Clinical Research Directory

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell for Liver Cirrhosis Patient Caused by Hepatitis B

The study aims to evaluate the effect of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy on patients who suffered from liver cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis B.

Optimizing Portal Hypertension With TIPS and Interval Metabolic Surgery for Advanced Liver Disease

Cirrhosis is a form of advanced liver disease that can lead to serious complications, especially when combined with severe obesity. Many patients with cirrhosis also develop a condition called clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), which is increased pressure in the veins of the liver. CSPH raises the risk of life-threatening events like internal bleeding and liver failure. Unfortunately, treatment options for people who have both cirrhosis and severe obesity are very limited, especially when portal hypertension is present. This study, called the OPTIMAL Trial, is a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate whether combining two procedures improves health outcomes in this high-risk population. The first procedure, called TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt), is a minimally invasive treatment that reduces pressure in the liver by creating a pathway for blood to flow more easily. The second procedure is sleeve gastrectomy, a form of metabolic (bariatric) surgery that helps patients lose weight and improve related conditions like diabetes. The study will compare two groups: 1. One group will receive TIPS followed by sleeve gastrectomy (TIPS+SG). 2. The other group will receive medical weight management (standard non-surgical care, including diet, lifestyle changes, and weight loss medications). All participants will have severe obesity and cirrhosis with CSPH but will not have decompensated liver disease (such as large amounts of fluid in the abdomen, a history of variceal bleeding, or recent liver failure). Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The main goal of the study is to determine whether the combination of TIPS + SG improves quality of life and leads to greater weight loss compared to medical therapy alone. The study will also monitor for any complications from either the procedures or the medical treatment. Participants will be followed for 6 months after their treatment starts, with periodic assessments of their physical health, liver function, and overall well-being. Some participants may also be followed for a longer period to assess long-term outcomes. This study hopes to provide high-quality evidence for a novel, stepwise treatment strategy that may help people with obesity and liver disease live longer, healthier lives. If successful, it could change how advanced liver disease and obesity are managed together, especially in patients who currently have few safe and effective options. All study care is provided at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

A Comparative Study of MRI and Ultrasound for Detection of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Body Composition and Risk Factors for Decompensation in Liver Cirrhosis

DETECT-HCC-ESLD is a prospective multicenter study designed to examine early detection and risk stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in individuals with advanced liver disease. Adults with cirrhosis of different etiologies are enrolled and followed longitudinally with structured clinical assessments and imaging at predefined intervals. A key objective is to evaluate ultrasound and abbreviated MRI (AMRI) as surveillance modalities for HCC. The study examines detection performance, feasibility, and factors influencing image quality and interpretability. The protocol also includes the study of body composition, focusing on how variations in adiposity and muscle mass may relate to imaging characteristics, disease progression, and HCC risk. Longitudinal clinical and imaging data are used to explore prediction models aimed at identifying patients with differing levels of HCC risk. The study records outcomes such as incident HCC, liver-related complications, and mortality to support analyses of disease trajectories. The DETECT-HCC-ESLD study provides a structured framework for collecting clinical, imaging, and body composition data over time, enabling detailed evaluation of surveillance strategies and risk patterns in advanced liver disease.

Developing Viability Index for Machine Perfused Livers

Machine perfusion technology is nearing the point of rescuing discarded liver grafts in the hope of proving them to be or improving them to the point of being transplantable. However, there are no validated metrics to determine transplantability after machine perfusion. This study involves collecting biopsies from transplanted livers before and after implantation to correlate metabolite and gene expression with post-transplant function. This data will help develop a viability index for machine perfused livers.

Liver Disease and Other Systemic Diseases

Examine the association of chronic liver diseases (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) with other systemic diseases by retrospectively analyzing the data from the Hospital Database of Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation.

Evaluation of Chronic Liver Disease Condition and Transplant Prognosis Assisted by Eye Biological Parameters

This study investigates the correlation between ocular biological characteristics and overall conditions before and after liver transplantation by collecting ocular biological characteristics. Explore whether it is possible to construct a clinical prediction model for liver transplantation by incorporating ocular biometric features, in order to optimize disease management before and after liver transplantation.

International Alfapump Cohort Study

This Registry is designed to follow patients who have been implanted with an alfapump system, which is a newly marketed product from Sequana Medical AG, a Swiss Medical Device company.

Non-Invasive Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions in Liver Cirrhosis

This study aims to analyze non-invasive characterization focal liver lesions in patients with liver cirrhosis. The diagnostic accuracy and predictive value of non-invasive methods is studied.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing GVO

We design a randomized trial to clarify the necessity of antibiotic prophylaxis for the patients chronic liver disease with gastric varices treated by elective GVO.