Active clinical trials for "Liver Diseases"

Collect the details about hepatic dysfunctional patients induced by various etiology who have a usage of Glycyrrhizic Acid, then arrange and analyse the data to evaluate the clinical curative effect of glycyrrhizic acid.

Drug metabolism in the liver is subject to large fluctuations (differences between women and men, people of different ethnic backgrounds, children and adults). These large differences are responsible for very different drug effects and side-effects (and especially liver damage caused by drugs) between individuals. Recent scientific findings suggest that blood derived cells can be used to model individual effects of drugs on the liver reflect inter-individual differences. Since liver damage caused by drugs is a diagnosis of exclusion, the aforementioned cells can be used to identify patients that show higher sensitivity to hepatotoxic side-effects and - in case several drugs are involved - identify the causal agent or possible interactions.

To investigate the predictive roles of adipokines and hepatokines to detect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, or dyslipidmia. To examine the association or effects of clinical and biochemical factors (lab results and medication, etc.) on serum levels of adipokines and hepatokines in certain subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, or dyslipidmia.

Since both pathologies (PCOS and NAFLD) involve disturbed carbohydrate economy, which revolve around insulin resistance, it is tempting to examine the specific "liver profile" of women with PCOD. Furthermore, it would be of great importance if lean women who suffer from PCOD would be revealed to shere cardiovascular risks with their more overweight peers. Patients - women who will be diagnosed with PCOD following their initial referal to our fertility clinic. Controls - normal ovulatory women who approached our fertility clinic due to either unexplained or male factor infertility. Workup - history for menstrual pattern; Clinical evaluation for features of hyperandrogenism; ultrasonographic documentation of ovarian morphology; follicular phase hormonal profile for validation of the diagnosis and for ruling out other pathologies which may cause anovulation. Liver profiling - The following blood tests will be used for the biochemical profiling: fasting glucose and insulin, CRP, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, ferritin, HBA1C and micro albumin ratio. FibroScan® will be used to measure liver stiffness.

This is a small preliminary study conducted to explore new methods for the potential of aiding in diagnosis of liver fibrotic disease as well as predicting disease progression. There will be a total of 4 visits spread out over approximately 8 weeks. You will be asked to drink "heavy water" during most of that time. "Heavy Water" also known as deuterated water, is physically and chemically very similar to ordinary drinking water. It tastes and feels exactly like regular water. It is odorless and has no known harmful effects at the doses given here. Heavy water occurs naturally, and is a minor component of the water we all ingest daily.

Allogene MSCs transplantation will be performed in patients with chronic liver diseases through peripheral vein and therapeutic effects including short-term effects and long-term follow-up will be compared and investigated.

Human immunodeficiency virus/Hepatitis B virus (HIV/HBV) co-infections are frequently observed due to shared routes of transmission, with reported figures indicating 6-9% of HIV-infected individuals in developed countries are chronically infected with HBV. HIV infection impacts on the natural progression of HBV infection, increasing levels of HBV replication and the risk of liver-associated mortality. Liver diseases associated with HBV are affected by the antiviral drugs used for HIV infection (toxic side effects), the current immune function in the patient, by improvements in the immune system brought about by control of the HIV infection, and by the development of resistance to the antiviral agents used for both the hepatitis B and the HIV infection. Co-infection with HBV increases the risk for hepatotoxicity in those individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for their HIV infection. This study will recruit patients who are co-infected with HIV and HBV, and are currently taking or who are about to commence HAART. The study cohort will include HIV-HBV co-infected individuals from the Alfred Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and high case load GP clinics who are referred to the Alfred Hospital. The aim of the study is to investigate chronic hepatitis B and its impact on the progression of liver disease in HIV-infected persons receiving HAART. This will be achieved by 6 monthly assessment with medical history, physical examination, bloods for markers of liver disease and hepatitis B activity and completion of questionnaires to measure adherence and alcohol use.

AIM: To evaluate the role of Strain Elastography in the assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatopathy

Background: Thrombosis may be crucial in driving the progression of fibrosis in chronic liver disease (CLD). The potential role of platelets and platelet activation in this process is unclear. Platelets participate in inflammation by secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators which may advance hepatic fibrosis. Hepatitis B virus transgenic mice, developed significantly smaller necroinflammatory foci and their serum ALT levels were 80% lower, if they were pre-treated with anti-platelet antibodies. Sinusoidal aggregation of activated platelets also occurs in chronic hepatitis C in humans. It may contribute to thrombocytopenia observed in CLD. Platelet activation is generally believed to be compromised in CLD. However, there is data suggesting that CLD may even be associated with an enhancement of platelet activation. Measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) constitutes the most common method for estimation of portal venous pressure. HVPG is significantly correlated with histological indices of CLD progression. Study hypotheses: HVPG as a marker for advancement of hepatic fibrosis and progression of CLD is associated with an increase in platelet activation. Platelet activation and function is not generally compromised in CLD. Comparison of platelet function in CLD to a control group of healthy volunteers is intended to clarify whether CLD leads to a manifest platelet dysfunction Methods: Study design is observational. 100 patients with CLD of various origins (viral, alcoholic, cholestatic) scheduled for routine HVPG measurement will be enrolled. 30 healthy volunteers will donate blood as a control group. Platelet function and activation will be evaluated by multiple electrode aggregometry (primary outcome variable area under the curve (AUC). Plasma levels of P-selectin (ELISA), PFA (Platelet Function Analyzer) 100™ parameters (EPI-CT and ADP-CT), percentage of P-selectin, GPIIb/IIIa, thrombin receptor positive platelets after stimulation (flow-cytometry) will constitute secondary outcome parameters. Plasmatic coagulation will be evaluated by rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM). Platelet count and routine coagulation parameters will be monitored. HVPG measurement by hepatic vein catheterization and patient blood sampling will be carried out via the internal jugular vein. Blood sampling in volunteers will be performed via the antecubital vein Study Rationale: If higher levels of platelet activation are associated with increased HVPGs, this would provide an insight into the pathogenesis of CLD. It would also point toward a possible benefit of anti-platelet therapy in CLD. Verification of platelet dysfunction in CLD is relevant to clinical practice in anaesthesiology and intensive care as procedures are often postponed in CLD-patients for fear of bleeding complications. CLD patients may also receive prophylactic platelet concentrates prior to interventions which is costly, fraught with risk of bacterial infection and may be unnecessary in the absence of platelet dysfunction.

AIM To evaluate the role of real time elastography (ARFI and Hitachi elastography) in noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis