
TandemHeart Experiences and MEthods (THEME Registry)
Heart DiseasesLung DiseasesThis study is intended to be a multicenter, prospective observation registry. By collecting prospective descriptive data, provide insight into disease defining characteristics resulting in the clinical decision to use TandemHeart® or LifeSPARC™ System for mechanical support and enhance knowledge of best practice regarding clinical management, weaning and removal/exit strategies.

Smoking-induced EGF-dependent Reprogramming of Airway Basal Cell Function
SmokingCOPD1 moreEarly changes associated with the development of smoking-induced diseases, e.g., COPD and lung cancer (the two commonest causes of death in U.S.) are often characterized by abnormal airway epithelial differentiation. Airway basal cells (BC) are stem/progenitor cells necessary for generation of differentiated airway epithelium. Based on our preliminary observations that epidermal growth factor receptor, known to regulate airway epithelial differentiation, is enriched in BC and its ligand EGF is induced by smoking, we hypothesized that smoking-induced EGF alters the ability of BC to form normally differentiated airway epithelium. To test this, airway BC will be purified using a cell-culture method established in our laboratory and responses to EGF will be analyzed using genome-wide microarrays and an in vitro air-liquid interface model of airway epithelial differentiation.

Effects of Occupational Therapy in COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic condition involving an impairment in functionality and in the execution of activities of daily life. The hypothesis of this study is that an occupational therapy intervention added to a physiotherapy program and a medical treatment increase the functionality and the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Comparison of Propofol/Alfentanil With Propofol/Ketamine
Lung DiseaseA prospective, randomized, patient-blinded comparison of the safety and efficacy of conscious sedation by propofol/alfentanil with propofol/ketamine in patients undergoing flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Impact of a Hospital Physical Therapy Program on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseThe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, so it's important to find actions that could improve quality of life and decrease the mortality. The objective of this study is to verify if a ground walking program applied to hospitalized exacerbated COPD patients has effects in quality of life, exercise capacity, airways obstruction, body composition, heart rate variability, quadriceps isometric force and in the "Body-mass index, Airway Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise Capacity index" (BODE index). An evaluators-blinded randomized controlled study will be conducted in "Hospital Escola Municipal de São Carlos" where forty patients will be recruited to participate. The volunteers will be randomized in two groups with twenty patients, the usual care group, that will receive only the usual care of the hospital; and the trained group that will receive the same care, but will also participate in a ground walking program associated with respiratory exercises. It will be evaluated, in the start and at the end of the program, the health related and general quality of life and the Barthel index. Daily, the patient will be submitted to the Six Minute Walk Test, to a body composition analysis, to a hand grip test and to a dyspnea assessment, and will be calculated its BODE index. All patients will be invited to a follow up in the 12th and 24th weeks after hospital discharge, when they would receive the same evaluation of the last day in the hospital. All the collected data will be expressed in means and standard deviations or medians and range when appropriated. It will be chosen appropriated tests to compare and correlate them.

A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Research Trial of Three Treatments for COPD Patients
Pulmonary DiseaseChronic ObstructiveThe aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and economic evaluation of three treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients: one, conventional medicine based on 2011 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and Chinese Treatment Guidelines; another, TCM treatments, which have been evaluated and have certain effect; and finally, combination of both conventional medicine and TCM treatment, then determine which treatment is the most suitable for COPD patients.

The Virtual Hospital - a Clinical Trial
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseTelemedicineIntroduction: With the rapid development in technology telemedicine has become a tool with the potential to improve and optimize the treatment of different diseases and to make diagnostics, treatment and counseling possible over shorter or longer distances. Home based telemedicine is a new method that leads to a series of important questions that needs to be answered. This study is designed to answer questions concerning patient safety in telehomecare, the patients´ quality of life, efficiency and a cost benefit analysis of implementing this technology. This study is about patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are admitted to the hospital with an acute exacerbation. Approximately 24 hours after admission half of the patients are randomized to be admitted to their own home supported by telemedical equipment while the other half remain admitted at the hospital (typically between 5-7 days). Primary Aim: To investigate if telemedical surveillance and treatment in the recovery period of an acute exacerbation is just as safe as conventional admission of patients with COPD measured on treatment failure. Secondary Aims: To evaluate if telemedical surveillance and treatment in the recovery period of an acute exacerbation compared to conventional treatment of COPD: Is comparable in reestablishing Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1). Demands the same number of treatment days/time before discharge/cessation of telemedical surveillance. Is comparable in quality of life in the two groups of treated patients. Have comparable adverse event profiles. leads to a lower total cost in health services (health economical analysis) Is possible to do for the patients (drop-outs because of the technical equipment or the patient does not know how to use the equipment.) 7 Is better seen from the physician's perspective when it comes to: The virtual patient contact / communication Technology The work process compared to the conventional work process Time spent with the patient Usability Improvement potentials ("the doctors view") 8. The equipment is satisfactory for the patient to use Method For this study a telemedical platform has been developed on which it is possible to treat patients in their own homes. The platform consists of a videoconference part that allows the patients to make contact to qualified medical staff and a technology part that can transfer vital indicators of the patients´ health condition (lung function, oxygen saturation, pulse etc.) 175 patients will be included with an expected drop-out of 20 % or 35 patients. The patients will be equally recruited from two hospitals (Frederiksberg and Herlev Hospital). All patients must have an exacerbation in their COPD that requires hospitalization to be included in this study. Each patient participates in the study for 6 months after discharge with follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months.

