Vascular Aging Laboratory

Researcher:    Joaquin U. Gonzales, Ph.D.

Location:           Kinesiology & Sport Management Building, room 119

 

Laboratory Information

The Vascular Aging Laboratory at Texas Tech University has been active in human research since 2011.  The laboratory is directed by Dr. Joaquin Gonzales who has 20 years of experience conducting laboratory-based experimental investigations.  The laboratory has been funded by the TTUHSC/UMC LWBI Women's Health (2015-2016) and the American Heart Association (2015-2017; 2019-2021).  Students that have successfully completed a graduate thesis project in this laboratory include:

• Jacob Dellinger, 2021-present, title of thesis “Impact of sleep regularity on skeletal muscle oxygenation changes during cycling exercise”;
• Cayla Clark, 2019-2021, title of thesis "Effect of fractionized exercise on nighttime central blood pressure, cognitive function, and cerebral tissue oxygenation under conditions of normal and long sleep durations";
• John Ashley, 2016-2017, title of thesis "Effects of L-citrulline supplementation on the energetic cost of walking";
• Andrea Raymond, 2015-2017, title of thesis "Effect of L-citrulline on gait performance in older adults";
• Melissa Mae R. Inigo, 2010-2012, title of thesis "Influence of menstrual cycle phases on exercise-induced bronchospasm and its effect on endurance performance".

Laboratory Skills and Capabilities 

• Accelerometer-based assessment of ambulatory activity (peak cadence, total steps) or time spent in activity of different intensities (sedentary, light, moderate, vigorous)
• Assessment of microvascular and macrovascular vasodilatory capacity using strain-gauge plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound, respectively
• Cerebrovascular function using transcranial Doppler
• Cognitive function testing
• Evaluation of ambulatory (24-hr) blood pressure
• Gait speed analysis 
• Measurement of arterial blood flow and stiffness at rest and during exercise using Doppler ultrasound
• Pulmonary gas exchange during exercise
• Pulse wave analysis 
• Sleep assessment

Laboratory Equipment

• Actigraph, GT3X+ and GT9x accelerometers plus ActiLife software
• ADInstruments, 8SP PowerLab acquisition system
• Artinis, PortaLite near-infrared spectroscopy system
• AtCor Medical, SphygmoCor PVx system
• Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) cognitive testing system
• CNSystems, CNAP 500at beat-by-beat blood pressure system
• Dynavision, APDM Mobility Lab gait & balance system
• GE Healthcare, Vivid 7 Doppler ultrasound system
• Hokanson, E20 rapid cuff inflation system
• Hokanson, EC6 strain-gauge plethysmography system
• MedGraphics Ultima CardiO2 metabolic cart
• MIA, Vascular Tools brachial and carotid artery analyzers
• Multigon TOC Neurovision transcranial Doppler system
• SunTech, Oscar2 w/SphygmoCor Inside ambulatory blood pressure device