Active clinical trials for "Lung Diseases, Obstructive"

Exposure to noxious gases and particles is associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, investigation of possible airway inflammation and/or systemic inflammation in workers exposed to high levels of dust is important. Silicon Carbide (SiC) Processing Inc. provides cutting fluid (slurry) for the production of solar cells and is at present the largest provider of slurry to the solar industry worldwide. In the production process, the recyclable materials (SiC), polyethylene glycol (PEG)) of the used slurry are recovered. The airborne exposure consists mainly of SiC (dust particles) and evaporation from the recycling of PEG. High levels of dust have been measured and, seventeen per cent of the measurements in the processing hall were equal to or higher than the Norwegian occupational exposure limit. Thus, assessment of possible systemic and airway effects of this exposure is of interest. A prospective design will be applied and the effects studied by means of registration of respiratory symptoms, spirometry, nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air, induced sputum and blood sampling over a 3 year period. Exposed subjects will also be compare with non- or low exposed subjects (administrative/office workers). Efforts will be made to include all eligible subjects and to avoid drop-outs. If early signs of airway or systemic inflammation in workers or in cells are demonstrated in the study, it will be necessary to implement measures to reduce the exposure levels. The primary aim of the present study of workers exposed to Silicon Carbide dust in the workplace is to determine whether this exposure is associated with inflammatory changes in the lungs. The secondary aims are: - to examine possible changes in systemic inflammatory markers and - to examine changes in lung function among Silicon Carbide processing workers during a period of 3 years. Possible changes in lung function will be monitored by spirometry and gas diffusion measurements (study A). Airway inflammatory responses and changes in circulating inflammatory markers will be assessed by examination of the induced sputum samples and blood samples every 6th month in a subgroup of workers (study B).

The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of mannitol on the cilia's beat frequency (ciliary beat frequency) in COPD patients.

The Copenhagen City Heart Study is an ongoing cardiovascular population study initiated in 1976 which has examined approximately 25,000 individuals from the general population. The initial sample has been re-invited up to four times and supplemented by younger individuals. The study includes questionnaires, clinical assessment and biomarkers. The population have been followed in a number of outcome registries and more than 900 scientific papers have been published.

Advanced Pulmonary Disease (PAD) is a condition that affects countless individuals around the world. Patients are often functionally very limited, with premature death, which is due to the disease itself or its complications. Currently, there are numerous monitoring centers of these patients to increase survival, reduce costs and humanize care in these patients.

Assess the differences between flow and volume responses after bronchodilator reversibility testing in patients over different clinical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stages (GOLD stage I to GOLD stage IV). Study the Correlation between the bronchodilator response and the severity of the disease.

This is a multi-centre, prospective, observational study to realize the current situation of COPD patients in China. About 5000 COPD patients will be enrolled from 50 participating sites around China and followed up for one year. During this study, patients will undergo clinical assessments and receive medical care as determined by their treating physician.

The study is based on the theory of a "unified airway" that considers the nose and paranasal sinuses together with lower airways as one integrated unit. The upper and lower respiratory tracts function as an interdependent physiologic mechanism, and stimuli that trigger changes in one portion of the airway, can provoke similar changes throughout the airway. This is well documented in asthmatic patients but documented poorly in patients suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). COPD is associated with sinonasal symptoms and decreased quality of life. Although nasal involvement has been found to directly affect the lower airway, sinonasal disease is under-diagnosed and under-treated in patients with COPD. This study is embedded in a larger project where the goal is to gain knowledge supporting the theory of a "unified airway" in patients with COPD. Here sinonasal, pulmonary and generic health related quality of life will be studied in a group of patients with COPD versus a control group. The severity of nasal airway obstruction will be linked to the the severity of pulmonary airway obstruction. Assessment of pathological changes in the nose with nasal endoscopy, as well as performing a nasal cytological brushing for the identification of nasal inflammatory responses in the nose, will be conducted in both the control and study group.

The aim of the RESPECT study is to gain a better understanding of the prevalence, pathogenesis and symptoms of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study seeks to address the following specific objectives/research questions: 1) to estimate the prevalence of airflow limitation (AL) and COPD in adults 35-70 years of age in St.Petersburg and Arkhangelsk based on sex, age, environmental conditions, socioeconomic status and smoking status; 2) to compare the prevalence of COPD in the study population based on the Global Strategy for Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD (GOLD) and lower limit of normal (LLN) criteria; 3) to identify the diagnostic value of various signs, symptoms and background characteristics for the diagnosis of COPD; 4) to determine whether differences in background characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers are evident between smokers with and without COPD; and 5) to describe co-morbidity, functionality and global health status in a cohort of newly diagnosed COPD patients.

Study to collect the data on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients who were administered with Long-Acting Beta-Agonist/ Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LABA/LAMA) (Fixed-dose Combination (FDC) or free combo) or LAMA treatment

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth most important cause of death worldwide and is one of the commonest non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nepal. The presence of risk factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution, the high prevalence of smoking and lack of general awareness of COPD makes it a serious public health concern. However, no attempt has been made in Nepal to estimate its burden and address the disease at the community level. This community-based cluster randomized controlled study aims to fulfil that gap through mobilization of Female Community Health Workers (FCHVs) who will be trained to perform a certain set of health promotion activities aimed at prevention of the disease and its progression. Baseline and follow-up surveys will be conducted to compare the intervention and control groups. This study has the potential to generate evidence in helping address NCDs in Nepal and also other similar resource-limited countries.