This book, the proceedings of the Falk Syposium No. 139 on "Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment", held in Freiburg, Germany, on January 15-16, 2004, reflects the tremendous advances in the field of biliary diseases both at the genetic and cellular as well as the clinical levels.In industrialized countries, gallstones are a frequent clinical entity with a prevalence of 10-15%. In clinical practice one can differentiate between cholesterol stones, black pigment stones and brown pigment stones. 80-90% of gallbladder stones are cholesterol stones, 10--20% are black pigment stones. The prevalence of cholesterol stones increases with age and in Europe in the 70+ age group reaches about 20% in males and about 30% in females. Gallstones and gallstone diseases, therefore, are a frequent and important clinical problem.The book addresses the basic aspects of gallstone pathogenesis as well as the non-surgical and surgical treatment of gallstone diseases. Of particular interest are the epidemiology and genetics of gallstone formation, with definition of risk factors, in particular of genetic predispositions. Other major aspects are the hepatocellular and bilary transport mechanisms that predispose to the formation of gallstones. Apart from cholesterol and lipid transport and absorption, gallbladder function plays a central role in gallstone formation. Another clinically very relevant topic is the treatment of gallstone diseases by drugs, endoscopic and other non-surgical interventions, and surgery, as well as the long-term outcome of therapeutic interventions. The volume concludes with a state-of-the-art chapter on "Gallstone Research in the Post-Genomic Era".Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment is an excellent update on the pathogenesis of gallstones as well as on the treatment of gallstone diseases, written by an international faculty of outstanding clinicans and scientists. The book will, therefore, be of great interest to hepatologists and gastroenterologists in academic institutions as well as in clinical practice.

The papers collected in this book were given and discussed at the symposium on "Soil water physics and technology", which was held in Rehovot, Israel, from August 19th-September 4th, 1971. It was sponsored by the International Society of Soil Science (1.S.S.S.) through its Commissions I (soil physics) and VI (soil technology), and organized by the Israeli Soil Science Society. Thanks are due to the Editors for having assembled contributions and discussion remarks into a well-rounded, coherent book. The subjects covered in this book are the theoretical and practical aspects of the following topics: water movement in soils, soil-water interactions, evaporation from soil and plants, water requirements of crops, ion activity and migration in soils, soilwater management and salinity. In as much as these contributions were not solicited, they represent ideas and subjects considered important by the authors and debators. In science, one often finds a gap between basic research and practical application. If reading this book creates a feeling of an apparent lack of balance between theory and practice, this represents the state of our science today, and the thoughtful reader can and will recognize that much remains to be done. W. R. GARDNER T.]. MAR5HAL President, Commission I President, Commission VI 1.5.5.5.

This book, the proceedings of the Falk Syposium No. 139 on "Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment", held in Freiburg, Germany, on January 15-16, 2004, reflects the tremendous advances in the field of biliary diseases both at the genetic and cellular as well as the clinical levels.In industrialized countries, gallstones are a frequent clinical entity with a prevalence of 10-15%. In clinical practice one can differentiate between cholesterol stones, black pigment stones and brown pigment stones. 80-90% of gallbladder stones are cholesterol stones, 10--20% are black pigment stones. The prevalence of cholesterol stones increases with age and in Europe in the 70+ age group reaches about 20% in males and about 30% in females. Gallstones and gallstone diseases, therefore, are a frequent and important clinical problem.The book addresses the basic aspects of gallstone pathogenesis as well as the non-surgical and surgical treatment of gallstone diseases. Of particular interest are the epidemiology and genetics of gallstone formation, with definition of risk factors, in particular of genetic predispositions. Other major aspects are the hepatocellular and bilary transport mechanisms that predispose to the formation of gallstones. Apart from cholesterol and lipid transport and absorption, gallbladder function plays a central role in gallstone formation. Another clinically very relevant topic is the treatment of gallstone diseases by drugs, endoscopic and other non-surgical interventions, and surgery, as well as the long-term outcome of therapeutic interventions. The volume concludes with a state-of-the-art chapter on "Gallstone Research in the Post-Genomic Era".Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment is an excellent update on the pathogenesis of gallstones as well as on the treatment of gallstone diseases, written by an international faculty of outstanding clinicans and scientists. The book will, therefore, be of great interest to hepatologists and gastroenterologists in academic institutions as well as in clinical practice.

The papers collected in this book were given and discussed at the symposium on "Soil water physics and technology", which was held in Rehovot, Israel, from August 19th-September 4th, 1971. It was sponsored by the International Society of Soil Science (1.S.S.S.) through its Commissions I (soil physics) and VI (soil technology), and organized by the Israeli Soil Science Society. Thanks are due to the Editors for having assembled contributions and discussion remarks into a well-rounded, coherent book. The subjects covered in this book are the theoretical and practical aspects of the following topics: water movement in soils, soil-water interactions, evaporation from soil and plants, water requirements of crops, ion activity and migration in soils, soilwater management and salinity. In as much as these contributions were not solicited, they represent ideas and subjects considered important by the authors and debators. In science, one often finds a gap between basic research and practical application. If reading this book creates a feeling of an apparent lack of balance between theory and practice, this represents the state of our science today, and the thoughtful reader can and will recognize that much remains to be done. W. R. GARDNER T.]. MAR5HAL President, Commission I President, Commission VI 1.5.5.5.