All clinical trials

A single center case-control study with 100 COPD patients will be organized to compare patients with and without bronchiectasis with regard to the presence of Aspergillus in sputum samples, Aspergillus sensitization and vitamin D. Induced sputum samples will be optimized for culture, Aspergillus galatomannan analysis and RT-PCR. This study is part of a larger project in which we assume that chronic respiratory infection by Aspergillus fumigatus and the accompanying immune response play an important role in the development of bronchiectasis in COPD. We suspect that this mechanism is controlled by vitamin D and it fails by suppression of the vitamin D receptor by Aspergillus fumigatus. The present study is designed by the Laboratory of pneumology and will be conducted in collaboration with the Laboratory of clinical bacteriology and mycology of the Catholic University of Leuven.

Head and neck cancers usually occur in patients who have a history of long tobacco use. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic progressive disease of the airways and lung parenchyma that is also associated with exposure to tobacco. COPD and head & neck cancer share a common environmental risk factor in cigarette smoke exposure. the investigators hypothesize that patients with chronic lung disease related to smoking have a higher risk to develop cancer in the head and neck. The investigators designed a study to assess the prevalence of cancer and pre-cancer disease in the head & neck in patients with chronic lung disease. the investigators will examine patients with and without a history of smoking and chronic lung disease in order to determine the prevalence of head and neck cancer in the different groups. The patients who will be included in the study will undergo comprehensive evaluation of their lung function and voice performance. This study is a joint effort of the Pulmonology Institute and the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery in Israel and the Netherlands.

This is a pilot study to enroll 100 people to assess the incidence of lipohypertrophy as detected with ultrasound and its impact on glycemic variability.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a serious liver disease worldwide, and the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBsAg loss/seroconversion is considered to be the ideal endpoint of antiviral therapy in both HBeAg-positive and -negative patients, and the ultimate treatment goal in CHB, However HBsAg loss occurred rarely by interferon treatment. Although It was reported that in nature history HBsAg level≤100 IU/ml can bring good long term outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B. it was not clear whether patients who achieved HBsAg level≤100 IU/ml by interferon treatment could maintain sustained viral response and the state of HBsAg level≤100 IU/ml.

To evaluate epidemiological features of risk factors for aortic dissection (AD) in Chinese XinJiang Province patients.

Retrospective review of the outcome of use of immunosuppressive drugs in treatment of sarcoidosis

Ultrasound follow up for 9 months pregnancy in women underwent baraitric surgery before and after 1 year of surgery.

There were lack of data and analysis about medical management, etiology, and long-term outcome of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) in Beijing. In this study the investigators do acute CT angiography, a non-invasive imaging method to explore etiology and prognostic risk factors of ICH. Further the investigators will aim to develop and validate a risk score for predicting 1-year functional outcome after ICH.

If the investigators could prove that three -dimensional ultrasound measurement of fetal adrenal gland volume can accurately predict the likelihood of preterm birth in patients having symptoms and signs of PTL , they would be able to use it as a valuable component for assessment and early management of high risk pregnant women for PTB which can be positively reflected on the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality in those patients.

The purpose of this descriptive and exploratory pilot study is to investigate: (1) sagittal plane hip kinematics and kinetics and (2) metabolic consumption/cost, for bilateral transfemoral walking with passive prostheses versus powered prostheses. The pilot study will collect data from three subjects with bilateral transfemoral amputations. Differences in kinetics, kinematics, and oxygen consumption/cost when comparing passive and powered components may indicate benefits for clinical application of powered devices for persons with lower limb amputation.