Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases"

To test the effectiveness of a self-management program for chronic obstructive disease (COPD) patients. The program to improve adherence could be conducted by nurses or other clinic staff in settings where comprehensive rehabilitation services were not available.

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

To examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms of corticosteroid and leukotriene receptor antagonists, focusing on their effects on T lymphocytes during both chronic (18 months) and acute therapy.

This study compares air pollution exposures of residents in a South Baltimore community next to major industry with those in a comparison community with much less industry nearby. Parents and children as well as adults alone will be included. Air levels of 3 chemicals that have been found in increased amounts in the community as well as two urinary breakdown products of benzene will be measured. Participants will limit the amount of sorbate preserved foods they eat as this preservative interferes with one of the benzene breakdown products. Benzene air and urine exposure measurements will be compared in each community as well as between communities. By including children and parents we will gather exposure information on children who may be more sensitive that adults to these types of pollution. Lastly, by restricting the amount of food preserved with sorbates, we can decide if this improves the use of ttMA for people exposed to benzene from air pollution.

Infants born prematurely e.g. before 28 weeks of gestational age have a 50% chance of developing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). The management of NRDS is currently driven by information obtained from a sampling of arterial blood, pulse oximetry, and x-ray imaging. On the other hand, these tests carry short and long-term negative outcomes for vulnerable patients. Optical technology has been developed to evaluate lung function non-invasively and without any potential risks for the patients. It is based on Gas in Scattering Media Absorbance Spectroscopy (GASMAS) method, using low-power laser light and a photodetector attached directly to the baby's torso.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the investigational device (Lunit INSIGHT CXR) in the detection of chest abnormalities

Although there are numerous data demonstrating the impact of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) on respiratory functions, there is a lack of studies investigating the effects of respiratory functions on parameters such as sleep quality, dyspnea, and fatigue. The primary objective of the study is to examine the influence of changes in respiratory muscle functions in ILD on sleep quality, dyspnea, and fatigue parameters. The secondary objective is to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle functions in ILD on parameters such as cough, pain, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.

Patients with COPD often have limitations to physical performance. There are several tests for evaluating physical performance, unfortunately many of them can be time consuming and require specialized equipment an substantial space. Short physical performance battery is a simple test that requires little resources and can be performed both at institutions and in the homes of patients. SPPB has high predictive abilities in identifying older adults at greater risk for mortality, nursing home admission, hospitalization, and incidence of disability. The investigators would like to evaluate possible changes in the SPPB score after a 4-week rehabilitation program. The investigators would also like to look at possible relationships between the SPPB and other physical performance measures, dyspnea, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and health related quality of life.

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

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease primarily caused by smoking. COPD creates a tremendous burden to the healthcare system, as disease exacerbations result in frequent, prolonged hospitalizations. While originally considered a disease specific to the lung, data have shown that COPD is associated with substantial cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Exacerbations of COPD requiring hospitalization result in marked patient deterioration, and heightened CV risk. The cause of the increased CV risk with stable COPD, and the exaggerated CV risk during exacerbations of the disease are unknown; however, it may be due to chronic inflammation which is exacerbated with a flare-up of the disease, and/or chronic inactivity which is similarly worsened with bed-rest during a hospitalization. Despite the impact of COPD on healthcare, there are relatively few studies examining how COPD inpatient care impacts on patient outcomes, inflammation and CV risk. Disease management programs, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and patient self-management education, are part of guideline therapy for COPD; however, these are not regularly implemented following a hospitalization, and how these interventions affect patient outcomes, behavior, physical activity, inflammation and CV risk have not been well studied. The proposed long-term project will examine how typical inpatient COPD care, and how early referral to chronic disease management programs after hospital discharge, affect patient outcomes. This grant brings together an outstanding group of researchers who have the necessary clinical, content and methodological expertise to successfully complete this work. These studies will provide invaluable information about inpatient and outpatient management for a disease which has a tremendous impact on healthcare.