Since the last International Bile Acid Meeting in San Diego in 1994, new advances have been made in the understanding of bile acid metabolism and transport. The cytotoxic as well as the therapeutic effects of specific bile acids have been further explored and the beneficial effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in various chronic cholestatic conditions have been substantiated. Much basic and clinical research has been conducted to unravel the underlying mechanisms of action. This volume, the proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 93 (XIV International Bile Acid Meeting), held in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany, October 22-24, 1996, is dedicated to both basic and clinical aspects of bile acid research related to the role of bile acids in hepatobiliary diseases.
