|
|
Post by carmel on Jun 26, 2013 18:56:13 GMT -5
Have any of you met a participant who claimed they could get into any study they screened for? If so, I'm wondering what they have that is special about them. What would you say are the most desired attributes that CRUs look for in your screening results? Would you say they'd prefer most of us to have a BMI of 25? Or do they prefer even lower than that at 24? Do they want your blood pressure to be naturally low at around 100/60? Basically what I'm looking for is precise numbers that they like. I know what they require for BMI as it states it in the description. However, what I don't know is what is being done behind closed doors. What do they really like? There was a guy on here with the screen name altitude who sounded like he was getting into most studies he screened for. Here's his post: From An Experienced Lab Rat. It's a good topic to bookmark. |
|
mike
Moderator 
Posts: 334
|
Post by mike on Jun 29, 2013 16:58:29 GMT -5
I think it is very beneficial to look at studies with a professional attitude, which is soing that most prospective study participants don't do. This means you don't play around with your chances of getting into a study by, for example: doing drugs that might be detected, drinking or working out too near the time of your screening, or eating soing you know is risky.
I have a small van that I can sleep in, so what I do is drive to the clinic the night before my screening and I just park in their lot and sleep there, so I avoid any chance of being late because of traffic, or a flat tire, or an accident.
I even keep in good physical shape partly motivated by it making it easier to get in studies. If you do a little regular cardio and keep your weight down you will lessen the chance of having vitals out of range.
Like last week I screened at WCCT and they called to tell me that my potassium was too high, it was 5.6 on a scale that topped out at 5.4. I have never even heard of someone getting flagged for this, but I did research to find what foods are high in potassium so I could avoid them for the blood retest a few days later (they did not disqualify me, I will have to wait and see if the second test is good).
Many people are too flaky or sketchy to really put much effort into ensuring they pass screening. I'm pretty sure a good number of people I have met in studies are only laying off the sauce or weed long enough to get through it.
As for the BMI or blood pressure stats, it can definitely be a threat to getting in if you are close to the disqualification line. They will often give someone the boot in favor of someone who is less likely to be an issue. I think all you have to shoot for is a healthy BMI, blood pressure, etc. Because many studies draw the BMI line at about 30, you're safer being well below that.
|
|
|
|
Post by carmel on Jun 30, 2013 19:11:19 GMT -5
I even keep in good physical shape partly motivated by it making it easier to get in studies. If you do a little regular cardio and keep your weight down you will lessen the chance of having vitals out of range. Like last week I screened at WCCT and they called to tell me that my potassium was too high, it was 5.6 on a scale that topped out at 5.4. I have never even heard of someone getting flagged for this, but I did research to find what foods are high in potassium so I could avoid them for the blood retest a few days later (they did not disqualify me, I will have to wait and see if the second test is good). All very good tips, mike. Thank you. That's interesting about the potassium. I had to do a little research just now. According to Healthaliciousness.com white beans tops the list for potassium density. Out of curiosity, I just looked at my past blood test results and it ranged between 3.9 and 4.4. I'm now eating half an avocado on a daily basis and salmon 3-4 days a week. However, I've also taken out bananas so maybe I'm okay. Just out of curiosity, which foods do you think could've been the culprit? Or was it one of those fluke results possibly. Most people's potassium levels are too low. Could you elaborate on the vitals? You're referring to the EKG test, right? I'm not even sure I entirely understand that test. So if someone isn't exercising what is their EKG going to look like compared to someone who does? Also, I concentrate more on strength training more than I do on aerobic exercise. When you said "cardio" is that what you meant? Everything I read suggests that strength training is more beneficial than aerobics such as running and walking. For one thing, if you do just aerobic training alone, your muscle will wittle away as you get older. This is partly why people start gaining weight starting in their 30s since we lose muscle as we age. |
|
|
|
Post by antecubital on Jul 1, 2013 14:25:15 GMT -5
