Clinical trials

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of upadacitinib versus infliximab as second-line treatments for acute severe ulcerative colitis, addressing the following key questions: (1) Can upadacitinib as a second-line therapy effectively induce remission in acute severe ulcerative colitis with efficacy non-inferior to infliximab? (2) What adverse reactions may occur with upadacitinib in the treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis? Researchers will also compare the efficacy of upadacitinib with that of corticosteroids to assess its therapeutic effect. Participants will be assigned to either the upadacitinib group (receiving upadacitinib extended-release tablets 45 mg once daily for 8 weeks, followed by 30 mg once daily) or the infliximab group (receiving an initial dose of 5 mg/kg, with additional doses at week 2, week 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter at the same dose). The treatment duration is 3 months, with outpatient visits for examinations and tests every two weeks. Patients will record their bowel movements and symptoms such as abdominal pain, and undergo colonoscopy, ultrasound examinations, and blood tests at specified time points.

Gastric cancer remains a major global health burden, ranking fifth in incidence worldwide and disproportionately affecting Asia, with China accounting for a significant share of cases and deaths. Early detection and minimally invasive treatment are critical to improving outcomes. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the preferred curative approach for early gastric cancer, enabling precise, en bloc tumor resection while preserving gastric function. However, ESD is technically complex, time-consuming, and associated with risks such as intraoperative and delayed bleeding and perforation. These complications limit its widespread adoption, particularly outside East Asia. Traditional ESD relies on white light imaging (WLI), which offers limited visualization of submucosal vessels and bleeding sources. Red Dichromatic Imaging (RDI) is an emerging image-enhanced endoscopy technology that uses specific narrow-band wavelengths to enhance the contrast of deep blood vessels and active bleeding sites by exploiting hemoglobin's optical absorption characteristics. Preliminary studies indicate that RDI improves bleeding point identification, facilitates hemostasis, and reduces endoscopists' procedural stress. However, prior research applied RDI only intermittently during bleeding events, leaving its potential benefits throughout the entire ESD procedure unexplored. The "full-time RDI" concept proposes continuous use of RDI during all ESD stages-including submucosal injection, mucosal incision, dissection, and wound management-to enhance visualization of high-risk vessels, improve layer differentiation, and potentially reduce adverse events and operation time. Despite promising retrospective data, robust prospective evidence from large randomized controlled trials is lacking. This multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate whether full-course RDI reduces major intraoperative and delayed complications and decreases unexpectedly prolonged operation times compared to conventional WLI-guided ESD in early gastric cancer. Secondary endpoints include procedural efficiency, safety across lesion locations, and operator stress. By rigorously assessing full-time RDI's clinical value, this study addresses an urgent unmet need to improve ESD safety and efficiency, potentially broadening its application and enhancing patient outcomes. The innovation lies in integrating continuous advanced imaging throughout ESD, representing a significant advancement in endoscopic oncology and minimally invasive gastric cancer treatment.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) works to treat refractory constipation in adults. It will also learn about the safety and tolerability of taVNS. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does taVNS improve constipation symptoms, as measured by the change in complete spontaneous bowel movements per week (ΔCSBMs/week) from baseline to post-treatment? What medical problems or side effects do participants have when receiving taVNS? Does taVNS reduce the need for rescue laxatives? Researchers will compare active taVNS to sham taVNS to see if taVNS works to treat refractory constipation. Participants will: Be randomly assigned (double-blind) to receive active taVNS or sham taVNS for 20 days Receive stimulation twice daily, 30 minutes per session, with a 12-hour interval between sessions Receive stimulation at 30 Hz with 200 μs pulse width, delivered to the left cymba conchae Keep a daily diary of bowel habits and symptoms, including CSBMs, and rescue laxative use (bowel movements occurring within 24 hours after rescue laxative use will not be counted as CSBMs)

The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in adults with refractory functional constipation comorbid with somatic symptom disorder. This population is characterized by persistent bowel dysfunction despite conventional treatments, frequent reliance on laxatives, and evidence of impaired brain-gut regulation contributing to chronic symptoms. The study focuses on three primary domains: Efficacy - Bowel Function: • Assessment of whether a 4-week course of tACS improves bowel activity, measured by changes in Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBM) and overall bowel-movement frequency over the treatment and follow-up period. Efficacy - Symptom and Quality of Life Burden: • Evaluation of the effect of tACS on constipation-related severity and patient-reported outcomes, including the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL). Safety and Tolerability: • Documentation of adverse events associated with tACS, with particular attention to incidence, intensity, and overall patient tolerability compared with sham stimulation.

