Active clinical trials for "Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive"

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronicle inflammatory disease with a non reversible diminution of the airway flow. COPD is caused most commonly from tobacco smoking, which triggers an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung. Worldwide, COPD ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in 1990. It is projected to be the fourth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030 due to an increase in smoking rates and demographic changes in many countries. COPD is responsible for 16000 deaths per year in France, 100 000 hospitalizations per year and the health care expenditure of COPD in France is 3.5 billion of Euros. Classical markers of the disease severity, the forced expiratory volume in one second, poorly correlates with dyspnea and prognosis. Therefore, many studies focused on the control of breathing in an attempt to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the progression of the disease. Breathing control is enhanced in patients with COPD due to the progressive failure of respiratory muscles (airflow obstruction, static and dynamic hyperinflation, positive intrinsic end expiratory pressure), the ventilation/ perfusion ratio abnormalities leading to the loss of the gaz exchange efficiency. Inspiratory command depends on the medulla automatic pathway and the voluntary corticospinal command. Indirect method of breathing control estimation suggested in COPD patients an increased excitability of neurons involved in the voluntary diaphragm activation and a reduced cortical reserve. This may represent an increase risk factor for acute respiratory failure. Until now, no study reported the central breathing control with cerebral fMRI in COPD patients.

In response to the European regulatory authorities, GSK is conducting a post-marketing observational study to assess the efficacy of Relenza when used as prophylaxis against influenza. SPECIFIC AIMS Determine the frequency of patients who received Relenza from October 2006 through April 2009, and among them the number who have no concurrent diagnosis of influenza, i.e., those receiving Relenza for prophylaxis, and among these the number who have a family member with a medical visit for influenza within three days preceding the above indentified patient's dispensing of Relenza. This is to determine the feasibility of conducting detailed analysis. If analysis is feasible then tabulate the frequency of influenza-like-illness and respiratory outcomes in users of prophylactic Relenza and their family members and in family members of persons using Relenza for the treatment of influenza (i.e., index cases). If analysis is feasible then estimate the direct effect of prophylactic Relenza on the occurrence of influenza-like-illness and respiratory outcomes, the secondary effect of Relenza treatment of influenza on susceptible family members, and the total effect of Relenza (treatment plus prophylaxis). METHODS Overview of Study Design This is an analysis of the 30-day risk of influenza-like illness and respiratory outcomes in persons for whom some household members (index cases) have had a medical visit associated with a diagnosis of influenza. The exposed individuals to the index case will be categorized into one of four cohorts according to whether the exposed person received prophylactic Relenza or no antiviral treatment and by whether the index family member with a diagnosis of influenza received antiviral treatment. Estimates of the direct effect of Relenza prophylaxis, the indirect effectof preventing disease in susceptible family members, and the total effect of disease reduction when both index cases and susceptible family members are treated will be obtained from different comparisons between cohorts, as outlined below. The research will cover the first three influenza seasons during which Relenza has been indicated for prophylactic use in the United States. These will be from October through April of 2006-2009.

The present study is part of a project titled 'Magnesium in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease'. The hypothesis of the main project is that daily magnesium supplement will benefit patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this part of the project is to study the pharmacokinetics of the following two magnesium supplements: Mablet (dietary supplement) Magnesium Sulfate (solution for infusion)

To investigate safety and effectiveness information on the use of Tiotropium Respimat for long time of period in daily practical clinical circumstances, and to obtain proper drug use information.

The purpose of the study is to find out if AZD2423 can reduce inflammation in the lungs of patients with mild COPD.

The investigators will describe the characteristics, prevalence, incidence, severity co-morbidity and management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the UK. 100 practices will be sampled amounting to a total study population of about 10 000 patients. Information will be collected electronically and, where necessary, by a hand search of patient records.

The purpose of the study is to determine a possible association between the clinical entity of exacerbation, markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are common respiratory diseases in which people experience long-term inflammation of the lungs. Exacerbations, or prolonged worsening of symptoms, of asthma and COPD are often life-threatening and can lead to frequent need for hospitalization. Even with the proper use of bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and other currently available medications, clinical responses among people with COPD and asthma are variable. There remains a significant unmet clinical need for new therapeutic approaches and insights, including the identification of biomarkers to accurately assess the presence of airway infection and intensity of airway inflammation. This study will investigate potential natural biological causes and new biomarkers for increased susceptibility to persistent airway infection in asthma and COPD.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether discussions of life story, forgiveness, and future goals improve quality of life for patients with serious illness.

The purpose of this research is to understand the properties of mucus in persons with COPD, specifically Chronic Bronchitis. We hypothesize that those with Chronic Bronchitis have dehydrated mucus, and thus have a harder time coughing it out of their lungs. This leads to a greater vulnerability for lung infection, inflammation and airflow obstruction. Ultimately, our goal is to understand how mucus dehydration contributes to the progression of COPD/Chronic Bronchitis so that better therapies and interventions can be developed for future generations.