Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases"

Early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), reductions of absolute lung volume and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) are frequently detected even in the absence of overt idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS). It can be hypothesized that these changes might be due to an occult intersitial lung disease associated with infections, acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD), myeloablative conditioning regimens or any combination of these. To test this hypothesis, we will simultaneously measure the lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and DLCO and estimate the changes of membrane diffusing capacity (DM) and pulmonary capillary volume (Vc) by the DLNO/DLCO ratio. As we hypothesize that GHVD should be intuitively absent amongst autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT) recipients, we will compare the changes in DLNO/DLCO ratio showed by the latter group with those of subjects undergoing allo-HSCT.

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) during exercise is a major source of distress and is a commonly reported symptom in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Due to the investigators' poor understanding of how dyspnea develops, there are no treatments that consistently reduce dyspnea in this population. The investigators aim to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the physiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea in CF patients. This study will likely identify an important physiological mechanism of dyspnea in CF and may contribute to the development and use of effective treatments to reduce dyspnea in this population. The central hypothesis is that the impaired tidal volume (VT) response during exercise in CF, in the setting of increased ventilatory demand will give rise to different qualitative descriptions of exertional dyspnea compared with healthy age and sex-matched controls. Specifically, CF patients will select "increased work and effort" as their dominant descriptor of dyspnea up to the VT inflection/plateau. Beyond this point, CF patient's dominant descriptor will become "unsatisfied inspiration." In contrast, healthy control participants will report "increased work and effort" throughout all phases of exercise and will not report "unsatisfied inspiration", even after the VT inflection/plateau.

Muscle weakness and atrophy are important consequences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although resistance exercises increase strength and muscle mass in patients with COPD, the response to training appears to be suboptimal in these individuals. A dysregulation in the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of muscle mass could play an important role in this phenomenon. Hypothesis: Proteins involved in muscle mass regulation will be less activated in the quadriceps of patients with COPD following the acute bout of resistance training exercise compared to healthy age-matched controls.

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of patients selected for treatment with roflumilast and the effectiveness and safety of roflumilast in patients with severe or very severe COPD treated in Hospital and outpatient specialist ward settings in Greece.

New perceptions about handling and patient satisfaction of the everyday use of Berodual® Respimat® in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). Moreover, further knowledge should be attained about the tolerability of Berodual® Respimat®

This study plans to learn more about pulmonary complications of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Even though antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically decreased the number of opportunistic infections and deaths in HIV infected patients, pulmonary complications (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development and pneumonias resulting in decreased lung function) of HIV/AIDS continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of COPD and decreased lung function in HIV infected individuals is not well understand and needs to be studied. The investigators hypothesize that the immunoregulatory consequences and immunosuppressive lung milieu secondary to HIV and cigarette smoke combine to increase the risk of lung infection and injury in HIV infected smokers, hastening the development of COPD. The mechanisms will be directly tested using blood and bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) cells from smokers and nonsmokers with and without HIV infection.

The investigators assume that by analysis of different volatile organic compounds in the breath, using nanotechnology, the investigators will be able to identify a unique respiratory signature of different diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary rehabilitation has been established as an evidence-based and recommended therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of our study is to show a potential change in muscle fibre composition and in the amount of capillaries in quadriceps muscle from pre tob post 3-week rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation includes standardised exercise training, e.g. cycling and strength training for major muscle groups.

To obtain further information on the tolerability and efficacy of Atrovent® inhalets in the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease under conditions of daily practice

Aspects of confocal laser micro-endoscopy (CLME) and morphometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung transplant recipients is described and will be correlated with clinical findings in order to described small airway remodelling in these patients.