Bariatric Endoscopy and NAFLD
ObesityNAFLD2 moreFind out how bariatric endoscopy will influence the clinical course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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.
Baseline Atrial Fibrosis Predicts Risk for Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing...
Atrial FibrillationAtrial Arrhythmia2 moreThe study aims to evaluate and compare the incidence of atrial arrhythmias (including Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF), atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia) stratified by baseline Utah fibrosis stages and overall fibrosis (%) of the left atrial wall area. The investigators hypothesize that patients with a higher baseline Utah fibrosis staging will experience a higher incidence of POAF. The study also aims to evaluate and compare the in-hospital mortality, length-of-stay (LOS), complication rates (strokes, pneumonia, respiratory failure etc.) of the different Utah fibrosis stage cohorts. Perform cost analysis and compare between patients with POAF and patients without POAF. The investigators hypothesize that patients experiencing POAF will have a higher mortality rate, longer LOS, greater complications, and therefore, additional hospital costs.
Covid-19 Antibody Responses in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic FibrosisCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which is caused by the virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in an ongoing global pandemic. It is unclear whether the relatively low number of reported cases of COVID-19 in people with CF (pwCF) is due to enhanced infection prevention practices or whether pwCF have protective genetic/immune factors. This study aims to prospectively assess the proportion of pwCF, including both adults and children with CF who have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over a two-year period. This study will also examine whether pwCF who have antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 have a different clinical presentation and what impact this has on their CF disease. The proposed study will recruit pwCF from paediatric and adult CF centres throughout the United Kingdom. Serological testing to detect antibodies will be performed on blood samples taken at month 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 with additional time-points if bloodwork is available via normal clinical care. Clinical data on, lung function, CF-related medical history, pulmonary exacerbations, antibiotic use, and microbiology and vaccination receipt, will be collected during routine clinical assessments. Associations will be examined between socio-demographic and clinical variables and serologic testing. The investigators will also examine the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on clinical outcomes and analyse end-points to explore any age-related or gender-based differences, as well as subgroup analysis of outcomes in lung-transplant recipients and pwCF receiving cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies. As pwCF receive COVID-19 vaccination the investigators will perform a comparison of the development and progression of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pwCF following natural infection and vaccination SARS-CoV-2 over time.
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.
Utilization of MAsS in Patients Undergoing LT for HCC
NAFLDHepatocellular Carcinoma5 moreThe aim of this study is to determine the effects of liver transplantation and standard immunosuppression on body composition in patients with compensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Belapectin for the Prevention of Esophageal Varices...
Prevention of Esophageal VaricesNASH - Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis1 moreThis seamless, adaptive, two-stage, Phase 2b/3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-groups, placebo-controlled study will assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of belapectin compared with placebo in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis and clinical signs of portal hypertension but without esophageal varices at baseline.
Health Outcomes of Parents With Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic FibrosisParenthood StatusThis project will determine the health impact of parenthood on people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study team will use retrospective data to provide relatively immediate evidence on parenthood's effect on pulmonary health.
COVID-19 ANtibody Responses in Cystic Fibrosis: CAR-CF
COVID-19Cystic FibrosisThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in an ongoing global pandemic. It is unclear whether the relatively low number of reported cases of COVID-19 in people with CF (pwCF) is due to enhanced infection prevention practices or whether pwCF has protective genetic/immune factors. This study aims to prospectively assess the proportion of pwCF, including both adults and children with CF who have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over a two-year period. This study will also examine whether pwCF who have antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 have a different clinical presentation and what impact this has on their CF disease. The proposed study will recruit pwCF from paediatric and adult CF centres in Europe. Serological testing to detect antibodies will be performed on blood samples taken at month 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 with additional time-points if bloodwork is available via normal clinical care. Clinical data on, lung function, CF-related medical history, pulmonary exacerbations, antibiotic use, and microbiology and vaccination receipt, will be collected during routine clinical assessments. Associations will be examined between sociodemographic and clinical variables and serologic testing. The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on clinical outcomes and analyze end-points will be examined to explore any age-related or gender-based differences, as well as a subgroup analysis of outcomes in lung transplant recipients and pwCF receiving CFTR modulator therapies. As pwCF receive COVID-19 vaccination a comparison of the development and progression of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pwCF following natural infection and vaccination SARS-CoV-2 over time will be performed.