Clinical Research Directory

CytOSorb TreatMent Of Critically Ill PatientS Registry

Registry intended to provide a data repository and reporting infrastructure for the surveillance of CytoSorb device use in real-world critical care settings, and to serve as an objective, comprehensive, and scientifically-based resource to measure and improve the quality of patient care

Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Pancreatitis

This study will look at how safe and how effective varenicline, a commonly used medication for smoking cessation, is in helping patients with pancreatitis stop smoking cigarettes. Individuals who agree to be part of the study will be treated with varenicline for 12 weeks, after which the investigators will see how many have stopped smoking.

Scrambler Therapy in Chronic Pancreatitis

The investigators will enroll adults with chronic pancreatitis who have persistent abdominal pain not relieved by standard treatments. This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of Scrambler Therapy, a non-invasive FDA-cleared device that delivers "non-pain" electrical signals through the skin to retrain the brain's pain perception. Participants will undergo 5-10 treatment sessions and be followed for 3 months with standardized pain scores and quality-of-life assessments. The goal is to generate pilot data to support larger studies of Scrambler Therapy as a novel option for pancreatic pain.

Supraglottic Oxygenation Via Oral Transtracheal Catheter for Reducing the Incidence of Hypoxemia During ERCP Under Sedation

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases. While Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) enhances the efficiency of ERCP, deep sedation introduces significant airway risks, particularly hypoxemia resulting from sedative-induced upper airway collapse. With reported hypoxemia rates ranging from 10% to 69%, and the potential for severe complications such as myocardial ischemia and neurological damage, effective airway management is paramount. Supraglottic oxygenation via oral transtracheal catheter provides a viable method for relieving obstruction and enabling positive pressure ventilation, serving as a less invasive alternative to tracheal intubation. Despite its proven utility in other settings, this technique has not yet been evaluated in the context of deeply sedated ERCP.

Nucleosome Monitoring Relevance for Outcome Prediction in Critically Ill Patients

NUROPI is a single-centre, prospective, non-interventional study in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Erasme Hospital (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium). Some critically ill patients get worse during the first days of their ICU stay. Identifying them early could allow faster escalation of care. Nucleosomes are fragments of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones. They are released into the blood when cells die or when white blood cells form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). High blood levels of nucleosomes may reflect inflammation, clotting activation and organ damage. This study will measure the H3.1 nucleosome in the blood of 1,000 consecutive adult ICU patients. The measurement uses a CE-marked laboratory test (Nu.Q® NETs, chemiluminescence immunoassay on the IDS-i10 analyser). No additional blood sample is taken for the study. H3.1 is measured on the leftover plasma of blood samples already drawn for routine care, at ICU admission, 6 hours, day 1, day 3 and day 7. Patient treatment is not changed. Patients, or their relatives or legal representative, receive an information notice and may refuse participation at any time. The main question is whether H3.1, alone or combined with routine ICU data, can identify patients at high risk of clinical deterioration within 72 hours of ICU admission. Other questions concern the link between H3.1 and mortality, organ dysfunction, and ICU treatments, and how H3.1 levels change during the first week.

Rectal Indomethacin With or Without Papillary Ice Water Irrigation to Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (post-ERCP pancreatitis, or PEP) is inflammation of the pancreas that can occur after an ERCP procedure. Rectal indomethacin is commonly given around the time of ERCP to help reduce this risk, but pancreatitis can still occur despite this treatment. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether adding ice water irrigation of the papilla at the end of ERCP further reduces the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis compared with rectal indomethacin alone. The papilla is the small opening in the intestine where the bile duct and pancreatic duct drain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will receive rectal indomethacin 100 mg. In the intervention group, the doctor will also irrigate the papilla with a total of 250 mL of ice water immediately after the ERCP. Participants and the study team members who assess study outcomes will not know which treatment group the participant was assigned to. Participants will be assessed after ERCP and followed for up to 30 days for pancreatitis and other complications.

Intermittent Fasting for Pancreatitis

The purpose of this research is to compare intermittent fasting with a standard diet approach for improving the quality of life related to your pancreas disease. Our hope is to improve your symptoms and prevent you from needing to go into the hospital for pancreas-related issues.

Influence of Gut Microbiome in Gallstone Disease

The goal of this prospective observational study is to explore the role of the gut microbiome in patients with gallstone disease. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * if there is a relationship between the gut microbiome and the development of complications associated with gallstone disease (such as pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis) * if there are changes in the gut microbiome following cholecystectomy and the relationship with patient outcomes. Participants will be asked to provide stool samples at fixed time points (recruitment, pre- and post-cholecystectomy if applicable and at 6 months and 3 years. They will also be asked to provide stool samples if they represent to hospital with complications associated with their gallstone disease.

Activation of Biobank Registry for Bilio-pancreatic Diseases

The purpose of establishing the biobank is to create a collection of biological material and clinical data, with a prospective and retrospective mold, in order to investigate the role of genetic predisposition in multifactorial bilio-pancreatic diseases, so that an evaluation of the possible association in the pathogenesis of exogenous factors with endogenous factors can be allowed. Multifactorial diseases are in fact an expression of genetic predisposition upon which one or more environmental stimuli act. Usually the aforementioned factors are not capable individually of triggering disease but, when simultaneously present, can cause the pathological phenotype. Therefore, it becomes important in the description of disease pathogenesis to identify as many risk factors for disease prevention and early diagnosis.

