- Email: [email protected]
Steatohepatitis (NASH and ASH)
DIGEST LIVER DIS 2001;33:735-6
Book reviews Transplantation of the liver W.C. Maddrey, E.R. Schiff, M.E. Sorrel1 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelpia, pages, USS 159. ISBN O-781 7-2039-7
USA,
2001, 509
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: To provide an overview of the major issues regarding liver transplantation, designed as a tool mainly for medical practitioners needing to approach the clinical setting of liver transplantation and also, to some degree, for specialists already more involved in this field. Content: The almost 500 pages are organized into 31 chapters which follow the chronological sequence of events involved in liver transplantation. The first three chapters are introductory dealing with patient selection for liver transplantation, followed by six chapters on adult and paediatric surgical procedures, with updates on liver and small bowel transplantation and living-related liver transplantation. The focus then switches to immediate and long-term post-operative care and to the complications of liver transplantation. Several chapters are dedicated to specific clinical and experimental topics. The final considerations on the economic and perspectives in liver transplantation are of interest. The tables, figures and illustrations are very clear. Most of the nearly 60 contributors are from the States, but a few are European. Commentary: This is the third edition of the book and undoubtedly serves its purpose. Despite numerous consensus conferences and reports in various publications in the States and Europe, there are still issues under debate. For example, in chapters 2 and 3, the Authors deal with patient selection and the timing of liver transplantation. Though minima1 listing criteria for liver transplantation have been developed and published, controversies and differences still exist around the world as regards rational listing criteria. This means that, despite more than 20 years of experience, the topic is still worthy of attention. Other open issues concern the ethical, religious and social aspects of liver transplantation, in both clinical and experimental contexts. This book offers contributions also on these topics, but the impression is that it is dedicated more to postgraduate medical students beginning to approach this field and genera1 practitioners, while it adds little to the body of knowledge of colleagues who have been dealing, for years, with the medical or surgical aspects of liver transplantation. Final note: This is a scrupulously prepared book providing a general overview of current knowledge on liver transplantation. Though most specialists in this field keep up to date with the proceedings of international meetings and scientific papers, a global overview of this kind should, nonetheless, be available at every liver transplant centre. It was good to see that some European authors were involved in this book, given their standing on international scientific committees and the fact that the outcome of liver transplantation in most European centres is comparable with results achieved in the States. Reviewer: P. Burra (Padua, Italy). Gastrointestinal Emergencies T.C.K. Tham, J.S.A. Collins BMJ Books, London, UK, 2000,249 ISBN O-7279-1485-5 Format: Paperback book. Content: This small monograph,
pages, US$27.50.
written
by two gastroenterol-
ogists with a substantial input also from surgeon colleagues, covers the complications most easily and commonly encountered both during genera1 practice and hospital life. It is divided into three parts, dealing respectively with the immediate approach to specific presentations (dyspepsia, jaundice, haemorrhage, etc.), the most frequent complications after gastrointestinal procedures, and the correct approach to specific conditions. The presentation is very essential and schematic, especially designed for people with little time to spare and the need to make prompt decisions. The language is clear, immediate and pragmatic, the figures and tables are few but easily comprehensible, and references rightly reduced to the bare essentials. Commentary: A good, fast guide to gastrointestinal emergencies which gives clear and concise guidance on presentation, clinical diagnosis as well as the urgent investigations required in these patients. Final note: A problem-oriented book which may prove useful to junior doctors working in gastroenterology, medicine, surgery and emergency and to genera1 physicians who may come into contact with a wide range of gastrointestinal emergencies. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
Steatohepatitis [NASH and ASHI U. Leushner, 0. James, H. Dancygier Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, 2001, 374 pages, 70 DM. ISBN O-7923-8769-4
London,
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: To summarize our current understanding of steatohepatitis, the inflammatory evolution of long-standing, pre-existing steatosis and the possible precursor lesion of more advanced liver disease. Content: This reference work, the proceedings of Falk Symposium 121 held in The Netherlands in October 2000, is a comprehensive and balanced treatise reflecting the combined efforts of 40 senior Authors, 27 Europeans, 11 from USA, 1 from Canada and 1 from Australia. The 38 Chapters are divided into 7 major Sections covering every single aspect of nonalcoholic (NASH) as well as alcoholic (ASH) steatohepatitis. Alcohol abuse is the prototype steatohepatitis. However, in the Western world, it is NASH that is going to reach epidemic proportions and the 11 Chapters of the book devoted specifically to this condition represent the most intriguing and innovative aspect of the treatise. The excellent section on treatment of ASH is also worth reporting. Commentary: Who better to write a book than the researchers who have been active in steatohepatitis for years? This has been accomplished in “Steatohepatitis”. This book is signed by authoritative Authors such as Brunt, Caldwell, Cortez-Pinto, Day, Deugnier, Diehl, Farrell, James, Ludwig, McCullogh, Passayre, Poupon, Sanyal and Schalm. Only 3 Chapters are written by Italian Authors: “Epidemiology and risk factors for fatty liver”, “ Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin” and “Insulinresistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”. Final note: The Editors are to be complimented for selecting Authors able to offer a privileged perspective of a rapidly evolving field. This excellent monograph bridges the gap between information and knowledge, resulting in recommended reading for both academic and practising gastroenterologists. Reviewer: A. Lonardo (Modena, Italy).
