Clinical Research Directory

Investigation of the Efficacy of a Probiotic Mixture in Moderate Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Mechanistic Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a specific probiotic mixture can improve liver health in adults with moderate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The main questions it aims to answer are: Can the probiotics improve liver fat and stiffness as measured by non-invasive imaging (FibroScan® CAP and FAST scores)? Does the probiotic affect other health markers like cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation, and gut bacteria? Researchers will compare people taking the probiotic to those taking a placebo (a capsule with no active ingredients) to see if the probiotic has beneficial effects. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to take either the probiotic or placebo daily for 6 months. Attend 3 study visits (at the start, 3 months, and 6 months). Provide blood and stool samples. Undergo liver scans (FibroScan®). Complete a health and nutrition questionnaire. This study includes adults aged 18-65 with moderate MASLD and certain metabolic health conditions. Participants must not be pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking certain medications or supplements that could interfere with the study.

Thermoacoustic Method for Estimating Liver Fat Fraction

The goal of this study is to use our Thermoacoustic Enhanced Ultrasound device to measure the fat levels in your liver and compare it to the the gold standard MRI PDFF measurements. Participants will have a scan with our device, then they will go have an abdominal MRI completed. The goal is to create a more accessible device to measure liver fat as it is an indicator for overall health and metabolic diseases.

Digoxin In NASH (CODIN)

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which affects 1 in 3 Americans. The mainstay of treatment for NASH, which was recently renamed metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH), involves lifestyle interventions to promote weight loss and to treat comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. There is thus, a substantial unmet need for pharmacological therapies that are effective for treatment of NASH, especially in those with fibrosis which is the main predictor of disease progression and mortality among NASH patients. The repurposing of presently available drugs would help expedite the search for agents effective in treating NASH. The cardiac glycoside digoxin is currently used in the management of heart failure and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The investigators and other groups have demonstrated that digoxin protects the liver from various forms of acute and chronic liver injury. The investigators preliminary data in healthy human subject indicate an immunomodulatory effect of low dose oral digoxin with no adverse side effects. This study proposes to demonstrate the clinical benefits of digoxin on NASH and on liver fibrosis, thus supporting the repurposing of digoxin as treatment for NASH.

Quantitative US for Evaluation of Hepatic Steatosis in MAFLD With UDFF

Ultrasound Derived Fat Fraction (UDFF) Evaluation of Metabolic Related Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in obesity Patients Metabolic fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly known as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease in the world at present, with a incidence rate of about 30%. In the United States, NAFLD is the third leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, and early assessment and diagnosis of liver steatosis characteristics are crucial for timely treatment or intervention to reduce the risk of liver fibrosis and inhibit disease progression. Liver biopsy is considered as the "gold standard" for evaluating, grading, and determining inflammatory activity of liver steatosis and fibrosis. However, liver biopsy are invasive and pathological evaluation differences among observers, which makes it difficult to widely use and repeat, especially for dynamic evaluation of patients during the treatment process. Ultrasound Derviced Fat Fraction (UDFF) is a unique technology for non-invasive quantification of liver fat content, which is equipped on the Siemens ACUSON Sequoia ultrasound system. UDFF is calculated from two parameter values: attenuation coefficient (AC) and backscatter coefficient (BSC). SWE (shear wave elastography) is becoming widely used, and is recommended for the evaluation of liver fibrosis by some guidelines in patients with chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis. These two technologies (UDFF+SWE) can be achieved on the same probe, and this detection technology is non-invasive, painless, simple, and reliable. Bariatric surgery (BS), also known as metabolic weight loss surgery, is currently recognized as the most significant and long-lasting method for treating obesity. It can significantly improve obesity related comorbidities, as well as long-term improvement in postoperative quality of life and mental state. This study will aim on analysis of the liver ultrasound characteristics of patients who plan to undergo bariatric surgery. By using UDFF and elastic shear wave technology (UDFF+SWE), a new non-invasive ultrasound evaluation method for MAFLD grading diagnosis of simple fatty liver, fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and related cirrhosis will be proposed, and the incidence and risk factors of MAFLD in overweight and obese patients will be explored, The reversal effect of weight loss therapy on MAFLD in obese patients.