Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

This study will investigate the importance of exhaled nitric oxide measurements in subjects with asthma age 65 and older. This group of patients has been ignored in most previous asthma studies.

The NAEPP (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program) guidelines recommend that spirometry be performed on patients with asthma because they serve as an objective measure of airway obstruction. Unfortunately, most children under 5 years of age are unable to perform a forced expiratory maneuver making conventional spirometry unavailable in this age group in most venues. Furthermore, other population groups such as retarded people, elderly or physically handicapped share the same difficulty. Karmel Sonix Ltd has developed the Personal WheezoMeter a hand-held pulmonary sounds analyzer that utilizes contact sensors to acquire, amplify, filter, record and quantify the presence of wheezing. This usability study was designed to test independent home use and device interface effectiveness of the Personal WheezoMeter in order to validate its safe and effective use by intended users.

This study will compare the amount of bronchial tube relaxation from the Formoterol medicine contained in the Symbicort pressure Metered Dose Inhaler(pMDI)(a combination of Budesonide, a steroid, and Formoterol, a drug which relaxes the bronchial smooth muscle. The comparison will be using the pMDI in the usual fashion to the pMDIs and a spacer which allows more time for breathing in the medication. Breathing tests will be measured over a 12 hour period for the comparison.

The hypothesis to be tested is that acutely ill asthmatics who do not resolve their attacks following standard doses of albuterol and require admission to hospital have single nucleotide polymorphisms of their B2 adrenergic receptors that lower B2 agonist responsivity.

The change of airway responsiveness and alveolar macrophage (AM) immunity occurs during the pathogenesis of asthma. Macrophage-associated airway protection in patients with asthma is affected positively or negatively by propofol general anesthesia. The investigators hypothesized that the effects of propofol on asthmatic AMs and corresponding airway reactivity in vivo is different from the in vitro research. Through in vivo airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) observation and clinical investigation of AM immune functions from asthma patients undergoing propofol general anesthesia to clarify the precise effects of propofol on AM immunity, and to provide theoretical basis for the clinical administration of propofol in asthmatic patients. This would optimize the practice of clinical anesthesia, especially for those with the tendency of AHR.

The purpose of the study is to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in asthma. We determine the effect of promoter polymorphisms in the gene for the NO producing enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), on exhaled NO in healthy African Americans and Caucasians. We compare exhaled NO levels between African Americans and Caucasians. Information on race or ethnicity, serum samples, blood pressure, exhaled breath condensate and health questionnaires will be collected.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess whether tailored patient education for patients on Symbicort® Turbuhaler® therapy improves patient satisfaction, adherence and Quality of Life.

This open label, non-interventional study is to show the efficacy of Pulmicort®Respules® in cough variant asthma in patient aged 5-year old or younger in outpatient department

The WIM-PC™ device, indicated for acoustic pulmonary function measurement that quantifies the presence of wheezing. This study was designed in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using the WIM-PC™ device for wheeze detection during dynamic bronchial situations in infants that were hospitalized as a result of asthmatic attack.

A reduced response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) has been reported in smoking compared to non-smoking asthmatic patients. However, the comparative response to other currently prescribed medications such as combination therapy of long-acting beta agonists and ICS remain to be further evaluated. No significant differences were found between our group of subjects in regard to changes in asthma control pulmonary function and airway inflammation following budesonide or the association of budesonide with formoterol for a period of 2 months. This should be further explored in larger groups of subjects.