Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

Glucocorticosteroids recently have been shown to have non-genomic actions that are plasma membrane-mediated and do not require gene transcription and translation. One of these non-genomic effects is the inhibition of adrenergic agonist transport into airway vascular smooth muscle cells with an increase of adrenergic agonist concentrations at adrenergic receptor sites and enhance the physiological effects of endogenous adrenergic agonists (e.g. locally released norepinephrine from noradrenergic neurons) or exogenous adrenergic agonists (e.g. inhaled beta-adrenergic agonists).

The proposed randomized controlled trial will evaluate an innovative intervention in 420 African American women with asthma. It will be the first to use a highly tailored, telephone counseling approach to address both specific cultural factors affecting asthma and the influence of female sex and gender on control.

We are studying Xolair (omalizumab) to see it's effect on allergic blood cells. The blood tests will be done in a test tube to see if they react differently before and after treatment. The blood cells will be mixed with to whatever the person is allergic.

Cough is a common, disruptive and at times disabling symptom which often prompts patients to seek medical attention. Determining the cause(s) of chronic cough can be challenging, and costly. Asthma and other airway disorders are among the most common causes of chronic cough; and cough can be the sole symptom of asthma. Little is known about why some patients with asthma primarily cough and do not develop the other symptoms of asthma such as shortness of breath or wheeze. Improved understanding of the reasons for these different manifestations may lead to new and more effective treatment strategies. We have notices differences in pressure measurements inside the chest in patients who mostly cough during induced bronchoconstriction, which might be part of the explanation for varying symptoms. This study will compare lung mechanical responses during methacholine and mannitol-induced induced airway narrowing between typical asthma, cough variant asthma (CVA) and an airway inflammatory disorder that is not asthma.The purpose of this research is to explore the pathophysiology and sensory-mechanics of cough in individuals with asthma, CVA and methacholine-induced cough but normal airway sensitivity using mannitol and high-dose methacholine bronchoprovocation testing.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and cost-effectivity of pharmaceutical care for asthma patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a written expert advice for GPs on additional diagnostic, treatment, and referral of patients based on half-yearly monitoring routines for patients with COPD or ashtma with a persistent obstruction in primary care based on a multicentre randomised nested clinical trial

A single center pilot study to determine the protective effects of RhuMAB-E25 on airway physiology and biology in allergic asthmatics that undergo bronchoprovocation with methacholine. The primary study objective determines the protective impact of RhuMAB-E25 on airway inflammation as reflected in exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels in allergic asthmatics. The secondary objective determines the protective effect of rhuMAB E25 against airway bronchoconstriction as reflected in the Provocative Concentration of methacholine to cause a 20% fall in FEV1(PC20) with methacholine challenge testing.

This study will address the key question of developing shared understanding and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes between people with asthma and healthcare professionals by applying theoretical knowledge of self regulation and communication skills learning and practice to asthma consultations. This study will facilitate integration of best practice into normal care using the BTS/SIGN asthma guidelines as the basis for structured care. This intervention has been show to be effective in the US. We aim to show that it can be effective in the UK setting in a cluster randomised control trial. We aim to modify and evaluate the intervention in such a way that it can be easily offered across UK primary care settings, with the possibility of significant benefits for patients. The intervention is based on the principle of empowering patients to manage their condition themselves, is consistent with the aims of Asthma UK, and, for this reason, we believe that Asthma UK may wish to be associated with this project.

This 3-year, multi-site study focuses on the translation of cost-effective methods to bring a chronic care model to the care of poor, minority, inner-city children with asthma, at risk of the worst outcomes for the leading chronic disease of children. The specific aims are to: Develop a computer support system to deliver peer-driven, patient-linked Guideline prompts at the point of care using affordable information technology; Evaluate the effect of the Guideline prompt system on the process and outcomes (symptom control, health-related-quality-of-life, ED and hospitalizations) of asthma care; and Evaluate the added effect on outcomes of family-focused, supportive education delivered by a community health worker. The key product of the computer support system is a guideline prompt that serves as the mechanism for integrating patient specific data with standards of care. 548 children, ages 5-18, with physician diagnosed asthma, enrolled in one Medicaid Managed Care Organization in CT, and receiving care at one of four Federally Qualified Community Health Centers will be recruited. All sites will have access to the computer support system and the to-be-developed, Guideline-Driven Clinical Standards of Asthma Care. In Phase I (12 months), the effect of prompts delivered at the point of care on patient outcomes will be compared to the effect of no-prompt care. In Phase II (6 months), the effect of family-focused, supportive education will be assessed in combination with prompted care compared to no-prompt care and compared to no education. All patients will receive standard screening and outreach to keep appointments. Data will be obtained from medical records, medical and pharmacy claims data as well as patient and parent interviews at baseline and quarterly for 18 months.

Inhaled corticosteroids taken on a daily basis have been proven to be the most effective treatment for children with persistent asthma. However, many pediatricians still do not prescribe daily corticosteroids to their asthmatic patients; this can lead to poor health outcomes among asthmatic children. This study will evaluate an interactive medical education program that focuses on improving pediatricians' asthma management skills and on encouraging increased corticosteroid use among their patients with asthma.