Health and Kinesiology

William H. Cooke, PhD

Principal Investigator: Circuit Weight Training and Blood Pressure Regulation in Prehypertension. National Institutes of Health; Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R15 HL087222-01), 2007-2010.

Circuit weight training is a specific type of resistance training that incorporates light weights and short rest intervals, and results in beneficial cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal adaptations. One of the most important adaptations appears to be reduction of arterial pressure, especially for individuals who may be prehypertensive. The overall goal of this project is to document physiological mechanisms modulating arterial pressure and arterial pressure regulation in response to circuit weight training in prehypertensive young adults.

Principal Investigator: Novel Analyses to Assist in the Prediction for Need of Life Saving Interventions for Soldiers and Trauma Patients. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (W81XWH-06-P-1008).2005-on going.

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of death on the battlefield and one of the leading causes of death in civilian trauma. Traumatically injured soldiers and patients are monitored routinely during pre-hospital transport by assessing physiological and neurological indices such as heart rate, arterial pressure, arterial hemoglobin saturation, and mentation. However, such assessments require physical access to the patient. Both the United States military and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have an interest in developing the capacity to assess injury severity remotely. This project is a collaborative effort between UTSA and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. Our goal is to improve decision support for both combat medics and civilian first-responders by introducing novel applications for remote ECG monitoring and analysis.

Donovan Fogt, PhD

“Rapid assessment of individual soldier operational readiness”. This collaborative effort with Drs. John Kalns from Hyperion Biotechnology and Stephan Bach from UTSA Department of Chemistry will consist of laboratory and field-based experiments designed to identify new salivary biomarkers of risk of severe fatigue and dehydration. Funding awarded from the Department of Defense (ARMY) – Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR) Program as well as the State of Texas (Office of the Governor) – Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Expected start in Spring 2007 with a Summer 2008 completion.

“Hydration Status of Air Force Military Basic Trainees after Implementation of the Back Mounted Hydration System”. This is a collaborative effort with the LTC Lorie Brosch, United States Air Force, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 59th Clinical Research Squadron/MSRP, Lackland AFB and Hyperion Biotechnology research scientists. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of back-mounted hydration systems on hydration status during basic military training. This study is being funded through Hyperion Biotechnologies existing funding. Expected start in Spring 2007 with a Summer 2008 completion.

“Effect of Ambrotose on health and wellness in overweight young adults”. Mannatech Incorporated has provided funding to assess the effects of Ambrotose, a nutritional supplement containing the polysaccharide arabinogalactan. We will assess the effects of this product on health-related indicies over a 3 week supplement period. The study will be conducted and completed in the Spring, 2007.

“Circuit weight training and blood pressure regulation in prehypertension”. This project is a collaborative effort with Drs. William Cooke (Principle Investigator) and Ashley Love. Funding is provided through the National Institutes of Health R15 and experimental protocols are currently being prepared for a Spring 2007 project start and Fall 2009 completion.

“Mujeres Interesadas en Cambios por la Salud (MI CASA; Women Interested in Changes for a Healthy Lifestyle)”. This large-scale, collaborative effort with Dr. Zenong Yin (Principle Investigator) and the City of Laredo Health Department will evaluate the effectiveness of a community based physical activity promotion program delivered by promotores de sulad (lay health educators) in adult females residing in Laredo, Texas. Research grant proposal submitted (October, 2006) to National Institutes of Health Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) section.

Sara B. Oswalt, MPH, PhD

Somos Fuertes: Strong Women Making Healthy Choices (Co-PI with Dr. Tammy J. Wyatt; funded by the Office of Women’s Health, Department of Health and Human Services; 2006-2008). This program goals are to (1) increase access to sexuality health education and behavioral risk reduction information following the ABCs (A - abstinence, B – being faithful, C – condom use), (2) increase awareness to HIV/STI testing and related counseling services, (3) develop a culturally sensitive, women-focused education training module to improve empowerment skills to sufficiently negotiate safe sex practices; and (4) shift attitudes and beliefs so that healthy sexual decision making becomes a priority in students’ lives.  Out on the Playing Field (project with Dr. Tiffanye Vargas-Tonsing; funding options under review). This project will examine collegiate coaches’ attitudes and efficacy levels of working with gay, lesbian and bisexual athletes. The results of this project will serve as a starting point for inquiry into coaches’ attitudes and efficacy towards working with gay, lesbian and bisexual athletes. Findings from this project will help direct efforts towards education programs for coaches.

