Of course they are all different, but I am interested in hearing other people's experiences with them. I just got a screening call to see if I'm eligible for one, but it does involve putting a camera into my lungs and taking a cell sample.
A friend of mine did one that purported to be studying sleep, but I guess he had to stay awake for as long as possible and he had to go in with a clean system-- no drugs (obviously) including caffeine or nicotine and definitely no alcohol. From what he told me, it was pretty miserable. No TV, no books, nothing.
Yes, sort of. I was born with a cleft pallet, which is an abnormal facial development which essentially meant that there was a huge gaping hole in the roof of my mouth. It looked like this: I also had a cleft lip in utero which self healed, leaving me a hair line scar at birth from my nose down to my lip. If it had not healed in the womb, I would have had a lip similar to this one at birth: When I was two years old I underwent two different surgeries. Both of these surgeries involved taking skin from the back of my throat and grafting it to the roof of my mouth, thereby creating a "pallet" for me. The surgery was performed at the University of Michigan and the surgeons there did a fantastic job. I have always thought that my being born with the lip healed was miraculous but my roof of my mouth being repaired so well was an act of great skill and I owe the surgeons a huge debt of gratitude. So, as for the "medical study" aspect of it all, I would go back several times a year to the University of Michigan for checkups all the way up till about the time of middle school and the incoming otolaryngologists (ENT's) would study me. As a kid I took pride in them checking out the masterpiece that is my pallet, but as I got older it was more and more annoying. Now, as an adult I'd gladly go back and let them basque in the glow from my perfectly sculpted pallet. 
tmi?
Cool. Never heard of anyone's cleft lip self-healing before. Do you have any other powers? I really do think it's awesome that cleft lips and cleft palates are so routinely and easily repaired now. From what I understand, Doctors Without Borders do lots of these and it really improves a person's quality of life.
No other magical powers to speak of, it seems I used up all my magic in utero. But hey, that's cool with me. I donate money to an organization called Operation Smile and my brother is actively involved with helping them fund raise. It is awesome that these surgeries are not only routine these days, but they are also relatively inexpensive to perform. I believe Operation Smile estimates that the surgeries they perform overseas cost roughly $300 per child. That's amazing! At the time of my palate reconstruction the procedure was still relatively new as I understand it -hence the scrutiny by incoming medical residents. Honestly, I need to do more to help this organization. Every year they have something called the "Grin Gala" in Washington DC, I think I'll start attending, raising more money and awareness and asking how I can be a more active participant.
Quite a few. That being said, with the whole heart thing I'm kind of an atypical example. I make a point to contribute as much to research (Of my own disease and related conditions) as possible. For example, right now, there are a few kilos of my cardiac muscle growing in a lab somewhere at the University of Michigan Cardio Research unit. They harvested cells when I had my pacemaker/defibrillator replaced, then somehow converted them back into something resembling a stem cell, then re-differentiated them into different kinds of cardiac muscle. The cool part of this whole thing is that I get semi-regular reports from the lab, because part of my conditions for participating in the study was to be updated on the research as often as meaningful milestones were achieved. I'm under NDA, but it's incredibly cool stuff to read, even though some of the super jargony/technical stuff goes over my head.
Whoa, that's really cool! A few kilos? How much does a heart weigh? Surely not that much . . . I don't know if I'll be kept up to date on this one, but the reason I'm interested in participating is that I've been using e-cigarettes and I really hope that they can help improve the lives of smokers. The thing is, they're so new that there has been no chance for long-term studies, something which big tobacco has latched on to and is using to whip the FDA and some sectors of the public into a fear frenzy. I hope that by participating, we'll all be able to get a clearer picture of e-cigs and how nicotine might be more safely consumed by those who are addicted to it. Anyway, as a person who has done more than one, would you encourage others to participate in medical studies too?
Definitely not. The funny part of this is that, if this study continues the way that it is now, there may actually at some point be more mass of my cardiac tissue (Genetically anyway) than there is mass of me as a person. RIght now they're not growing completely new hearts, as much as they are doing proof-of-technique for muscle/conductive tissue 'patches' for people with certain kinds of weak hearts. The e-cig thing interests me (I use one semi-regularly, 0 nicotine) and I hope that the FDA thing doesn't just drive the whole thing underground or into the realm of 'not for human consumption' pseudo-drugs like K2 and bath salts. I definitely encourage people to participate in research that interests them, however I think that a person should always have a clear picture of what's going to happen to them, potential long term effects, etc. How much does a heart weigh? Surely not that much . . .
Yeah, I guess I was getting around to asking about "potential long term effects". I read in The Emperor of All Maladies about one particular cancer patient whose cell sample continues to divide, even though she is long dead. Part of you could live forever! As for e-cigs, I don't know what kind of juice you like, but I accidentally ordered a 0 mg version of this juice which is fantastic. Only tried one other flavor from that company, but it's also incredible. And pretty cheap!I definitely encourage people to participate in research that interests them, however I think that a person should always have a clear picture of what's going to happen to them, potential long term effects, etc.
You're thinking of Henrietta Lacks progenitor of the HeLa cell line, one of a few different kinds of immortal cell cultures. And yeah, there's a certain parallel there, and in agreeing to participate in the study I did sign away all potential financial compensation from the production and sale of any medical products or pharmaceuticals thereof. But in this instance, I care more about the research than my wallet. That looks like a tasty vape, I'm rocking Hawk Sauce currently from Mt. Baker.
I'm told they want to compare the effects of vapor on the airways of e-cig users to the effects of smoke on the airways of cigarette smokers. At this point, I don't know who the people are conducting the study, but other than asking for credentials and looking them up, what else might I do?
More than anything, I would just make sure it is a quality medical center doing the sampling. Ask them how many people are in the study, and if they have done this before. There are always risks to sticking things in your body. If done correctly, the risk should be very small. Just trust your gut instinct. If they seem like they have their shit together, they probably do. If they don't, don't feel bad about walking.
Sounds like the one I participated in is very similar to your own, humanodon. I was put under a light general anesthesia then they started the procedure to collect lung macrophages with saline. I felt just fine until they administered the general. Then I was nauseous, which kinda ruined the whole experience. They definitely could have done the procedure without the anesthesia, but were just being safe. I think I was paid ~$250 for the procedure which was pretty good money back in gradual school. It was very interesting to see this light pink aspirant full of my cells being pulled into a container. 6/10: would probably do it again if I were a starving graduate student.