Preface

Abstract

In 1969, Skillmann et al. reported that the disruption of the gastric mucosal barrier to hydrogen ions (H+) was a causative factor in the development of stress ulcers, and it was called ‘H+ back-diffusion theory’. In the 1970s, the attention was focused on the defensive mechanisms of gastric mucosa. In 1974, Cimetidine, the first histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2-blocker), was developed in the UK. H2-blocker made it possible to decrease drastically the number of elective surgeries. However, the factors associated with relapse of peptic ulcers or acute gastric mucosal lesions were the main topics in the 1980s. The first meeting of the Taisho International Symposium on Gastroenterology was held in 1987. Disruption of the gastric defensive mechanisms as a causative factor of relapse of peptic ulcers or acute gastric mucosal lesions was enthusiastically discussed in the first meeting of the Taisho International Symposium on Gastroenterology. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health in USA recommended the eradication of Helicobacter pylori as a first-line treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers, which opened ‘the era of Helicobacter pylori’. Factors related to H. pylori became important topics in the Taisho International Symposium in the middle of the 1990s. The 11th Taishotoyama International Symposium on Gastroenterology was held from 22 to 23 April 2005. The topics discussed in the 11th Symposium were growth factors, H. pylori, PG and Cox, cancer, IBD, GERD and brain–gut peptides. This shows that Helicobacter research connected the pathogenesis of ulcers with that of cancers. As H. pylori was related with gastric ulcers and gastric cancers, the stream of the change in gastric mucosal character resulted in cancer development is now the interest of investigators. The majority of papers reported in the meeting were related to the change in gastric mucosal character. In a broad point of view, the data on Helicobacter research have linked the pathogenesis of ulcers with cancers. It has been about 20 years since the first meeting of this symposium was held. Now the incidence of H. pylori infection is rapidly decreasing in Japan. This tendency will be followed by East Asian countries. H. pylori-negative diseases or conditions, e.g. H. pylori-negative GERD, acid secretion, cancers, ulcers and metabolic syndrome will be major interests in the next 20 years. Finally, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to those who made efforts for submitting, reviewing and publishing these papers. I also deeply thank Taishotoyama Pharmaceutical Co. for supporting this symposium.