Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

Comparison of the responsiveness of two different asthma-specific QOL measures (AQLQ and cAQOL) in Korean patients with persistent asthma

The purpose of this study is to verify and validate the intrinsic diagnostic value in terms of sensitivity and specificity of proteomic profiles determined during a pre-study for discriminating between allergy related asthma and allergy related rhinitis.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects nearly 13% of adults in the U.S., causing substantial impairment that is reflected in the tens of millions of missed days of work, and doctors' and emergency room visits it leads to annually. Those who have asthma are twice as likely to develop depression and anxiety, which are associated with more frequent and severe asthma symptoms, especially in those under chronic stress. The project proposed here seeks to understand the role of the brain in these associations and to evaluate the neural mechanisms through which a safe, low-cost intervention, that influences the function of body via the mind, may diminish the expression of asthma symptoms.

Collection of quantitative data to demonstrate the accuracy (bias) and precision (repeatability) of the Apieron INSIGHT(tm) eNO Breath System as compared to the FDA cleared NIOX eNO Breath System when testing is performed by asthma patients.

Inhaled corticosteroids are widely used as the primary therapy for asthma, which affects approximately 20 million people in the United States. While many patients respond to corticosteroid therapy, as many as 25-30% of patients with severe asthma have asthma that is difficult to treat or steroid insensitive. Predictive biomarkers for the rapid identification of patients with asthma who will achieve adequate control of their symptoms with inhaled corticosteroids has the potential to significantly improve asthma management. This proposal is based on the hypothesis that alterations in gene expression in epithelial cells of the buccal mucosa can be used as a reliable biomarker to predict corticosteroid response in patients with asthma. The goals of this proposal will determine if gene expression in epithelial cells of the buccal mucosa from patients with asthma is in concordance with gene expression profiles that have been identified through more invasive sampling techniques of the airway epithelium of asthma patients. The Specific Aims of this proposal are to 1) investigate the level of variability in gene expression of a subset of inflammatory markers in buccal epithelium from adult patients with asthma. Aim 1 will be carried out by collecting buccal samples from three cohorts of subjects (18-55 years of age) from the Pulmonology and Allergy Clinics at Truman Medical Center during regularly scheduled outpatient visits as follows: 1) healthy control adult subjects (n=10), 2) patients with asthma treated only with a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA, n=10), and 3) patients with asthma treated with low-dose ICS (n=10). Relative gene expression of inflammatory markers will be determined using quantitative RT (reverse transcription)-PCR and variability in gene expression will be determined within and between the three cohorts. Data from the pilot studies described in this proposal will aid in the determination of appropriate study population sizes for future investigations with the long-term objective to use changes in gene expression (in buccal epithelial cells) as a dynamic biomarker for determining corticosteroid response in patients with asthma.

Distinct patterns of loss in pulmonary function were identified in children with mild to moderate asthma participating in a 10-year observation period during the NHLBI Childhood Asthma Management Program. This loss in pulmonary function is likely related to ongoing inflammation unresponsive to current therapy. This study will measure indicators of airway inflammation which are associated with structural and physiologic changes in the lung and provide insight into mechanisms of asthma progression in adolescence and early adulthood.

Descriptive pharmacoepidemiological study on the use of Symbicort Turbuhaler in the treatment of asthma in France and impact of a new therapeutic strategy on the compliance and control of asthma

To investigate the change in patient's asthma symptom control using ACQ scores after 4 to 6 weeks of Symbicort Turbuhaler (budesonide/ formoterol) in SMART approach.

Screen for moderate to severe asthma patients with suboptimal asthma control (as defined by GINA-Guidelines). Document current asthma control status. Re-evaluate asthma therapy and document new therapy if applicable.

In the United States there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people who are obese and in the number of people who have asthma. Both are considered serious public health concerns. Several studies have shown that becoming obese or overweight can increase the risk of developing asthma or can make asthma symptoms more severe and difficult to control. How obesity affects asthma is not fully understood. This research study will examine whether obesity affects the amount of inflammation that is present in the lungs of people with asthma, and will also examine whether obesity leads to narrow and stiff airways. Participation in this study involves 2 visits in order to complete questionnaires, various pulmonary function tests, as well as the collection of blood, urine, and exhaled breath condensate specimens. This research study includes optional genetic and bronchoscopy substudies.