Active clinical trials for "Liver Diseases"

This research aims to develop portable devices - known as fluorescence spectrometers - to monitor the leakage of fluorescent dyes out of the gut into the blood stream. These devices will measure the leakiness (permeability) of the gut in a non-invasive manner and will provide an early warning that patients are at risk of infections caused by the unwanted flow of bacteria from the intestine to the rest of the body.

The main aim of this single-site prospective study is to use serum liver function tests and FibroScan as assessment tools to measure liver disease in pregnant women with or without liver disease at King's College Hospital. This will be assessed during each trimester of pregnancy. FibroScan will assess liver stiffness in these participants and will be used as a surrogate marker for fibrosis.

The objective of the study is to investigate the development of NAFLD following total pancreatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy and to explore the histological and metabolic changes following the procedures.

The present study investigates relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its risk factors, such as genetic background and diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.

Malnutrition is prevalent among chronic liver disease patients. Inadequate ingestion and/or metabolic alterations modify the body composition and biological functions. The purpose of this study is to determine whether whey protein comsumption, due to amino acid profile, digestibility and bioactive compounds may be beneficial for patients waiting for liver transplantation

Rationale: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most widespread liver disorder in Western society (prevalence 20-30%). It is strongly associated with overweight and obesity. The majority of patients have simple steatosis. However, in about 15-30% of the subjects, a chronic inflammatory state develops that is referred to as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which leads to an overall increase in morbidity and mortality due to the progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The term NAFLD comprises both simple steatosis and NASH. Most patients with NAFLD have no or few, mainly aspecific symptoms; and generally there is a silent progression of simple steatosis to NASH and in the end, liver-related morbidity and mortality. To date, liver biopsy is the most sensitive test for detecting and staging NAFLD, and is the only reliable method for differentiating between NASH and simple steatosis. However, the procedure of obtaining a liver biopsy is invasive and associated with patient discomfort, significant complications and high costs. In addition, liver biopsy is prone to sampling error and inter- and intra-observer variability, due to the small size of liver biopsy samples. This method is therefore not suitable for screening large numbers of subjects at risk, or for follow-up of patients with NASH over time. Hence, only subjects at high risk (usually based upon elevated aminotransferase levels, which is not specific for the presence of NASH) are biopsied, leading to an underestimation of NASH prevalence and undertreatment. Further insight into disease mechanisms and risk factors for NAFLD and in particular NASH is warranted, to enable early diagnosis, adequate therapy and preventive measures to improve health status of these individuals. Accurate and less invasive methods to evaluate NASH, and NAFLD, are urgently needed. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to establish non-invasive tools (e.g. biomarkers and imaging) to accurately diagnose patients with NASH. The secondary objective is to show an association between the levels of identified markers and disease severity. Study design: Eligible subjects will be included via the outpatient clinics Zuyderland in Heerlen, the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven and MUMC+ in Maastricht. A subset of eligible subjects has undergone a liver biopsy for clinical reasons. It is estimated that about 85% of subjects will be asked to undergo a biopsy for study purposes only. Liver biopsies for study purposes will be performed during a surgical procedure, e.g. bariatric surgery or cholecystectomy. Blood, faeces and exhaled air will be collected and a FibroScan (+CAP) will be performed during a study visit. An MRI will be performed, to estimate the degree of steatosis. Furthermore, anthropometric data (weight, height, abdominal and waist circumference and blood pressure (BP)) will be collected. The participants in the group undergoing liver biopsy during bariatric surgery will be asked permission to be approached for follow-up measurements 3 months post-surgery. As they will lose weight, which is associated with improvement of hepatic steatosis, this enables assessment of possible changes over time. A routine follow-up visit post-surgery will take place after 3 months. The follow-up measurements will be combined with this visit, minimizing the burden for the participant. The measurements will consist of blood, faeces and exhaled air collection and a FibroScan (+CAP) will be performed during a study visit. Furthermore, weight, height, BP and abdominal and waist circumference will be measured. Study population: Subjects with proven NAFLD by histology or NAFLD proven by imaging, who are undergoing surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery or cholecystectomy) will be asked to participate in this study. Furthermore, all subjects have to be between 18 and 65 years old. Main study parameters/endpoints: Non-invasive tool based on biomarkers and imaging to diagnose NASH.

To evaluate the role of regulatory B cells in the pathogenesis of metabolic associated fatty liver disease patients.

Liver biopsy is still used as the gold standard in the diagnosis of many liver diseases. During the observation after liver biopsy, patients are hospitalized on their right side, which is the biopsy side, with the thought that adverse events (complications) such as bleeding or bile leakage will be less. Patients who do not develop complications after 4-6 hours of observation are discharged home. Some of the patients state that the right side-lying position for 4-6 hours is uncomfortable than the biopsy itself, and they prefer to lie on their back. In our study, researchers aim to investigate the rate of complications after biopsy, what recovery position found more acceptable by the patients.

The investigators analyze the diagnostic efficacy of blood ammonia, neurophysiological/psychological tests and blood markers on MHE; to see the progression of HE under the condition of the drugs intervention and no drugs intervention in clinical real world.

A key element in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the differentiation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and the staging of the liver fibrosis, given that patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis are those at greatest risk of developing hepatic complications and cardiovascular disease. There are still no available non-invasive methods that allow for correct diagnosis and staging of NAFLD. The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques based on artificial neural networks and deep learning systems (Deep Learning System) as a tool for medical diagnoses represents a bona fide technological revolution that introduces an innovative approach to improving health processes.