UT Health San Antonio

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military service members and veterans is as high as 32% and is the third most service-connected disability, resulting in over $1.5 billion in direct costs over a five-year period. According to Clinical Practice Guidelines, strong evidence exists for psychotherapies, such as prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD. However, psychotherapies are often met with high drop-out rates, treatment non-compliance, and emotional stress due to trauma recall. A successful approach to reduce drop-out rates and maintain efficacy is to compress psychotherapy into daily, day-long PE sessions. Yet another deficit exists regarding the feasibility of this approach outside of residential treatment facilities, which are typically reserved for the most extreme cases. The newest study from the our team aimed to augment PE residential treatment with a neuromodulatory treatment: image-guided, robot-navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (IR-TMS). Along with the PE-focused intensive inpatient program (IIP-PE), participants received IR-TMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) daily for 20 consecutive days. Results demonstrated superiority of the combined IIP-PE/IR-TMS approach, compared to IIP-PE and a sham condition. However, it is not yet established whether a standalone IR-TMS approach will achieve similar results. Our goal is to implement an open-label trial of IR-TMS for PTSD, in which veterans and active-duty service members with PTSD will receive accelerated IR-TMS throughout a 2-week timeframe. Results will be used as a foundation for future extramural funding to scale-up the stand alone IR-TMS intervention for PTSD treatments.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The goal of the NANO trial is to study the longstanding clinical practice of empirically administering intravenous antibiotics to extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants in the first days of life. In this 802-subject multicenter placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, the hypothesis to be tested is that the incidence of adverse outcomes is higher in babies receiving empiric antibiotics (EA) in the first week of life compared to babies receiving placebo. The study targets a population of ELBW infants in whom the clinical decision to use or not use EA is currently most challenging -- infants that are clinically stable that did not have a known exposure to intraamniotic infection and were not born preterm for maternal indications. The primary outcome is the composite outcome of late-onset sepsis (LOS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), or death during the index hospitalization. Secondary safety outcomes will include total antibiotic days, days to full enteral feedings, and common morbidities in preterm infants that have previously been linked to EA, e.g. retinopathy of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Weight and length z-score, and head circumference, are standard measures to be collected weekly by clinical team per a standardized protocol.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2020

open study

To examine the effect of an increase in plasma beta-hydroxy-butyrate (B-OH-B) levels, spanning the physiologic and pharmacologic range (+0.5, +2.0, and +5.0 mmol/L), on: (i) parameters of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function utilizing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (ii) myocardial glucose uptake using positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose in type 2 diabetic patients with Class II-III New York Heart Association (NYHA).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2019

open study

Posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescence impairs neurobiological networks underlying cognitive, social and emotional skills. Neuroimaging research that seeks to identify the neural mechanisms of treatments for PTSD could lead to novel treatments, but progress has been slow using current methods. The proposed study uses an innovative approach to identify neural mechanisms of specific phases of trauma-focused therapy for youth with PTSD, allowing a new understanding of brain changes associated with the process of therapy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

This phase II trial tests whether ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with talazoparib works to shrink tumors in patients with solid tumors that are unlikely to be cured or controlled with treatment and that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Another aim of this study is to find out if, and how, patients' genes influence their response to this specific drug combination. For this part of the study, investigators will run tests using samples of patients' tumor tissue and blood that will be collected during the study. ZEN-3694 is an inhibitor of a family of proteins called the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET). It may prevent the growth of tumor cells that overproduce BET protein. Talazoparib is an inhibitor of PARP, an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. Genes are pieces of the DNA code that individuals inherit from their parents. Some genes work to protect against cancer by correcting damage that can occur in the DNA when cells divide. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two examples of these types of genes, and they are called tumor-suppressor genes. For example, if a person has a mutation in a BRCA1/2 gene they have a greatly increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer because their cells may no longer be able to completely repair damaged DNA. It is the accumulation of DNA damage which causes a cell to change into a cancerous cell. Other genes are also involved in this process, and these are called DNA damage repair genes. The KRAS mutation is a change in a protein in normal cells. Normally KRAS serves as an information hub for signals in the cell that lead to cell growth, but when there is a mutation in KRAS it signals too much and cells grow without being told to, which causes cancer. Combination therapy with ZEN-3694 and talazoparib may be effective at slowing or stopping tumor growth in patients with advanced cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

This phase II trial tests how well giving durvalumab with standard chemotherapy, gemcitabine and cisplatin, before surgery works in treating patients with high risk liver cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) that can be removed by surgery (resectable). Durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving durvalumab with gemcitabine and cisplatin before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed in patients with high risk resectable cholangiocarcinoma.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study

The study will test and compare the efficacy of a single essential amino acid valine with a combination of essential amino acids (EAA) supplement on fatigue, frailty, and cognitive function in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study

To test the feasibility of collecting cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples from DLBCL patients before and after treatment. cfDNA is DNA traveling in your blood outside of a cell and is easily collected from blood samples drawn using the vein puncture method.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2023

open study

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding immunotherapy (brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab) to standard treatment (chemotherapy with or without radiation) to the standard treatment alone in improving survival in patients with stage I and II classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It is made of a monoclonal antibody called brentuximab that is linked to a cytotoxic agent called vedotin. Brentuximab attaches to CD30 positive lymphoma cells in a targeted way and delivers vedotin to kill them. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin hydrochloride, bleomycin sulfate, vinblastine sulfate, dacarbazine, and procarbazine hydrochloride work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body's immune response. Etoposide is in a class of medications known as podophyllotoxin derivatives. It blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair and may kill cancer cells. Vincristine is in a class of medications called vinca alkaloids. It works by stopping cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It is used to reduce inflammation and lower the body's immune response to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Adding immunotherapy to the standard treatment of chemotherapy with or without radiation may increase survival and/or fewer short-term or long-term side effects in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma compared to the standard treatment alone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2023

