Clinical Research Directory

NCWS or IBS/FD in Relatives of CD Patients

Over 50% of non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) patients are HLA DQ2/DQ8 positive and often have a Celiac Disease (CD) family history. Studies have identified a subgroup of NCWS patients whose clinical and immunological features are closer to CD than to irritable bowel syndrome/functional dyspepsia (IBS/FD) ('inflammatory subgroup'). The investigators hypothesized that among CD patient's relatives, there might be a high number of NCWS subjects, who hypothetically belong to the 'inflammatory subgroup'. Therefore, the aim of this multi-step project is to identify the prevalence of both self-reported NCWS and IBS/FD not related to wheat ingestion among CD patient's relatives (parents, grandparents, siblings and sons).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Functional Dyspepsia (Epigastric Pain Syndrome and Postprandial Distress Syndrome Subtypes)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to standard medical treatment can improve symptoms in adults with Functional Dyspepsia. The study includes adults aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with Functional Dyspepsia, classified as Epigastric Pain Syndrome or Postprandial Distress Syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy added to standard treatment reduce gastrointestinal symptoms compared with standard treatment alone? Do patients with Postprandial Distress Syndrome and Epigastric Pain Syndrome respond differently to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Researchers will compare optimized standard medical treatment alone to optimized standard treatment combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to see if the addition of CBT leads to greater symptom improvement and better quality of life. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive either standard medical treatment alone or standard treatment plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Take part in clinical visits and complete questionnaires about gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological well-being, and quality of life Provide blood, saliva, and stool samples at several time points over a 12-month follow-up period

Mechanism of FODMAP Restriction on FGID Patients

Brief Summary : The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of differing FODMAP diets on gut microbiota, gut barrier function, symptom severity, quality of life, and psychological status in FGID patients. The main question it aims to answer is : How does diets with differing FODMAP content affect the gut microbiota, gut barrier function, symptom severity, psychological status and quality of life in patients with FGID ? Researchers will compare low FODMAP diet, Gentle FODMAP diet and Traditional Dietary Advice (NICE guidelines) to see which diet is more suitable and effective for Malaysian FGID patients. Participants will : Be given either low FODMAP diet, Gentle FODMAP diet or Traditional Dietary Advice intervention and will be required to follow the intervention for two weeks. Be required to provide stool and blood samples during baseline and intervention Record 4 day food diary and complete assessing questionnaires during baseline and intervention

Effect of Amitriptyline and Trifluoperazine on Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess and compare the effect of amitriptyline and trifluoperazine in improving dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia. It will also assess about the safety of drugs amitriptyline and trifluoperazine by recording the patient reported adverse events. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does drug amitriptyline and trifluoperazine has any effect on patients with functional dyspepsia? What medical problems do participants have when taking drug amitriptyline and trifluoperazine? Researcher will compare drug amitriptyline and trifluoperazine to a control group taking standard first line treatment only. Participants will: Take drug amitriptyline 10 milligrams at night or trifluoperazine 1 milligrams twice daily every day for 8 weeks along with standard first line treatment. A third group will be taken as control arm who will be kept on standard first line treatment only for 8 weeks. After that all three groups will be kept only on standard first line treatment for an additional 4 weeks. They will visit the hospital 4 weekly, and their symptoms will be assessed by a 5-point Likert Scale at baseline, week 4, 8, and 12. Additionally, patient reported adverse events will be documented.

Clinical Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of EDL on Dyspepsia

This clinical trial was designed to evaluate the functional and safety effects on dyspeptic symptoms compared to the placebo when ingested with EDL (Extract of Dolichos lablab Linne) in adults who complain of dyspeptic symptoms.

Body Surface Gastric Mapping to Evaluate Patients With Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Controls

This is an analytical validation observational cohort study is designed to provide evidence of: safety and reliability of Body Surface Gastric Mapping using the Gastric Alimetry System (GAS), normal reference values, and correlation of metrics with patient symptoms among healthy adults and patients diagnosed with upper abdominal motility disorders. GAS is intended to record, store, view and process gastric myoelectrical activity. This is a proprietary system consisting of multiple electrodes arranged on an array that is placed precisely over the stomach, a reader to collect the electrode measurements and a smart tablet application to track patient reported symptoms. Participants meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria will continue fasting for 30 minutes after the Gastric Alimetry System has been applied and begun measuring, eat a standard study meal within 10 minutes and remain quietly seated, reclining, for 4 hours as the GAS continues to collect data. The array is removed and the abdomen is examined for evidence of skin effects.

