View clinical trials related to Asthma.
Filter by:Rationale: Plant stanols are well known for their effects on lowering intestinal cholesterol absorption ultimately resulting in 10-15% reduced serum LDL cholesterol concentrations in humans. In addition we have also shown that serum triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations may be lowered in subjects with elevated baseline concentrations. Till now, there is little evidence for plant stanol effects other than improving lipid profiles. However, we have very recently found strong indications in ex vivo models using isolated human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers that plant stanols have the capacity to improve immune function. More into detail, plant stanols shifted the differentiation of naive T-cells into the Th1 direction by activating a specific receptor present on the Antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T-cells. This effect might ultimately be helpful in situations in which the Th1/Th2 cell balance is disturbed into a Th2 over-responsiveness. By activating the Th1 response, the disturbed balance may be restored. This is for example a possibility in the treatment or prevention of asthma, food allergies or HIV in susceptible subjects. In addition, very recently (MEC 08-3-051) in a pilot study we also showed these ex vivo Th1 stimulating effects of plant stanols specifically in PBMCs isolated from asthma patients, as said, a condition characterized by a Th2 dominant immune response. Objective: The major research objective is to prove that the consumption of plant stanol ester enriched yogurts can improve immune function in vivo in asthma patients. Study design: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled human intervention study in which 90 patients with clinically proven asthma will participate: 45 in the intervention group receiving plant stanol yoghurt and 45 in the control group receiving a control yoghurt without added plant stanols. At the end of the run-in period as well as at the end of the experimental period blood will be sampled to isolate PBMCs. These cells are used to evaluate effects on cytokine production, phagocytic capacity of neutrophils, and the activity of NK cells. In addition, the golden standard to show improvements in immune function is by showing an elevated Immunoglobulin response to a vaccine. Therefore, during the experimental period all subjects receive a vaccination against Hepatitis A Virus. After 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks blood will be sampled to monitor specific immunoglobulin titers to HAV. Study population: 90 people with clinically proven asthma, who are not carrier of hepatitis A, B or C and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A in the past. Also, these participants do not have any other immune-related pathology Main study parameters/endpoints: primary: Specific anti-HAV antibody titers after vaccination; secondary: Phagocytic capacity of neutrophils; NK-cell activity; Th1 and Th2 cytokine production profiles by PHA stimulated PMBCs. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: During the study, 9 blood samples (each 20 or 50 mL) will be taken. Total time investment for the subjects will be 160 min. Occasionally, a heamatoma or bruise can occur during venipuncture. After the vaccination a heamatoma or a sore arm can occur. These side effects should disappear within 4-5 days. Other common side effects related to the vaccination are headache, loss of appetite, and fatigue, which usually will disappear within 24 hours. The results of this study will show whether consumption of plant stanol enriched yogurts is able to restore the disturbed th1/Th2 balance in asthma patients. Ultimately, this is expected to reduce asthmatic exacerbations, as the Th2 dominant immune response seems causal to asthmatic symptoms, however these clinical improvements are not verified in this relatively short term intervention study.
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness for small airway inflammation of 4 weeks lysozyme administration in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and/or asthma.
This pilot intervention study will test the feasibility and acceptability and explore the outcomes of a primary care-based shared decision making (SDM) electronic medical record (EMR)-based portal that provides education, elicits and tracks patients/families' treatment concerns and goals, assesses symptoms and asthma control over time, and provides decision support to clinicians and families.
This pilot study's main goal is to develop and preliminarily test a technology-based intervention to improve asthma medication adherence in urban African American emerging adults (ages 18-29). It is hypothesized that youth randomized to MCTI for adherence will show improvements in motivation to adhere to asthma medications and self-reported adherence compared to the comparison condition at 1- and 3- month follow up.
The primary objective of this study is to determine ex vivo the amount of fluticasone deposited onto a filter (delivered dose) interposed between the OptiChamber Diamond Valved Holding Chamber (VHC) mouthpiece and the subject's mouth during coordinated and uncoordinated actuation/inhalation maneuver.
The purpose of the investigation is to confirm the safety of patients receiving Symbicort Turbuhaler as maintenance and reliever therapy ( Symbicort SMART) under the post-marketing actual use.
Despite advances in medications, allergic diseases, including allergic asthma continue to rise in prevalence. For this reason, there is a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of allergic diseases and novel insights into modulating allergic inflammation. The investigators hypothesize that much remains to be learned about the behavior of T effector and T regulatory cells in allergic disease. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that novel mechanisms of allergic tolerance may exist, and elucidation of these mechanisms may provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies to control allergic diseases. The investigators will investigate the capacity for T cell tolerance induction in allergic subjects by a novel type of immune tolerizing dendritic cell (it-DC). The investigators will assess whether in vitro generated it-DCs have the capacity to induce antigen-specific T regulatory cells and suppress allergen-specific T effector cell function in vitro. Standardized Cat Allergen extract and Dust Mite Allergens will be used to generate changes in the airways that occur during exposure to allergen. For this investigation, the route of administration will be topical application of the titrated allergen to a bronchoscopically isolated subsegment of one lobe of one lung. The dose of biologic will be determined from prior skin-prick testing.
In this study, fluticasone furoate (FF) and vilanterol (VI) in different dose combinations (50/25mcg, 100/25mcg and 200/25mcg) will be administered from a single dry powder device to evaluate the PD, PK, safety and tolerability of the combination in healthy Chinese subjects. The information gathered will be used as a support of the clinical development program of the fixed dose combination of FF/VI inhalation powder in Chinese population.
An open label study in 40-60 subjects with diagnosed lung airway disease and in 10-20 normal controls. Each subject will receive PFP as a contrast agent to visualize the airway and alveolar spaces in their lungs using magnetic resonance imaging of inert gas/oxygen mixtures.
This study has two main goals. The first goal is to test whether a mobile phone intervention can increase adherence to daily inhaled steroid medications in African American adolescents prescribed this type of medication by his/her asthma doctor. The second goal is to use a mobile phone intervention to better understand real life patterns of use of quick-relief (beta2-adrenergic agonist) asthma medication in this population.