In a published study signed by 100 physicians, the authors raised concerns about possible links between the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and developmental problems in children, including neurological and reproductive issues that start in the womb.

Acetaminophen is a pain- and fever-reducing compound used in hundreds of drugs, over-the-counter and prescription, including Tylenol, DayQuil and Benadryl.

Acetaminophen, or APAP, is an endocrine disruptor, which means it can interfere with the distribution of bodily chemicals and hormones that are critical for a fetus' healthy development. The exact mechanism of how APAP might block these key biological processes is not yet known.

Mainly Mozart

New research is reviving the idea that listening to music may help calm electrical storms in the brains of some patients. Specifically, a recent study found that patients with epilepsy experienced fewer seizures after listening to Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major."

Researchers also tried music from Buddy Holly, Judas Priest and Nickelback, but only Mozart produced a significant response.

Back in the 1990s, some studies suggested college students enjoyed a brief bump in IQ scores after listening to Mozart, but nothing more came of it, the findings apparently falling on deaf ears.

Body of Knowledge

If you took all the urine the world produces in one day, it would take a full 20 minutes to flow over Niagara Falls.

Doc Talk

Transient diaphragmatic spasm: getting the wind knocked out of you

Phobia of the Week

Atelophobia: fear of imperfecshun (oops)

Food for Thought

Bromine is a chemical element and primary ingredient in many flame retardants. Brominated vegetable oil is made by fusing bromine with vegetable oil. When added to beverages such as sodas and sports drinks, it prevents flavorings from separating from other ingredients and floating to the top.

Best Medicine

Recent studies suggest that people with colds tend to feel better on Saturdays and Sundays. The cause is suspected to be a weekend immune system.

Observation

"Look in the mirror. That's your competition." — Motivational author John Assaraf

Medical History

This week in 1944, the first "blue baby" operation was performed successfully at Johns Hopkins University by Dr. Alfred Blalock and pediatric cardiologist Helen B. Taussig. Blalock devised the first subclavian-pulmonary artery anastomosis operation on the cyanotic ("blue-baby") infant, who had a hole in the wall between the heart's two major chambers. The Blalock-Taussig shunt procedure joined an artery leaving the heart to an artery leading to the lungs, creating a second opportunity to oxygenate the blood. Thousands of cyanotic children were helped by this operation until later surgeries began repairing the defect itself.

Ig Nobel Apprised

The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think. A look at real science that's hard to take seriously and even harder to ignore.

In 2001, the Ig Nobel Prize in psychology went to Lawrence Sherman of Miami University in Ohio for his study entitled "An Ecological Study of Glee in Small Groups of Preschool Children."

Med School

Q: How long does rigor mortis last?

A: It depends. Rigor mortis occurs after death when the muscles of the body stiffen due to a range of chemical changes. Fully developed rigor mortis is easily identifiable and a reliable indicator that death has occurred. The time of onset is variable but usually appears between one and six hours (average two to four) after death. It is temporary, depending on factors like temperature and environment, and can last as little as a few hours to several days.

The muscles of the face and neck are often the first to be affected, with rigidity spreading out over the trunk and limbs. Relaxation of the muscles occurs in roughly the same order.

Curtain Calls

In 2007, 24-year-old Humberto Hernandez was killed when a fire hydrant landed on him as he walked along an Oakland, California, sidewalk. Moments earlier, a tire blew on a passing car, causing the vehicle to suddenly swerve and strike the hydrant. Water pressure sent the 200-pound hydrant flying. It struck Hernandez, who was just 10 feet away and too close to react, in the head. His wife, walking just behind him, was unhurt.

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: Fotorech at Pixabay