Contents:

List of contents.- One: Methodology, Prevalence and Incidence of Gallstone Disease.- The GREPCO studies: methodology, prevalence and incidence data.- Prevalence and incidence of gallstone disease: the Sirmione study.- Gallbladder disease prevalence and cholecystectomy rates.- Prevalence of clinical gallbladder disease in Mexican Americans.- The Italian multicenter study on epidemiology and prevention of cholelithiasis (MICOL): ultrasonographic standardization.- Prevalence of gallstone disease in 18 Italian population samples: first results from the MICOL study.- Two: The Natural History of Gallstone Disease.- The natural history of gallstones: the GREPCO experience.- Natural history of gallstone disease: the Sirmione study.- 9. The outcome of gallstone disease in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.- 10. Factors affecting the decision to undergo cholecystectomy for mildly symptomatic gallstones.- Three: Risk Factors for Gallstone Disease.- 11. Prevalence of gallstone disease in thalassaemia minor.- 12. Cholelithiasis and blood groups: evidence for a lack of association.- 13. Genetic, ethnic, and environmental factors: findings from the San Antonio heart study.- 14. Risk factors for gallstone disease: genetic, ethnic and environmental factors.- 15. Aging and gallstone disease.- 16. Gallstone prevalence in obese women: pathogenic role of hyperlipoproteinaemia and gallbladder motility.- 17. Serum lipids and gallstone disease.- 18. Dietary habits and gallstones: a study of male self-defense officials in Japan.- 19. Gallbladder and pregnancy.- 20. Risk factors for gallstone disease: the Sirmione study.- 21. Gallstones that form during rapid weight loss.- 22. Concluding remarks.