Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases, Obstructive"

This project is aimed to assess the responsiveness of the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand test (1-Minute STST) to acute bronchodilation in patients with COPD. We also aim to investigate the physiological and perceptual response to bronchodilation of the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-minute STST. The specific objectives are 1)To measure the changes in time for completion of the Glittre ADL-test and the number of standing up during the 1-minute STST induced by a single dose of nebulized ipratropium bromide/salbutamol sulfate against those induced by a placebo in patients with moderate to severe COPD and 2)To compare in patients with moderate to severe COPD the CR (minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and heart rate) and symptomatic (dyspnea and leg fatigue perception) responses during the Glittre ADL-test and the 1-Minute STST following a single dose of ipratropium bromide/salbutamol sulfate or placebo. We suppose among others that the Glittre test completion time will be lesser, that the number of repetitions in the 1-Minute STST will be higher and symptoms intensity will be lesser among patients with COPD receiving bronchodilators.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic systemic hypoxia and low-grade inflammation as well as by an alteration of arginine (ARG) metabolism. As ARG is synthetized from circulating citrulline (CIT), an alteration of CIT homeostasis, particularly its production by ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT) in small intestine could be involved. We hypothesized that hypoxia +/- inflammation, classically associated to COPD, has effects on OCT regulation in enterocytes. This study aims at exploring the effects of hypoxia and inflammation on the production of citrulline by ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) activity in enterocytes from explant cultures of duodenal tissue.

the aim of this study to assess the relationship and compare physiological response between spot marching exercise test and 6 minute walk test in patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a preventable and treatable condition, is a major healthcare problem with huge human and economic costs. It affects 3 million people, results in 1.4 million consultations, causes 30,000 deaths, and costs £800M per year in the UK. Considerable research expenditure is devoted to finding new and expensive interventions. However pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an available therapeutic option with good evidence of benefit for patients in terms of quality of life and daily functioning. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the addition of a maintenance programme following pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD when compared to standard care. The secondary objective is to identify baseline characteristics that will predict improvement in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and adherence to maintenance strategies. By measuring a series of demographic, clinical, physiological, psychological and biochemical parameters the researchers hope to be able to predict those patients who are likely to receive the greatest benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. An additional objective will be to prepare a detailed maintenance programme manual. This will be available to other centres providing pulmonary rehabilitation at the conclusion of the study

In this study, prednisone dose, day/time administration will be controlled in a stable COPD patient population to determine its effect on peripheral whole blood gene expression. This data has never been collected in a COPD population using the investigators' chosen platform for gene expression (Affymetrix Human Gene 1.1 ST). Conducting this experiment is essential for achieving the broader aims of an already existing and related study titled "Clinical Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation of Blood-Based Biomarkers for COPD Management" study. As part of this existing study, blood is being collected from hospitalized and non-hospitalized COPD patients in order to develop a blood-based biomarker test for the diagnosis and prediction of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). The majority of these patients were administered prednisone as part of standard care for the treatment of AECOPD. As such, the effect of prednisone on gene expression needs to be ruled out.

Proprioceptive weighting changes may explain differences in postural control performance. In addition, the respiratory movement has a disturbing effect on postural balance. Postural balance seems to be impaired in individuals with respiratory disorders. Increased risk of falling is reported in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Besides the essential role of respiration, the diaphragm may also play an important role in the control of the trunk and postural balance. The aim of the study is to clarify whether proprioceptive postural control is impaired in individuals with diaphragm paresis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD for short) involves inflammation inside the air passages of the lungs. This inflammation might be partly responsible for the shortness of breath, cough and susceptibility to chest infections that form part of COPD. Inflammation is caused, in part, by white blood cells that are attracted from the blood into the air passages. Once inside the air passages, the white blood cells may change (or 'differentiate') and release substances that produce inflammation and attract more white cells. The hypothesis is that the lifespan of these cells may also be prolonged such that they produce more inflammatory mediators and in turn perpetuate inflammation. The cycle of inflammation may damage the lungs, so we want to see what mediators are released by white blood cells and determine if we can inhibit this effect with existing and new drugs. We would also like to see the effect of these drugs on the life-span and function of white blood cells. We will compare the behaviour and characteristics of white cells with those from healthy smokers and healthy non-smokers to find out if there is anything different about cells from COPD patients.

Primary objective of this project is to measure the impact of passive control and active control systems on indoor pollution that is directly or indirectly related to ambient air pollution (smog). The first goal will be to measure baseline parameters for 50 homes, including information about the building, ventilation characteristics, pollution levels (indoors and outdoors), and occupant survey information. In a subset of these homes, either passive or active control systems will be installed and the impact of these systems on indoor concentrations. Participants will be enrolled on a rolling basis (5-15 persons studied at a given point in time) over a 16-month period. Participants will be followed for approximately 5 weeks and data obtained at three points in time: at enrollment (day 1 of study), after 1 week (baseline verification) and after four weeks with the control system in the home (at the end of study week 5).

T.to investigate a possible mechanism of the glucocorticosteroid receptors (GR) defect in patients with severe COPD by studying the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on GR- binding, interleukin production (IL-6/IL-8) and MKP-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells blood (PBMC)

The objective of this study is to determine if inpatient COPD education would result in improved patient knowledge of COPD.