A Phase IV, Two-part, Open-label Study Assessing the Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Pharmacodynamics...
Edema Due to Heart Failure or CirrhosisThis is a 2-part, 2 periods per part, open-label study with spironolactone oral suspension in pediatric patients with edema due to HF or hepatic cirrhosis. Both study parts will evaluate the safety, PK and PD of multiple doses of spironolactone in patients aged from birth to ≤17 years of age.
An Follow-Up Study of Liver Cirrhosis
Decompensated Liver CirrhosisThis is a follow-up study to assess safety and preliminary clinical activity of ADR-001 in patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh score; Grade B) caused by Hepatitis C or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Patients who have already participated in the ADR-001-01 study and completed the last evaluation after 24 weeks of administration will be eligible to this study. Patients registered will continue follow-up observation and evaluate long-term safety and exploratory efficacy.
Incidence of HANA Conditions in HIV-infected Individuals
HIVMetabolic Syndrome5 moreWith the availability of effective anti-retroviral therapy, HIV-infected individuals are expected not to die of AIDS and have longer life expectancy. But at the same time, HIV-associated non-AIDS (HANA) conditions are becoming more important in their clinical management. It is currently uncertain whether patients started on different anti-retroviral regimens will have different incidence of HANA conditions. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of various HANA conditions in a cohort of newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals in Hong Kong initiating anti-retroviral treatment. The incidence of various HANA conditions will be evaluated for those receiving INSTI versus other non-INSTI-based regimens. The HANA conditions evaluated will include 1. Hypertension 2. Diabetes and insulin resistance 3. Dyslipidemia 4. Lipodystrophy 5. Metabolic syndrome 6. Osteopenia and osteoporosis 7. Vitamin D deficiency 8. Renal impairment and kidney tubular dysfunction and 9. Liver fibrosis. Patients will be assessed prior to initiation of anti-retroviral therapy, and 48 weeks and 96 weeks after initiation of treatment. The incidence of development of each HANA condition will be determined and compared between those initiated different anti-retroviral regimens.
MERTK Signalling in Monocytes/Macrophages in Patients With Liver Disease
Liver DiseaseCirrhosis of the Liver2 moreThis study is to investigate MER receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) signalling cascade on monocytes and tissue macrophages in respect to innate immune function of the cells in patients with cirrhosis at different stages of disease (Child A, B, C, acute decompensation, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)) and in comparison to patients with acute liver failure and to healthy controls.
Development of 4D Flow MRI for Risk Stratification of Variceal Bleeding in Cirrhosis
CirrhosisLiver1 moreThe goal of this research is to validate novel non-invasive Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers to detect Gastroesophageal varices (GEV) in patients with cirrhosis, including fractional flow change in the portal vein and elevated azygos flow. End-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) is characterized by advanced fibrosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension. There are many causes of cirrhosis, including viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and perhaps most importantly, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its aggressive subset, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). 3 million new cases of end-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) are expected over the next decade. In cirrhosis, portosystemic collaterals that shunt blood away from the liver develop due to increased portal pressure. Gastroesophageal varices (GEV) are the most clinically relevant because they can cause fatal internal bleeding. GEV bleeding carries ~20% mortality at 6 weeks, and ~34% overall mortality. Identification of at-risk varices, prior to bleeding, is of paramount importance to initiate primary prophylaxis. To identify and treat at-risk patients, current guidelines recommend regular esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and variceal band ligation. Detection of high-risk GEV is key to initiating primary prophylaxis, which can reduce mortality by 50-70%. However, endoscopy is invasive and often unnecessary when no treatment is required. Therefore, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has identified the development of "non-invasive markers that predict the presence of high-risk varices" as a major unmet need.
Improvement of Portal Hypertension During Viral Suppression in Patients With Hepatitis Delta (IMPHROVE-D)...
Hepatitis DHepatitis B2 morePortal hypertension (PH) is one of the key drivers of clinical deteoration in patients with liver cirrhosis. It has been demonstrated that antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection leads to a decrease of PH and is associated with an improved outcome. Recently, Bulevirtide was approved for the treatment of patients coinfected with hepatitis B (HBV) and chronic hepatitis delta (HDV) infection, which helps to achieve viral supression in these patients. This study investigates the potential effects of viral supression on PH in patients with chronic HBV/HDV infection and liver cirrhosis.
Evaluation of Long Haul COVID-19 and Vaccine Immunogenicity in Patients With Liver Disease
COVID-19Chronic Liver Failure4 moreThe project is essential to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD). The impact has been felt due to direct risk of COVID infection in self, or in caregivers, lack of access to services during lockdown, interruptions in transplant listing and waitlist mortality. Briefly, the following points will be focused during the study. Long haul COVID-19 related symptoms. Impact on health and delay in interventions or drug therapy due to interruption of physical outpatient services. Impact on emergency admissions due to refractory ascites, new decompensation, variceal bleeding etc Impact on delayed transplant listing and waitlist mortality Impact on post-transplant patients with lack of access to drug monitoring/ physical OPD Impact on delay in interventions due to hepatobiliary malignancy. Effects of COVID-19 infection, vaccination (single dose, two doses) and no vaccination and protective antibody levels in patients with chronic liver disease and post-transplant recipients. Determination of dose protocol and need for booster vaccination in patients with CLD and post liver transplant recipients.
Integrated Traditional Chinese and Clinical Medicine for Chronic Hepatitis B and Its Complication...
Hepatic EncephalopathyCirrhosis2 moreHepatic encephalopathy is the most common complication after TIPS, and hepatic encephalopathy occurs in almost all portosystemic shunts. For patients with severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding or refractory ascites in the decompensated chronic hepatitis B, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a very effective treatment. However, due to the severe complications such as hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS, the clinical application of TIPS is limited. Literature studies have shown that the incidence of encephalopathy after TIPS is about 35%. TIPS reduces the portal vena blood flow into the liver by establishing a new channel. But at the same time, the toxic substances from the gastrointestinal tract and other organs do not enter the liver to detoxify, and are more likely to enter the brain, leading to hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, studies have found that the liver and the intestine originate from the same germ layer and are closely related to each other in anatomy and function. There are a large number of microorganisms living in the intestinal tract. Normally, the intestinal tract, as the first defense of the human body, can effectively prevent bacteria and their products from entering the bloodstream. In cirrhosis and portal hypertension, blood return disorder causes intestinal damage. A series of microbes and product endotoxins such as gram-negative bacteria will enter the blood through the injury, and the toxins in the peripheral blood will enter the brain and cause hepatic encephalopathy happened. The research team's early treatment plan with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine proved that it greatly reduced the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS. And improve the clinical symptoms and signs of patients with liver cirrhosis, and improve the quality of life and survival of patients.
Instructed Home-based Physical Exercise for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
Liver CirrhosisThe study will compare two forms of advice regarding physical activity for patients hospitalized with cirrhosis that are preparing for leaving the hospital. One arm consists of current standard of care: simple oral advice on exercise. One arm instead gives patients a structured but simple paper template on physical activity.
Bariatric Endoscopy and NAFLD
ObesityNAFLD2 moreFind out how bariatric endoscopy will influence the clinical course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.