Active clinical trials for "Hepatitis, Alcoholic"

The histological characteristics of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) related to overweight and obesity suggest the presence of partly common physiopathological mechanisms. We reported that the ponderal overload was an independent risk factor of alcoholic cirrhosis. The adipose tissue was considered for a long time as a simple place of storage of fat. However, it is now recognized that the adipose tissue can secrete cytokines called ADIPOKINES. The adipose tissue can secrete others cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL6, IL10 and IL1-Ra. Increase in the production of the leptin and TNF-alpha by the adipose tissue after alcohol administration in the rat, as well as the role of leptin in inflammation and liver fibrogenesis in the murine model of chemical hepatotoxicity strongly suggest that activation of adipocytes by alcohol can explain the strong correlation observed between the body mass index (BMI) and the severity of ethanol-induced liver injury. Conversely, it was suggested in a murine model that the reduction in adiponectin production would sensitize the liver with the toxicity of alcohol. The PPAR alpha and gamma are the receptors which play a role both in inflammation and glucide and lipid metabolism. Taking into account the inhibiting role of PPAR alpha on the proliferation of the hepatic stellate cells, responsible for the fibrosis, the PPAR could also be implied in the relation between the overweight and the hepatic fibrosis in the alcoholic.

Drinking large amount of alcohol can cause damage to the liver. If the liver is severely injured by alcohol it can become very inflamed and this condition is called alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis can be life threatening. There is no cure for alcoholic hepatitis. It is known that stop drinking and have good nutrition can help the liver to recover. Infections are very common for people who suffer from alcoholic hepatitis. Sometimes these infection can be very severe. It is not always possible to find out where the infection is coming from. But the bacteria living in the bowel may move to other organs causing these infections and an illness like alcoholic hepatitis can cause "bad bacteria" to take over from "good bacteria" in the gut. This study wants to understand the changes in the bacteria in the bowel of people who have an acute inflammation of the liver cause by alcohol (alcoholic hepatitis). The investigators will take stool samples from patients admitted in the hospital with alcoholic hepatitis. The investigators will run tests on the stools that can find out which bacteria live in the bowel. Its is expected to find these bacteria to be different from the ones living in the bowel of healthy people. The investigators are interested to see if these bacteria change once the patients are given good nutrition using a small tube from the nose to the stomach. This type of nutrition is used routinely to help improve the liver in severe alcoholic hepatitis. The investigators will take some more stool sample from these patients after the nutrition through the tube has started to check how the bacteria change with nutrition. Better tools to check the bacteria in the bowel are now available so this can help the investigators to understand better if changing bacteria in the bowel can help recovery in alcoholic hepatitis.

Background: Liver cancer is the third most deadly and fifth most common cancer worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer, and it has grown more prevalent in the United States. More information is needed about the causes and effects of liver cancer, and further research into individuals who are at high risk for developing liver cancer is needed for early diagnosis and prevention. Objectives: To identify genetic factors that may help to explain the aggressiveness of liver cancer. To determine if HCC biomarkers exist in blood, urine, and tissue samples. Eligibility: Patients between the ages of 18 and 90 who have been diagnosed with HCC or have a high risk for developing HCC because of fatty liver disease (alcohol-related or non-alcohol-related) or chronic hepatitis B or C. Participants will reside in Baltimore City and the surrounding areas. Design: Participants will complete a questionnaire and provide blood and urine samples for testing: The questionnaire will include questions about individual and family medical history, tobacco use, and exposure to known factors for liver cancer. Blood and urine samples will be collected from all participants after the questionnaire. Tumor tissue and healthy tissue will be collected from selected participants if they undergo surgery for their cancer or disease. No specific treatment will be offered as part of this protocol, but participants have the option to be treated under different protocols.

The objective of this study is to assess the safety and performance of the CytoSorb® therapy in patients with Acute on Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) grade ≥ 2 due to a severe alcohol induced hepatitis (Maddrey DF > 32) and a severe inflammatory response.

This is prospective, longitudinal cohort study involving HIV-positive, antiretroviral (ART)-treated, heavy alcohol drinking participants who have and do not have alcoholic hepatitis.

The purpose of this study is to recruit a random and representative sample of individuals within several Zambian communities for markers of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and to characterize chronic HBV infection and indications for treatment.

In the specific setting of the evaluation of corticosteroids, pentoxifylline of their combination in severe alcoholic hepatitis, only meta-analysis combining individual data is able to provide detailed information from each individual with severe alcoholic hepatitis assessed by a DF ≥ 32. The need for such an approach is confirmed by the fact that in both univariate and multivariate analyses, truth survival is lower for conclusions from meta-analysis of the literature than for conclusions derived from non-meta-analyses. The present study is a meta-analysis of individual data from RCTs restricted to patients with a DF ≥ 32. The primary endpoint will be to compare 28-day survival of patients receiving either corticosteroids, or pentoxifylline or their combination to those of patients not receiving them adjusted on the independent prognostic factors at baseline. The secondary endpoints will be: a) assessment of response to the assigned treatment using the Lille model; b) analysis of 6-month survival according to allocated therapy.

The objective of this study is to determine whether the finger tip images captured by the EPIC ClearView device, when analyzed via the ClearView software, produce a Response Scale that characterizes trends consistent with known diagnoses identified by medical doctors. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that the organ system involving any of a series of known active diagnoses will be identified in the EPIC ClearView Response Scale report with the intention of providing potential triage capabilities.

Purpose: To improve the diagnosis and assessment of severity of acute alcoholic hepatitis Participants: Patients admitted to one of ten centers with acute alcoholic hepatitis Procedures (methods): Consecutive patients admitted with acute alcoholic hepatitis will be enrolled in an NIH U01 study of acute alcoholic hepatitis where liver tissue, blood and stool will be collected to discover and validate factors associated with diagnosis, severity of disease and survival.

To conduct a prospective, multicenter, observational study of patients with well-characterized alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and frequency matched individuals (by age, gender, and race) with comparable history of alcohol consumption but no clinical evidence of liver disease (controls). At the end of the study, a robust clinical information, central bio-repository will be developed from both cases and controls.