Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases"

On the basis of 2 cases of immunologically-induced lung disease in 2 saxophonists, the investigators supposed that wind reed instruments could be contaminated with molds. The investigators led a study on 40 musicians playing a wind reed instrument to analyze instruments' fungal contamination and its immunological and clinical consequences for musicians.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether patients with a preoperative reduced pulmonary function have a better preserved oxygenation capacity after open heart surgery, using either pulmonary perfusion or pulmoplegia compared with TAVI and the control-group with standard ECC (Extra Corporal Circulation).

The proposed research study is a cross-sectional study enrolling young children with sickle cell disease between 5 and 12 years of age. They will be screened as outpatients for consent to perform pulmonary function testing (PFT) and echocardiography. In addition, the degree of bronchodilator response will be assessed at each session. To estimate presence of pulmonary hypertension, echocardiography will be performed at the time of PFT measures. Study Design: Enroll children aged 5 to 12 years of age with sickle cell disease (HbSS, HbSC, HbS beta plus thalassemia, HbS beta zero thalassemia, and HbS OArab) who are established patients within the Duke Pediatric Sickle Cell Clinic. Perform a chart review of all enrolled subjects to obtain specific details regarding birth history, nutritional status (weight, height), family history, sickle cell genotype, parental smoking history, recent laboratory parameters, parental smoking history, any concurrent conditions (atopy, asthma, airway anomaly), history of sickle cell complications and prescribed medications. Perform spirometry and plethysmography with the administration of albuterol. Before or after completion the PFT session, the patient will have echocardiography in the PFT lab area Using medical record information, determine number of hospitalizations for any pulmonary symptoms indicative of acute chest syndrome (ACS) (dyspnea, fever, wheezing, hypoxia, cough, chest pain). In addition, we will track any respiratory or cardiac symptoms or therapies for each subject 6 years after enrollment up to age 18 years using the registry. As standard of care, refer any child identified as having lung disease or pulmonary hypertension to a pediatric pulmonologist and/or cardiologist for monitoring, treatment and ongoing care.

The aim of this study is to investigate the six-minute-walking-distance of COPD-patients with breathing oxygen in comparison to breathing normal air. Patients, who increase their walking-distance about more than 15% or 35m only because of breathing oxygen, are so-called "Oxygen Responders." The study is aimed to find attributes of Oxygen Responder and to investigate, if a patient can change the "respond" with higher performance and endurance.

The purpose of this study is to determine if a program of self management and case management reduces hospitalizations and urgent care visits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of two major, widely used technologies, radionuclear imaging (ventilation-perfusion scanning) and pulmonary angiography, for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

All measurements are performed on two consecutive days at the beginning of a pulmonary rehabilitation program in a randomized cross-over study design. On the first day, each patient is randomly assigned to perform either the 2 minute walk test or the 6 Minute walk test. On the second day each patient performs the test that was not performed on the first day. All walk tests are performed by the same investigator on the same track and time of day, following the 2002 guidelines of the American Thoracic Society. Patients wear a mobile pulse oximeter that continuously records heart rate and oxygen saturation during testing. Baseline values of oxygen saturation, heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion on the modified Borg scale (0 to 10) for dyspnea and leg fatigue are recorded at rest after 10 minutes of sitting.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is debate about diagnosis and management of COPD because it was described as complex syndrome accounting for various pulmonary and extrapulmonary abnormalities. As a result, there is consensus that both clinical evaluation and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) data by themselves do not adequately describe the complexity of the disease. The chest radiograph is the sole imaging examination recommended for the routine evaluation of these patients by the physicians guidelines (GOLD guidelines),which, however, are also debating on the utility of computed tomography (CT) in this setting. Indeed, a number of studies reported a dramatic increasing use of CT of the chest for COPD assessment, in both clinical and research settings. COPD assessment by CT seems to improve the accuracy and completeness of the clinical evaluation of these patients. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of CT has yet to be proved by prospective studies or defined by guidelines. Objectives: To evaluate the change in the diagnosis and management of COPD when multiple CT-derived information is added to pre-test evaluation. Methods: Four pulmonologists with various expertise in the field will review clinical data, PFTs results, and chest radiographs of 200 consecutive COPD patients diagnosed according to current guidelines. Therefore, after two months from the first evaluation, the pulmonologists will review the clinical and PFTs records with comprehensive information about low-dose CT (LDCT) previously performed in a week from the chest radiograph. Information about LDCT findings will include qualitative assessment by an experienced chest radiologist and quantitative analysis by means of an innovative 3D imaging dedicated software. Phenotype assessment and patient care decisions (e.g. therapeutic and follow-up strategies, need of additional tests etc.) will be recorded before and after assimilation of LDCT data. Expected results: This evidence-based prospective study will test the impact of chest LDCT on management of COPD patient. In addition, the level of agreement between pulmonologists in terms of diagnosis and therapeutic strategies will be assessed. Furthermore, the study will evaluate the need for additional tests referable to LDCT information and their impact on the health care system (e.g. in terms of additional costs).

This is a study to provide an in-depth validation of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test as a measure of exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients will perform the 1-minute sit-to-stand test and other validated exercise tests and questionnaires.

To evaluate the magnitude of the humoral immune responses to quadrivalent vs trivalent influenza vaccines in adults between the age of 50 and 64 years with a prior diagnosis of GOLD Stage C and D COPD vs. those patients without COPD.