The Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits study, more aptly known by its acronym GIANT, has found that up to 83 genetic variants are involved in determining human height. And some of the genes pack a lot of influence, affecting height by up to eight-tenths of an inch.

The Nose Knows

Neurologists have gathered more robust evidence that one's sense of smell is linked to one's chances of developing dementia.

They looked at medical records of nearly 2,500 adults between the ages of 70 and 79. At age 70, they were asked to identify a dozen different smells. None of the participants were diagnosed with dementia at the time. Nine years later, those who had performed poorly on the initial test were two to three times more likely to have developed dementia than those who had performed well. Moderate early scores indicated a 1.8 times greater risk.

Body Of Knowledge

It takes food approximately seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

Get Me That, Stat!

A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that despite being unhealthier, Medicare patients with foreign-trained doctors had a lower risk of mortality (0.4) than patients with doctors trained at U.S. medical schools.

Number Cruncher

An El Pollo Loco Ultimate Grilled Burrito (380 grams) contains 650 calories, 180 from fat. It has 20 grams of total fat or 31 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

It also contains 100 milligrams of cholesterol (33 percent); 1,690 mg of sodium (70 percent); 80 grams of total carbohydrates (27 percent); 8 grams of fiber (32 percent); 1 gram of sugar and 38 grams of protein.

Counts

1400 to 2100: Degrees Fahrenheit to incinerate a human body during cremation

90 to 120: Number of minutes required for cremation

6: Average weight, in pounds, of a cremated male body (females tend to be a couple of pounds lighter)

Source: Encyclopedia of Cremation (2005)

Doc Talk

WNL — Within Normal Limits, though some hospital wags say it also means "we never looked."

Phobia of the Week

Omphalophobia: fear of belly buttons

Never Say Diet

The Major League Eating record for green beans (French cut category) is 2.71 pounds in 6 minutes, held by Crazy legs Conti. Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest by people who really should find something better to do.

Best Medicine

Q: Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

A: It does if you aim well enough.

Hypochondriac's Guide

Aboulomania is a mental disorder in which the patient suffers from pathological indecisiveness. Psychiatrists sometimes call it "paralysis of the will." Sufferers require 100 percent certainty in their decisions, and the condition is typically associated with anxiety, stress, depression and mental anguish. Long-term psychotherapy is usually the prescribed treatment.

Observation

"My doctor is nice; every time I see him, I'm ashamed of what I think of doctors in general." —American author Mignon McLaughlin (1913-1983)

Medical History

This week in 1983, 62-year-old Barney C. Clark, died at the University of Utah Medical Center. He was the first recipient of a permanent artificial heart, and lived with the device for 112 days. Doctors said Clark died from massive circulatory collapse "resulting from a multitude of causes."

Self Exam

Q: How long does it take for the brain to detect a taste?

a) .0015 seconds

b) .090 seconds

c) .3 seconds

d) 1 second

A: a) .0015 seconds, which is faster than a blink of the eye, at about one-third of a second

Sum Body

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation of joints. Symptoms vary from person to person, and from day to day, but here are 8 frequent early signs and some less that are less common:

1. Unexplained fatigue

2. General morning stiffness

3. Joint stiffness

4. Joint pain, most commonly in fingers and wrists

5. Minor joint swelling

6. Unexplained fever

7. Numbness and tingling in hands or feet

8. Decreased range of motion

9. Dry mouth, itchy or inflamed eyes, chest pain when you breathe, loss of appetite, weight loss, hard bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms

Curtain Calls

In 1923, 35-year-old Frank Hayes finally made his debut as a jockey aboard Sweet Kiss, running in a race at Belmont Park in New York. Midway through the race, however, Hayes suffered a massive, fatal heart attack and died. Sweet Kiss, with Hayes' body still atop, won the race. It was Hayes' first and last victory. No one realized he had died until the horse's owner came down to congratulate him.

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.