An Open Label Long-Term Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Fenofibrate in Combination with Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Subjects with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

An Open Label Long-Term Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Fenofibrate in Combination with Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Subjects with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

The main objectives of the study were to assess the effects of fenofibrate on serum alkaline phosphatase, as a composite endpoint and on safety in participants with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

Current treatment guidelines recommend ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as the first-line treatment for new-diagnosed primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. However, up to 40% patients are insensitive to UDCA monotherapy, and evaluation of UDCA response at 12 months may result in long period of ineffective treatment. We aimed to develop a new criterion to reliably identify non-response patients much earlier. Recently, our team designed and validated a new early criterion for distinguishing high-risk PBC patients in a Chinese population for the first time. Our data indicated that PBC patients with ALP ≤ 2.5 × ULN, AST ≤ 2 × ULN, and TBIL ≤ 1 × ULN (Xi'an criterion) after 1 month UDCA treatment were likely to have better prognosis. It can be readily applied in the rapid identification of PBC patients who require additional therapeutic approaches. However, whether it is reasonable to apply it to the response definition of clinical research, and the guidance of PBC management and choice of second-line treatment, further research is needed.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus coagulans in improving anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria. Methods: This trial plans to enroll 180 patients (90 per group). The study will employ a double-blind design. For patients diagnosed with FD according to the Rome IV criteria, in addition to conventional treatment (treated with Mosapride Citrate Tablets (Guangdong Anno Guocai) for Postmeal Discomfort Syndrome (PDS) and Esomeprazole Enteric Coated Tablets (Shijiazhuang Longze Pharmaceutical Guocai) for Upper Abdominal Pain Syndrome (EPS)), the experimental group was treated with Bacillus coagulans, while the control group received a placebo with the same appearance and odor. The treatment intervention will last for 4 weeks. The main indicator of this experiment is the improvement of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS score) after 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary indicators are the improvement rate of the overall treatment effectiveness evaluation questionnaire (OTE questionnaire), the improvement of the global overall symptom score (GOS score), the improvement of the simplified Nipin scale (SF-NDI), and the improvement of the Pittsburgh Sleep Index (PSQI) after 4 weeks of treatment. Upon completion of the trial, the patients' conditions will be re-evaluated, and treatment plans will be adjusted accordingly.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Clostridium butyricum in improving anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria. Methods: This trial plans to enroll 180 patients (90 per group). The study will employ a double-blind design. For patients diagnosed with FD according to the Rome IV criteria, in addition to conventional treatment (treated with Mosapride Citrate Tablets (Guangdong Anno Guocai) for Postmeal Discomfort Syndrome (PDS) and Esomeprazole Enteric Coated Tablets (Shijiazhuang Longze Pharmaceutical Guocai) for Upper Abdominal Pain Syndrome (EPS)), the experimental group was treated with Clostridium butyricum, while the control group received a placebo with the same appearance and odor. The treatment intervention will last for 4 weeks. The main indicator of this experiment is the improvement of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS score) after 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary indicators are the improvement rate of the overall treatment effectiveness evaluation questionnaire (OTE questionnaire), the improvement of the global overall symptom score (GOS score), the improvement of the simplified Nipin scale (SF-NDI), and the improvement of the Pittsburgh Sleep Index (PSQI) after 4 weeks of treatment. Upon completion of the trial, the patients' conditions will be re-evaluated, and treatment plans will be adjusted accordingly.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the drug Fenofibrate works to treat adults with a liver disease called Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) who have not received previous treatment. It will also learn about the safety of Fenofibrate. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is Fenofibrate better at helping the liver return to normal function (measured by a blood test called ALP) than the standard medication, Ursodeoxycholic What kind of medical problems do participants have when taking Fenofibrate compared to those taking UDCA? Researchers will compare Fenofibrate to the active drug UDCA (the current standard treatment) to see which one works better.\*\* Participants will: Be randomly assigned to take either Fenofibrate plus a UDCA placebo, or UDCA plus a Fenofibrate placebo, every day for 12 months. (Neither they nor their doctor will know which group they are in.) Visit the clinic 5 times over the year (at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months) for check-ups, blood tests, and questionnaires. Undergo a special scan (like FibroScan) to measure liver stiffness at some visits. Be encouraged to have a liver biopsy at the start and end of the study to provide detailed information about liver health (this is optional).

