Children who suffer physical or emotional abuse may pay another price later in life: A shorter life.

A new study by researchers at Brown University and Butler Hospital found that adults with a history of being abused as children showed accelerated reduction in the size of telomeres — caps on the ends of chromosomes that promote cellular stability. As people age, telomeres typically shorten, gradually reducing the ability of cells in the body to divide as quickly and as often as needed.

This "tells us something," said Audrey Tyrka, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Brown University. "It gives us a hint that early developmental experiences may have profound effects on biology that can influence cellular mechanisms at a very basic level."

Tyrka and colleagues examined 22 women and nine men between the ages of 18 and 64. Some had no history of childhood mistreatment, but others said they had endured moderate to severe abuse as kids. After measuring their DNA, the researchers found accelerated shortening of telomeres in those who reported suffering mistreatment compared to those who did not.

The work adds to earlier findings linking physical factors, such as smoking, radiation and exposure to toxins, to telomere shortening.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Despite the biblical story of Adam trading a rib for a wife, men have the same number of ribs as women: 24. However, one in every 20 humans has one pair more or less.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

Drinking more than five servings of sugar-sweetened cola drinks per week prior to becoming pregnant produces a 22 percent greater risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is among the most common complications of pregnancy.

Women with GDM are at increased risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and delivery, as well as post-pregnancy type 2 diabetes. Children of mothers with GDM are at increased risk for obesity, glucose intolerance and early onset diabetes.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

Maybe the last place to get a good night's sleep is in a hospital. A survey of three wards in an English hospital (92 beds in total) found that peak noise levels averaged 96.38 decibels, only slightly less than the sound of a chain saw operating 2 feet from your ears. At 130 decibels, sound begins to be painful.

"Hospitals can be very noisy places," said survey leader Annette Richardson. "Dropping a stainless steel bowl creates 108 decibels, which is more than the 100 decibels from a nearby car horn. Even opening a packet of rubber gloves creates 86 decibels, which is louder than heavy traffic at 80 decibels."

Richardson said hospitals could do much to reduce noise levels simply by taking practical steps like turning down telephone ringers, requiring staff to wear soft-soled shoes and moving noisy operations farther from patients.

MEDTRONICA

The white coat underground

scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground

A blog written by a practicing internist, it's frank, straightforward and useful. No obvious agenda except to do battle against an ocean of medical hype and hysteria.

OBSERVATION

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.

— British racer Doug Larson

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour spent getting dressed burns 136 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of 0.2 Big Macs with cheese.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Cainotophobia — fear of newness or novelty

LAST WORDS

I feel here that this time they have succeeded.

— Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) who was assassinated by a Russian agent in Mexico

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.