Brain-Gut Yoga for Functional Dyspepsia and Gastroparesis (FD-GP)

The purpose of this research study is to assess whether using a yoga-based intervention in practice is feasible (possible) and acceptable to patients with Functional Dyspepsia and/or Gastroparesis (FD-GP).

Biomagnetic Characterization of Gastric Dysrhythmias III

There is a tremendous clinical need for a noninvasive technique that can assess gastric electrical activity and would be repeatable without any exposure to radiation. Investigators developed a new technique allowing to use noninvasive methods to assess bioelectrical activity in the gastrointestinal system. This has enabled to characterize the normal and pathologic physiology of the stomach through the use of noninvasive magnetogastrogram (MGG) records. Primary hypothesis for this proposal is that analysis of gastric slow wave uncoupling and propagation in multichannel MGG discriminates between normal and pathological gastric electrical activity. Eventually, investigators envision this research leading to new insights for gastrointestinal conditions such as gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia and chronic idiopathic nausea that would inform clinical management of these debilitating diseases.

Efficacy Evaluation of Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder that causes stomach discomfort, such as fullness or pain after eating, without any visible structural disease. Acupuncture is often used to manage these symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of electroacupuncture-a form of acupuncture that uses gentle electrical stimulation-for treating functional dyspepsia. Specifically, the trial will compare the benefits of applying electroacupuncture to points on the abdomen (local points) versus points on the arms and legs (distal points), alongside a control group receiving a sham (inactive) treatment. The goal is to determine the most effective acupuncture strategy for improving patients' digestive symptoms and overall quality of life.

A Phase III Trial of Z-338 in Paediatric Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of Z-338 of pediatric patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). In Part 1, the pharmacokinetics and safety of single oral dose of Z-338 100 mg are evaluated. In Part 2, the efficacy and safety of Z-338 100 mg orally 3 times daily before meals are evaluated. Part 2 is comprised by the double-blind phase and the open-label phase. In the double-blind phase, subjects will take Z-338 or placebo for 28 days. In the open-label phase, all subjects will take Z-338 for 28 days.

Auricular Stimulation for Functional Dyspepsia With Insomnia: Efficacy and Mechanisms

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by bothersome upper abdominal symptoms arising from the gastroduodenal region. Diagnosis is made after clinical evaluation has excluded structural disease that could explain symptoms (e.g., upper gastrointestinal endoscopy). According to Rome IV criteria, FD is categorized into postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS), with symptom overlap commonly observed. FD is prevalent worldwide and is associated with substantial impairment in health-related quality of life and a significant socioeconomic burden. Sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression are frequent in FD and are associated with symptom severity and recurrence. Current management-such as prokinetic agents, acid-suppressive therapy, and psychotropic medications when indicated-can be limited by variable efficacy, adverse effects, and concerns regarding long-term use. The pathophysiology of FD is multifactorial and incompletely understood; increasing evidence highlights dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and autonomic nervous system function (12,13). Auricular vagus nerve-related stimulation may influence brainstem neurotransmission, gastric tone/motility, and mood (14), suggesting a potentially safe, non-pharmacological approach for FD with comorbid sleep problems. However, the mechanistic links among autonomic regulation, gut microbiota/short-chain fatty acids, and FD remain uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of auricular acupoint stimulation in FD patients with sleep disorders and to explore underlying mechanisms using brain-function assessments together with autonomic and gastrointestinal-related measures.

