Immunological Aspects of the Liver and Gastrointestinal Tract


Book Description

We have been privileged to start our academic careers at the begin ning of the decade in which the immunological roles and hypersensitivity diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver have been defined. In the early 1960s IgA was reported to be the main secretory immunoglobulin, immunoblasts were shown to home to the intestinal mucosa and certain serum autoantibodies were described in patients with chronic liver disease. Shortly thereafter IgE and Australia antigen were discovered. Parallel advances in clinical investigation, in particular closed biopsy techniques, facilitated correlation of morphological changes with im munological mechanisms in disease of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Only 10 years later, the concepts of immunity and hypersensitivity are regularly applied to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prog nosis of many chronic diseases in these organs. In designing this book we have attempted to integrate theorectical and clinical immunology as they pertain in 1975; our ultimate aim is aptly described by Brachet as quoted by Professor Paronetto (page 319). We would like to think that this review provides a basis for the next major advances in the fields of gastrointestinal and hepatic immunology. As we see it, the outstanding problem in both sites is how to produce protective immunity without hypersensitivity.




Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Immunology


Book Description

This 1994 volume summarizes basic scientific advances in the area of the gut immune system and the immune abnormalities relevant to gastrointestinal and liver disease.













Clinical Update on Inflammatory Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract


Book Description

Digestive-disease-associated mortality accounts for a major part of all deaths in Western societies and inflammatory diseases such as GI infections, viral hepatitis, GERD or cancers due to chronic inflammation have a tangible economic and social impact. What further aggravates the situation is the fact that complex immunological disorders have surfaced where anti-infective treatments are not effective. Fortunately, due to breakthroughs in basic research that are being successfully translated into clinical practice, new treatment strategies are constantly evolving. In addition to the development of new therapeutic measures, however, it is also mandatory to review and periodically refine established treatment regimens to reflect current knowledge and ensure up-to-date medical care.Combining outstanding basic research reviews with cutting-edge treatment guidelines on inflammatory disorders of the GI tract, this book presents newly identified treatment targets and provides clinicians and practitioners in the field with a most useful account of the state of the art.




The Gastrointestinal System at a Glance


Book Description

This concise introduction to the gastrointestinal system encapsulates the fundamental facts and principles of this rapidly growing and changing specialty. Written by experienced clinicians and teachers, the text covers the basic concepts of both the science surrounding the gastrointestinal system and the basics of clinical practice in an accessible, lucid format. Now fully supported by a companion website at www.ataglanceseries.com/gastro containing interactive MCQs and downloadable digital flashcards, The Gastrointestinal System at a Glance is the ideal revision aid for medical and allied health students, and provides valuable insight for anyone seeking a comprehensive and concise guide to this subject area. Fully revised and updated to include further coverage of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, revised liver chapters and a new chapter on embryology Now in full colour throughout Supported by a companion website containing interactive self-assessment and digital flashcards - perfect for both study and revision Provides an integrated approach to both the basic and clinical science of this core specialty




Liver Immunology


Book Description

Liver Immunology: Principles and Practice, Second Edition begins with important information about the epidemiology and mortality of liver disease worldwide. This information is followed by chapters related to basic immunology, application of liver immunology for diagnosis, and several excellent chapters that provide a solid foundation for understanding immune-mediated liver disease, including those associated with the biliary tree. A chapter on non-hepatic manifestations of immune mediated liver disease helps provide context for how these diseases affect the patient overall. In addition, chapters discuss various discrete immunologically-mediated infectious liver disorders including those related to bacteria, parasites, and all of the classic viruses. Chapters on the traditional autoimmune liver diseases -- primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis as well as overlap syndrome – are also included. The breadth of this comprehensive second edition is highlighted by chapters on alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and drug-induced liver disease, among others. This invaluable new edition ends with a forward-looking view of future directions and how the field might meet the challenge of refractory patients. Developed by a renowned group of authors, Liver Immunology: Principles and Practice, Second Edition will again serve as a comprehensive textbook by providing an excellent overview for this rapidly evolving field. It greatly adds to the understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases, while also providing novel insights that can be harnessed into helping improve the care of patients afflicted with various immune-mediated diseases. This volume will again be a must-read for clinicians at all levels, investigators and students.




Gut and the Liver


Book Description

This book, the proceedings of Falk Symposium 100, `Gut and the Liver', held in Freiburg, Germany, 29-31 May 1997, comprehensively reviews the physiological and pathophysiological interactions between the intestine and the liver as well as between intestinal and hepatic diseases. Apart from the basic aspects of the intestinal microflora and the immune system of the gut, gastrointestinal permeability and translocation as well as the contribution of the intestine and the intestinal bacteria to the metabolism of bile acids, amino acids and drugs are discussed. In addition, experimental as well as clinical data demonstrating the significance of gut-derived bacterial toxins for the development of liver diseases and the effect of liver diseases on gastrointestinal functions are discussed. The major aim of this book, therefore, is to highlight the interactions between gut and liver at the molecular level as well as in clinical disease.