal of effort is also being channelled into identifying cytokines from the various DNA databases. Our major objective for this book is to profile cytokines that have been recently identified. The therapeutic potential of these cytokines based on their known properties will be discussed by the authors. The main aim of this book is to provide...