Autonomic Reactivity and Personalized Neurostimulation

Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) affect up to 25% of U.S. children. Patients often suffer from disabling, multisystem comorbidities that suggest a common root (sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, etc). Yet, DGBI are defined and treated based on GI symptom origin (cyclic vomiting, dyspepsia, irritable bowel) rather than underlying pathophysiology. Many patients manifest comorbidities suggesting an underlying autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation (palpitations, dizziness, cognitive dysfunction). Unfortunately, due to common features of anxiety and visceral hyperreactivity and lack of obvious pathology, children with DGBI are frequently diagnosed with psychosomatic or 'benign, functional disorders' and treated with empiric antidepressants despite lack of scientific support and risks of serious side effects. Little is known about the underlying brain-gut mechanisms linking these comorbidities. A lack of targeted treatment options naturally follows the paucity of mechanistic data. A dysregulated ANS response circuit via brainstem nuclei is linked to visceral hypersensitivity. As the team's prior research has shown, ANS regulation can be non-invasively measured via several validated indices of cardiac vagal tone. Using the novel vagal efficiency (VE) metric, the investigators have demonstrated inefficient vagal regulation in cyclic vomiting syndrome and pain-related DGBI and that low VE predicts response to non-invasive, auricular percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) therapy. PENFS targets brainstem vagal afferent pathways and, along with brain-gut interventions such as hypnotherapy, are the only therapies currently proven effective for pediatric DGBI. Individualizing neurostimulation based on sensory thresholds while assessing dynamic ANS reactivity offers a path towards personalized medicine using the most effective therapies to date. This proposal will test the feasibility of an ANS tracking software in assessing real-time, autonomic regulation and providing individualized neurostimulation in children with nausea/vomiting and ANS imbalance.

Functional Dyspepsia Treatment Using Virtual Reality

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using virtual reality to treat gastrointestinal symptoms related to functional dyspepsia.

Tradipitant for Functional Dyspepsia

To evaluate the effects of tradipitant relative to placebo on gastric motor functions, satiation, and postprandial symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Ketotifen for Children With Functional Dyspepsia in Association With Duodenal Eosinophilia

Acid reduction remains the most common treatment prescribed empirically by pediatric gastroenterologists for children with functional dyspepsia (FD). When acid reduction therapy fails to provide patients with a therapeutic effect, ketotifen and cromolyn, mast cell stabilizers, represent an attractive potential therapy given data implicating mast cells in the generation of dyspeptic symptoms. Although there have been no adult or pediatric studies on the use of mast cell stabilizers in patients with FD, benefit has been demonstrated in adults with IBS and children with eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Additionally, previous studies show mucosal eosinophilia is highly correlated with functional dyspepsia. Our usual current treatment pathway for functional dyspepsia in association with duodenal mucosal eosinophilia is as follows: acid-reducing medication/montelukast → addition of H1 antagonist → addition of budesonide → addition of oral cromolyn. If ketotifen is effective, it offers the advantage of being able to replace both the H1 antagonist and the oral cromolyn at a substantially reduced cost (approximately 10% of the cost of cromolyn alone). This study aims to introduce ketotifen earlier in the treatment pathway to examine its efficacy on children with functional dyspepsia in association with duodenal eosinophilia.

Probiotics in Functional Dyspepsia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a multi-strain probiotic can reduce digestive symptoms and improve quality of life in adults with functional dyspepsia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the probiotic reduce symptoms such as fullness after meals, bloating, stomach discomfort, and early satiation? * Does the probiotic improve emotional well-being, including stress, anxiety, and mood? Researchers will compare the probiotic to a placebo (a look-alike capsule with no active ingredients) to see if the probiotic truly helps adults with functional dyspepsia. Participants will: * Take one capsule of the probiotic or placebo once daily before meals for 60 days * Complete questionnaires about their digestive symptoms at the start, 1 month, and 2 months * Complete surveys on stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life at the start and 2 months * Attend scheduled study visits for checkups and assessments

Probiotic and Ginger Supplement for Symptoms and Quality of Life in Functional Dyspepsia (SUBTILE)

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by bothersome postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, or burning, in the absence of any structural or metabolic cause. It significantly impairs quality of life and has limited therapeutic options, as conventional treatments such as proton pump inhibitors often show modest efficacy and may cause side effects with long-term use. The gut and duodenal microbiota may play a role in FD. Spore-forming probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans MY01 and Bacillus subtilis MY02 have shown beneficial effects on FD symptoms in a randomized controlled trial. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has a long history of traditional use as a gastroprotective agent and is supported by clinical and non-clinical data for improving gastric motility and related symptoms. This study (SUBTILE, STO-253) is a prospective, interventional, multicenter trial conducted in France. It will evaluate the effect of a dietary supplement containing Bacillus coagulans MY01, Bacillus subtilis MY02, and ginger extract (50 mg, 20% gingerols) on FD symptoms and quality of life. A total of 198 adult patients diagnosed with FD according to Rome IV criteria and with a normal upper endoscopy will be recruited in primary care and gastroenterology practices. Participants will take one capsule of the study product daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity (PAGI-SYM) total score between baseline and Week 8. Secondary outcomes include changes in quality of life (PAGI-QoL), treatment adherence, use of concomitant medications, evolution of lower gastrointestinal symptoms, patient and physician global impressions of change (PGI-C, CGI-I), and satisfaction (Likert scales). An exploratory objective will assess psychological impact using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study includes two site visits (baseline and end of study) and one telephone follow-up at Day 28. Safety and tolerability will be monitored through active reporting of adverse events. The trial aims to provide new evidence on the role of probiotics combined with ginger extract as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve digestive comfort and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Pain in Pediatric Patients - Internet Interventions for Disorders of Gut-brain Interaction

