Preface.

In this supplement to the periodical "Gut," the reader will find the full texts of papers presented at the summer meeting of the European Institute of Healthcare (EIH) held in Barcelona, Spain, in June 2002. The EIH is an independent institute providing programmes of high standard continuous medical education for specialists. Programmes are organised in the following areas: gastroenterology, oncology, cardiology, respiratory disease, and the central nervous system. Each year, two symposia are held for each therapeutic area, gathering participants from 20 countries within Europe. The EIH has an independent medical steering committee chaired by Emeritus G. Vantrappen, from the University of Leuven in Belgium to handle these programmes. The other members of this committee are the chairmen and co-chairmen of the scientific committees representing the five therapeutic areas. All EIH funding is provided by AstraZeneca.