Active clinical trials for "Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive"

In this study the investigators aim to investigate the extent to which in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease narrowing of the vocal cords causes a positive pressure within the airways thus improving airflow and lung function. This information will be captured in the upright and lying down positions and an estimate of the magnitude of the effect will be formed by offsetting the pressure by asking the patients to breathe using a commercially available device used to treat sleep apnoea called a CPAP machine. This is an observational study in which the observation of laryngeal aperture, and mouth and oesophageal pressure at differing levels of applied CPAP will be recorded for analysis in patients with COPD and in normal subjects without COPD. All will have the same measurements, observations, and interventions to allow us to observe and measure pressure, laryngeal aperture, and airflow .

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is effective in increasing level of (a) physical activity (PA) and (b) self-efficacy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PR is an evidence-based multidisciplinary approach consisting primarily of a supervised exercise program with educational components. It has demonstrated high efficacy in improving dyspnoea, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Despite these improvements, there is no conclusive evidence that these benefits translate to an increase in PA in patient's day-to-day life. This is of concern as low PA is a predictor of all cause mortality, correlated with lower HRQoL, increased level of dyspnoea and higher number of hospital admissions in this group of patients. Self-efficacy is found to be an instigating force in forming intention to exercise and in maintaining practice for an extended time. Self-efficacy may be the key in determining whether a patient translates the improvement in exercise tolerance to actually being more physically active. Based on current knowledge, there is insufficient evidence that self-efficacy increases after pulmonary rehabilitation and no correlation has been made between level of self-efficacy and level of PA in these group of patients. Hence this study aims to find out whether the existing PR program increases level of PA and self-efficacy. Correlation between level of PA and self-efficacy will be made.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction with chronic airway inflammation and emphysematous changes in the lung parenchyma, thus leading to air-trapping, as well as extional dyspnea. The investigators have previously observed that NPV used as an adjuvant to pulmonary rehabilitation improves lung function, exercise capacity, and reduces exacerbations. The investigators now sought to determine whether long-term maintenance NPV improves long-term clinical outcomes and reduces mortality in COPD.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the overall impact of Telehomecare on COPD and HF patients and system level outcomes using a comparison group of patients that did not participate in the program (for up to 18 months). This evaluation study will explore costs, participants' experiences, perceptions, and patterns of use related to Telehomecare. The study will include eight Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) across Ontario, Canada.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. It is changed to acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease when respiratory symptoms worsen, beyond normal day-to-day variations, severely enough that changes in medication are required. Inflammation is a core feature of acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since it gives insight into the pathological changes causing an exacerbation. Eosinophils may play a significant role in airway inflammation in some patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Previous studies have indicated that eosinophilic airway inflammation is also associated with the development of severe acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eosinophilic Cationic Protein has various biological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and neurotoxic functions, and it contributes to the regulation of fibroblast activity. Eosinophilic Cationic Protein also induces airway mucus secretion and interacts with the coagulation and complement systems. Eosinophilic Cationic Protein has been developed as a marker for eosinophilic disease and quantified in biological fluids including serum, bronchoalveolar lavage and nasal secretions. It is found in diseases such as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis but also occasionally in other diseases. Only activated eosinophil granulocytes release the granule content and therefore the determination of Eosinophilic Cationic Protein concentration is a considerably more specific indicator of eosinophil inflammation than eosinophil granulocyte count in peripheral blood as serum Eosinophilic Cationic Protein levels increase during acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This is a pilot non pharmacological observational study. Aim of the study is to analyze the immunophenotype of circulating eosinophils in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and to correlate results with clinical status of patients (stable versus exacerbated patients, response to therapy). In about 30% of COPD patients there is an increase in the number of circulating eosinophils, which associates with an increased risk for exacerbation. However, no data is available on the role of eosinophils in this disease, on their activation status and their response to chemotactic factors. By multicolor flow cytometry the investigators will analyze membrane molecules and intracellular cytokines associated to chemotaxis, degranulation and inflammation. The study will enroll 30 patients (15 stable and 15 with exacerbation). Results will be analyzed taking into account clinical status,disease progression and response to treatment.

This project aims to implement a health prevention program for smokers or former smokers including early detection of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The clinical activity is completed by a pre-clinical evaluation of molecular bio-markers of early diagnosis of these diseases, with the aim of strengthening the sensitivity and specificity of the screening program. The project also includes a cost-effectiveness assessment to validate the feasibility of the program. Since lung cancer, CVD and COPD are among the deadliest smoking-related pathologies, the program includes actions aimed at raising awareness among primary care physicians, increasing the smoking cessation rate of participating subjects to improve quality of life.

The present feasibility study aims at assessing whether the EMG of respiratory muscles can serve as an objective marker of dyspnea in COPD patients. The study aims also at evaluating the changes in physiological parameters (i.e., EMG, respiration rate, heart rate, temperature, and SpO2) occurring when simulating daily activities before, during and after acute exacerbations. All this information can be useful to detect the exacerbations earlier or to provide better treatment during the exacerbations.

The risk factors and causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）are not clear, so the prevalence of COPD is high and the prevention effect is not good. Because the pathogenesis of COPD is not completely elucidated, the diagnosis and classification of COPD are inaccurate which resulting in poor efficacy of treatment. Therefore, it is of great scientific and clinical significance to find out the risk factors and causes of COPD, to clarify its pathogenesis, to put forward the prevention and early intervention measures of COPD, to warn the occurrence of COPD, to predict the deterioration of the disease, to reduce the occurrence of COPD and to slow down the progress of COPD. The project establishes a cohort of COPD people，high-risk group and the healthy group. The project studys the risk factors, etiology and pathogenesis of COPD. The project studys the interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors on COPD and its effect on pathogenesis, progression and outcome of COPD.

This panel study aims to evaluate the effects of air pollutants on cardiopulmonary health of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and explore the potential biological mechanisms.