Breathing Exercise

Researchers are studying the immediate and long-term effects of structured breathing exercises on mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality. The study focuses on healthcare professionals experiencing burnout and aims to assess how these breathing practices might support their mental well-being. This behavioral intervention is sponsored by Mayo Clinic and targets adults aged 18 to 85 years. Participants will engage in self-guided structured breathing sessions lasting 15, 30, or 36 minutes, tailored to their personal skill level. The study monitors the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of these breathing exercises over a four-month period. The intervention is delivered via a mobile app, allowing participants to practice breathing exercises on their own schedule. During the study, participants will be assessed on recruitment ease, retention, mobile app engagement, satisfaction with the breathing intervention, and adherence to the program. Researchers will collect data through mobile app usage metrics and self-reported measures to evaluate how well the intervention fits into the participants routines. The total participation time for each individual is four months, during which their progress and experience with the breathing practice will be closely monitored.

Researchers are evaluating a new electronic health record EHR strategy designed to improve adherence to lung-protective ventilation LPV practices among patients requiring mechanical ventilation. This cluster randomized trial involves 10 hospitals, classified by size based on the number of mechanically ventilated patients. Randomization occurs at the hospital level, allowing comparison of outcomes before and after implementing the strategy, as well as between hospitals using the standard ventilator order and those using the new order. The study is led by the University of Minnesota and focuses on improving ventilation care processes. The intervention group implements a new ventilator order developed with behavioral economics principles to reduce cognitive load on providers and enhance order usability. Changes include automatic calculation of predicted body weight PBW based on height, prompts to obtain height if missing, simplified ventilator modes, and improved visualization of orders. The control group continues using the current ventilator order. The intervention period lasts for 9 months before the new strategy is rolled out to all hospitals. Participants are adult patients aged 18 and over who require mechanical ventilation in the participating hospitals. Researchers will collect data on ventilator settings, adherence to LPV principles measured by tidal volume settings over specified periods, and timing to achieve target volumes. Outcomes include the duration patients receive protective tidal volumes and exposure to higher tidal volumes, monitored over 72 hours. The study runs from July 2025 to December 2026, with outcome assessments focusing on ventilation quality within 4 hours and up to 72 hours of mechanical ventilation.

This research aims to evaluate a behavioral intervention called Behavioral Exposure for Interoceptive Tolerance BE-FIT designed to reduce exercise anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. The study is a Stage II randomized-controlled trial involving individuals aged 40 and older who have elevated exercise anxiety and are enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program. The goal is to determine whether BE-FIT improves exercise adherence and to understand the mechanisms behind any changes in physical activity behavior. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the BE-FIT intervention group or a health education control HEC group. BE-FIT includes six 45-minute individual sessions over three weeks, focusing on exposure to feared bodily sensations and exercise, preventing safety behaviors around exercise, and using a wrist-worn activity monitor Fitbit for feedback and goal setting. The HEC group receives time-matched educational sessions on healthy aging topics and also uses the Fitbit for monitoring physical activity but without set activity goals. Over 24 weeks, participants will engage in six sessions delivered twice weekly alongside their cardiac rehabilitation program. Data collection includes five assessments at baseline, end of treatment, and follow-ups at weeks 12, 18, and 24. Researchers will measure overall exercise minutes, attendance at cardiac rehabilitation, and daily steps. The study involves monitoring through questionnaires, Fitbit data, and clinical supervision to assess changes in exercise anxiety and adherence.

This research aims to evaluate the benefits of a pulmonary rehabilitation program using breathing exercises for people with chronic airway diseases, including COPD and asthma. The study focuses on improving functional capacity measured by the six-minute walking distance test, reducing breathlessness using the Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, and enhancing lung function and arterial blood gases. It highlights the importance of breathing techniques to improve respiratory muscle efficiency and ventilation, which can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group receives usual medication treatment for chronic airway diseases without breathing exercises, while the other group receives medication combined with breathing exercises such as diaphragmatic breathing, pursed lip breathing, and use of an incentive spirometer. The study measures lung function outcomes like forced expiratory volume in one second FEV1 and forced vital capacity FVC over a 6-month period. During the study, participants undergo regular assessments including lung function tests and walking distance evaluations to track improvements. Researchers monitor symptoms and breathing capacity to understand the impact of the breathing exercises. The study includes adults aged 18 and older who have clinically stable COPD or asthma and have not previously participated in exercise training. The total study duration and follow-up details correspond to the 6-month outcome measurement period.

Hydrogen breath tests are used to detect carbohydrate malabsorption, measure the time it takes food to move through the intestines oro-caecal transit time or OCTT, link hydrogen gas increases with abdominal symptoms like bloating and diarrhea, and diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO. Differentiating carbohydrate intolerance from SIBO is important because their treatments differ, with dietary changes used for intolerance and antibiotics for SIBO. Recent guidelines question the accuracy of hydrogen breath tests alone for diagnosing SIBO due to variable OCTT measurements, which can cause false positives. This study evaluates a new, simple, and affordable method combining a 20g lactulose hydrogen breath test with abdominal X-ray imaging to confirm OCTT and diagnose SIBO or carbohydrate intolerance. During the test, if hydrogen levels rise before the contrast agent appears in the cecum, SIBO is indicated. If the contrast agent is visible when hydrogen increases, OCTT is confirmed and symptoms after this point suggest carbohydrate intolerance. This approach aims to improve diagnosis without the higher costs and complexity of other imaging techniques. Participants included adults referred for hydrogen breath testing due to digestive symptoms with no organic disease found. During the test, breath hydrogen is monitored while abdominal X-rays are taken when hydrogen rises. Researchers will assess the safety and practicality of this combined test, measure agreement between observers analyzing OCTT, and determine the prevalence of food intolerance and SIBO among participants. The total assessment occurs within three hours during routine clinical care, using existing clinical data with patient consent.

