The Apple iPhone is charting new territory as it enters the world of medical research thanks to its medical platform called ResearchKit, which was launched back in March 2015.

Image Credit

GlaxoSmithKline will be Apple’s first partner in medical research, using the iPhone to track data on rheumatoid arthritis. Participants in the study will use an app created by GSK and based on ResearchKit to track how the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis affect people on a day-to-day basis.

How it works

Patients will use the app, which is called Patient Rheumatoid Arthritis Data from the Real World, or PARADE for short, to track data on their daily symptoms. When participants perform a specific wrist exercise, the iPhone’s sensors will collect data on joint pain, mood, and fatigue, which are common to rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, participants will be asked a series of questions about their symptoms in order to track how they feel from day to day. The study will follow 300 patients, who will participate in the study for three months.

Study benefits

One of the aspects of the iPhone medical research platform that attracted GSK is that it makes it easier for people to participate in a medical study. According to the Clinical Leader, in a typical study, patients would be required to visit a hospital or research facility, where doctors, nurses or other staff would have to question patients and record data. The iPhone eliminates staff, paperwork, and travel from the equation, making it more cost-effective and less intrusive for study participants.

The iPhone can open new doors to research for a contract research organization or those in Patient Recruitment Services such as https://www.richmondpharmacology.com/specialist-services/patient-recruitment as it may become easier for people to participate in these kinds of trials in the future.

Benefits for Apple

The study with GSK will be an important step for Apple in its attempt to increase its presence in the healthcare technology field. In addition to the ResearchKit app, Apple has tried to bring health tracking to the public through its Apple Watch, which allows users to monitor their physical exertion and heart activity.

The use of ResearchKit, however, offers an attractive, cost-effective option for medical companies and research facilities, which could significantly increase profits if it is adopted on a large scale and becomes widely accepted in the industry.

Deciding whether or not to participate in paid medical trials as a patient volunteer can be a difficult choice. On one hand, you may find a more effective method of treatment than the standard option. However, you may also leave yourself open to experiencing discomforting side effects as a result of the trial.  You should ensure that you talking to professional companies in order to find out the pros and cons of taking part in each study. You will then be able to identify the studies that may be most appropriate for you and your current medical history.  trials 4 us offer paid medical trials and can provide you with any information that you may need in order to make an educated decision.

Image Credit

Clinical trials are carried out with the intention to decide whether or not a new medical treatment, such as a drug or device, can be used effectively on humans. Another important factor to discover during the research process is whether or not this new treatment is safe. After all, the FDA will not approve the treatment if the clinical trials carried out cannot prove the safety of the treatment.

Work with a Team of Professionals

Participating in a clinical trial means that you will be in constant contact with experts from the medical industry. This close proximity to expert medical advisors and researchers gives participants a unique opportunity to benefit from their specialist care, advice, support, and guidance. In addition to this, they will be able to offer you advice on the best course of treatment following the clinical trial.

Experience New Treatments

As a volunteer testing a new medical treatment or device of some kind, you could be amongst the first group of people to benefit from such a treatment. This could be incredibly exciting, especially if the treatment turns out to be really effective and perhaps even more so than the standard treatment.

Clinical Trial Risks

Despite the fact that participating in a trial comes with a range of great advantages, there are a few risks that you should be aware of before agreeing to volunteer:

• Possible side effects that could come with the treatment.
• Uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the new treatment.
• You may require additional check-ups and have to be monitored regularly.
• The treatment may be ineffective and prove to be no better than the standard treatment.
• The process can be time-consuming.
• You may have to spend more on transport to and from the clinic or trial site.
• The new treatment could be potentially harmful and deemed unsafe after the clinical trial.

There is an increasing concern that the cost of treating diabetes may bankrupt the National Health Service, as there has been a massive rise in the number of cases over recent years.

According to a Guardian report, Diabetes UK has issued a warning that the cost of diabetes treatment is spiraling out of control as the result of the 60% rise in cases over the last 10 years.

Causes of diabetes

Identifying and tackling the causes of diabetes is vital, and the good news is that diabetes is often preventable. Research claims that sugary drinks, regardless of size, may cause people to develop type 2 diabetes. Obesity is the biggest preventable factor and if the current trend is maintained, one in three people will be obese and one in ten will be diabetic by 2034.

A healthy diet is essential for preventing diabetes and it has been suggested that schools should teach pupils about healthy eating, what 2,000 calories look like, and how to refuse unhealthy alternatives. Sport and exercise are also important as part of a healthy lifestyle and for weight control.

Diabetes care

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has identified nine processes of care for diabetes. These are tests that all diabetics should have annually; however, 40% of diabetics do not currently have them all, meaning that they are at higher risk of complications such as blindness and kidney problems. It is estimated that 80% of the 100 amputations carried out each week would be preventable if patients received optimal care. There is a new initiative to encourage healthcare professionals to identify patients at high risk of diabetes because of an inherited tendency or because they are obese and to offer intervention at an early stage.

Even if you have your weight well controlled, there can sometimes be hard-to-shift areas of fat, for which laser liposuction may be the answer. This minimally-invasive treatment can be carried out at centers

The increase in cases of diabetes can only be stemmed by a total change in our lifestyle, with an evidence-based behavioral programme currently being developed by the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to prevent the increase in obesity and consequently diabetes.

Cosmetic procedures are becoming more commonplace and for this reason, many procedures are becoming more readily available with costs also being driven down; for example, Botox is highly common for both men and women and can reduce or even remove lines on the face. Another area of the great increase in cosmetic surgery is abdominoplasty.

The south of the country sees more cosmetic surgery carried out that the north due to the greater wealth of London and the surrounding areas. According to the Guardian, cosmetic surgery could even be the new ‘acceptable face of womanhood’, although an increasing number of men are also undergoing procedures in an attempt to restore their looks and improve their confidence.

Why choose abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty in Essex is available through a number of highly-qualified surgeons who can reform your stomach area and turn back the clock. This procedure is ideal for people whose skin has become looser on the abdominals, such as after pregnancy, and who want to return to their earlier shape.

Abdominoplasty is also perfect for people who have lost a large amount of weight. Sometimes after weight loss, there is some loose skin left that no amount of exercise will be able to reduce; this skin needs to be surgically removed. Cosmetic surgery can remove this unsightly skin, leaving only a light scar that will fade significantly over time. Your surgeon will try to hide the scar in the natural folds of the skin to disguise it, and after a year it will fade to a fine white line.

Information on abdominoplasty

Refresh Cosmetic Surgery are experts in abdominoplasty, (more commonly known as a tummy tuck). By choosing to have this cosmetic procedure you will be able to regain your old confidence. Before undergoing any procedure it is, of course, important to read all about what actually happens during a tummy tuck operation so that you know exactly what to expect. Information guides, such as this informative article by the NHS make researching your procedure much easier.

Some of the issues to consider are where you will have your cosmetic procedure, who will perform it and what the outcome will be. Always discuss the likely results with your surgeon and look at before and after photos of previous patients.