Effects of Exercise Training on Systemic Inflammation an Muscle Repair According to the Obstructive...
Obstructive Chronic Pulmonary DiseaseEmphysema1 moreAIM: To identify those mechanisms involved in the systemic and muscular response to exercise treatment, in two different Obstructive Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD) phenotypes (emphysema and non-emphysema). The investigators will evaluate the effect of exercise training, on exercise outcomes, peripheral muscle strength measures, dyspnea and quality of life indices, and markers of systemic inflammation and muscle repair. SUBJECTS: The investigators will study 30 COPD patients in GOLD II-IV stages, with symptomatic disease. Patients will be differentiated into 2 different phenotypes: predominant-emphysema and non-predominant emphysema (15 subjects for each group), according to high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scanning images, and after the specific analysis with the MeVisPulmo software. After patients are typified, they will be included in the 12- wk training programme. MEASURES(pre&post-training):Basic blood analysis, EKG, spirometry, blood gases, pletysmography, gas diffusion, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP,MEP), bioimpedanciometry, 1RM test and isometric strength determination, 6-min walking test (6MWT), maximal and submaximal cycle-ergometry, and dyspnea using the Mahler's Basal and Transitional Dyspnoea Indexes (BDI/TDI) and quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire [(CRDQ]) evaluation. Besides, the investigators will measure blood PCR and cytokines levels (IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12, TNF-α, IGF-1, and MIC-A & MIC-B). Muscle biopsies will be made (quadriceps) for detection of TNF-α, TNFR-I, TNFR-II, IGF-1Ea and MGF, IGF-1R, genes bound to biogenesis, markers of cell lesion-stress and myosin heavy chains (MyHC) type I and II, N-CAM/CD56 and Met & Desmin

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training and Respiratory Exercise in Exercise Tolerance, Performing...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseIn patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breaths at an abnormally high lung volume causes the inspiratory muscle to operate at non-optimal lengths, which reduce their maximal contractile forces. In addition, causes non thoraco abdominal synchronize, reduced inspiratory muscle strength and is associated with dyspnea and decreased exercise capacity. For these patients inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is a widely employed form of rehabilitation also targeting the respiratory muscle. In addition, patients often experience shortness of breath and a decline in exercise tolerance, resulting in disability in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL). The aims of this trial are to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training associated with aerobic training on strength and endurance of inspiratory muscle, thoracic abdominal synchrony, exercise tolerance and quality of life patients with COPD. To compare the responses with the effects of aerobic training plus exercises of the trunk and upper limbs, and stretching of large muscle groups of the trunk. To compare difference in the perception of dyspnea during the ADL set (Borg Scale) with perception of dyspnea self-reported in the Medical Research Council (MRC), the London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) and the Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire - Modified version (PFSDQ-M) before start the protocol. To investigate changes on perception of dyspnea (Borg scale), metabolic and ventilatory responses during a standard set of ADL tasks after a physical training and to evaluate and compare changes on perception of dyspnea. The hypothesis are that the ventilatory efficiency during the performance of ADL and the dyspnea reported from borg scale, the LCADL and the PFSDQ-M that quantifies the functional performance (change in activity levels) are improved during the IMT in conjunction with general exercise training in patients with COPD. The MIT increases the strength and endurance of inspiratory muscle, the exercise capacity and the quality of life compared to the general physical training. However, compared to the thorax abdominal synchronizes, higher modification is verified in the general physical training group with specific exercise to torso, limbs and stretching of the higher muscle group.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Outcomes in Patients With Mild/Moderate Chronic Obstructive...
Pulmonary DiseaseChronic ObstructiveThe purpose of this study is evaluate the effects and safety of Traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and management of mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).