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of Berberine in treating gastric intestinal metaplasia in Helicobacter pylori-negative adults. It will also learn about the safety of Berberine. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Berberine promote the regression of IM in individuals without Helicobacter pylori infection? What medical problems do participants experience when taking Berberine? Researchers will compare Berberine to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if uBerberine is effective in treating gastric intestinal metaplasia. Participants will: TakeBerberine or a placebo every day for 6 months. Visit the clinic once every 4 weeks for checkups and tests.

An Open Label Long-Term Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Fenofibrate in Subjects with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

The goal of this observational study is to identify the characteristics of brain functional connectivity in refractory constipation and fluoxetine-sensitive patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Investigating the alterations in brain functional connectivity in patients with refractory constipation and fluoxetine-sensitive patients * Assessing the predictive value of brain functional connectivity regarding the efficacy of fluoxetine and standard protocol treatments for constipation. Participants will receive: * Standard physiological and psychological assessments of constipation * BOLD-fMRI tests * Standard protocol and fluoxetine treatment If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare: Refractory group/Fluoxetine sensitive group to see the specific brain alterations.

The purpose of this prospective, multicenter, real-world study is to compare the efficacy differences and influencing factors of different first-line biologics in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. The question that this study aims to answer is: When treating patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, should IFX or VDZ be prioritized as the first-line choice for biologics?, Which biological agent has better therapeutic effect?. Researchers will observe and follow up with patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis treated with different biologics on the front line, evaluate their condition changes, eliminate relevant interfering factors, and draw the final conclusion.

An Open Label Long-Term Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Fenofibrate in Subjects with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device works to identify patients with high risk adenomas during colonoscopy to guide proper follow-up strategy. It will also learn about the safety of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device improve the identification of patients with high risk adenomas? What adverse events do participants experience during colonoscopy? Researchers will compare 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device to traditional 2-dimensional (2D) imaging device to see if 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device works to improve high risk adenoma identification. Participants will: Undertake colonoscopy examination using 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device or 2-dimensional (2D) imaging device. Be followed-up to 30 days to record potential colonoscopy-relevant adverse events.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is now considered the standard treatment for early gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, there is still a possibility of developing local recurrence or metachronous neoplasia after ESD. Regular endoscopic surveillance after ESD can identify and remove local recurrences and metachronous lesions early, improving patient prognosis. However, the patient compliance with post-ESD endoscopic surveillance is currently unclear, and many patients fail to adhere to the scheduled follow-up. A prospective, randomized controlled, superiority trial was designed to evaluate whether completing a questionnaire and receiving feedback on compliance-related education can improve patient compliance with post-ESD endoscopic surveillance, in comparison to those who did not complete the compliance-related education questionnaire. Additionally, the investigators intend to investigate the factors that influence patient compliance. This study will consist of two parts. Part 1 will assess whether the completion of questionnaire and feedback on compliance-related education can improve short-term patient compliance with post-ESD endoscopic surveillance, and investigate factors influencing short-term patient compliance. Part 2 will assess whether the completion of questionnaire and feedback on compliance-related education can improve long-term patient compliance with post-ESD endoscopic surveillance, and investigate factors influencing patient compliance.

The incidence of esophagogastric junction has been increasing in recent years, and surgery is an important method for the treatment of adenoma at the esophagogastric junction. Currently, there is a great controversy about the surgical method of Siewert II, mainly choosing the right chest or the left chest for thoracic surgery. Therefore, it is of great significance to further study the surgical methods of Siewert II esophagogastric junction adenoma. Objective: To compare the safety, feasibility, and clinical efficacy of endoscopic Ivor-Lewis versus laparoscopic extended abdominal gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱadenocarcinoma at the resectable esophagogastric junction.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori in patients aged 18-70 years with first infection. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Main indicators: the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori for eradication. * Secondary indicators: symptomatic relief rate at 2 weeks after treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment; compliance and adverse reactions during treatment.