Many children and adolescents often experience long-lasting stomach pain. In many cases, this is due to disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain, and functional dyspepsia. These conditions are caused by disrupted communication between the brain and the gut. They are linked to significant suffering, reduced quality of life, and higher school absenteeism. Psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown good effect, but waiting times within healthcare are often long. Therefore, there is a need for more accessible and cost-effective treatment alternatives. The goal of this clinical trial is to explore whether gut-directed hypnotherapy, already used successfully in the Netherlands, can be implemented as a new treatment option in Swedish healthcare. In addition, the study will compare gut-directed hypnotherapy with internet-based CBT (iCBT) to learn which digital treatment works best for children and adolescents with DGBI. Participants will: Be children or adolescents between 8 and 17 years old. First take part in a 4-week online education program called the "gut-school," which explains the stomach, the brain, and how symptoms can be managed. If symptoms remain after the gut-school, be randomly assigned to one of two digital treatments: iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy). 10 week long. Gut-directed hypnotherapy, delivered as audio recordings to be used at home. 12 week long. Answer online survey questions before, during, and after treatment so researchers can follow their progress. These two treatments have never been directly compared. By comparing them, researchers hope to learn not only which treatment works best overall, but also which treatment is most suitable for different participants. The long-term aim is to make gut-directed hypnotherapy, already successful in the Netherlands, available as a treatment option in Sweden.

Efficacy of Clostridium Butyricum in Alleviating Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Clostridium butyricum in improving anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria. Methods: This trial plans to enroll 180 patients (90 per group). The study will employ a double-blind design. For patients diagnosed with FD according to the Rome IV criteria, in addition to conventional treatment (treated with Mosapride Citrate Tablets (Guangdong Anno Guocai) for Postmeal Discomfort Syndrome (PDS) and Esomeprazole Enteric Coated Tablets (Shijiazhuang Longze Pharmaceutical Guocai) for Upper Abdominal Pain Syndrome (EPS)), the experimental group was treated with Clostridium butyricum, while the control group received a placebo with the same appearance and odor. The treatment intervention will last for 4 weeks. The main indicator of this experiment is the improvement of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS score) after 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary indicators are the improvement rate of the overall treatment effectiveness evaluation questionnaire (OTE questionnaire), the improvement of the global overall symptom score (GOS score), the improvement of the simplified Nipin scale (SF-NDI), and the improvement of the Pittsburgh Sleep Index (PSQI) after 4 weeks of treatment. Upon completion of the trial, the patients' conditions will be re-evaluated, and treatment plans will be adjusted accordingly.

Efficacy of Bacillus Coagulans in Alleviating Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus coagulans in improving anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria. Methods: This trial plans to enroll 180 patients (90 per group). The study will employ a double-blind design. For patients diagnosed with FD according to the Rome IV criteria, in addition to conventional treatment (treated with Mosapride Citrate Tablets (Guangdong Anno Guocai) for Postmeal Discomfort Syndrome (PDS) and Esomeprazole Enteric Coated Tablets (Shijiazhuang Longze Pharmaceutical Guocai) for Upper Abdominal Pain Syndrome (EPS)), the experimental group was treated with Bacillus coagulans, while the control group received a placebo with the same appearance and odor. The treatment intervention will last for 4 weeks. The main indicator of this experiment is the improvement of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS score) after 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary indicators are the improvement rate of the overall treatment effectiveness evaluation questionnaire (OTE questionnaire), the improvement of the global overall symptom score (GOS score), the improvement of the simplified Nipin scale (SF-NDI), and the improvement of the Pittsburgh Sleep Index (PSQI) after 4 weeks of treatment. Upon completion of the trial, the patients' conditions will be re-evaluated, and treatment plans will be adjusted accordingly.

