Active clinical trials for "Fibrosis"

HBV related Liver disease is a common medical problem in China. An estimated 7.18% of the Chinese (about 93 million) is infected with hepatitis B, and most of the HBV- related hepatitis can developed into liver cirrhosis. Liver transplantation is the only available life saving treatment for patients with end stage liver disease. However, lack of donors, surgical complications, rejection, and high cost are serious problems. In preclinical studies the investigators have demonstrated that G-CSF mobilized PBSC from patients with HBV related liver cirrhosis could differentiate into functional hepatocyte and autologous PBSC transplantation can significantly improve liver synthetic function. But further studied was needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of PBSC transplantation. In this study, a prospective, randomized, parallel clinical study was designed. The patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis will undergo administration of human autologous PBSCs via hepatic artery to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human autologous PBSCs treatment for these patients.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious clinical problem because of its worldwide distribution and potential adverse outcome, including cirrhosis, which is a major cause of HBV related death. Studies show the use of nucleot(s)ide analogs treatment can alleviate, even reverse the progress of HBV-related cirrhosis. In cirrhosis stage, some potential factors, including endocrine disorder, renin, aldosterone, vasopressin increasing, hepatitis B virus related nephritis, hepatorenal syndrome, may cause renal damage. With the exposure of NAs, adverse reports of rhabdomyolysis, renal dysfunction, and lactic acidosis are increasing. So when choosing NAs, the potential renal function impairment should be considered. Recently, Gane, Xiaoxi Li have separately reported that Telbivudine can improve estimate of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients with chronic hepatitis B, while eGFR of patients with Lamivudine, adefovir and entecavir have a trend of decrease, which suggested Telbivudine may have renal protective effects. This effect on patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis has not been studied, which is not clear now. This study is a randomized controlled study to prospectively observe Telbivudine's effect on renal function, which aims to provide evidence in antiviral treatment for the patients with cirrhosis.

Bacterial infections are a frequent complication in liver cirrhosis with a bad prognosis. However, the clinical outcome of cirrhotic patients with serious infections is significantly improved over the last 30 years due to early diagnosis and to the use of a more appropriate antibiotic therapy. As in the general population, empirical treatment should be initiated soon after diagnosis, after making the necessary sampling and should be based on the use of an antibiotic with low toxicity and broad spectrum antibacterial efficacy, taking into account the local epidemiology and prevalence of antibiotic resistance. The third generation cephalosporins are considered the gold standard in the treatment of most infections in cirrhotics due to their effectiveness against enterobacteriaceae and against non-enterococcal streptococci and due to their low toxicity. However, the recommendations for the antibiotic therapy are currently based on results of trials of '80s and '90s, when the proportion of resistant pathogens was lower. Similarly to nosocomial infections, the increasing rate of infections due to multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria represents the rational for a different choice of empirical antibiotic therapy with a higher resistance barrier. This change in the epidemiology of community acquired infections is mainly due to the increased contacts with healthcare system of these patients and for the larger use of antibiotic prophylaxis. With this regard, it was recently proposed to introduce a third epidemiological class of infection "Health care-associated": Infections occurring in community in patients who have been in contact with the health system shortly before the infection. This epidemiological class of infection should be distinguished from "community-acquired" because they are more similar to"nosocomial" in terms of their sensitivity to antibiotics. Therefore for this class should be taken into consideration the use of a different empirical antibiotic therapy. The investigators aim was to evaluate prospectively the effectiveness of a broad spectrum antibiotic treatment in a cohort of cirrhotic patients with "healthcare-Associated"infections Cirrhotic patients with "Healthcare Associated" admitted to the gastroenterology department of the Policlinico Umberto I and in the Department of Hepatology of the Hospital of Marino will be consecutively enrolled. Randomized controlled trial with randomisation stratified by epidemiological class of infection.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive, fibrosing parenchymal lung disease with unknown etiology. The prevalence of IPF is estimated between 2-29 cases per 100,000 in general population with median survival rates of 2-5 years from time of diagnosed. Dyspnea and chronic dry cough are the prominent symptoms in those patients which cause to impaired functional capacity and quality of life (QOL). Drug therapy usually is ineffective approach, what makes a call for an effective treatment. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) had been founded as safe and effective treatment in increasing functional capacity, decrease symptoms and improve QOL mainly among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, recently growing evidence also supports the efficiency of PR in IPF patients. The Aim of the suggested study is to examine the effect of exercise training (ET) at ambulatory pulmonary rehabilitation among IPF patients. The investigators hypothesize that ET at PR program will increase functional capacity, will decrease level of dyspnea and improve QOL in IPF patients. Patients and Methods: 40 IPF patients males and females (aged 30-90 years old) will be recruiting to this study. After clinical assessment they will be randomly allocated to PR group n=20 or to Control group n=20. All patients will undergo a clinical assessment including medical history, risk factors for IPF and physical examination. On the first meeting at baseline and within one week post intervention (PR) the following measurements will be made: dyspnea score, QOL and physical activity level questionnaires. In addition, anthropometric measurements, echocardiography, blood samples, pulmonary function tests, cardiopulmonary exercise test, battery of functional test and 6 minute walk test (6MWT). The PR group will participate in 12 weeks of supervised group's ET program. The training program will be consisted two 6 week blocks of 60 min exercise bout twice a week. In the first block the patients will perform aerobic interval training with treadmill walking, cycling, and step climbing. In the second block, subjects will perform longer periods of continuous aerobic exercise, with resistance training by step climbing, unsupported arm/leg exercises with and without dumbbells (0.5-1 kg), and supporting body weight over a chair. Pulmonary function test and 6MWT will be also performed after completing first 6 week block. The control group will be assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks without participating in PR program.

In recent years, the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow stem cells infusion (ABMSCi) therapy were confirmed. The investigators attempted to infuse autologous bone marrow stem cells (ABMSC) through inserting a catheter into right gastric artery as far as proper hepatic artery after finishing open abdominal portal hypertension surgery. The present study was designed to treat bleeding from esophageal varices and hypersplenism and hopefully to improve the liver function as well.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infusion via hepatic artery in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is chronic progressive fibrosing lung disease of unknown cause. There is no effective therapy yet for this disease and the mean survival in most reports is about 3 years after the diagnosis. Because of the stiff fibrosis of the lung, pulmonary hypertension is the late complication of IPF and its development heralds a very poor outcome of the patients. For the primary pulmonary hypertension, recently the effective drugs have been available. However, there is no study about the efficacy of these drugs in the patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmnary fibrosis, and the aim of this trial is to study the safty and efficacy of "Iloprost," one of the safe and effective drugs in primary pulmonary hypertension.

This prospective, randomized study, comparing sirolimus to cyclosporine in renal transplant recipients, has two major objectives: -To determine the incidence and the degree of interstitialfibrosis and arteriosclerosis, as wel as the glomerular volume in protocol biopsies at 6 months in sirolimus-and in cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients, by means of quantitative computerized image analysis. To determine the prognostic implication of these morphologic changes. To study the expression of genes, involved in inflammation and fibrosis, in protocol biopsies at 6 months in sirolimus-and cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients.

For patient with liver cirrhosis who need to right or extended right hepatectomy, we will treat with autologous peripheral stem cells transplantation to facilitate liver regeneration. We will asses liver regeneration by evaluation of liver volume and liver function test.

Comparison between the efficacy of two different antibiotics in patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy. The study is randomized, controlled and double-blinded.