135
Book reviews Transplantation of the liver W.C. Maddrey, E.R. Schiff, M.E. Sorrel1 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelpia, pages, USS 159. ISBN O-781 7-2039-7
USA,
2001, 509
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: To provide an overview of the major issues regarding liver transplantation, designed as a tool mainly for medical practitioners needing to approach the clinical setting of liver transplantation and also, to some degree, for specialists already more involved in this field. Content: The almost 500 pages are organized into 31 chapters which follow the chronological sequence of events involved in liver transplantation. The first three chapters are introductory dealing with patient selection for liver transplantation, followed by six chapters on adult and paediatric surgical procedures, with updates on liver and small bowel transplantation and living-related liver transplantation. The focus then switches to immediate and long-term post-operative care and to the complications of liver transplantation. Several chapters are dedicated to specific clinical and experimental topics. The final considerations on the economic and perspectives in liver transplantation are of interest. The tables, figures and illustrations are very clear. Most of the nearly 60 contributors are from the States, but a few are European. Commentary: This is the third edition of the book and undoubtedly serves its purpose. Despite numerous consensus conferences and reports in various publications in the States and Europe, there are still issues under debate. For example, in chapters 2 and 3, the Authors deal with patient selection and the timing of liver transplantation. Though minima1 listing criteria for liver transplantation have been developed and published, controversies and differences still exist around the world as regards rational listing criteria. This means that, despite more than 20 years of experience, the topic is still worthy of attention. Other open issues concern the ethical, religious and social aspects of liver transplantation, in both clinical and experimental contexts. This book offers contributions also on these topics, but the impression is that it is dedicated more to postgraduate medical students beginning to approach this field and genera1 practitioners, while it adds little to the body of knowledge of colleagues who have been dealing, for years, with the medical or surgical aspects of liver transplantation. Final note: This is a scrupulously prepared book providing a general overview of current knowledge on liver transplantation. Though most specialists in this field keep up to date with the proceedings of international meetings and scientific papers, a global overview of this kind should, nonetheless, be available at every liver transplant centre. It was good to see that some European authors were involved in this book, given their standing on international scientific committees and the fact that the outcome of liver transplantation in most European centres is comparable with results achieved in the States. Reviewer: P. Burra (Padua, Italy). Gastrointestinal Emergencies T.C.K. Tham, J.S.A. Collins BMJ Books, London, UK, 2000,249 ISBN O-7279-1485-5 Format: Paperback book. Content: This small monograph,
pages, US$27.50.
written
by two gastroenterol-
ogists with a substantial input also from surgeon colleagues, covers the complications most easily and commonly encountered both during genera1 practice and hospital life. It is divided into three parts, dealing respectively with the immediate approach to specific presentations (dyspepsia, jaundice, haemorrhage, etc.), the most frequent complications after gastrointestinal procedures, and the correct approach to specific conditions. The presentation is very essential and schematic, especially designed for people with little time to spare and the need to make prompt decisions. The language is clear, immediate and pragmatic, the figures and tables are few but easily comprehensible, and references rightly reduced to the bare essentials. Commentary: A good, fast guide to gastrointestinal emergencies which gives clear and concise guidance on presentation, clinical diagnosis as well as the urgent investigations required in these patients. Final note: A problem-oriented book which may prove useful to junior doctors working in gastroenterology, medicine, surgery and emergency and to genera1 physicians who may come into contact with a wide range of gastrointestinal emergencies. Reviewer: G. Bianchi Porro (Milan, Italy).
Steatohepatitis [NASH and ASHI U. Leushner, 0. James, H. Dancygier Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, 2001, 374 pages, 70 DM. ISBN O-7923-8769-4
London,
Format: Hardcover book. Purpose: To summarize our current understanding of steatohepatitis, the inflammatory evolution of long-standing, pre-existing steatosis and the possible precursor lesion of more advanced liver disease. Content: This reference work, the proceedings of Falk Symposium 121 held in The Netherlands in October 2000, is a comprehensive and balanced treatise reflecting the combined efforts of 40 senior Authors, 27 Europeans, 11 from USA, 1 from Canada and 1 from Australia. The 38 Chapters are divided into 7 major Sections covering every single aspect of nonalcoholic (NASH) as well as alcoholic (ASH) steatohepatitis. Alcohol abuse is the prototype steatohepatitis. However, in the Western world, it is NASH that is going to reach epidemic proportions and the 11 Chapters of the book devoted specifically to this condition represent the most intriguing and innovative aspect of the treatise. The excellent section on treatment of ASH is also worth reporting. Commentary: Who better to write a book than the researchers who have been active in steatohepatitis for years? This has been accomplished in “Steatohepatitis”. This book is signed by authoritative Authors such as Brunt, Caldwell, Cortez-Pinto, Day, Deugnier, Diehl, Farrell, James, Ludwig, McCullogh, Passayre, Poupon, Sanyal and Schalm. Only 3 Chapters are written by Italian Authors: “Epidemiology and risk factors for fatty liver”, “ Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin” and “Insulinresistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”. Final note: The Editors are to be complimented for selecting Authors able to offer a privileged perspective of a rapidly evolving field. This excellent monograph bridges the gap between information and knowledge, resulting in recommended reading for both academic and practising gastroenterologists. Reviewer: A. Lonardo (Modena, Italy).
135