Active clinical trials for "Fibrosis"

This is a randomized, multi-center, open-label Phase II clinical trial to determine the efficacy of combined plasma exchange (PEX), rituximab, and conventional corticosteroid administration, in comparison to corticosteroids alone, among patients with acute Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) exacerbations. The investigators central hypothesis is that antibody-mediated autoimmunity can play an important role in IPF exacerbations. The investigators propose to test our central hypothesis by establishing the efficacy of autoantibody removal by plasma exchange (PEX), in conjunction with B-cell depletion by rituximab to deplete immunoglobulins and minimize their further production, among patients with acute IPF exacerbations. The primary goal of this randomized, multi-center, open-label Phase II clinical trial is to determine effects of combined plasma exchange (PEX), rituximab, and conventional corticosteroid administration on selected, relevant immunological parameters, in comparison to effects of steroids alone, among AE-IPF patients. The investigators anticipate the findings of this will lead to larger incremental trial(s) to determine actual clinical efficacy of this treatment. A total of 40 subjects will be enrolled in this multi-center trial from 5 participating medical centers.

Patients with chronic liver disease are at high risk of developing liver scarring (fibrosis), with ultimate risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer that may require liver transplant. The investigators would like to develop non invasive advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques (MR diffusion, perfusion and elastography) to assess the degree of liver damage in patients with chronic liver disease. These techniques combined could reach high diagnostic performance for detection of liver fibrosis; and could decrease the number of liver biopsies, which have risks and sample only a small portion of the liver.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of rifaximin SSD versus placebo in preventing complications of liver cirrhosis, such as all-cause mortality (death due to all causes) or hospitalization, in subjects with early decompensated liver cirrhosis. Rifaximin, a non-systemic antibacterial agent, is currently marketed as a 550 mg tablet for the reduction in risk of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy, a complication of liver cirrhosis. The rifaximin SSD tablet was formulated to maximize the efficacy of rifaximin. Subjects will receive 1 of 5 doses of rifaximin SSD tablets or placebo tablets every day for 24 weeks.

By supplying an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D with the addition of weekly bisphosphonate, the investigators will be able to increase bone mass and decrease the incidence of fragility fractures in these children with muscular dystrophy. The investigators think this treatment will also decrease the intensity of pain frequently present in these patients and slow the progression of scoliosis.

Octreotide is used to control variceal bleeding. However, octreotide has to be given through the vein and is effective for less than two hours. In this study the investigators determined whether a long-acting preparation of octreotide (Sandostatin LAR)given as an intra-muscular injection every month could decrease portal pressure, and thus be used to prevent variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex systemic disease that mainly involves the respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. The polymicrobial community composition of respiratory and GI tracts is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Children with CF may harbor an abnormal intestinal microflora, because of altered cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function and heavy drug load (antibiotics, pancreatic enzymes and acid suppressors). The investigators have previously demonstrated that intestinal inflammation is highly frequent in CF children, being a major feature of intestinal involvement. In addition, specific probiotics significantly improved airway and GI inflammation in a preliminary trial. The investigators aim to characterize intestinal and respiratory microflora in CF patients and to investigate the effects of daily Lactobacillus GG (LGG) supplementation on both GI and airway microflora and the eventual relationship between probiotic assumption and clinical and inflammation markers. The investigators aim is to eventually improve the quality of life of CF patients, who often suffer from intestinal and respiratory progressive disease, through a non invasive intervention consisting in the supplementation of probiotic bacteria.

This is a double blind randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of aldactone on peritoneal fibrosis on incident peritoneal dialysis patients. The study would include a total of 40 incident peritoneal dialysis patients. Peritoneal biopsy would be made at randomization and 6 months after the intervention to evaluate the effect of renin angiotensin blockade on peritoneal fibrosis.

In patients who have never bled from gastric varix (GOV2 and IGV1), cyanoacrylate injection will be better than both beta-blocker therapy and no treatment in prevention of gastric variceal bleed. The investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial in patients with gastric varix (GOV2 and IGV1) who never bled before, to study the efficacy of treatment with cyanoacrylate injection versus beta-blocker versus no treatment in prevention of first bleed from gastric varices.

The study was conducted to describe and compare the plasma pharmacokinetics of NRL972 administered after a standard meal and while fasted in patients with hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] class A-C), NASH, young and elderly healthy males, and young and elderly healthy females, to assess the effects of liver dysfunction, gender, age and prandial intestinal hyperaemia on the clearance of NRL972. In addition, the study was to provide information on the safety and tolerability of repeated intravenous doses of NRL972 in these populations.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic disease that significantly affects an individual's lung function. Antibiotic medications have been proven effective at reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection, which is one of the main causes of death in individuals with CF. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of treatment based on quarterly culture results versus consistent quarterly antibiotic treatment at reducing PA infection in children with CF.