
Noninvasive Evaluation of Renal Allograft Fibrosis by MRI
Kidney TransplantationThe purpose of this study is to validate an MRI method to detect renal fibrosis in patients after kidney transplantation (KT).

Increased Vitamin D Reduces Pulmonary Exacerbations in CF
Cystic FibrosisThe investigators study is designed to test the hypothesis that correction of vitamin D in CF patients can increase their lung function and decrease the number of their pulmonary exacerbations.

Viral Pathogenesis of Early Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
Cystic FibrosisThe purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that early viral infections alter the bacterial flora and inflammatory profile in the airway and accelerate progression of pulmonary disease in infants with cystic fibrosis.

Angiogenesis and Fibrosis in Aortic Stenosis
Aortic StenosisFibrosis2 moreAngiogenesis and fibrosis lie at the heart of a number of fundamental processes responsible for cardiovascular disease. In this proposal, the investigators intend to build upon a highly successful programme of studies exploring the cardiovascular applications of positron emission tomography. Specifically, the investigators will explore the potential role of a novel radiotracer, 18F-fluciclatide, which is a highly selective ligand for the αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin receptors that are up regulated during angiogenesis, and tissue fibrosis and remodelling. This tracer has been successfully used to assess angiogenesis in metastatic tumours and its uptake is suppressed by anti-angiogenic therapies. The investigators here propose to describe the pattern of uptake of 18F-fluciclatide in cardiovascular diseases, specifically aortic stenosis and aortic atherosclerosis. The investigators will correlate 18F-fluciclatide uptake with in vivo measures of angiogenesis and fibrosis as well as ex vivo histological characterisation of tissue. If successful, this novel radiotracer could provide an extremely important non-invasive method of assessing in vivo angiogenesis, plaque vulnerability, and tissue remodelling as well as potential applications in developing stem cell therapies.

Pharmacokinetics of Piperacillin, Given as Continuous Infusion to Patients With Cystic Fibrosis...
Cystic FibrosisAt the Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, continuous infusion with piperacillin/tazobactam for a period of 2 weeks, has been used for several years in patients with cystic fibrosis, suffering from acute pulmonary exacerbations (APE). It is an outpatient treatment. To assess the efficacy and quality of the treatment, a blood test every 3rd day is taken to determine the concentration of Piperacillin in blood-plasma.

Biomarker Discovery for Novel Drug Development in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)Drug discovery can take many years especially since most studies to measure effectiveness depend on clinical outcomes like pulmonary function tests and hospitalizations. This is an observational study designed to collect information, blood, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in people who have IPF and those who do not. The people who have IPF will be followed for 12 months to collect more biological samples and record clinically relevant information. The goal of this study is to identify new molecular markers that are measurable and reliable in people who have IPF. It is hoped that these markers can be used in future drug studies to significantly speed up the process of finding drugs that help.

Self Drainage in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Cystic FibrosisIn the current study, we designed a cross-over, open label, randomized controlled clinical trial that aim to investigate the superiority of physical exercise coupled with self drainage to a chest physiotherapy in stable cystic fibrosis children. We hypothesized that CF children undergoing physical exercise coupled to self drainage will increase the amount of expectorate secretions compared to conventional CP course, while being more satisfied and without worsening their pulmonary function status.

Glycemic Monitoring in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic FibrosisCurrent guidelines on the diagnoses and management of cystic fibrosis (CF) related diabetes recommend treatment for diabetes based on diagnostic criteria derived from adults with type 2 diabetes. Increasing evidence supports treating early glucose abnormalities in cystic fibrosis patients to target CF specific outcomes, including lung function and nutrition (BMI-Body Mass Index). However, the criteria and timing of when to start insulin therapy in the 'prediabetic' state are unclear. A more accurate characterization of blood sugar variability in youth with and without CF will help the investigators better interpret continuous glucose monitor (CGM) findings in patients with CF prediabetes and diabetes and more accurately identify those individuals at greatest risk for disease progression.

The Role of Respiratory Viruses in Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis in Adults
Cystic FibrosisRespiratory viruses, such as those that cause colds and influenza, are very common in the general population. The average adult will experience between 2 and 4 viral respiratory illnesses each year. It is known that respiratory viruses can cause flare-ups of chronic lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In children with CF, respiratory viral infections have been identified in nearly half of all exacerbations and are associated with a decline in lung function and increased frequency of hospital admission and acquisition of new bacterial pathogens. Currently, little is known about the impact of viral infections on the course of CF lung disease in adults and no large-scale prospective studies in this area have been performed to date. It is unknown how often respiratory viruses can be found in patients with CF when they are well and what consequences they have on the course of exacerbations of CF lung disease. This study will identify the frequency of common viral infections in adults with CF and determine the effects they have on lung function, the rate and diversity of bacterial infection and patients' treatment burden. The information gained from this study will lead to improved prevention and treatment of respiratory infections in CF.

Hemodynamic Effect of Simvastatin With Beta Blockers in Clinical Portal Hypertension
Liver CirrhosisPortal Hypertension.In the genesis and maintenance of PH associated with liver cirrhosis are two mechanisms that act synergistically. The first is an increase in hepatic vascular resistance, due in part to the disruption of liver structure inherent cirrhosis, and increased hepatic vascular tone is caused by the contraction of perivascular smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells, which represents about 30% of global intrahepatic resistance and is believed to be due to the production Defective nitric oxide (NO). The second mechanism, which maintains and exacerbates HTP, is an increase of splanchnic blood flow caused by increased NO and other vasodilators at this level In this regard, we believe that in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, with portal pressure gradient> 10 mmHg, both acute responders betablockers test as non-responders, the association of antifibrotic drugs and / or vasodilators, chronic liver selective May be beneficial in the control of portal hypertension