Correlation Study of Atrophic Gastritis and Dyspepsia Symptoms

Background: Dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal complaint globally, affecting approximately 21.8% of the population. Among patients presenting with dyspeptic symptoms, over 80% are diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD), while approximately 16% are found to have chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). CAG represents an important precancerous condition in the gastric cancer cascade, yet the relationship between pathologically confirmed CAG and dyspeptic symptoms remains poorly understood. The significant symptom overlap between CAG and FD creates diagnostic challenges in clinical practice. Study Objectives: The primary objective is to determine whether there are significant differences in the prevalence and severity of dyspeptic symptoms (including epigastric pain, burning sensation, early satiety, and postprandial fullness) between patients with pathologically confirmed CAG and those without CAG (non-CAG group) among individuals who present with endoscopic features suggestive of atrophic gastritis. Secondary objectives include: (1) analyzing the independent effects of various covariates (Helicobacter pylori infection, dietary habits, sleep quality, psychological factors) on dyspeptic symptoms; (2) developing a symptom-based predictive model for pathological CAG; and (3) conducting exploratory serum metabolomics analysis to identify potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways associated with FD symptoms. Study Design: This is a single-center, prospective, observational study conducted at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. The study will enroll approximately 258-315 adult patients (aged 18-75 years) who undergo endoscopy showing features suggestive of CAG within the past year. All participants will undergo standardized 5-point gastric mucosal biopsy according to the Updated Sydney System. Based on histopathological results, patients will be classified into pathological CAG group (presence of gastric mucosal atrophy) or non-CAG group (absence of atrophy). The study aims to recruit at least 80 pathologically confirmed non-CAG patients for comparison. Study Procedures: After obtaining informed consent, all enrolled patients will complete a comprehensive assessment at baseline including: demographic information, medical history, endoscopy and pathology results, Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (GOSS) questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale, H. pylori infection status (serology), dietary habits assessment, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and perceived stress evaluation. A subset of participants will provide fasting blood samples for non-targeted metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify metabolites related to amino acids, organic acids, lipids, and neurotransmitter precursors. This is a non-interventional study with all data and sample collection completed at enrollment without long-term follow-up. Primary Outcome: The primary outcome is the difference between pathological CAG and non-CAG groups in the prevalence and severity of dyspeptic symptoms, particularly cardinal FD symptoms (epigastric pain, burning, early satiety, postprandial fullness), assessed using the GOSS scale. A symptom score ≥4 on any cardinal symptom will define the presence of clinically significant FD symptoms. Expected Duration: The study is expected to last 24 months, including preparation, patient recruitment with data collection, and final statistical analysis and reporting phases. Significance: This study will provide evidence-based insights into the relationship between pathologically confirmed CAG and dyspeptic symptoms, potentially improving symptom management strategies and patient counseling. The metabolomics component may reveal novel biomarkers and pathways underlying symptom generation, laying groundwork for future mechanistic studies and personalized therapeutic approaches. Results will inform clinical practice and serve as preliminary data for larger-scale investigations.

Synergistic Gut-brain Axis Modulation Via Vagal Stimulation and Support Therapy in Functional Dyspepsia

The study aims at evaluating physiological and patient-reported outcomes for a dual intervention approach including a stimulation device and support therapy in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Cerebral Cortical Influences on Autonomic Function

This is an exploratory neurophysiological study that will determine the impact of non-invasive brain stimulation on autonomic regulation, with a focus on gastrointestinal function. These studies should provide a basis for future brain-based neurotherapeutic strategies in patients with functional GI disorders.

Feasibility Study of a Guided Imagery Therapy Mobile Application for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders in Children

Chronic abdominal pain is common among children, and the majority of cases are attributed to functional abdominal pain disorders. One approach to treating these disorders is by using psychological therapies. This clinical trial aims to see how well pre-recorded guided imagery therapy sessions help children's abdominal pain when delivered via a mobile application (app) on a smartphone or tablet. Participants will complete a baseline abdominal pain and stooling diary to determine eligibility, as well as other surveys. Eligible participants will be given access to the guided imagery therapy mobile application. This intervention asks participants to listen to a 10- to 15-minute GIT session 5 out of 7 days per week for 8 weeks, in addition to their usual care for their abdominal pain. Then, participants will complete another abdominal pain and stooling diary, along with other psychometric surveys, at the end of this intervention period. Participants will also collect another diary and surveys 3 months post-treatment.