Active clinical trials for "Fibrosis"

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients (and controls) were recruited for the study. The investigators' aim was to study the relevance of clinical parameters in terms of underlying disease severity, proteolysis and inflammation in a diverse non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis population.

Hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance are associated with severity of fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C. However, clinical significance of steatosis and insulin resistance on fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is not well established. The aim was to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis in patients with CHB.

The goal of this research study is to collect blood and urine samples from people who have either the R117H type of CF or the non-G551D gating type of CF to be kept for future research.We will also use some of the collected blood to measure the number of neutrophils.

The goal of this research study is to better understand current treatment practices for pulmonary exacerbations (lung infections) and whether the Cystic Fibrosis National Patient Registry (CFFNPR)can be used for this type of study.

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the 5-year prognostic value of transient elastography (TE), FibroTest (FT), APRI , FIB-4, Lok, and Child-Pugh scores for predicting survival and complications of cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver diseases.

The purpose of the study is to determine the role of new biomarkers in the diagnosis of sepsis in critically-ill patients with liver failure and to correlate the prognosis of these patients with parameters of endothelial function and lipid metabolism.

Background By means of measurements of series of non-invasive inflammatory markers in exhaled breath (condensate), a reflection of inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, can be obtained. Thereby, these techniques could be important in monitoring asthma and CF lung disease in children. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) reflect ongoing inflammation and oxidative stress in the airways. These markers have a promising capacity for monitoring diagnoses of CF and asthma lung disease. Aim To study the course of inflammatory markers in time in children with asthma and CF, in stable periods and during pulmonary exacerbations. In addition, we study the ability of inflammatory markers to predict safe tapering of medical treatment in both populations. To study the course of inflammatory markers in EBC during an exacerbation. To study which IM are already elevated before a clinical exacerbation is evident and can predict exacerbations in time. To study which inflammatory markers can predict safe discontinuation of antibiotics in children with CF, or tapering of inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma. To study the relationship between inflammatory markers in EBC, the severity and control of CF and asthma, the symptoms and lung function within patients will be analysed. Methods Children with CF (n=30) and children with asthma (n=40) were recruited included from our outpatient clinic. During this longitudinal study patients visit the outpatient clinic were followed-up for 12 months; every two months during one year. patients visited our outpatient clinic. In addition to these standard visits, During exacerbations patients four extra visits were planned during an exacerbation. were asked to visit the University Hospital Maastricht four times. These additional visits were planned with a maximum of two times during the study. By means of a home monitor, children were asked to assess measurements of Besides measurements in the University Hospital, children measured forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at home using a home monitor, to record medication use, and, to record presence and severity of pulmonary symptoms. Outcome parameters were: 1) FeNO assessment in exhaled air, 2) inflammatory markers in EBC, 3) lung function parameters, 4) specific questionnaires to assess asthma and CF control and severity, 5) data originating from the home monitor.

The overall aim of this study is to develop a test that predicts the prognosis of IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) and which could be used to determine whether new treatments for IPF are likely to work.

Estimation of functional liver reserve in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis is of paramount importance to properly select candidates for surgical resection. Together with the value of bilirubin, the presence/absence of ascites and esophageal varices, and the rate of residual liver volume, which are our current parameters to measure functional liver reserve, the investigators sought to investigate the value of preoperative cholinesterases (CHE) in predict postoperative adverse outcome after hepatic resection for HCC.

In patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) the clinical course of lung disease is crucial for individual prognosis and life expectancy. Imaging modalities are important in the assessment of follow up of structural lung changes and monitoring of pulmonary complications in CF. Although high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the accepted gold standard for evaluation of morphological lung changes in CF, chest-X-ray is widely used as standard imaging procedure for assessment and follow up in these young patients due to less radiation exposure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been used for lung imaging in CF so far. Studies from the 80's and early 90's were not able to show any impact for the use of MRI in CF. Due to recent technical developments MRI of the lung became possible. Our study group was able to show that MRI is a competitive imaging modality for evaluating changes of the CF-lung in comparison to the gold standard (HRCT). So far only patients from the age of 6-7 years were examined. According to recent studies CF is a disease which starts in utero. Therefore it can lead to extensive pulmonary changes even in infants and young children. In this age group lung function testing is difficult and not broadly available. An early optimized therapy is crucial for the long term course and outcome of the pulmonary disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate morphological and functional MRI for early diagnosis of lung changes in children (0-6 years) with CF.