Mice (not to mention organisms like worms, flies and yeast) are imperfect models of the human condition. Sometimes, though, scientific findings using mouse models just sound right.

A new study out of McGill University in Canada reports that female mice experiencing pain due to inflammation are much less sexually motivated. Male mice, on the other hand, remain unaffected and undeterred.

"We know from other studies that women's sexual desire is far more dependent on context than men's — but whether this is due to biological or social/cultural factors, such as upbringing and media influence, isn't known," said study author Jeffrey Mogil, a psychology professor at McGill. "Our finding that female mice, too, show pain-inhibited sexual desire suggests there may be an evolutionary biology explanation for these effects in humans — and not simply a sociocultural one."

The findings have implications for better understanding the effects of chronic pain.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Sneezes, which are commonly described as droplets spewing out of your face at speeds up to 100 mph, not surprisingly travel a great, gross distance, as much as 200 times farther than previously thought — or roughly 10 to 20 feet.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of vigorous weeding burns 272 calories (based on a 150-pound person), or the equivalent of 0.4 Big Macs.

COUNTS

55,000 — Estimated number of centenarians (people 100 and older) in the United States

600,000 — Projected number of American centenarians by 2050

83 — Age the average centenarian said they "felt"

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; United Healthcare 100@100 survey

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

A few years ago, author Michael Pollan offered these simple words of advice about diet: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

In a recent spin on that bit of proffered sagacity, Ezra Klein at Vox asked Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if he could offer any similarly concise advice. Friedan's reply: "Eat right. Get physical activity. Don't smoke. Alcohol in moderation. Spend time with friends."

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Pediophobia — fear of dolls

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for meat pies is 16 six-ounce pies in 10 minutes, held by Boyd Bulot. No indication on whether four and twenty blackbirds were involved.

OBSERVATION

"Good medicine always tastes bad." — Author Ron Hall in "Same Kind of Different as Me"

CURTAIN CALLS

In 1974, a 48-year-old health food advocate named Basil Brown from Croydon, England, consumed 10 gallons of carrot juice in 10 days, resulting in severe liver damage from an overdose of vitamin A and death.

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.