1.   Research interest during the last two decades has been focused on the metabolism of biliary lipids and its effect on gall stone formation.

2.   As such, its role in the pathogenesis of gall stone formation is being increasingly recognised.

3.   More recently, other research workers used human and animal gall bladders to study aspects of epithelial cell function in relation to gall stone formation.

4.   In the future, it may be feasible to ablate the gall bladder by thermal or chemical injury or to prevent gall stone formation by altering bile metabolism.

5.   The rate of gall stone formation during CSOI has yet to be discovered, but is probably lower.

6.   In pregnancy and obesity, increased fasting and postprandial residual gall bladder volumes are associated with increased risk of gall stone formation.

7.   Pregnancy could affect each of the processes involved in gall stone formation.

8.   At present, we do not know how smoking might promote either gall stone formation or the development of symptoms.