Many drugs today are based on large molecules, which can't be taken in tablet form because they would either break down in the digestive tract or remain too large to reach the bloodstream.

For these drugs, the only delivery system that works is injection. Ouch!

But Swiss researchers are testing a new system: suction cups.

They work like this: A small suction cup with the drug embedded in it is pressed onto the inside lining of the cheek. The resulting vacuum stretches the lining and makes it more permeable to the drug. To boost efficacy, researchers add an agent that turns cell membranes into fluid, allowing the drug to penetrate more deeply into tissues. The cup remains in the mouth for a few minutes, which is enough time for the drug to dissolve in saliva and enter the bloodstream.

Small tests on volunteers have been encouraging, but larger clinical trials are required.

Body of Knowledge

The hand has the most bones of any body part: 14 phalanges or finger bones, five metacarpal bones that make up the middle hand and eight carpal bones in the wrist for a total of 27 bones.

Get Me That, Stat!

Two out of three parents say they are concerned about the quality of the air their children breathe, according to a new National Poll on Children's Health. The timing of the poll was a partial driver. It was conducted in August when much of the nation was cloaked in wildfire smoke and news.

Doc Talk

House red — blood

Phobia of the Week

Kathisophobia — fear of sitting down

Best Medicine

The nurse told the parents of a newly born child, "You have a cute baby."

The smiling father replied, "I bet you say that to all new parents."

"No," answered the nurse, "just to those parents whose babies really are good-looking."

"So what do you say to the others?" asked the father.

"I say their baby looks just like them."

Food for Thought

While a few appropriately stored foods can last almost indefinitely — think white rice and honey — most consumables have a shelf life before they begin to spoil, lose flavor or grow stale. Many perishables come with advisory dates, which mostly aren't required by law but are intended by manufacturers as good advice.

It's a lot of advice, and much of it is confusing.

Use-by dates: Found mostly on dry goods like cereal and pasta, denoting the last date an item is expected to be at "peak quality." It doesn't necessarily mean the item isn't edible after that date.

Sell-by dates: More a guide for retailers to signal when items need to be removed. It's for inventory management primarily since consumers are expected to buy and use items a few days past their sell-by date.

Best-if-used-by dates: Similar to use-by dates. This the date when a product is expected to be at its freshest and tastiest.

Expiration dates: The only date with significant safety implications. If an expiration date has passed, there is a high likelihood the food has spoiled.

Observation

"Our bodies are our gardens. Our wills are our gardeners." — English playwright and little-known nutritionist William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Medical History

This week in 1895, Alfred Nobel had his will drawn up in Paris, then deposited in a bank in Stockholm. In it, he provided for most of his fortune to be put in trust to establish the Nobel Prizes. As the inventor of new, more powerful explosives used in the weapons of war, Nobel wanted to leave a legacy rewarding persons who provided benefits to mankind.

Prizes were to be established in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology, literature and peace. Nobel died one year later of a cerebral hemorrhage at his villa in San Remo, Italy. His Nobel legacy was a surprise at the opening of his will.

Sum Body

Here are the 10 best states to have a baby, according to Wallethub. Criteria included cost and quality of health care, cost of babysitters, health of mothers and newborns and available support systems for new parents.

1. Massachusetts

2. Minnesota

3. Vermont

4. Rhode Island

5. North Dakota

6. New Hampshire

7. Iowa

8. Utah

9. Connecticut

10. Washington

FYI: New York came in at No. 17, California No. 28, Texas No. 37 and Florida No. 42.

Medical Myths

It was once thought that eating soy-based foods increased the risk of breast cancer because high doses of plant estrogens called isoflavones were found to stimulate breast cancer tumor cells in animal studies.

However, those findings have not translated to humans. Food sources of soy don't contain high enough levels of isoflavones to increase breast cancer risk. In fact, other studies have shown that a lifelong diet rich in soy foods reduces the risk of breast cancer in women.

Med School

Q: In human anatomy, what is Cupid's bow?

A: It describes the double curve of the upper lip, named after the Roman god of love. The peaks of the bow coincide with the philtral columns, creating the bow effect.

Curtain Calls

Kurt Godel (1906-1978) was a renowned Austrian-American logician and mathematician who, after the assassination of a close friend and fueled by bouts of mental instability, developed a paranoia about being poisoned. He refused to eat food prepared by anyone but his wife, Adele.

In late 1977, Adele was hospitalized with a severe illness. During her prolonged absence from home, Godel refused to eat and essentially starved. At his death, he weighed 65 pounds. Adele recovered and lived another three years.

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: danilo.alvesd at Unsplash