MAFLD

Brief Summary Purpose: This is a proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate whether Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a medication commonly used to treat malaria, can effectively reduce liver fat in adults with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). The study will also rigorously assess the safety and tolerability of DHA in this specific patient population. Study Design: This is a single-center, open-label, single-arm study. All qualified participants will receive the investigational treatment, with each individual serving as their own baseline control to measure pre- and post-treatment changes. To minimize lifestyle-related confounding factors, all participants will receive standardized dietary and physical activity counseling at baseline and will be instructed to strictly maintain their established lifestyle routines throughout the study period. Participants: The study plans to enroll approximately 30 adult patients (ages 18 to 45 years) formally diagnosed with MAFLD. MAFLD is defined by the presence of excessive hepatic fat accumulation concurrent with specific metabolic dysfunctions, such as overweight/obesity, hypertension, elevated blood sugar, or dyslipidemia. Intervention: Participants will be administered oral Dihydroartemisinin tablets at a dose of 20 mg three times daily (TID) for a continuous duration of 12 weeks. Upon completion of the intervention, participants will enter a 12-week observational follow-up period to monitor the durability of the treatment effects and long-term safety. Main Things We Will Measure (Outcomes): Primary Outcome: Absolute change in liver fat content from baseline to the end of the 12-week treatment, quantitatively assessed by the gold-standard MRI Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF). Secondary Outcomes: Changes in supplementary non-invasive liver fat assessments (including Ultrasound-derived Fat Fraction \[UDFF\] and FibroScan Controlled Attenuation Parameter \[CAP\]), as well as changes in body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and routine laboratory safety panels (e.g., comprehensive liver and kidney function tests).

This project aims to evaluate the roles of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and gut microbiota as correlates of clinical improvement in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in response to a therapeutic regimen comprising resistance exercise and probiotic supplementation. The primary objective is to investigate the effects of these non-pharmacological interventions on MAFLD/NAFLD and to identify patient phenotypes based on baseline ANS profiles and gut microbiota composition that predict clinical responses.

To compare the efficacy and safety of the combination of alogliptin and actoplus met with that of actoplus met alone in improving the glucose and lipid metabolism and pancreatic function in T2DM patients complicated with MAFLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly recognized cause of chronic liver disease and is closely linked with obesity, metabolic abnormalities, and nutritional status. Data on the frequency of MAFLD and its associated metabolic and nutritional factors in rural populations of Bangladesh are not up to date. This study aims to determine the frequency of MAFLD and to evaluate its association with nutritional status and metabolic risk factors among adults in a rural population of Bangladesh. Eligible participants will undergo clinical assessment, anthropometric measurements, laboratory evaluation of metabolic parameters, and abdominal ultrasonography for the detection of hepatic steatosis. Nutritional status will be assessed using standard anthropometric and clinical criteria. The findings of this study are expected to provide baseline epidemiological data on MAFLD in rural Bangladesh and to help identify associated metabolic and nutritional risk factors.

This project aims to investigate how Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) develops and progresses in patients who also have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and to evaluate whether oral semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) can slow or prevent this progression. NAFLD and CKD frequently coexist due to shared mechanisms such as insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Because of these overlapping pathways, a single therapy targeting both organs may offer major benefits. Semaglutide is known to reduce liver fat, improve inflammation and fibrosis, promote weight loss, and provide renal protection. This project will test whether adding oral semaglutide to standard care leads to better kidney and liver outcomes than standard care alone. The study is designed as a randomised controlled trial conducted at ILBS, enrolling adults having NAFLD with CKD (with specific eGFR and albuminuria criteria). Participants will be followed for 2 years, with regular assessment of kidney function (eGFR, ACR), liver health (FibroScan, ALT/AST), metabolic parameters, and cardiovascular outcomes. A parallel animal study in mice with diet-induced fatty liver disease will validate mechanistic findings through liver and kidney histology, gene expression, metabolic tests, and biochemical markers after semaglutide treatment. Expected outcome: To demonstrate that semaglutide slows CKD progression and improves NAFLD, supporting its use as a therapeutic option for patients with coexisting both conditions.

