Amazon.com description: Product Description: Thoroughly updated for its Fourth Edition, this classic two-volume work provides encyclopaedic coverage of contemporary clinical gastroenterology. In 162 chapters written by leading authorities, the text reviews clinically relevant basic science, presents practical approaches to common symptoms, discusses the entire spectrum of diseases, and describes all diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available today. Complementing the text are 2,000 illustrations. This edition has a new Associate Editor, Neil Kaplowitz, MD, who is a noted hepatologist. More than 30 new chapters focus specifically on liver disease and the liver is incorporated into other chapters where appropriate. Also included are new chapters on alternative medicine, approaches to the patient with obesity, visceral sensory pathways, and economics of diagnosis and treatment. More than 30 percent of the contributors are new to this edition. FEATURES: Comprehensive coverage applies basic science information to encyclopedic discussions of all gastroenterological problems. Unmatched technical material describes both new and proven laboratory, radiographic, and endoscopic techniques.Expert editorship from a leader in gastroenterology. Two-colour design provides a visually exciting forum highlighted by illustrations, algorithms and cartoons to clarify complex concepts. High-quality full-colour illustrations. Approach to the Patient chapters offer practical guidance for diagnosing ad managing common complaints. NEW TO THIS EDITION: Expanded coverage now includes liver disease - with 21 new chapters devoted specifically to hepatic disease and hepatic content integrated into related chapters. New chapters: approaches to the patient with obesity; use of alternative medicines in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems; visceral sensory pathways; and the economics of diagnosis and treatment. One third of the authors are new to this edition. ALSO INCLUDED! is this time-saving electronic reference which provides instant, unlimited access to the full text and illustrations of Dr. Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology, Fourth Edition and Atlas of Gastroenterology, Third Edition - a total of more than 4,800 pages and nearly 5,000 illustrations, including over 1,600 in full colour.User-friendly software enables viewers to search both books in various ways, Atlas chapters link to relevant Textbook chapters, all Textbook references link to MEDLINE abstracts, and a button embedded in each reference section links to PubMed. Users can perform instant searches on one or both books; call up images and import them into Powerpoint (c); zoom in and out of key views; and jump between hypertext links. Bookmark and history features allow users to move around the text without losin g their place