Welcome letterfrom Hajime Kuwayama, MD and Yutaka Matsuo, MD

On behalf of the Japanese Society on Ulcer Research (JSUR), we would like to welcome all of you to the 13th ICUR (International Conference on Ulcer Research/ICGR (International Conference on Gastrointestinal Research, Split, Croatia, which scheduled for September 10-16, 2009. JSUR has established in 1973. Since then scientific meeting has been held annually. Journal of JSUR (Ulcer Research) has been successfully published twice a year. Although JSUR and ICUR are independent society, each scope and basic idea for scientific activity is very similar or identical. In fact, several ICUR meetings were held in Japan, most recently in Osaka in 2006 under the chairmanship, Professor Arakawa. Meanwhile JSUR celebrated the 30th anniversary in 2002 and many Japanese leading scientists in this field contributed to the supplement issue of Ulcer Research. You can find earlier history of JSUR as well as detailed basic technique for many experimental ulcer models. If you are interested in this supplement issue, ask us. Unfortunately, all articles in this supplement issue are written by Japanese.

Clinical feature of the gastrointestinal diseases has recently been dramatically changed in Japan. For example the number of patients with uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease has been decreased. Lower infection of Helicobacter pylori in young Japanese as well as westernized diet may explain in part but not fully. Interestingly, the number of in-patients with bleeding ulcers has not been changed and the number of inflammatory bowel diseases has been increased. The pathogenesis and mechanism of all these conditions is largely unknown. And we have to pay attention and be sensitive these clinical features. Definitely both ICUR/ICGR and JSUR play an important role in clarifying the pathogenesis and mechanism of many gastrointestinal diseases. We, JSUR, are sure that the 13th ICUR/ICGR will be a great success under the strong chairmanship, Professor Sikiric. We encourage JSUR member to attend the 13th ICUR/ICGR and contribute the 13th ICUR/ICGR. Once again, welcome to the 13th ICUR/ICGR.

Sincerely Yours,

Hajime Kuwayama, MD and Yutaka Matsuo, MD
The Japanese Society on Ulcer Research