Cirrhosis associated with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can lead to a series of adverse outcomes in and outside the liver, but there is no approved treatment so far. In recent years, the prevalence of MAFLD-related cirrhosis in our country is increasing rapidly, but its clinical, pathological characteristics and natural prognosis are not clear, and there is a lack of standardized and effective prevention and treatment strategies.Through"Digital Intelligence software" to assist clinicians in MAFLD patients with remote data intervention, lifestyle intervention guidance and follow-up management, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the intervention software on body weight and blood glucose in patients with MAFLD.

This single-center cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the agreement between a handheld elastography device and the iLivTouch transient elastography system for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and steatosis in adults with chronic liver disease. The study compares liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and ultrasound attenuation parameter (UAP) obtained by both devices in the standard supine position, and further explores the feasibility and consistency of measurements performed in the sitting position. All participants will undergo paired examinations using both devices in two body positions (supine and sitting). Agreement between devices and between body positions will be assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients, and categorical consistency metrics. The study will also evaluate device performance indicators, including measurement success rate, procedure time, and battery endurance under simulated clinical conditions. This study aims to provide clinical evidence on the accuracy, reliability, and feasibility of a new handheld transient elastography device, and to explore whether sitting-position measurements can serve as an alternative to standard supine assessment in chronic liver disease patients.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic progressive liver disease in China, posing a significant risk for hepatic decompensation, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and various malignancies. It severely impacts patient quality of life and life expectancy, creating a substantial socioeconomic burden. Currently, no safe and effective drug exists to reverse MAFLD. Rhubarb (Dà Huáng), a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb for liver disorders, has a cold nature, bitter taste, and targets the liver, spleen, stomach, large intestine, and pericardium meridians. Its primary active component, Rhein, demonstrates therapeutic potential by targeting key MAFLD pathological processes-insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Supporting this, a previous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by our group on diacerein (a Rhein derivative) for simple obesity showed that it not only reduced body weight but also improved liver function, Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP), and Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM). Therefore, this study will investigate diacerein-a marketed drug metabolized to Rhein in vivo-for MAFLD treatment using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. The aim is to generate clinical evidence for diacerein and other Rhein derivatives within an integrative medicine framework, providing an evidence-based rationale for expanding the application of rhubarb in MAFLD management.

The goal of this observational (diagnostic validation) study is to validate imaging-based biomarkers for assessing liver involvement in pediatric patients with established or suspected liver disease. The projekt involves 3 larger studies, each with specific aims specified in detailed description below. The main study (study 1) compares imaging-based biomarkers-with liver biopsy to evaluate their correlation with histologically confirmed liver disease, including fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis. The main question the overall project aims to answer is: • Can multiple novel imaging-based biomarkers, such as shear wave elastography (SWE), shear wave dispersion (SWD), and attenuation imaging (ATI), be used for detailed, non-invasive liver characterization in children, and if so, how should they be used?

This trial is expected to enroll 138 MAFLD patients in one clinical center, who will be randomly divided into a placebo group and a Ganzhixiao capsule group in a 1:1 ratio. There will be 69 patients in the Ganzhixiao group and 69 patients in the placebo group. Administer Ganzhixiao capsules or mimetics separately, intervene for 16 weeks, and compare the liver fat content、 ALT、 Changes in indicators such as cytokeratin 18 fragment, FIB-4 score, and LSM score. Among them, MRI-PDFF is the main efficacy evaluation index to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ganzhixiao capsules in the treatment of MAFLD.

A 12-month prospective observational cohort study assessing eGDR's utility in diagnosing MAFLD (via FibroScan® CAP ≥248 dB/m) and correlating it with steatosis/fibrosis severity. Secondary aims compare eGDR to FLI/FIB-4 scores and identify optimal diagnostic cut-offs