open study

Patients with a primary invasive melanoma are recommended to undergo excision of the primary lesion with a wide margin. There is evidence that less radical margins of excision may be just as safe. This is a randomised controlled trial of 1 cm versus 2 cm margin of excision of the primary lesion for adult patients with stage II primary invasive cutaneous melanomas (AJCC 8th edition) to determine differences in disease-free survival. A reduction in margins is expected to improve patient quality of life.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2019

open study

The investigators are working on a project to help people who have had mild brain injuries hear better. Sometimes, these injuries can make it hard for people to hear clearly, especially in noisy places or when trying to tell where sounds are coming from. The project is testing special training exercises that have helped healthy people improve their hearing in these situations. The goal is to see if these exercises can also help people with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). If these exercises work, they could help doctors give better treatment to people with hearing problems after a brain injury. This would be especially helpful for soldiers who need to stay ready for duty. It could also make life better for veterans who struggle with hearing issues and help lower the cost of healthcare.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2024

open study

The objective of this trial is to determine if Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can accurately evaluate the degree of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) during a Provocative Elevation Maneuver of the Lower Extremity (PEMLE) test, as compared to routine clinical assessments.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2024

open study

This is an open-label single arm study. All patients will receive the investigational agent.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are neural crest-derived tumors of the nervous system that are often inherited and genetically heterogeneous. Genetic screening is recommended for patients and their relatives, and can guide clinical decisions. However, a mutation is not found in all cases. The aims of this proposal are to: 1) to map gene(s) involved in pheochromocytoma, and 2) identify genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma of various genetic origins.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Oct 2005

open study

This will be a single arm, non-randomized, pre-surgical clinical trial of women with newly diagnosed triple negative breast cancer with high g-H2Ax (gamma H2AX antibodies) comparing changes in biomarkers from a diagnostic core needle biopsy to surgical pathology specimen or repeat core needle biopsy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study

This phase II/III trial compares the effect of adding chemotherapy before and after surgery versus after surgery alone (usual treatment) in treating patients with stage II-III gallbladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving chemotherapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller; therefore, may reduce the extent of surgery. Additionally, it may make it easier for the surgeon to distinguish between normal and cancerous tissue. Giving chemotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. This study will determine whether giving chemotherapy before surgery increases the length of time before the cancer may return and whether it will increase a patient's life span compared to the usual approach.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2021

open study

The rapid growth rate and unique challenges as a new immigrant group call for a better understanding of the social and health needs of the older Asian Americans (AAs) population. Overwhelming numbers of AAs, a fast-growing first-generation immigrant group, suffer from type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its consequences of poorly controlled blood glucose. For the older AAs, there are higher prevalence rates, worse diabetes control, and higher rates of complications due to limited English proficiency and health literacy. Despite the evidence concerning the effects of dietary interventions on glycemic control by well-controlled feeding studies in mainstream Americans, a lack of clinical trials of culturally tailored interventions often imposes serious barriers to translate and implement such fruitful and innovative approaches in individuals from ethnic minority communities such as AAs. The proposed study will use a randomized, controlled design with a sample of 60 AAs aged 65 years or older. Metabolomics methodologies will be incorporated into this research to provide a global picture of metabolites' responses to personalized behavioral nutrition (PBN) intervention. The study results will obtain the necessary information to conduct a meaningful community-based clinical trial to test the effectiveness of PBN in improving dietary patterns and glycemic control in older AAs.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2020

open study

This is the first prospective controlled study to determine whether the topical application of vancomycin powder reduces infection-related complications when applied to open fracture injuries in the acute emergency department setting.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2020

open study

This study examines the impact of social and genetic factors on outcomes in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors of Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Compared to both older adult and childhood cancer patients, AYAs with cancer experience different diagnoses and specific biological, clinical, psychological and social factors that affect their risks for post-treatment morbidity and premature death. Collecting samples of blood samples and health and treatment information from cancer survivors of Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma may help doctors identify conditions that increase the likelihood of AYAs getting sick and dying after treatment of cancer and better understand how to address the needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2023

open study

The main objectives of this study are to determine the feasibility and safety of AU-011 treatment of bladder cancer utilizing intratumoral injection with or without intramural injection and with or without laser application.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

Purpose: To examine the effect of addition of combination therapy with dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone to insulin on glucose control and plasma ketone concentration in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) Research Design: 120 patients with type 1 diabetes who otherwise are healthy constitute the study population. After screening, eligible subjects will start 4 week run in. At week 4, subjects will receive dapagliflozin for 12 weeks. At week 16, subjects will be randomized to receive in a double blind fashion pioglitazone or placebo for 16 weeks. Methods: the following techniques will be employed in the present study: (1) mixed meal tolerance test; (2) indirect calorimetry; (3) continuous glucose monitoring. Clinical Relevance: the results of the present study will demonstrate that the addition of pioglitazone to SGLT2 inhibitor in T1DM patients produces greater reduction in the HbA1c without increasing risk of ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2019

open study

A commercially available product clinical study which aims to confirm the safety, performance and clinical benefits to the patient of the Affixus Natural Nail upper arm (humerus) bone nail system for both the implant itself and the instrumentation used during surgery.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2022

open study

This clinical trial studies the effects of dexrazoxane hydrochloride on biomarkers associated with cardiomyopathy and heart failure after cancer treatment. Studying samples of blood in the laboratory from patients receiving dexrazoxane hydrochloride may help doctors learn more about the effects of dexrazoxane hydrochloride on cells. It may also help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2014

open study

The researchers hope to learn if specific types of MRI software and techniques can help improve early prostate cancer detection at time of a MRI-guided prostate biopsy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2023

open study