Clinical Research Directory

Impact of Artificial Intelligence Algorithm-driven Versus Standard Lifestyle Intervention in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label, Controlled Trial

Now considered as a major public health challenge, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly rising as a major cause of end-stage liver disease. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of conditions, ranging from steatosis, defined by excessive liver fat deposition, to Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis (NASH), an inflammatory and fibrotic stage which promotes severe complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although several drugs are currently under clinical development to limit inflammation and fibrosis processes, clinical evidence and previous studies support the role of lifestyle intervention (dietary modifications and exercise) as a cornerstone for NAFLD management. Indeed, insulin resistance is a key pathogenic trigger of the disease and patients with NAFLD are frequently obese and/or have type 2 diabetes. Therefore, lifestyle intervention should be implemented as early as possible in the disease course, from the first evidence of steatosis. Designing lifestyle interventions with good efficacy and sustainability for patients with NAFLD, and with acceptable medico-economic costs, is thus urgently needed. However, the optimal way to implement such lifestyle modification programs remains unclear. Technological innovations in health-monitoring devices recently made it possible to propose disruptive lifestyle interventions, but the value of such strategies has not been addressed in NAFLD so far.

Cardiovascular Risk in Children With Chronic Conditions Study

Children living with chronic health conditions face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than their peers, largely due to the accelerated aging of the heart and blood vessels. Although experts recognize this elevated risk and recommend close monitoring and early intervention, the underlying mechanisms driving this phenomenon remain poorly understood. At present, no effective interventions specifically target its root causes. Recent research shows that both large blood vessels (such as the carotid artery) and small vessels (such as those in the retina) can display early signs of damage decades before clinically apparent heart or vascular disease emerges. This accelerated vascular aging can result from multiple factors - including disease-related processes such as persistent inflammation and metabolic disturbances, treatment-related effects such as chemotherapy or long-term steroid use, and lifestyle changes associated with chronic illness, such as reduced physical activity and altered eating habits. However, it is still unclear how these factors influence the development and progression of vascular changes in children as they grow. Importantly, these changes can be monitored through non-invasive methods, offering a unique opportunity to study at-risk patients many years before overt cardiovascular disease develops. Identifying these early changes may enable us to detect and track individuals at heightened risk well in advance of clinical disease. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the causes of increased cardiovascular risk in children with chronic conditions and to lay the groundwork for earlier, more targeted prevention strategies.

Relationship Between Eating Patterns, Body Composition and the Detection of Fatty Liver in Children and Adolescents With Trisomy 21: LiverTy Project

Childhood obesity is a growing public health issue affecting millions of children worldwide, increasing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. This problem is particularly concerning in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (trisomy 21, T21), who have a higher predisposition to fat accumulation due to genetic, metabolic, and behavioral factors. However, assessing their nutritional status and body composition is challenging, as conventional tools such as body mass index (BMI) may not accurately reflect adiposity in this population. One of the most severe risks associated with obesity in children with T21 is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver without significant alcohol consumption and is closely linked to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and pro-inflammatory states. If not detected early, NAFLD can progress to more severe liver diseases such as fibrosis or cirrhosis. In individuals with T21, the prevalence of NAFLD may be underestimated due to the difficulty in properly assessing body composition and metabolism. Since NAFLD diagnosis traditionally requires invasive procedures such as liver biopsy, this study proposes using non-invasive techniques, such as liver elastography, to assess liver health in children and adolescents with T21. Additionally, dietary habits will be analyzed using standardized tools to establish the relationship between nutrition, body composition, and NAFLD risk in this population. Study Hypothesis: The main hypothesis is that obesity and inadequate dietary patterns increase the risk of NAFLD in our participants with T21. The investigators also believe that liver elastography will enable the early detection of fat accumulation in the liver and other signs of liver disease, facilitating timely intervention. Study Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the presence and severity of NAFLD in children and adolescents with T21 using non-invasive diagnostic techniques and nutritional assessment methods. Specifically, the study will analyze: * Liver health: Measurement of liver fat and stiffness using elastography. Body composition: Anthropometric evaluation and adiposity analysis. Dietary habits: 24-hour food recall and KIDMED questionnaire to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet. * Relationship between obesity and NAFLD: Identification of metabolic and behavioral risk factors.

Efficacy and Safety of Pemafibrate for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This is a study to evaluate the effect of pemafibrate on fatty liver in patients with hypertgemia combined with NAFLD, using fenofibrate as a control.