I even keep in good physical shape partly motivated by it making it easier to get in studies. If you do a little regular cardio and keep your weight down you will lessen the chance of having vitals out of range. Like last week I screened at WCCT and they called to tell me that my potassium was too high, it was 5.6 on a scale that topped out at 5.4. I have never even heard of someone getting flagged for this, but I did research to find what foods are high in potassium so I could avoid them for the blood retest a few days later (they did not disqualify me, I will have to wait and see if the second test is good). All very good tips, mike. Thank you. That's interesting about the potassium. I had to do a little research just now. According to Healthaliciousness.com white beans tops the list for potassium density. Out of curiosity, I just looked at my past blood test results and it ranged between 3.9 and 4.4. I'm now eating half an avocado on a daily basis and salmon 3-4 days a week. However, I've also taken out bananas so maybe I'm okay. Just out of curiosity, which foods do you think could've been the culprit? Or was it one of those fluke results possibly. Most people's potassium levels are too low. Could you elaborate on the vitals? You're referring to the EKG test, right? I'm not even sure I entirely understand that test. So if someone isn't exercising what is their EKG going to look like compared to someone who does? Also, I concentrate more on strength training more than I do on aerobic exercise. When you said "cardio" is that what you meant? Everything I read suggests that strength training is more beneficial than aerobics such as running and walking. For one thing, if you do just aerobic training alone, your muscle will wittle away as you get older. This is partly why people start gaining weight starting in their 30s since we lose muscle as we age. SNBL uses VCT. You must mean that PAREXEL doesn't. Right? |
|
mike
Moderator
Posts: 334
|
Post by mike on Jul 3, 2013 17:07:15 GMT -5
I even keep in good physical shape partly motivated by it making it easier to get in studies. If you do a little regular cardio and keep your weight down you will lessen the chance of having vitals out of range. Like last week I screened at WCCT and they called to tell me that my potassium was too high, it was 5.6 on a scale that topped out at 5.4. I have never even heard of someone getting flagged for this, but I did research to find what foods are high in potassium so I could avoid them for the blood retest a few days later (they did not disqualify me, I will have to wait and see if the second test is good). All very good tips, mike. Thank you. That's interesting about the potassium. I had to do a little research just now. According to Healthaliciousness.com white beans tops the list for potassium density. Out of curiosity, I just looked at my past blood test results and it ranged between 3.9 and 4.4. I'm now eating half an avocado on a daily basis and salmon 3-4 days a week. However, I've also taken out bananas so maybe I'm okay. Just out of curiosity, which foods do you think could've been the culprit? Or was it one of those fluke results possibly. Most people's potassium levels are too low. Could you elaborate on the vitals? You're referring to the EKG test, right? I'm not even sure I entirely understand that test. So if someone isn't exercising what is their EKG going to look like compared to someone who does? Also, I concentrate more on strength training more than I do on aerobic exercise. When you said "cardio" is that what you meant? Everything I read suggests that strength training is more beneficial than aerobics such as running and walking. For one thing, if you do just aerobic training alone, your muscle will wittle away as you get older. This is partly why people start gaining weight starting in their 30s since we lose muscle as we age. When I say vitals I'm really talking about blood pressure mainly. I have never had problems with the EKG so I must admit I have never really looked into it; I get the picture from how the doctors talk about it that it is mainly to detect possible problems with the heart like arrhythmias or heart disease. So I'm not sure how much exercise can help your EKG other than perhaps in the long term preventing disease. And I know there are a lot of benefits to strength training but it does not do as much for cardiovascular health as aerobic exercise. |
|
mike
Moderator
Posts: 334
|
Post by mike on Jul 11, 2013 13:06:37 GMT -5
As for the potassium, the reason my level was so high was because in the days before the blood test I ate about three bananas, and a good amount of kimchi, raw spinach, raw broccoli, and raw carrots. These five items are either high or very high in potassium. I guess if you eat extraordinarily healthily you can run into the problem of actually getting too much of some vitamins or minerals.