Sarcoidosis is a complex disease that can affect many organs and systems, most commonly the lungs, leading to reduced lung capacity, muscle weakness, and symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. It mostly occurs in young and middle-aged adults and impacts quality of life through physical and emotional challenges, including anxiety and depression. This research aims to compare the effects of yogic techniques and conventional physiotherapy on lung function, exercise capacity, fatigue, mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life in patients with sarcoidosis at various stages. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a conventional physiotherapy program or a yoga program, both supervised by a physiotherapist. Each program involves two days per week of group-based tele-rehabilitation and three days of home exercises tracked with a diary over 8 weeks. The physiotherapy group will perform strengthening and breathing exercises, including resistance training and thoracic expansion, while the yoga group will practice pranayama breathing techniques and yoga postures. Both groups will also engage in aerobic walking exercises three days per week. During the study, participants will undergo assessments at the start and after 8 weeks, including lung function tests, exercise capacity tests, fatigue and dyspnea evaluations, mental health scales, sleep quality, and quality of life questionnaires. The research team will monitor these measures to understand the effects of each program. The total participation time is 8 weeks, with close supervision and standardized rehabilitation exercises to support patient well-being and gather comprehensive data.

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pulmonary rehabilitation program tailored to patients with dysfunctional breathing DB, a condition affecting about 9% of the general population and common in people with diseases like asthma or COPD. The study compares this specialized rehabilitation, guided by cardiopulmonary exercise testing CPET, against standard physiotherapy focused on breathing retraining. The goal is to find improved ways to relieve symptoms and address the lack of consensus on diagnosing and treating DB. The trial involves two groups one receives a pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of 16 sessions over 8 weeks, combining exercise with breathing retraining guided by CPET findings, and the other group undergoes physiotherapy with five sessions over 9 weeks focusing on progressive breathing retraining and related techniques. Both treatments aim to address erratic breathing patterns and hyperventilation characteristic of DB. Participants will have assessments including CPET, questionnaires like the Nijmegen questionnaire and Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool, and scales measuring anxiety, depression, and dyspnea at enrollment and after their treatment period 8 or 9 weeks depending on the group. Researchers will track breathing patterns, symptom changes, and quality of life. The study is randomized and single-blinded, with a total participation time of about two months.

Researchers are studying adult patients who are undergoing mechanical ventilation and preparing to be weaned off the ventilator. The study focuses on evaluating diaphragmatic effort and movement during a spontaneous breathing trial SBT, which involves no assistance from the ventilator. The goal is to explore new ways to assess diaphragm function using diaphragmatic longitudinal strain LSdi and strain rate LSRdi alongside existing measurements, to help detect diaphragmatic dysfunction earlier. Participants will be monitored during a spontaneous breathing trial lasting between 30 and 120 minutes, using continuous positive airway pressure CPAP with zero pressure support. Researchers will measure diaphragm function parameters, including diaphragmatic strain LSdi, LSRdi, thickening fraction TFdi, and airway occlusion pressures 94P0.1 and 94Pocc. These measurements will be taken at baseline before the trial, and then at 2 minutes early, 15 minutes intermediate, and 30 minutes late after the trial starts. During the study, patients will undergo regular assessments of diaphragm function using non-invasive imaging and pressure measurements. The research team aims to monitor changes in diaphragmatic longitudinal strain and strain rate throughout the SBT over a 7-day observation period. This detailed monitoring will help evaluate how the diaphragm performs during weaning from mechanical ventilation. Participants safety and clinical condition will be observed throughout the study period.

Researchers are exploring how habitual dietary fat quality and metabolic health relate to exercise responses, cognitive function, and academic-related outcomes in healthy young adults aged 18 to 60. The study focuses on understanding why individuals differ in their feelings, motivation, and cognitive performance during and after exercise. This observational research aims to clarify how lifestyle factors influence exercise enjoyment and cognitive abilities. Participants will complete assessments including dietary intake, body composition, metabolic health markers, aerobic fitness, cognitive tests, and academic engagement. They will also undergo a standardized 30-minute moderate-intensity cycling session on a stationary bike, during which their heart rate, perceived exertion, emotions, exercise enjoyment, energy levels, and motivation will be measured before, during, and after exercise. During the study, participants attend two laboratory visits and complete dietary records and cognitive assessments. Researchers will collect data through questionnaires, physiological measurements, and exercise testing to evaluate affective responses to exercise and related cognitive and academic outcomes. The study aims to improve understanding of lifestyle influences on physical activity and cognitive health, guiding future recommendations to support exercise participation and mental performance.

Researchers are studying very preterm infants born before 33 weeks of gestation to find the smallest effective dose of dobutamine needed to treat low blood flow in the superior vena cava during the first 72 hours after birth. This condition, called hemodynamic insufficiency, affects blood circulation in newborns during transitional circulation. The study is a phase 12, single-center dose-finding trial aiming to improve care for these vulnerable infants. Participants will receive intravenous dobutamine at one of five increasing doses 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, or 15 micrograms per kilogram per minute. The attending physician will decide when to reduce or stop the infusion following local guidelines. Each dose group is studied to determine the minimum dobutamine dose that raises and maintains superior vena cava flow above 55 mlkgmin within 1 to 3 hours. During the study, researchers will monitor the infants blood flow and clinical status for up to 72 hours and track any adverse events for about 12 months on average. The primary measurement is the minimum dobutamine dose needed to maintain adequate blood flow. Secondary outcomes include how many infants achieve stable circulation and the frequency of any side effects. The study will help define safe and effective doses for treating this condition in very preterm babies.