View clinical trials related to Lung Diseases.
Filter by:Human and animal studies have shown that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) decrease airway blood flow . This effect is immediate (within 30 minutes), transient (lasting 90 minutes), and in animal studies independent of gene expression. In COPD patients, decrease in bronchial blood flow may also decrease mucosal edema, airway resistance and improve small airway function. If such an effect exists, then we should be able to measure improvements in airway conductance and reduce lung hyperinflation, which would have salutary effects on dyspnea and exercise endurance. To our knowledge, no study has examined the immediate effect of ICS on small airway function in COPD. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of nebulized Pulmicort on small airway function (spirometry, plethysmographic lung volumes, airways resistance, closing volume, partial flow-volume loop analysis) and exercise endurance in patients with moderate to severe COPD. HYPOTHESIS 1. Nebulized ICS will immediately improve airway function compared with placebo (nebulized saline). 2. Enhanced lung emptying and reduced operating lung volumes during rest and exercise following ICS therapy will translate acutely into clinically important reductions in exertional dyspnea and improvements in exercise endurance.
In people with mild COPD, the ability to exhale air from the lungs is partly limited because of narrowing and collapse of the airways. This results in the trapping of air within the lungs and over-distention of the lungs and chest (lung hyperinflation). Breathing at high lung volumes (hyperinflation) is an important cause of breathing discomfort (dyspnea) in people with COPD. Bronchodilators help to relax muscles in the airways or breathing tubes. Bronchodilators are often prescribed if a cough occurs with airway narrowing as this medication can reduce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Bronchodilators can be taken orally, through injection or through inhalation and begin to act almost immediately but with the effect only lasting 4-6 hours. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of inhaled bronchodilators on breathing discomfort and exercise endurance in patients with mild COPD.
Patients living with advanced chronic diseases (ACD), such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) present substantial care and economic challenges for the health care system due to frequent emergency room visits and acute care hospitalizations. Morbidity and mortality is high in these complex populations, and patient quality of life is often compromised. Care of patients with ACD occurs across health care sectors, by providers in the acute, primary and community settings. Despite recent efforts to enhance the care of patients with ACD, through multidisciplinary disease management programs, variations and gaps exist along the continuum of care. The available evidence suggests that there are opportunities to optimize the primary care of patients with ACD. We are proposing to build upon the current evidence and guidelines for disease management programs, our existing specialized resources, our existing primary care practices, and develop and test a model of care that is primary care based, sensitive to the unique demands and characteristics of different primary practices. Our goal is to design linkages and care strategies of relevance and importance to the primary care providers who care for patients with advanced COPD and CHF. This demonstration project is a randomized controlled clinical trial of the RoadMAP program (intervention) delivered by a Primary Care Nurse Specialist (PCNS) compared to usual care (control group). The primary outcomes will be degree of adherence to clinical practice guidelines. Secondary outcomes will be patient satisfaction, quality of life, use of community-based services, number of emergency room visits, and number of hospitalizations.
This study will evaluate the link between blood group antigens and asthma exacerbations.
To evaluate whether the innovative multimethod assessment process/participatory quality improvement (MAP/PQI) intervention increases adherence to multiple cardiorespiratory guidelines in primary care practice.
The purpose of this study is to improve anti-inflammatory medication adherence and asthma outcomes by using reports of peak flow monitoring to prompt communication between patients and their doctors.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in such patients. Although bacterial of mortality in such patients. Although bacterial and or viral infections are considered as the major precipitating factor, the antibiotic strategy in this setting is unclear. The absence of overt infection remains controversial, and has not been adequately studied in patients admitted to the ICU. To assess the benefit ( or lack thereof ) of routine early systemic antibiotic therapy in patients with COLD admitted to the ICU. The primary objective of the essay is to evaluate the effectiveness of the precocious antibiotic therapy on the length of the respiratory symptoms with the admitted patients in polyvalent medical intensive care of chronic obstructive lung disease ( COLD )
Does an oral selenium supplement increase blood levels of antioxidants in patients with established, smoking-related lung disease? Members of our study group recently discovered that elevated levels of the anti-oxidant GPx-1 may be protective against heart disease. We are studying whether selenium supplementation will improve GPx-1 levels.
The aim of this family practice based study is to determine the long-term treatment effects of two drugs that are presumed to modify the course and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), oral N-acetylcysteine and inhaled corticosteroids.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) early in the treatment of adults hospitalized for acute asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).