The Dutch surgical community has a long tradition in multicenter randomized clinical trials, which heavily depend on the close network within the society. Moreover, many connections exist with more basic research groups, facilitating translational research and thus bridging the gap between basic scientific progress and novel clinical application. For this publication, seven Dutch academic research groups have been invited to review their recent scientific activities in the field of gastrointestinal surgery and to put their results in the perspective of international literature. The papers which have been chosen are dealing with gastroesophageal, hepatopancreatobiliary and colorectal surgery, and they range from translational to more clinically oriented research. Surgeons interested in new developments in their field of expertise will find this collection of papers a valuable help for their daily work.
Preface; The Current State of Cancer Gene Therapy and Its Application in
Esophageal Carcinoma: Buskens, C.J.; Marsman, W.A.; Bosma, P.J.; van
Lanschot, J.J.B.; Prevention of Infectious Complications in Surgical
Patients: Potential Role of Probiotics: Besselink, M.G.H.; Timmermann, H.M.;
van Minnen, L.P.; Akkermans, L.M.A.; Gooszen, H.G.; Radiofrequency for the
Treatment of Liver Tumors: Ruers, T.J.M.; de Jong, K.P.; Ijzermans, J.N.M.;
Liver Support Therapy: An Overview of the AMC-Bioartificial Liver Research:
van de Kerkhove, M.P.; Poyck, P.P.C.; Deurholt, T.; Hoekstra, R.; Chamuleau,
R.A.F.M.; van Gulik, T.M.; Minimizing Blood Loss in Liver Transplantation:
Progress through Research and Evolution of Techniques: de Boer, M.T.;
Molenaar, I.Q.; Hendriks, H.G.D.; Slooff, M.J.H.; Porte, R.J.; Translational
Research in Prognostic Profiling in Colorectal Cancer: de Noo, M.E.; Liefers,
G.J.; Tollenaar, R.A.E.M.; VEGF as a Target of Therapy in Gastrointestinal
Oncology: Los, M.; Voest, E.E.; Borel Rinkes, I.H.M.
