Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases"

The purpose of this long-term observational study is designed to collect additional information on incidence of cancer and cause of death among patients who have participated in clinical trials of infliximab in the treatment of COPD. Patients must have received at least 1 dose of study agent (ie, placebo or infliximab) in the primary studies to be eligible for participation in this long-term follow-up study. Information on deaths and cancers will be collected twice yearly for a period of 5 years from each patient's last safety visit in the primary study.

To study pre- and post-natal influences on the development of childhood asthma-related immune responses.

To develop a clinical prediction rule to identify patients with acute pulmonary embolism who are at very low risk for short-term adverse outcomes.

Documentation of successful therapy with tiotropium (Spiriva Respimat; Spiriva (tiotropium 18 mcg capsules)) in COPD patients requiring long-acting bronchodilators: description of the most important outcome parameters according to the physicians assessment to determine the success of therapy. Such data are not yet available. Also collection of physicians assessments and patients assessments of efficacy and tolerability of Spiriva Respimat, Spiriva (tiotropium 18 mcg capsules).

To investigate gene-environment interactions that may influence susceptibility to respiratory illness in children living in highly polluted areas in California.

To evaluate whether the innovative multimethod assessment process/participatory quality improvement (MAP/PQI) intervention increases adherence to multiple cardiorespiratory guidelines in primary care practice.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is a collective noun for various chronic lung diseases, including sarcoidosis and idiopathic lung fibrosis (IPF). Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic disease that includes damage to the lungs in 90% of the patients. Generally, the disease can be described as a systemic, granulomatous and antigen-driven disorder. IPF is a disease of only the lungs, in which an unknown cause induces a strong inflammation reaction leading to acute lung damage that ultimately results in the formation of scar tissue and stiffness of the lungs. Unfortunately, the exact cause of ILD is still unknown. It is suggested that environmental and work-related exposure to various triggers can exert an effect on the course of the diseases. Examples of such triggers include bacteria, organic agents such as pollen and cotton dust and inorganic agents like metals and talc. Due to this unknown cause, it is difficult to treat ILD. Consequently, the current guideline is no medication or anti-inflammatory agents in severe cases. Unfortunately, this therapy is not completely effective. Triggers that are suggested to cause ILD can exert their effects via various mechanisms. On the one hand, they can induce an inflammatory reaction as we recently demonstrated for various triggers including instillation material and sicila. During such an inflammatory reaction, cytokines are released that can induce oxidative stress, i.e. an imbalance between the formation of and the protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS). On the other hand, ILD-inducing triggers may directly cause an increased ROS production that subsequently can evoke an inflammatory reaction. The objective of the current study is to investigate the individual sensitivity for the development of ILD after exposure to various triggers. Main focus will be the differences in the formation of and the protection against ROS as well as the occurring inflammatory reaction after exposure to such triggers. Furthermore, a simple blood test will be developed to study and eventually even predict the individual reaction of subjects to various triggers. Finally, to fully characterize the development of ILD after exposure to various triggers, the exhaled air of patients will be studied in order to identify specific markers of oxidative stress and damage.

To assess genetic effects on the variation of cardiovascular and pulmonary risk factors in a cohort of 514 pairs of white male veteran twins.

To identify the predisposing genes responsible for asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) at region 5p13.3 in an inbred Hutterite community.

To develop and implement asthma-controlling educational strategies for inner city and high risk populations.