Oxytocin is a hormone for the heart. Among its functions, it encourages social bonding by creating warm and fuzzy feelings among mating mammals, including humans. It's been dubbed "the love drug." In synthesized form, it's sometimes used to ease social inhibitions and mood disorders, and promote maternal bonding. (It induces labor, too, but that's a different story.)

What's good for the "heart" may also be good for irritable bowels.

Australian researchers have developed a version of oxytocin they say appears to alleviate abdominal pain. Ordinary oxytocin is quickly destroyed by the digestive tract, but the Australian version is hardier. In the bowels, says Paul Alewood of the University of Queensland, the revamped oxytocin seems to soothe irritated nerve receptors but leaves healthy tissue alone, reducing the chances of adverse side effects.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

One human hair can support 3.5 ounces of weight.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

The World Health Organization projects cancer deaths worldwide to rise to 13 million annually within two decades, up from just over 8 million deaths in 2012. Most of the increase will occur in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. The most common forms of cancer are lung, breast and bowel tumors.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of running up stairs burns 1,020 calories (based on a 150-pound person), or the equivalent of 1.4 Big Macs. Or 34 carrots, if you're so inclined.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

Think your health care insurance premiums are too expensive? Consider this list of the most expensive regions to buy health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In most cases, researchers found that a limited number of hospitals and services in the area kept demand and prices high.

—Colorado ski resort region, $483 monthly premium

—Southwestern Georgia, $461

—Rural Nevada, $456

—Far western Wisconsin, $445

—Southern Georgia, $423

—Most of Wyoming, $405

—Southeast Mississippi, $399

—Vermont, $395

— Fairfield County, Conn., $383

—Alaska, $381

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Agyrophobia — fear of crossing the road (just don't call me "chicken")

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for corned beef hash is 4 pounds in 1 minute, 58 seconds, held by Eric Booker. Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest by people who really should find something better to do.

OBSERVATION

"How do I stay so healthy and boyishly handsome? It's simple. I drink the blood of young runaways." — Actor and actual non-vampire William Shatner

EPITAPHS

"Here lies Johnny Yeast. Pardon me for not rising." — A tombstone in Ruidoso, N.M. There is no record of when Yeast died, the cause of death or his profession. Though possibly he was a baker.

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.