"For a rodent of this size, (mole rats) are ridiculously long-lived," said biologist Stan Braude at Washington University in St. Louis.
The secret of their age-defying success, according to Braude, may lie in how they cope with oxidative damage, in which cells accrue damage from poisons, environmental toxins and other effects through life. Braude said mole rats deal with oxidative stress in pulses, essentially shutting down their metabolisms during times of hardship. When they rev their systems back up, there are fewer accumulated toxins to get rid of.
"Another way to think of it is," Braude said, mole rats' "gross life span might be 28 years, but their metabolism is going in these short bursts, so maybe the net damage is only three or four years of net use."
Admittedly, there's no direct correlation to humans (whose metabolisms run at a pretty constant rate), but Braude said insights into the biological processes of mole rats and other long-lived animals could lead to new drug treatments or beneficial diet and lifestyle changes.
MEDTRONICA
Johns Hopkins Ovarian Cancer
www.ovariancancer.jhmi.edu
Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths among American women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1 in 67 American women will develop the disease. This site contains lots of good information on the disease, plus inspirational stories from cancer survivors in their own words.
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
A premature infant is five times more likely to be left-handed.
CURTAIN CALLS
When Glynn Wolfe died in 1997 at the age of 88, his claim to fame was holding the world's record for number of times married: 29.
Reportedly, Wolfe left behind 19 children, 40 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, but none were apparently eager to claim his body. It took two weeks before a son from wife No. 14 showed up to bury him.
STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM
Proving once again that, if nothing else, the royals are courteous.
PHOBIA OF THE WEEK
Philematophobia - fear of kissing
NEVER SAY DIET
The world's record for speed-eating grilled cheese sandwiches is 47 in 10 minutes, consumed by Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., on June 10, 2006.
BEST MEDICINE
After allowing a new patient to become comfortably settled on the couch, a psychiatrist said, "Now then, I'm not aware of your problem, so why don't you start at the beginning."
"Of course," replied the patient. "In the beginning, I created the heaven and the Earth."
