(no subject)

Dear potential study participant,

Thank you for your interest in our studies here at the Lung Biology Center.  This information pack aims to give you an overview of the studies we are currently performing, the number of visits required for each and the procedures and payments involved.

All participants begin by coming in for an intake visit during which we discuss your medical history, determine your lung function (how much air you can move in and out of your lungs), and your asthma and allergy status.  This visit takes approximately 2 hours.

All of our studies involve exposure to common air pollutants in an exposure chamber (8ft x 8ft x7ft), followed by either a sputum induction or a bronchoscopy to measure the response of your airways.  Outlines of these procedures can be found at the end of this information packet.  For these studies, only non-smokers and people without a history of heavy smoking are eligible.

This information is intended only to give an overview of the studies we offer, and we encourage all interested participants to call us for more details and for answers to your questions.  We can be reached by phone on (415) 206-5960. 

Mechanisms of Particulate Toxicity: Health Effects in Asthmatic Individuals

This study compares different particulate matter exposures to determine the effects of airborne particulate matter on airway inflammation in asthmatic individuals.  Particulate matter is a major component of air pollution in outdoor environments. The levels of particulate matter and ozone are similar to those in LA on smoggy days.  To participate in this study you must have mild to moderate asthma and have allergies.

The study is separated into two experiments, and participants may be involved in one or both experiments. One experiment consists of 3 exposure conditions comparing filtered air, particulate matter (ammonium nitrate and carbon mix), and particulate matter and ozone together. The other experiment consists of 3 exposure conditions comparing filtered air, particulate matter (ammonium nitrate and carbon mix) for one day, and particulate matter for three consecutive days.  Each exposure will be of 4 hours duration and participants will be required to exercise intermittently at a moderate level during the exposure.  Exposure conditions will be separated by a minimum of three weeks.  The day after each exposure condition, bronchoscopy with biopsy (see below for details on bronchoscopy with biopsy) will be performed. Participants will be paid approximately $1200 upon completion of the first experiment (7 visits, 3 bronchoscopies), or $1300 upon completion of the second experiment (9!
 
  visits, 3 bronchoscopies).

 
Airway Responses Following Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Exposure in Asthmatic Individuals

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a gaseous air pollutant that is generated directly from the combustion of fossil fuels and conversion of nitric oxide (NO) in the atmosphere.  Outdoor NO2 concentrations are related to traffic density and indoor levels related to non-vented natural gas cooking stoves.  Studies have shown that NO2 enhances the allergic inflammatory responses in the lungs.  Asthmatic individuals have not been studied.  To participate in this study you must have mild to moderate asthma and have allergies.

This study compares exposure to filtered air with exposure to nitrogen dioxide gas.  Each exposure would be followed by sputum induction after 6 hours and again after 26 hours (see below for details on sputum induction).  Upon completion, participants will be paid approximately $385 (7 visits, 4 sputum inductions).

Each exposure will be of 3 hours duration and participants will be required to exercise intermittently at a moderate level during the exposure.  Exposure conditions will be separated by a minimum of three weeks.

Outline of Procedures
Sputum induction:  This procedure takes approximately one hour, during which time you will inhale a 3% saline mist for 20 minutes, then clear saliva from your mouth into one container and to cough into a second container.

Bronchoscopy and biopsy:  This procedure is conducted in the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), adjacent to the lung biology center.  The procedure begins with an anesthetic spray to the back of your throat, before passing a plastic tube about the diameter of a pencil down your throat and into your lungs.  Warm saline solution is passed through the bronchoscope tube then gently suctioned out.  For the biopsies, several small pieces of tissue (each no bigger than the tip of a pen) will be taken from the surface of the airways.  Medications to help relax you during this procedure will be given through an intravenous (IV) catheter.  The anesthesia, bronchoscopy, and biopsy each take approximately 15 minutes each to complete (total time = 45 min.), recovery time at the SFGH is approximately 1 hour. Participants will need to be accompanied home by a companion (if you cannot arrange for someone to accompany you home, one of the study staff members will accompany you).

Please contact us with any questions by phone at (415) 206-5960.

Thank you again for your interest.

Sincerely,

The Research Team at the Lung Biology Center.