This book, the proceedings of a Falk Workshop on `Topical Steroids in Gastroenterology and Hepatology', held in Berlin, Germany, on 14 June 2003, critically discusses the current role of budesonide in gastroenterology, hepatology, surgery and oncology and focuses especially on potential new indications for the use of budesonide. A number of smaller clinical studies and anecdotal case reports with impressive clinical effects are reported in patients with gastrointestinal, hepatic, oncological and surgical problems. In addition, the use of budesonide for the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis and ileocolonic Crohn's disease is evaluated with respect to its role in an evidence-based management of IBD. Finally, as clinical experience with the use of budesonide is increasing, safety issues and the side-effect profile of budesonide is addressed.

This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 121 on 'Steatohepatitis (NASH and ASH)', held in Den Haag, The Netherlands, on October 14-15, 2000. The histological features of what we now call non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were described as early as 1962 by the Honorary President of the Symposium, Professor Herbert Thaler, from Vienna. Others followed, and in 1980 JA1/4rgen Ludwig, one of the speakers of this symposium, introduced the name non-alcoholic steatohepatitis' or NASH. In a Consensus Symposium organized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Washington, USA, in December 1998, NASH was recognized as one of the most common liver diseases in Western countries when viral hepatitis and heavy alcohol consumption were excluded. ASH, or alcoholic steatohepatitis, is more common than NASH, since alcohol is omnipresent in Western as well as Eastern cultures. Histologically NASH and ASH are similar or even identical. Morphological findings range from fatty degeneration to inflammation and fibrosis, and may end up in liver cirrhosis. In spite of the well-defined morphological features, our knowledge of epidemiology, aetiology, and pathogenesis is full of gaps, especially for NASH. Therefore, it is the purpose of this book to show the state of the art, to discuss recent scientific data, and to suggest possible treatment strategies, hoping to stimulate clinicians as well as scientists.