Dig Dis 2015;33:299 DOI: 10.1159/000381438
Preface
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 0257–2753/15/0333–0299$39.50/0 E-Mail [email protected] www.karger.com/ddi
Downloaded by: Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan 198.143.54.65 - 8/7/2015 10:09:16 AM
This publication contains the contributions of the speakers at the 23th International Bile Acid Meeting held in Freiburg, Germany, October 8–9, 2014. As in previous Bile Acid Meetings, this symposium attracted a large number of basic scientists and clinical hepatologists from all over the world. The International Bile Acid Meetings have been held every second year since 1970, when Herbert Falk and the Falk Foundation began sponsoring these events, thereby successfully contributing to the bridging of basic science and clinical hepatology in the bile acid field. Since the Iast International Bile Acid Meeting in Vienna in 2012, bile acid research has continued to flourish and bile acid signaling has become an important area of research. New insight has been gained into bile acid effects and signaling, demonstrating that bile acids act as signal integrators and metabolic modulators not only in the liver, but also in extrahepatic organs. The findings that bile acids can act as differentiation and proliferation factors and can interact with the intestinal microbiome offer novel aspects on liver regeneration and the pathogenesis of liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma or intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Disturbances and modulation of bile acid signaling have gained clinical relevance and offer new aspects on the pathogenesis and treatment of cholestatic liver disease. One highlight of the 23th International Bile Acid Symposium was the presentation of the Adolf Windaus Prize, sponsored by the Falk Foundation, to Steven Kliewer from Dallas, Tex., USA. He summarizes in this volume his pioneering work on the endocrinology of bile acids. The scientific organizers and editors are grateful to Mrs. Ursula Falk, the Chair-Woman of the Falk Foundation, for her generous sponsorship of the 23th International Bile Acid Meeting, to Dr. Nora Luniak for her help in the scientific coordination, to the Falk Foundation for the perfect organizational support, and to Karger Publishers for their excellent cooperation in publishing these proceedings. Last but not least, the editors thank all of the contributors of this volume for their input to this up-to-date overview of basic and clinical bile acid research. Dieter Häussinger, Düsseldorf
Preface
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 0257–2753/15/0333–0299$39.50/0 E-Mail [email protected] www.karger.com/ddi
Downloaded by: Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan 198.143.54.65 - 8/7/2015 10:09:16 AM
This publication contains the contributions of the speakers at the 23th International Bile Acid Meeting held in Freiburg, Germany, October 8–9, 2014. As in previous Bile Acid Meetings, this symposium attracted a large number of basic scientists and clinical hepatologists from all over the world. The International Bile Acid Meetings have been held every second year since 1970, when Herbert Falk and the Falk Foundation began sponsoring these events, thereby successfully contributing to the bridging of basic science and clinical hepatology in the bile acid field. Since the Iast International Bile Acid Meeting in Vienna in 2012, bile acid research has continued to flourish and bile acid signaling has become an important area of research. New insight has been gained into bile acid effects and signaling, demonstrating that bile acids act as signal integrators and metabolic modulators not only in the liver, but also in extrahepatic organs. The findings that bile acids can act as differentiation and proliferation factors and can interact with the intestinal microbiome offer novel aspects on liver regeneration and the pathogenesis of liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma or intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Disturbances and modulation of bile acid signaling have gained clinical relevance and offer new aspects on the pathogenesis and treatment of cholestatic liver disease. One highlight of the 23th International Bile Acid Symposium was the presentation of the Adolf Windaus Prize, sponsored by the Falk Foundation, to Steven Kliewer from Dallas, Tex., USA. He summarizes in this volume his pioneering work on the endocrinology of bile acids. The scientific organizers and editors are grateful to Mrs. Ursula Falk, the Chair-Woman of the Falk Foundation, for her generous sponsorship of the 23th International Bile Acid Meeting, to Dr. Nora Luniak for her help in the scientific coordination, to the Falk Foundation for the perfect organizational support, and to Karger Publishers for their excellent cooperation in publishing these proceedings. Last but not least, the editors thank all of the contributors of this volume for their input to this up-to-date overview of basic and clinical bile acid research. Dieter Häussinger, Düsseldorf
