View clinical trials related to Fatty Liver.
Filter by:We hypothesize that insulin resistance is characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as compared to age, gender, non-diabetic BMI-matched control subjects, both healthy and those with non-cirrhotic, non-steatotic liver disease.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects and safety of pioglitazone and berberine on the basis of lifestyle intervention to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with impaired glucose regulation or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (or NASH) is known to be caused by deposition of fat in the liver and development of scarring. This condition occurs more frequently in overweight and obese persons. It is often associated with resistance to the actions of insulin hormone. Fat cells secrete a hormone called leptin. Recently, we have learned that obese or overweight persons make too much leptin, which may contribute to insulin resistance. Paradoxically, patients who do not have any fat cells, also have insulin resistance. In these patients, insulin resistance is caused by the absence of leptin and leptin replacement significantly improves insulin resistance and fat deposition in the liver. In an earlier study, we determined the leptin levels in patients with NASH and how these levels are related to body fat levels as well as responsiveness to insulin. We saw that a subgroup of patients with NASH have relatively low levels of leptin in contrast to the amount of body fat they had. We now would like to see if restoring leptin levels to normal will improve the disease process in these patients. Our study patients will be male patients, aged between 18 and 65 (inclusive), who do not have any other cause for their liver disease. We have put some restrictions in body size such that a spectrum of patients from normal weight to obese range would be included. They will also demonstrate low leptin levels (levels similar to only 25% of normal population). We will use a genetically engineered form of leptin manufactured by Amylin Inc. given via injections under the skin. We plan to continue therapy for a period of one year and evaluate the change in liver disease by a liver biopsy. We will also follow the metabolic parameters and body composition characteristics that we examined in our earlier study. We expect that patients with low blood leptin levels will show improvement in their liver disease and insulin resistance when their blood leptin levels are restored to normal.
This study will determine whether a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test of the liver can accurately measure the amount of fat in the liver compared to the results of a liver biopsy. People 18 years of age and older who are scheduled to have or who have already had a liver biopsy as part of their medical care within 1 month of enrollment in this study may be eligible to participate. Participants undergo an MRI. For this procedure, the subject lies still on a table that slides into a narrow metal cylinder (the MRI scanner) for 30 to 60 minutes. A special pad or tube is placed around the abdomen to improve the image of the liver obtained. Earplugs are placed in the ears to muffle loud thumping and knocking sounds that occur with the electrical switching of the magnetic field. The findings of the MRI are compared with those of the liver biopsy.
One third of the population in the United States has nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of NAFLD, can lead to cirrhosis.Currently, there is no proven therapy for patients with NASH. The investigators core hypothesis is that therapy of patients with NASH with pentoxifylline (PTX) for one year will result in improvement of biochemical parameters of liver disease and hepatic histology. The focus of this proposal is on the effectiveness of pentoxifylline (PTX) in improving laboratory and tissue parameters of liver disease, parameters of insulin-resistance, and levels of cytokines in patients with NASH.
To assess the safety and efficacy of betaine in patients with NASH on markers of disease severity such as liver histology, liver biochemistries, and health related quality of life.
Purpose of this study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy of L-alanine in improving biological and histological findings by administrating 6-18g/day L-alanine for one year. We will also assess the safety and toxicity profile of long-term administration of L-alanine.
Endoscopic Ultrasound involves the placement of a small flexible camera through the mouth and into the stomach to image various parts of the body. A small piece of tissue called a biopsy, of your liver nay be obtained by this method. the tissue (biopsy) would be obtained by inserting a small needle through the lining of the stomach into the liver. Consideration for this biopsy is because there may be extra fat stored within the liver. In some people who drink too much alcohol, extra fat may be stored in the liver, however, in some people who don't drink too much alcohol, this may also occur and is called :non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. Over time, this extra fat may lead to liver irritation and scar tissue called cirrhosis. If NAFLD is detected early enough, then treatment with medications, losing weight, or dietary changes may help avoid cirrhosis. the purpose of this study is to learn about whether doctors can obtain the biopsy from the liver by a new method. The biopsy of the liver allows the doctors to look for any signs of scar tissue or inflammation from any cause.
To assess whether reversal of fatty liver by moderate weight loss (8% of body weight) will lead to improvements in insulin sensitivity, which will be associated with changes in both glucose status and lipid profiles, in obese children and adolescents with fatty liver who have normal glucose or pre-diabetes.
NAFLD is a spectrum of liver diseases associated with varying degrees of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and in some cases, fibrosis. NAFLD is a common observation in all demographics, but the prevalence of NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is especially high in the morbidly obese population. Leptin is a cytokine that is encoded by the ob gene and primarily secreted by adipose tissue. The production of serum leptin increases with progressive obesity. Because of this observation, there has been significant interest in potential role of leptin in NAFLD. Our hypothesis is that we will find increased hepatic leptin and leptin receptor expression as the degree of hepatic injury worsens in NAFLD.