
Photobiomodulation in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among the most common chronic respiratory diseases (CKD). Millions of people of all ages suffer from these diseases. COPD is between the fifth and sixth of the leading causes of death in Brazil. It generates an inflammatory pulmonary response that is softened by non-curative treatments and that present serious side effects. Low intensity laser (LBI) or laser therapy has been used for about 50 years to help the healing process, revealing efficient anti-inflammatory and analgesic responses, as well as experimental models of acute and chronic inflammation. However, little is known about its response in inflammatory lung diseases, especially COPD. Some reports indicate that laser therapy may interfere positively by relieving clinical signs, the onset, and the final symptoms of pulmonary inflammation. The present project aims to study the effects of LBI on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in patients with pulmonary processes, determine their mechanisms of action and evaluate its effect on patients' functional capacity.

Clinical Trial Assessing the Value of an Antibiotic Protocol Guided by Serum Procalcitonin in Acute...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseInvestigators propose to conduct a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter assessing the interests of an antibiotic protocol guided by serum procalcitonin (PCT) on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) for acute exacerbation with or without associated pneumonia. The main objective is to show in patients hospitalized in intensive care for acute exacerbation of COPD with or without pneumonia, safety, defined as a lack of difference in mortality at 3 months, an antibiotic strategy guided by the PCT in the ICU.

Nasal High Flow Therapy 30 Day Readmission Study
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseCOPDThe aim of this feasibility study is to provide data for a subsequent randomized controlled trial to investigate if patient outcomes will be improved after an acute COPD exacerbation using domiciliary nasal high flow therapy (NHF) compared to standard care. This feasibility study will investigate the following: process, resources, management and scientific aspects of delivering NHF as an adjunct therapy in COPD patients.

Influence of Chronic Hypoxia on Oxidative Phenotype in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseIn addition to chronic airflow obstruction, patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) suffer from skeletal muscle dysfunction which is a prominent and disabling feature and also an independent determinant of survival. Muscular impairment involves loss of muscle oxidative phenotype (OXPHEN: a slow-to-fast shift in fibre types and reduced oxidative capacity). Since hypoxia obviously is a key feature of COPD, the aim of this study is to elucidate the role of hypoxia in loss of muscle OXPHEN. Thus, OXPHEN and expression levels of its key regulators will be determined in the baseline biopsies for association with the degree of hypoxemia. In addition, expression levels of the key OXPHEN regulators will be measured in pre/post exercise biopsies.

Effect of Extracorporeal CO2 Removal in Stable Hypercapnic COPD Patients
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease PatientsChronic Respiratory FailureChronic hypercapnic respiratory failure is common in stable COPD patients in a terminal phase of their disease In an attempt to correct or slow down the rate of rise of PaCO2, long-term noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) has been proposed. Only very few studies demonstrated the clinical efficacy of NIV. Indeed this technique is not always well tolerated and therefore it may be effective only in a subset of patients The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and safety of "one shot" extrcorporeal CO2 removal device, in reducing the PaCO2 level

Post-hospitalisation Nutritional Support and Gait Speed in COPD
Pulmonary DiseaseChronic Obstructive6 moreTo determine the feasibility of delivering different community nutritional interventions to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at moderate or severe risk of malnutrition following a hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation of COPD.

Incorporation of Genetic Expression of Airway Epithelium With CT Screening for Lung Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseCOPDLung cancer, largely the result of cigarette smoking, is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, killing over 160,000 people in 2010, more than breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer combined. Since only 10% of heavy smokers develop lung cancer and 20% of lung cancers develop in nonsmokers, it is thought that genetic predisposition plays an important role. This study proposes to examine the genetic correlation between nasal and bronchial epithelium and to identify a patient's risk for lung cancer earlier.

The Effect of EDP on Diaphragmatic Function and Neural Respiratory Drive in Patient With AECOPD...
Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease characterized by airflow limitation that is progressive and not fully reversible. Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD must be hospitalized, as for further increase in airway resistance, pulmonary alveolar excessive expansion, diaphragm fatigue and neural respiratory drive. In recent years, Pulmonary rehabilitation is recognized as a core component in the comprehensive management of COPD, EDP as a means of rehabilitation can alleviate diaphragmatic fatigue, improve ventilation function, reduce the neural respiratory drive in patients with COPD during hospitalization, but still lack of evidence based medicine. Surface EMGdi can accurately evaluate neural respiratory drive, its detection is non-invasive, simple and safety .Therefore,Neural respiratory drive by surface EMGdi can be used as an important index for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of AECOPD patients during hospitalization. In the present study, about 40 patients with COPD will be recruited as research subjects .And the investigators aim to explore the effect of EDP on diaphragmatic function and neural respiratory drive in patient with AECOPD.Contrast analysis will be conducted to evaluate the effects of EDP on patients with AECOPD, which may provide a reasonable basis for the clinical application of EDP to AECOPD patients.

Efficacy of a Coaching Program to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Behavior After...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseasePhysical Activity1 morePatients with COPD are more inactive and more sedentary than subjects of the same age and patients with other chronic diseases. This inactivity and sedentary behavior is accentuated after hospitalizations due to a COPD exacerbation, and it increases the risk for future hospitalizations and mortality. Therefore, there is a need for intervention to promote physical activity and to reduce sedentary behavior after these events. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a coaching program to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in patients with COPD who have suffered a hospitalization due to a COPD exacerbation. Sixty-six COPD patients admitted to the hospital will be recruited during 18 months. Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, as well as other clinical and functional parameters will be evaluated after hospital discharge. Patients will be then randomized to an intervention and control group (1:1). The intervention group will receive an individualized coaching program. During a motivational interview an experienced physiotherapist will asses participant's usual exercise habits, possible barriers and facilitators, self-efficacy and motivation to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time. Based on these data (and baseline physical activity/sedentary information) an individualized, progressive program with specific goals setting and self-monitoring will be established (patients will be active participants and decision makers in this process). The control group will receive the usual care during follow-up. Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, as well as the clinical and functional variables will be evaluated again at 12 weeks in both patients' groups.

Early Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Exacerbated COPD Patients
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic and progressive airflow limitations and subjects with COPD also experience exacerbations characterized by the worsening of respiratory symptoms. It's necessary medical intervention, changes in regular medication, and the use of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids followed or not by hospitalization. The exacerbations contribute to worsening of the disease with systemic impairment and muscle weakness is a very relevant event. The physical inactivity, especially related to bed rest, comprises one of the factors contributing to muscle atrophy and loss of muscle strength. Thus, the intervention performed during hospitalization is necessary to minimize the consequences which causes impairment in health status subjects. The aim of the study is assess the effect of the intervention with elastic bands, in muscle strength,level of the physical activity, functional capacity, dyspnea on activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life in COPD exacerbation subjects. Moreover,verify the intervention benefits over 01 and 03 months post exacerbation episode. It will be a prospective, randomized, longitudinal and interventional study. The investigators will be asses both gender patients with exacerbation of COPD in 4 situations: First time (at least 24 and at most 48 hours after the beginning of medical therapy); seven days post the first assessment; one and three months post exacerbation episode. It will be assess the muscle strength, physical activity level, functional capacity, dyspnea on ADL and quality of life. The patients will be randomized in 2 groups: intervention and control group. The intervention will be performed with elastic bands once a day during seven days. The investigators expected that patients of the intervention group will present better muscle strength, physical activity level and functional capacity than the control group. Furthermore, an improvement in dyspnea and quality of life is expected in intervention group when compared as with control group patients. It is hypothesized that the benefits of intervention will be maintained over one month.