- (2001) Volume 2, Issue 1
| Raffaele Pezzilli Emergency Department, Sant'Orsola Hospital. Bologna, Italy |
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Corresponding Author |
| The findings that a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) exists in the pancreas and its relevance in the regulation of pancreatic microcirculation and ductal anion secretion have been well described by Leung [1]. Furthermore, the significance of the activation of pancreatic RAS by chronic hypoxia and acute pancreatitis has been discussed in detail by Nobiling [2], Lai [3], and by Ip and coworkers [4]. The role of the RAS in the disease involving the endocrine and exocrine pancreas has been critically reported by Carlsson [5], Chappell [6] and Lam [7]. In particular, the effects of food components on the pancreatic RAS have been pointed out by Grant [8] and a critical appraisal of the intrinsic pancreatic angiotensin-generating system has been proposed by Sernia [9]. |
| The RAS represents a new opportunity to better understand the mechanisms involved in the acute and chronic diseases of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas and, in the near future, it is possible that new therapeutic procedures which use this knowledge will be employed in clinical practice; in fact, all the authors suggested a clinical perspective for future basic and clinical studies. |
| I am convinced that the entire group of authors has satisfied both my desire, and that the Guest Editor produces a concise and informative round table. |
| I am grateful to all the authors for the care with which they prepared their manuscripts since it is with papers such as these that we maintain the excellence of our Journal; in particular, we thank Po Sing Leung for his interest and hard work in organizing and coordinating this first virtual round table for JOP, Journal of the Pancreas. |
| I hope many readers will be stimulated by these contributions. In most cases, the use of this knowledge in clinical practice will require careful attention and I hope that, in the near future, there will be a feedback regarding this important research. |
| Finally, the topics have not only been addressed to researchers but also to those who while in training are developing a special interest in the pancreas and I am sure that trainees in the field of pancreatology will take this knowledge into consideration in their future professional work. |
| The seed has been sown; now we are waiting for it to take root. |