Does it Work? Evaluation of Sanctioned Alcohol Intervention (with collaborators from the University of Georgia) This study examined the effectiveness of a University alcohol intervention program for students who had been sanctioned by either the court or University judiciary. This project was conducted over 18 months; analyses and manuscript development are being conducted.  

UTSA Campus Climate (collaborators are Bibiana Gutierrez & Hayley Mayall). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender UTSA community members were surveyd to examine acceptance, safety, and prejudice for gay, lesbian, and bisexual UTSA students. Data collection and analyses are complete; manuscript development is being conducted.  

Georgia Polacek, PHD

Evaluating social determinants of health through Comparison of CTS 2003 data across sites.

Evaluating social determinants of health through comparison of CTS 2003 data with SAS 2003 data.

No smoking public ordinances:  evaluation of, compliance with, and knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of Hispanic adults.

Smoking knowledge, attitudes and behaviors in adults.

Tiffanye M. Vargas-Tonsing, Ph.D.

(co-investigator: M. Flores). Volunteer Coaches’ Efficacy Beliefs for Working with Young Athletes with Learning Disabilities.  Exploratory study set to begin in January of 2007.  Results will be used to help design coaching education programs.

(co-investigator: S. Oswalt). How Safe is the Playing Field? Collegiate Coaches’ Attitudes and Efficacy towards Working with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Athletes.  Exploratory study set to begin in Spring 2007.  Results will be used to help design coaching education programs.

 Tammy Wyatt, PhD

Somos Fuertes:  Strong Women Making Healthy Choices (Co-PI; Co-PI Sara Oswalt, Ph.D.,  funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health, 2006-2008) is intended to develop a collaborative partnership among University of Texas at San Antonio campus organizations and key community organizations to increase HIV/AIDS knowledge and prevention skills among college-aged minority women.

 Pre-Service Educators’ Preparedness to Address At-Risk Behaviors in Diverse Classroom Settings (PI; Co-Investigator Maria Kaylor, Ph.D. funded by the UTSA COEHD Mini-grant, 2006-2007).  The purpose of this project is to determine the knowledge of pre-service teachers at UTSA in regards to risk behaviors and to determine their preparedness to work with this population of students.

Body Science: An Integrated Approach to Enhance Learning in Health and Science in Latino Youth (PI; Co-Investigator Zenong Yin, under consideration to be funded by the UTSA Academy for Teacher Excellence, 2007-2008).  The purpose of this exploratory study is to develop and evaluate an integrated health and science module that addresses the relationship between obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and body composition to chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer for predominantly Latino/Latina youth, ages 14-18, in Bexar County and the surrounding areas via a mobile health lab. 

Zenong Yin, PhD

HEALTHY study (Co-Investigator; PI Roberto Trevino, MD; funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2005-2011). A multi-center RCT to test the efficacy of a comprehensive middle school health promotion program to reduce the risks for type 2 diabetes in 7 centers (42 middle schools) across the US. Details of the study is available at http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/aug2006/niddk-28.htm. The intervention phase starts in Spring 2007.

Medical College of Georgia FitKid Project (Co-Investigator; PI Paule Barbeau, PhD; funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2001-2007).  A 3-year study to test the effectiveness of an after-school obesity prevention program in elementary school students. The intervention phase was completed in May 2006. Preliminary data has been published.

Walking for Health in Laredo project (PI; funded by the International Life Science Institute-Center for Health Promotion; 2005-2006). Development and pilot-testing of a community based physical activity promotion program delivered by promotores de sulad (lay health educators) in collaboration with City of Laredo Health Department.

Healthy and Ready to Learn (Co-Investigator; PI Suzanne Winter; funded by the Baptist Health Foundation; 2006-2008). Development and pilot-testing an early childhood intervention program to promote school-readiness and reduce risks for obesity in 3-5 years old children in inner city neighborhoods in San Antonio.