Iconographic Registry of Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy Procedures

The aim of the TAILOR-EUS study (Iconographic Registry of Bilio-Pancreatic Endoscopic Ultrasound Procedures) is to establish a clinical registry comprising images and videos generated during endoscopic procedures conducted for the investigation of pancreatic diseases (PD). The study will compile historical, pathological, and imaging data from approximately 12,000 patients (2,000 retrospectively and 10,000 prospectively) who underwent endoscopic ultrasound procedures for inflammatory pancreatic conditions (e.g., acute, recurrent, chronic pancreatitis), autoimmune bilio-pancreatic diseases (e.g., autoimmune pancreatitis), neoplastic bilio-pancreatic conditions, and screenings for individuals at high risk of developing such diseases at the Bilio-Pancreatic Endoscopy and Endoscopic Ultrasound Unit of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital between 2000 and 2027. Participants have undergone or will undergo the standard diagnostic pathway appropriate for their conditions as part of routine clinical practice. All instrumental examinations and endoscopic ultrasound procedures are integral to the standard diagnostic and therapeutic approach for pancreatic diseases.

CBC-Derived Inflammatory Indices in Acute Pancreatitis

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of complete blood count (CBC)-derived inflammatory indices, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), for predicting severe acute pancreatitis and 28-day mortality in adult patients admitted with acute pancreatitis.

Phosphate in Acute Pancreatitis

The goal of this study is to learn if phosphate administration works to treat acute pancreatitis in adults presenting to the emergency department at Duke University Hospital. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does having low phosphate levels increase the risk of acute pancreatitis and can giving phosphate through an IV make the illness less severe? * Is phosphate therapy practical to use, and what is the appropriate dose? * Is this study achievable, and how can the results help design a future randomized controlled trial to assess safety and effectiveness? Participants will: * Receive standard of care or intravenous (IV) phosphate during their hospital stay * Have blood samples collected during admission to monitor phosphorus levels * Complete follow-up assessments after hospital admission to evaluate how severe the illness is and the effects of phosphate supplementation

Short-Stay Aggressive Hydration to Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common serious adverse event after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), occurring in roughly 7-15% of patients. Rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and peri-procedural aggressive intravenous hydration each reduce PEP, but published hydration regimens are delivered over 8-24 hours and require an overnight hospital stay, which is impractical where ERCP is increasingly performed as a same-day procedure. This multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial tests whether a short (under 4 hours) aggressive hydration regimen with Lactated Ringer's solution, combined with rectal indomethacin, is superior to standard care (rectal indomethacin plus low-volume hydration) for preventing PEP, while supporting same-day discharge. Adults undergoing ERCP are randomised 1:1. The primary outcome is the incidence of PEP defined by consensus (Cotton) criteria. A total of 1300 participants (650 per arm) will be enrolled.

Utility of Trypsinogen -2 in Early Detection and Follow Up of Post-pancreatectomy Acute Pancreatitis (PPAP)

The goal of this study is to learn if urine trypsinogen can be used to diagnose post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis in patients undergoing pancreatectomy. Participants will have their urine measured by dipsticks during and after their surgery.

A Study of Blood Based Biomarkers for Pancreas Adenocarcinoma

The purpose of this study is to develop a minimally invasive test to diagnose pancreatic cancer at early stages of disease and monitor response to treatment.

Building and Sustaining Exercise Habits for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

The challenges of living with type 1 diabetes often stand in the way of getting enough exercise. Continuous blood sugar monitoring has revolutionized type 1 diabetes care but remains underutilized to sustainably support exercise and related behaviors. This remote participation-based research will develop a mobile application that delivers personalized encouragement and data-driven health insights based upon patterns in blood sugar, exercise, mood, and sleep, to assist people with type 1 diabetes in exercising more frequently and confidently. You do not need to live in Connecticut to participate, as there will be no required in-person visits during the study.

Internet-Delivered Pain Self-Management for Persons With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis Pain

Severe and disabling abdominal pain is common in individuals with chronic pancreatitis. Although pain is associated with reduced quality of life and high economic and societal costs, there are limited effective options for pain management in this population. This study proposes an evidence-based psychological intervention approach using an internet-delivered pain self-management program to minimize the impact of pain and improve quality of life. The ultimate goal is to maximize the public health impact of the intervention with successful implementation and dissemination to pancreas clinics and to the community.

