M.B. Roberfroid – författare

This book reviews the microbiology of the human gastrointestinal tract and examines how its composition and activities may affect host welfare. Drawing on the work of international specialists, the author gives a comprehensive account of gut microbiology. In particular, the nature of the microbiota, the fermentation process, gut flora modulation through diet (probiotics, prebiotics), molecular approaches for studying the bacteria, health outcomes associated with colonic microbial function and consumer aspects are all detailed. It is now believed that gut function, and colonic bacteria specifically, can play an important role in human nutrition and health. Whilst it has long been realised that the gastrointestinal microbiota can affect host well-being, the full extent of this interaction is only now emerging. This book gives a balanced review of current knowledge on how gut flora can be optimized for improved health and on some of the more important target outcomes. Its contents should therefore be of topical relevance to scientists and students involved in microbiology, gastroenterology, nutrition and the food industry.

The meeting on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis which took place in Spa, Belgium at the end of May 1987 was the Second European Meeting. About 100 scientists, mostly from Europe but also from the United States, met there for three days in a very friendly atmosphere to exchange knowledge and ideas on experimental and human liver carcinogenesis. The main topics discussed during the meeting included general reviews on hepatocarcinogenesis, experimental models of hepa­ tocarcinogenesis, biology of hepatocarcinogenesis, and in vitro studies in hepatocarcinogenesis. They are all covered by the various chapters of this proceedings volume, which reflects the present state of knowledge in this important field of cancer research. The final aim of that research is to understand the basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The liver offers a parti­ cularly interesting tool to reach such a goal. Indeed, its biochemistry, its morphology, and its physiology are very diverse, but relatively well known. Various protocols have been developed to produce hepatocellular carcinomas or other malignant tumors. Their appearance is most often preceded by phenotypically altered foci and nodules which have been isolated and characterized. The major cell populations of normal, neoplastic, and malignant livers have been cultivated.