New research suggests that stronger quad muscles (at the front of the thigh) relative to hamstrings (in the back) may lower the risk of a total knee replacement. Scientists examined MRI data from 134 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a nationwide study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Half of the participants received a total knee replacement and were matched to those who hadn't based on measures such as age, gender, BMI and more.

A higher ratio of quad to hamstring volume was associated with strongly reduced odds of a total knee replacement. Higher volume of hamstring muscle generally was also associated with lower odds of the surgery.

Get Me That, Stat!

Health-related measures such as mosquito nets, rapid tests, pills and injectable medicines save millions of lives, but they also come with an environmental cost, contributing an estimated 3.5 megatons of greenhouse gasses per year, according to a Unitaid report.

However, it's estimated that certain strategies, such as greener ways of producing pills or making packaging and netting with less plastic, could reduce emissions by 70% by 2030.

Stories for the Waiting Room

In the waning years of the 18th century, a Connecticut doctor named Elisha Perkins began selling "metallic tractors" — a pair of 3-inch-long rods that he said drew harmful metals out of the body when rubbed along the skin. The tractors supposedly eased "pains in the head, face, teeth, breast, side, stomach, back, plus rheumatism and some gouts."

Perkins sold thousands of the rods, including to members of Congress, the Supreme Court and George Washington himself (who ultimately died from another dubious remedy — bloodletting).

In 1799, yellow fever struck New York City and Perkins rushed in with his tractor rods to save the day — and died of yellow fever.

Doc Talk

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea — waking up at night breathless

Mania of the Week

Phaneromania — habit of biting one's nails

Never Say 'Diet'

The Major League Eating record for boysenberry pie is 14.5 pounds in eight minutes, held by Joey Chestnut. That's berry fast, boysengirls.

Best Medicine

Q: What do you get when you boil a funny bone?

A: Laughing stock

Observation

"I have a memory like an elephant. In fact, elephants often consult me." — English playwright Noel Coward (1899-1973)

Medical History

This week in 1964, the first animal-to-human heart transplant was performed. Dr. James Hardy at the University of Mississippi transplanted the heart of a chimpanzee named Bino into the chest of Boyd Rush, 68, in a last-ditch effort to save his life because no human heart was available.

The newly transplanted heart beat on its own, but it was too small to maintain independent circulation, and Rush died after 90 minutes. Hardy endured subsequent severe criticism. (This was three years before Christiaan Barnard successfully performed the first human heart transplant).

Hardy also performed the first human lung transplant in 1963 and a double-lung transplant that left the heart in place in 1987.

Self-Exam

Q: Which gland produces melatonin?

a) Adrenal

b) Thyroid

c) Pituitary

d) Pineal

A: The pineal gland is located in the brain and is responsible for producing melatonin, the hormone that modulates sleep patterns. It gets its name from its pinecone shape.

Fit To Be Tried

There are thousands of exercises and you've only got one body, but that doesn't mean you can't try them all. The cobra exercise works out the abdominals and back.

Step 1. Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on an exercise mat or floor with your hands by your sides, positioned directly under your shoulders and hands facing forward. Extend your legs and point toes away from body.

Step 2. Upward Phase: Gently exhale and press your hips into the mat or floor and pull your chest away from the ground while keeping your hips stable. This will arch your low back and stretch the muscles in your chest and abdominal region. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds.

Step 3. Downward Phase: Gently relax and lower your upper body to rest back upon the mat or floor.

Step 4. Repeat.

If you experience any pain in the low back with this movement, stop the exercise. As the length of arms differ, individuals may often lift their hips off the mat or floor as they fully extend their arms. In this case, limit the extension in your arms to keep the hips on the mat.

Last Words

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." — Union General John Sedgwick (1813-1864). Reports that Sedgwick didn't finish this line before a Confederate sniper's bullet fatally found him at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House are apocryphal. Sedgwick was trying to rally his flinching troops by marching along the front line out in the open. He finished his speech, but not the battle.

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.

Photo credit: semen zhuravlev at Unsplash