Clinical Research Directory

Expanded Studies on the SCAPIS Stockholm Reexamination Cohort

The Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) is a unique, large-scale national research initiative involving 30,000 randomly selected individuals aged 50-64, recruited between 2014 and 2018. The study is a collaborative effort among six university hospitals across Sweden. A follow-up study, SCAPIS 2, is conducted for half of the original participants. In Stockholm, 2,500 individuals will be re-examined at Danderyd University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet. SCAPIS 2 includes a core set of examinations involving blood sampling, questionnaires, and imaging. In addition to these, complementary local investigations are conducted to enable more detailed research questions. This protocol describes the additional studies conducted in the Stockholm cohort. All complementary assessments aim to identify risk factors for current and future lung, liver, and cardiovascular diseases.: EXTENDED SAMPLING: Saliva and Blood Samples with Blood Cell Isolation. EXTENDED QUESTIONNAIRES: Dyspnea, Sleep, Respiratory Infections, and Dental Health. EXTENDED IMAGING AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS Cardiac Ultrasound and Abdominal Aortic Measurements. Liver Elastography. Vascular Stiffness by cuff-based pulse wave analysis and Photoplethysmography (PPG). Valvular and Vascular Calcification by CT imaging.

Diagnosis and Quantification of Hepatic Steatosis Using Near-infrared Spectroscopy

In liver transplantation, the main problem is the shortage of grafts due to the small pool of donors. In order to increase the number of donors, grafts are increasingly being taken from older donors, known as 'expanded criteria' donors, who have liver steatosis lesions. Currently, expanded criteria donors account for 75% of liver transplants, whereas in 2009 they accounted for less than 30% of liver transplants. Steatosis and its progression Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an emerging disease in industrialised countries due to obesity, and corresponds to the accumulation of intracytoplasmic triglycerides. Steatosis is diagnosed when this fat content represents more than 5% of the total liver mass. There are two types of steatosis: microvesicular steatosis and macrovacuolar steatosis, defined by the presence of lipid droplets larger than the nucleus with a nucleus displaced to the periphery. Macrovacuolar steatosis is responsible for impaired liver function if it is present in ≥30% of hepatocytes. It is a factor in poor prognosis for liver transplants, with reduced graft and recipient survival and an increase in early graft dysfunction after liver transplantation. The quantification of hepatic steatosis is based on the pathological analysis of a liver biopsy, which is currently the gold standard. This technique has disadvantages: it is an invasive method, requiring an experienced pathologist, and presents inter-individual variability in the assessment and quantification of steatosis. It is therefore essential to develop new non-invasive diagnostic tools that can identify the presence of steatosis \> 5% and ≥ 30%. Several non-invasive techniques for diagnosing steatosis have been studied: Fibroscan, CT scan, MRI, but none of those studied previously allow for the accurate quantification of hepatic steatosis, particularly macrovacuolar steatosis, with instant results.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Large Diameter Lumen-apposing Metal Stent Gastro-gastrostomy for Bypass Reversal in Patients With Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass

The primary objective of this open-label pilot study is to investigate whether an endoscopically placed lumen apposing metal stent is an effective alternative to surgery in patients that have a clear indication for reversal of their gastric bypass.

Randomized Clinical Trial; Medical vs Bariatric Surgery for Adolescents (13-16 y) With Severe Obesity

Severe childhood obesity is associated with both immediate and chronic health problems and a severe impact on psychosocial development. Medical and behavioural interventions rarely result in the significant, durable weight loss necessary to improve health outcomes. This is a randomised clinical trial where 50 adolescents, 13-16 years of age, will be randomised to either early bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) or intense conservative treatment and possibly surgery after two years of non-surgical treatment or as they have become 18 years.