A used kitchen sponge wallowing in the sink may be the germiest thing you touch on a daily basis, far "dirtier" than the dishes it is supposed to clean. A Duke University study compared old, used sponges to petri dishes in terms of supporting 80 different strains of E. coli bacteria under different conditions.

The researchers found that sponges provided better homes, in part because their holes and air pockets offered cozier habitats.

Other germy things you routinely touch: dishcloths, sinks, faucets and handles, toothbrushes, refrigerator doors, cutting boards, remote controls, cellphones, purses and grocery carts.

Grounds for a Second Cup

If you're reading this while sipping a cup o' joe, you're not alone. The National Coffee Association says 62% of Americans drink coffee at least once daily. Advocates like to point to the health benefits of black coffee. (Cream and sugar excluded. They add calories and complications.)

No. 1: Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants.

No. 2: Coffee may lower risk of diseases like Type 2 diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular disease.

No. 3: Coffee has been linked to staving off cognitive decline.

No. 4: Coffee may ease symptoms of depression.

Counts

14: estimated percentage of world's population that has contracted Lyme disease

Source: BMJ Global Health

Stories for the Waiting Room

This one's for those waiting at the vet. A recent study looked at 960 pet dogs with diabetes living across the United States. Like humans, they found that diabetes diagnoses in canines occurred more often in winter and in the northern part of the country — similar to human demographics.

The researchers couldn't explain why, but they think cold temperatures and seasonality may play a role in both pets and owners with diabetes.

Doc Talk

Adjuvant therapy: Additional therapy given after a primary treatment to increase the effectiveness of the primary treatment. For example, using chemotherapy after surgery or radiation treatment for cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy is a helper treatment given before primary treatment is started, such as chemotherapy conducted before surgery to shrink a tumor.

Mania of the Week

Ecdemomania: an abnormal compulsion to wander (in case you we're wondering)

Best Medicine

First guy: How did you know you had food poisoning?

Second guy: Just a gut feeling.

Observation

"The brain's cells and synapses are merely numerous, the quantity of interconnections is about as infinite as anything we know. The brain's size is plainly crucial, and yet those individuals with twice the brain of others are none the wiser for it." — Anthony Sampson (1926-2004) in "The Mind" (1984)

Medical History

This week in 1999, the death of an 83-year-old man stung by a swarm of wild Africanized "killer" bees marked the first fatality by that cause in the state of California. The victim was a beekeeper mowing his lawn in Los Angeles County. He was stung at least 50 times, receiving a high dose of bee venom. He died two weeks after the attack. Investigators later discovered his three backyard hives had been taken over by Africanized honeybees.

Perishable Publications

Many, if not most, published research papers have titles that defy comprehension. They use specialized jargon, complex words and opaque phrases like "nonlinear dynamics." Sometimes they don't, and yet they're still hard to figure out. Here's an actual title of actual published research study: "Friends don't let friends eat cookies: Effects of restrictive eating norms on consumption among friends."

The 2012 study, published in the journal Appetite, concluded that eating with others can affect total food consumption but that, contrary to previous research, friends' influence can actually result in less consumption.

Self-exam

Kraft Foods once surveyed hundreds of Oreo eaters about their preferred approach to eating the cookie and then asked psychologists to analyze. Biters were deemed easygoing and self-confident while dunkers displayed more energetic and adventurous qualities. Twisters were considered sensitive and trendy. And people who don't eat Oreos? They were healthier.

Sum Body

Five science-based ways to get a better night's sleep:

No. 1: Optimize your bedroom by keeping it cool (around 65 F), painted in relaxing colors, dark, no electronics, quiet and a bed that is comfortable and clean.

No. 2: Avoid stimulants in the hours before bed — not just caffeine but alcohol, which can make you feel drowsy but will also disrupt REM sleep. Don't go to bed on a stomach too empty or too full.

No. 3: Get some natural light in the morning, which suppresses melatonin and shakes off lingering sleep drowsiness. Sunlight in the morning also keeps you more awake throughout the day, which is better prep for sleeping at night.

No. 4: Exercise early in the day. Getting your heart pumping just before bed isn't conducive to rest and relaxation, though you might feel physically tired.

No. 5: Keep a bedroom routine, usually beginning an hour before you retire. It trains the body and mind to know what to expect and do.

Med School

Q: How often should you replace your toothbrush?

a) Monthly

b) Every other month

c) Every three months

d) Every six months

A: c) Every three months, according to the American Dental Association; more frequently if the bristles look frayed, which indicates they might be less effective at scrubbing.

Epitaphs

"Jeez, he was just here a moment ago." — Comedian George Carlin (1937-2008). In fact, Carlin only suggested this be his epitaph. He was cremated and his ashes scattered.

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: tomekwalecki at Pixabay