WELL NEWS: Research finds harmful bacteria in e-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes contain a number of chemicals known to be harmful, most notably nicotine, heavy metals and compounds such as diacetyl, a flavorant linked to serious lung disease.

A new study out of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found a few other worrisome ingredients: bacterial and fungal toxins.

Researchers examined 75 popular e-cigarette products and found almost one-quarter contained traces of endotoxin, a microbial agent found on Gram-negative bacteria, and 81% contained traces of glucan, a cellular component of most fungi. Exposure to these microbial substances is associated with numerous human health problems such as asthma, reduced lung function and inflammation.

Contamination could have occurred at any point during production of the ingredients or of the finished e-cigarette products, said the scientists. They hypothesized that cotton wicks used in e-cigarette cartridges could be a potential source of contamination, as both endotoxin and glucan are known contaminants of cotton fibers.

MED SCHOOL

Q: What percentage of the human brain is comprised of fats?

a) 10%

b) 25%

c) 50%

d) 60%

See answer below.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

The pupil of the human eye responds to more than just changing light stimuli. It dilates to unexpected sounds, emotional stress and mental exertion. In the last case, researchers found that the pupils of more intelligent people (based on SAT scores) dilated less in response to cognitive tasks than those of lower-scoring participants, indicating more efficient use of brainpower.

GET ME THAT, STAT!

When people die, they leave lots of things behind, from old diaries and photos to, well, their modern-day version: the Facebook page. These pages live on. In fact, Oxford University researchers recently estimated that by 2070, the number of deceased Facebook "users" will outnumber the living.

By 2100, it might number 1.4 billion computerized corpses.

IN THE WAITING ROOM

According to The Wall Street Journal, hospital insurance codes contain nine different ways you can be injured by turtles and three different ways by lampposts.

DOC TALK

Orthostatic hypotension: that dizzy head rush resulting from standing up too fast. It's caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure. Also known as postural hypotension, it can result in fainting if the drop is severe enough.

Fasciculation: those sudden flutters under the skin from a small bundle of muscle fibers spontaneously contracting (from the Latin "fasciculus," meaning little bundle).

Ptosis: drooping of the eyelid

PHOBIA vs. MANIA

Optophobia: fear of opening one's eyes

Agyiophobia: fear of crossing busy streets

ANSWER BELOW

A: The human brain is 60% fat. It's the fattiest organ in the body. Fatty acids like omega-3 are essential to brain function, both in terms of maintaining structural integrity and the ability to perform. They cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from dietary sources.

HEDGEHOG HYGIENE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning the public to be careful about playing with pet hedgehogs. A salmonella outbreak spanning eight states has made 11 people sick, including six children under age 12.

The health agency offers some cautionary points:

Always wash your hands thoroughly after touching a hedgehog.

Avoid kissing or snuggling with them.

Keep hedgehogs from roaming freely in places where food is kept, such as the kitchen.

Note: As adorable as they may be, it's not legal everywhere to keep them as pets. California, Georgia, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and New York City all have bans.

GET ME THAT, STAT!

After one year in the United States, just 8 percent of immigrants are obese, but among those who have lived in the United States for 15 years, the obesity rate is 19 percent, according to a 2004 study.

EPITAPHS

"I will not be right back after this message."

— TV talk show host Merv Griffin (1925-2007)

PERISHABLE PUBLICATIONS

Many, if not most, published research papers have titles that defy comprehension. They use jargon, needlessly complex words and opaque phrases such as "nonlinear dynamics." Sometimes they don't, and they're still hard to figure out. Here's an actual title of actual published research:

"Are full or empty beer bottles sturdier and does their fracture-threshold suffice to break the human skull?" by S.A. Bolliger et al. in the Journal of Forensic Legal Medicine in April 2009.

The researchers concluded that full and empty bottles both exceeded the minimum fracture-threshold of the human skull. In other words, you don't want to be hit on the head with either.

CURTAIN CALLS

In 1834, the Scottish botanist David Douglas died when he fell into a pit trap and was trampled by a wild bull, also entrapped.

SELF-EXAM

Q: Of the following four categories, which is the only one that the typical American does not exceed recommended daily intake or limits?

a) Calories from solid fats and added sugars

b) Refined grains

c) Sodium

d) Saturated fat

e) This is a trick question. The typical American exceeds the recommended daily intakes for all of these.

Answer: e, as if you didn't already know.

Syndicated science writer Scott LaFee's column of health-related humor appears occasionally in Style.

Style on 05/27/2019

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