PancRea: Risk Factors and Outcomes of Infected Pancreatic Necrosis

Severe acute pancreatitis is a common reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with prolonged hospital stays and high morbidity and mortality rates. The Atlanta classification differentiates mild, moderate, and severe acute pancreatitis, and each of these categories correlates with morbidity and mortality. Mortality remains high, between 10% and 39%, in severe and moderately severe acute pancreatitis. After the first week, about 30% of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis develop infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). IPN is a risk factor for mortality.The treatment of IPN combines antibiotics with interventions to remove the infected intra-abdominal material, preferably using minimally invasive techniques such as percutaneous and endoscopic drainage, which have been proven beneficial. In several studies biological markers such as procalcitonin and interleukin 8 were effective in predicting IPN. However, few clinical risk factors for IPN have been reported. Identifying risk factors may help to improve standardized strategies for early diagnosis and treatment, and then patients outcome. Our primary objective was to identify risk factors for IPN in patients admitted to the ICU for acute pancreatitis. Our secondary objective was to describe the management and outcomes of IPN

Indomethacin for Biliary ERCP Patients

This study is a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of rectal indomethacin in preventing post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis in patients undergoing biliary ERCP who have a history of prior biliary sphincterotomy. While rectal indomethacin has demonstrated benefits in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk patients, its utility in this specific patient subgroup remains unclear. This trial aims to determine whether prophylactic administration of indomethacin offers a measurable benefit over no intervention in this lower-risk population. Eligible patients will be identified prior to their scheduled biliary ERCP and screened for inclusion criteria. Following informed consent, participants will be randomized to receive either rectal indomethacin or no indomethacin prior to the procedure.

Indomethacin vs Diclofenac for Preventing PEP

Pancreatitis is the most common and serious complication following post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and is associated with occasional mortality, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare expenses. Preprocedural administration of rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was demonstrated to be an effective and convenient strategy for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Furthermore, several meta-analyses found that only 100mg indomethacin and diclofenac could effectively reduce PEP. Therefore, updated international clinical practice guidelines uniformly recommended administration of 100mg indomethacin or diclofenac in patients without contradictions. However, it was unclear which one of the two drug is more superior. A recent meta-analysis suggested 100mg rectal diclofenac was more efficacious than same-dose rectal indomethacin in PEP prevention (relative risk (RR) 0·59, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0·40-0·89). Based on the results, we conducted a multicenter, double-blind, control trial to investigate whether 100mg diclofenac is superior than same-dose indomethacin. This trial planned to enroll 3612 patients in total. However, in the first interim analysis, PEP occurred in 53 patients (8.8%) of 600 patients allocated to diclofenac group and 37 patients (6.1%) of 604 patients allocated to indomethacin group (relative risk (RR) 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-2.16, p=0.074). Thus, the trial was stopped according to the futility rule of conditional power. However, it was worth noticing that PEP tended to be higher in diclofenac group than that in indomethacin group. A sample size of 1204 was under power to draw the conclusion of significantly lower PEP rate in indomethacin group and thus a new trial with larger sample size of sufficient power is predicted to prove the superiority of indomethacin over diclofenac. Here we conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial to investigate whether 100mg indomethacin is superior to 100mg diclofenac in preventing PEP.

Prophylaxis Against Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography Pancreatitis.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a key procedure for managing biliopancreatic diseases, although it is associated with complications such as post-ERCP pancreatitis. This study assessed the efficacy of a prophylactic protocol combining rectal indomethacin with aggressive hydration to reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis and serum amylase and lipase levels.

Evaluating the Efficacy of RELiZORB in Managing Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Tube-fed Pancreatitis Patients

This research aims to improve the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a condition that can develop after pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. EPI occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to help the body properly digest food. While pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is commonly used to manage EPI symptoms, it can be challenging for people who rely on feeding tubes. RELiZORB, could help these patients by simplifying the delivery of the enzymes they need. However, RELiZORB has only been studied in people with EPI caused by cystic fibrosis, so its effectiveness in pancreatitis patients remains unknown. This study aims to determine whether RELiZORB is effective for individuals requiring feeding tube support after pancreatitis.

Cold Water Irrigation Therapy as an Adjunct to Indomethacin for Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) Pancreatitis

This study is designed to learn whether rinsing the papilla with cold water at the end of an ERCP procedure, in addition to standard medicine, can help lower the chance of developing pancreatitis, which is the most common major complication after ERCP.

Surgical vs Endoscopic Resection of Walled Off Pancreatic Necrosis Using the Powered Endoscopic Debridement System

Goal: The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness and safety of two different but highly effective treatment approaches for walled-off necrosis (WON) resulting from severe acute pancreatitis. Participant Population: The study will involve adult patients experiencing symptomatic WON due to acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Main Questions: The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is "endoscopy" or direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) with powered endoscopic debridement (PED) as effective as "surgery" or transgastric surgical necrosectomy (SN) in achieving clinical resolution of WON within six weeks after treatment? 2. What are the rates of complications, costs, hospital length of stay, procedure time, readmission, repeat procedures and overall patient satisfaction associated with DEN with PED compared to transgastric SN? Comparison Group: Researchers will compare the outcomes of patients receiving DEN with PED to those undergoing transgastric SN to see if there are significant differences in clinical success, rates of complications, and overall healthcare costs. Participants Will: 1. Be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups (DEN with PED or transgastric SN). 2. Undergo the assigned treatment procedure based on their group. 3. Complete assessments before and after the procedure to evaluate clinical outcomes, hospital stay length, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. 4. Be monitored for adverse events or complications following the treatment