Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

There is suggestive evidence for a role of dietary in the etiology of asthma and chronic bronchitis. However, there are few prospective data. We propose to expand our collaboration with the Singapore Chinese Health Study to examine dietary, environmental, and genetic factors, along with their interactions, in relation to the risk of developing asthma and chronic bronchitis. The Singapore Chinese Health Study is a cohort of 63,257 men and women of Chinese ethnicity in Singapore who were aged 45-74 years at enrollment from 1993 to 1998. Telephone follow-up of the cohort to update and outcome information began in 1999 and is ongoing. We expect to identify 538 cases of incident asthma and 672 cases of incident chronic bronchitis when the current follow-up questionnaire cycle is complete in 2004. In this proposal, we would validate self-reports of incident asthma, obtain follow-up data from the entire cohort to perform analyses of dietary and smoking in relation to these outcomes, and analyze genetic material on cases of incident asthma and chronic bronchitis and controls from the cohort. In this proposal we will examine the following hypotheses: Higher intake of fruits and/or antioxidant micronutrients decreases the risk of developing asthma and chronic bronchitis. a. Effects if fruit and/or antioxidant micronutrients may differ by smoking history. Common polymorphisms in genes involved in the response to oxidative stress influence the risk of asthma and chronic Bronchitis. We initially propose to examine polymorphisms in three genes--glutathione S-tranferase M1, glutahione S-transferase P1, and matrix metalloproteinase-1. However, we plan to examine additional relevant polymorphisms in the future, especially taking advantage of high throughput screens of candidate genes for asthma and chronic bronchitis. It is possible that by 2004 when the sample set will be available that more compelling candidates and high throughput screens may be available to us at a low cost. Thus we will re-evaluate our choice when the samples are available. Polymorphisms in these and other genes interact with fruit/antioxidant intake and/or smoking to influence the risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis.

To study pre- and post-natal influences on the development of childhood asthma-related immune responses.

Disease management is used to manage patients who have asthma and who are enrolled in a managed care health plan. To understand the effect of disease management on asthma severity and utilization, the investigators at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, will review data from a Medicaid Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to determine the number of health plan members with different asthma severities and what their outcomes are. This will help us to improve the service provided to these patients. The investigators wish to publish this so that other health plans can benefit from the investigators experience.

The primary objective of this non-interventional study is to evaluate efficacy of Symbicort® SMART treatment in adult patients with moderate to severe asthma using ACQ scores during 6 months period

This study is an economic evaluation of Symbicort (Budesonide/formoterol) as maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) versus its competitive alternatives. The aims of this study are: To estimate the relative effectiveness of each one of the alternatives in the management of patients with moderate to severe asthma through a systematic review for the following outcomes: Cumulative incidence of asthma severe exacerbations symptoms Safety of each alternative (frequency of adverse events and complications due to the medications) To estimate the direct medical costs of treating with each pharmacologic alternative: Symbicort as SMART versus increased use of inhaled corticosteroids or Adding long-acting inhaled beta 2 agonist plus inhaled corticosteroids. To create a decision analysis model (decision tree) that allows comparisons between the alternatives on expected values and costs. To calculate the average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. To carry out a sensitivity analysis to test de robustness of the cost-effectiveness results allowing for reasonable changes in expected values and costs.

It is generally accepted that symptoms and lung function are not sufficient ways to monitor asthma control. Therefore, several objective tests have been developed to help asthma control monitoring, each having their own shortcomings. We have developed a new test, the hypertonic saline cough challenge. In our previous publication this test has proven useful in diagnosing asthma. The present study is planned to investigate whether hypertonic saline cough challenge could be used to monitor asthma control. A group of steroid-naive asthmatics will be recruited. A treatment with inhaled budesonide is started. Asthma control is monitored at regular intervals utilising a validated questionnaire. At the same time points, hypertonic saline cough challenges will be performed. We will analyse whether changes in the responsiveness to the cough challenge reflects the changes in asthma control

We are using anti-IgE to investigate the role of pulmonary mast cells in asthma.

To develop and implement asthma-controlling educational strategies for inner city and high risk populations.

In the U.S., morbidity associated with human rhinovirus (RV) infection represents a major health problem. In asthmatics, up to 80% of asthma exacerbations are associated with upper respiratory infections. Despite evidence that environmental oxidant pollutants, such as ozone, may increase the severity of viral disease, the mechanisms underlying such an effect have not been identified. This study will test the hypothesis that exposure of allergic asthmatic subjects to ambient levels of ozone directly enhances viral disease by increasing infectivity and intensifying virus-induced inflammation.

To investigate the relationship of childhood lifestyle and physical characteristics to prevalent asthma.