Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

The purpose of this study is to investigate mechanisms which cause acute asthma exacerbations by examining blood and airway secretions during an acute onset (sputum or tracheal aspirates). This pilot study is intended to uncover new mechanisms of asthma exacerbation and to generate hypotheses for future study. By collaborating with Genentech, we (scientists at UCSF) plan to incorporate the latest scientific findings into our work to discover and develop new treatments for asthma.

Diseases of the airways (bronchi) of the lungs include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are leading causes of reduced quality of life, loss of work, hospital admissions and deaths and result in a major economic burden to the patient and society. Worsening (exacerbation) of these conditions is common and is frequently due to viral or bacterial infection, which causes inflammation in the bronchi, i.e. bronchitis. Ways to objectively measure the inflammation are needed to improve diagnosis, cause and severity and to guide treatment. The investigators also need to understand changes in the body's defense (immune) mechanisms that make some patients have more frequent infective bronchitis. At present, sputum cell counts are able to identify different types of bronchitis, their severity and may be able to differentiate viral from bacterial infection. Other measurements in sputum, exhaled breath, blood and urine are also available to measure this inflammation. Measurement of immune cells in the blood gives us an idea about the working capacity of the immune system of the body. The investigators plan to study patients with asthma or COPD at the time of worsening of their condition to identify, To what extent viral or bacterial bronchitis can be diagnosed from tests of inflammation? How clearing of infection relates to clearing of inflammation? What are the changes in the body's defense mechanisms that make a patient more prone to frequent infective bronchitis? How do the measurements in sputum, exhaled breath, blood and urine relate to viral and bacterial bronchitis? What are the differences in the measurements in sputum, exhaled breath, blood and urine in asthma and COPD?

Our hypothesis: Obese subjects with a physician's made diagnosis of asthma have a poorer asthma control than asthmatics with normal weight, less variability of peak expiratory flows (PEF) and bronchodilator response,increased induced sputum and systemic markers of inflammation and an increased prevalence of atopy. Obese subjects have an increased incidence of co-morbidities such as rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux and sleep apnea syndrome. This study aims to determine if, in comparison with asthmatics with a normal weight, paired for age and sex, obese subjects with asthma (all not using anti-inflammatory agents) show: A more uncontrolled asthma, increased health care use and poorer quality of life A reduced response to bronchodilators and diurnal variability of expiratory flows More marked airway inflammation and evidences of a systemic inflammatory response An increased prevalence of co-morbidities which can influence the report of respiratory symptoms or the severity of the disease, such as esophageal reflux symptoms, upper airway disease (rhinitis) and sleep apnea syndrome or other sleep disorder.

To evaluate the level of control of Asthma (GINA : controlled, partially controlled, not controlled) of asthmatic patients consulting their general practitioner for a seasonal increase of respiratory symptoms (high and / or low) whether an inhaled corticotherapy is taken or not.

To investigate how a switch from fixed combination treatment (ICS and LABA) to other treatments influence asthma or COPD treatment failure

Our study will enroll 644 randomly-selected Canadians who have been diagnosed with asthma by a physician within the previous five years. It will be determined what diagnostic tests were initially performed to make this diagnosis. Participants will undergo lung function testing over 6-8 weeks to determine their respiratory status and to confirm they have asthma. Participants may be followed up to one year depending on their test results.

The aim of the study is to compare patients' satisfaction from the use of three different inhalation devices by using the FSI-10 questionnaire

The aim of the study is valuation of quality of life (QL) in children with asthma and analysis of the factors that can have influence on it. The clinical problems included into the aim are to evaluate: the correlation between the QL and asthma control the utility of the Polish Version of PAQLQ(S) by Juniper, especially the understanding of each question and it's answers The results of this study can be very helpful in the future in developing a questionnaires to use in Polish Primary Care, according to which the investigators would be able to see whether the asthma in our patients is being well controlled.

The purpose of this study is to determine the mechanisms underlying the disparities in asthma and to improve asthma care in pregnant women, a targeted group at high risk for asthma-specific maternal and perinatal complications.

Current methods of measuring asthma severity can be problematic when used with children. A measurement called exhaled breath condensates (EBC) may be a more useful way to determine asthma severity in childhood. The purpose of this study is to determine if EBC measurements are useful for determining asthma severity in asthmatic children as compared to currently used laboratory measures. Study hypotheses: 1) A broad panel of EBC measures will distinguish asthmatic children not on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) from both asthmatic children routinely taking ICS and nonasthmatic controls. 2) Standardized equipment and methodologies for EBC collection, processing, storage, shipping, and pH and mediator measurements can be developed that will eliminate significant contamination from oropharyngeal saliva and allow for shipping and processing at a central site.