Clinical trial: Regulation of the Release of Inflammatory Mediators From Blood Leukocytes (NCT00180765)

Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

        Healthy non-smoking subjects: All normal volunteers will meet the following criteria:

          -  Age 21-70 years.

          -  No history of respiratory or allergic disease.

          -  Normal baseline spirometry as predicted for age, sex and height.

          -  Non-smokers.

          -  No history of upper respiratory tract infection in the preceding six weeks.

          -  Not taking regular medication

        COPD subjects: COPD is diagnosed according to American Thoracic Society, European
        Respiratory Society and British Thoracic Society guidelines by the doctors in Professor
        Barnes' COPD clinic. All COPD volunteers will meet the following criteria:

          -  Age between 40-75 years.

          -  A smoking history of at least 20 pack years. ( 1 pack year = 20 cigarettes per day for
             1 year)

          -  FEV1:FVC ratio of <0.7, post-bronchodilator FEV1 of <85% predicted, reversibility with
             inhaled b2-agonist of <15% of predicted FEV1: all three criteria are required.

          -  Current smokers or smokers who had ceased smoking for at least 6 months.

          -  No history of exacerbation, oral steroid or antibiotic use within the preceding 6
             weeks.

          -  Normal serum a-1 antitrypsin level.

          -  No history of other respiratory or allergic disease.

          -  No evidence of atopy on skin prick testing to common aeroallergens (grass pollen, cat
             hair, house dust mite or Aspergillus fumigatus

          -  These tests will have already been performed as part of routine assessment in
             Professor Barnes' COPD clinic and we will not need to repeat them for this study.

        Healthy Smokers: All healthy smoking volunteers in trials will meet the following criteria:

          -  Age 21-70 years.

          -  Smoking history of at least 10 pack years (1 pack year = 20 cigarettes per day for 1
             year).

          -  No history of respiratory or allergic disease.

          -  Normal baseline spirometry as predicted for age, sex and height.

          -  No history of upper respiratory tract infection in the preceding six weeks.

          -  Not taking regular medication.

        Exclusion Criteria:

        Subjects will not included in this study if they meet any of the following exclusion
        criteria:

          -  Clinically significant findings in the medical history or on physical examination
             other than those of COPD in the COPD group.

          -  Pregnant women or mothers who are breastfeeding.

          -  Subjects who are unable to give informed consent.
No condition on gender to be admitted to the trial.
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Subject must be at least 21 Years old.
Subject must be at most 75 Years

Patient description (medical language): A 30-year-old man who is a computer scientist came to the clinic with the lab result stating azoospermia.  The patient is sexually active with his wife and does not use any contraception methods.  They have been trying to conceive for the past year with no success.  The patient has a past medical history of recurrent pneumonia, shortness of breath, and  persistent cough that produces large amounts of thick sputum. The patient had multiple lung infections during childhood. He does not smoke, use illicit drugs or alcohol.  The patient has no history of other medical conditions including allergies or any kind of surgery.  On physical examination, the digits show clubbing.  An ultrasound shows bilateral absence of the vas deferens, and FEV1 was 75% on the respiratory function test.

Patient description (patient's own words): I'm a 30-year-old computer scientist. I did some lab tests that came back quite alarming, stating that I have azoospermia?! I'm sexually active with my wife and we don't use contraception. We've been trying to have a child for the past year. I have a medical history of pneumonia and shortness of breath and regular wet cough. I had several lung infections when I was a kid. That's why I'm very careful and don't smoke, do drugs, or drink. I don't have other medical conditions including allergies or any kind of surgery. The doctor did the clubbing test on my fingers, which was positive. I also did an ultrasound and it showed that I'm missing the tubes that carry sperm around. I also had a 75% for my respiratory function test.

Does the patient match the trial criteria? 0