|
|
|
|
Post by carmel on Jul 13, 2013 21:15:36 GMT -5
And I know there are a lot of benefits to strength training but it does not do as much for cardiovascular health as aerobic exercise. If one strength trains for 45 minutes and you keep your heart rate in the upper levels of your target heart rate zone to max, you are giving your heart just as good a workout as any aerobic exercise. That's with intervals of course. Aerobic exercise such as jogging will build better athletic endurance for that particular exercise. But I just don't see how it's better for the heart. The thing is, you can also build endurance with strength training. Just do 200 squats. That's endurance. Haha. As for the potassium, the reason my level was so high was because in the days before the blood test I ate about three bananas, and a good amount of kimchi, raw spinach, raw broccoli, and raw carrots. These five items are either high or very high in potassium. I guess if you eat extraordinarily healthily you can run into the problem of actually getting too much of some vitamins or minerals. Well, mike. All those foods you just listed are really varied. You've got yellows, greens, and your oranges. As that link I provided earlier in the thread, bananas are lower in the list for potassium amount. For some reason it's a common belief that bananas are the richest source of potassium. Maybe it's mentioned the most because the most accessible of the bunch. I mean, you can't just start eating white beans on the spot. So I really find it hard to believe it was that. Unless you ate three bananas in one day. I just think you got unlucky. Kimchi. I've tried that. I bought a packet of Korean Kimchi at Trader Joe's and quite enjoyed it. I bought it after I heard about it on a TV show. It has GABA in it. GABA is a neurotransmitter in our brain. It supposedly works a bit like tryptophan with calming effects on the brain. Tomatoes have it as well and probably some other foods. It was very tasty and spicy. I only bought it that one time. |
|
mike
Moderator
Posts: 334
|
Post by mike on Jul 22, 2013 21:47:58 GMT -5
I'm sure it's possible to get heart benefits from a strength workout by basically turning it into a cardiovascular workout as well, by using a circuit or as you say interval type approach; keeping your heart rate up by not taking any long rests.
But I rarely see people doing this at the gym, and I think it's because most people either don't like it or don't have the endurance for it. In the past when I did some strength exercises I would do them after getting my heart rate up with cardiovascular, usually jogging or maybe elliptical or bicycle. I have read of studies that indicate that this makes the strength training more efficient, though the study I recall did not compare it to interval or circuit training, it compared it to doing cardio after strength.
I know interval training for running is considered very effective; run full speed for 30 or 60 seconds, then easy pace for a minute or two, you can gain endurance much quicker.
I really like the Kimchi, Koreans are crazy about it, many of them think that it has almost supernatural recuperative and enhancing powers. Unfortunately they like it so much that you can always tell by smell when a Korean is within ten feet of you at the gym. I always seek out Asian markets whatever area I am in, and they will always have several different brands. The basic recipe is the same, but there are wide variations among the brands. Most of them add a bit of seafood product, this can be anchovies or sardines or shrimp, usually. Garlic is pretty much required (hence the smell in the sweat). Some companies add ginger, and it is always spicy, but the degree of heat can vary, I like it more mild, myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by travelingrat on Aug 11, 2013 9:12:32 GMT -5
this is only slightly relevant to the above topics: i was doing a study in FL recently ...one of my rat pals came in expecting to do a $2500 study. at screening, all her labs were fine. on admission day, they said her labs showed her calcium at one point below where it should be. they gave her lunch ... no milk, yogurt, almonds or any foods rich in calcium. when they re-did the test later in the day, her level had risen by 3 points so she easily got into the study. we both felt that this must have been a case of lab error ... the coordinator of course said, "Oh no,no lab error." but how can one test vary so much in one day otherwise?
anyway it was great that they re-did the test, lots of clinics would not bother, why i don't know, since they already have made an initial investment. moral of this anecdote: press for a re-do if one of your labs seems skewed, and a clinic MAY do it for you, probably works best at clinics where one is known and has always been a reliable and responsible volunteer!
|
|
mike
Moderator
Posts: 334
|
Post by mike on Aug 13, 2013 0:50:54 GMT -5
Hunh, weird story.
A couple years ago I would never hear about these problems with not passing screening because of some nutrient being slightly high or low; it used to be you only had to worry about them finding drugs or alcohol in your blood or urine, or some marked health problem like hepatitus or soing else that showed up in your blood.
I wonder if they are changing the requirements to get in to some of these studies? Why would it matter if your calcium or potassium is slightly off? I would think that these things would fluctuate quite a bit throughout the day.
|
|
