This book fills an important void that is not customarily addressed in gastroenterology texts. The editors' goal, as stated in their preface, is "to bridge the gap between the research laboratory and medical practice," and in this respect it succeeds remarkably well. The book is clinically directed rather than basic science oriented. It is more of a "handbook" than a textbook and should be of great interest to those who would like an introduction to gastric cytoprotection. Thus, it supercedes the only other treatise on this subject, a collection of papers presented at an international meeting.1
The book begins with an introductory discussion on "Cytoprotection for the Clinician" (three chapters), which is the most easily readable for the practitioner. It then proceeds to a more extensive section on "Defensive Mechanisms of the Stomach" (six chapters). The roles of mucus and bicarbonate secretion, mucosal blood flow, and microvascular and epithelial