Semper et ubique

When it comes to research, I have to be honest and say that the upcoming internship in the research group isn’t the only experience of scientific work that I will have had. Actually, my first contact with research will soon be over. Right now I take part in clinical research. As a test person.

Well, I don’t really like to talk about it with friends or relatives. There are actually only a few people who know where I am right now (to be precise: there are four insiders so far). This is because how I think people would react like when I told them that I took pills for a scientific purpose: I guess they would overreact, would be emotionally charged and could not understand that I actually know rather well what I am doing and what the risks are. I just don’t want to vindicate myself for a choice that affects solely myself.

Well, my medical readership, here’s how it goes: The hospital where I am right now tests an innovative diabetes drug which blocks a sugar channel in the kidney so the patients‘ blood sugar will drop through peeing glucose. This drug could be a good choice for patients with milde diabetes. Thirteen previous studies, along with research on cell cultures and experimental animals, showed that the only noteworthy side-effects are head ache (so as with nearly every drug) and urinary tract infection (because of the sugar in the urine).

Latter side-effect’s risk is decreased by a water intake of three liters per day so bacteria will be simply washed away by constantly peeing. So far, none of us test persons developed any side-effects. Which means this study runs quite calmy and smoothly. One has plenty of time to do what one feels to, it’s basically an easy stay.

So this is now my last day in this study, after tomorrow’s breakfast I‘ll get picked up by a friend and then we‘ll have a great day! However, this last day proves to be the toughest (if this is a suitable word for this relaxed study): The test persons have to collect their urine for a circadian analysis and give blood samples every now and then to monitor the drug’s blood levels. That’s it.

Pretty easy, huh? Well, as the title of this posts implies, this is actually my first contact with research. And it’s rather lame. Indeed. Thinking of a job to actually find out particular things, clinical research seems to be rather boring. It’s all about always watching the clock and keeping the quality high. That’s definitely not my game.

So we‘ll see if I will enjoy my first direct participation in research – it’s going to be oncology! Maybe about cell death, but that’s not for certain. I‘ll keep you up date!

Oh by the way, besides my propserous art blog Castor & Pollux, I have opened a second blog dealing with art this year: Ganymed. Belong to the cool kids and check it out.

Everybody has certain dreams, some of them last, some not. Due to the fact that I have been only to a few countries yet (Well, at least compared to most of my fellow students. It seems, some of them study only as a sideline to travelling…) and that there are so many must-see-places in the world, some of my personal dreams consist of travelling to marvellous places.

And now the time has come to make one of them come true: This summer, I will go to Iceland.
I can here them all say: It’s too cold there! Oh really? I like it that way. So you‘re aiming for a holiday in the spa? Uhm, nope. So who would ever consider to go to such an aweful, boring place? Well, actually me, sucker.

Best thing about Iceland: it’s rough. The wheather, the landscape, the whole trip.
I‘ll stay for 19 days (that’s frickin‘ n-i-n-e-t-e-e-n days!) and hike through the highland. It’s only me, a backpack filled with equipment such as a tent or a boiler, my camera and the adorable landscape of Iceland’s heart. I‘ll cross lava deserts, see glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, loads of waterfalls and geothermal spots, bath in hot pots, ford glacial streams and enjoy nature’s sheer beauty.

Actually, on one of the trails I‘ll walk, every now and then somebody dies in a snow storm in mid-summer or falls from top of a cliff because of thick fog. Not good. The weather can change any moment and make it impossible to move on without waiting for a day or two. Requires flexible planning and adds extra zest.

I am all excited right now! The planning phase is nearly over and in a month or two I‘ll have enough money to go and buy all the stuff – and become even more excited until I‘ll board the plane.

And for you and my friends, I‘ll post my experiences in the form of a travel diary in a new blog. I‘ll keep you informed!