WEIRD STUFF

New eye test could predict death

A bedside eye test could help doctors predict if a patient could die within 24 hours.

Scientists say the technique focuses on the corneal reflex, an automatic blink response triggered when the surface of the eye is gently touched.

Researchers found that patients who had lost this reflex were far more likely to die within a day, offering a potential breakthrough in end-of-life care.

The study, published in BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, tracked 112 hospice patients with advanced cancer in their final weeks.

Led by Dr Jung Hun Kang, the team monitored patients and tested their corneal reflex three times a day.

Of the patients studied, those who had completely lost the reflex were more than five times as likely to die within 24 hours, compared to those who still had it.

Around 70.7 per cent of patients with no corneal reflex died within a day.

Scientists believe this may signal the failure of the brainstem, the part of the brain responsible for vital functions, like breathing and consciousness.

Doctors already look for warning signs such as irregular breathing, bluish skin and reduced awareness. But the new method could offer a more precise timeline.

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Fish oil may wreck memory -- study

Fish oil supplements hailed as brain boosters could actually damage memory in some cases.

New research has sparked warnings from scientists that they may not be as universally beneficial as many believe, especially for people recovering from brain injuries.

Experts at the Medical University of South Carolina found the supplements could interfere with how the brain repairs itself after trauma.

Lead researcher Onder Albayram said: "Fish oil supplements are everywhere, and people take them for a range of reasons, often without a clear understanding of their long-term effects.

"But in terms of neuroscience, we still don't know whether the brain has resilience or resistance to this supplement."

In lab tests on mice, long-term fish oil use appeared to slow recovery after repeated mild head injuries.

The animals showed worsening memory and struggled with navigation tasks, like completing mazes.

Scientists linked this to a build-up of eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, a key omega-3 found in fish oil, which may disrupt the brain's repair processes.

Further experiments on human brain cells suggested that EPA reduced the ability of blood vessels in the brain to repair themselves, while another omega-3, DHA, appeared to have more positive effects.

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Scientsts say milk cuts cancer risk

Drinking more milk and ditching dairy alternatives may slash the risk of bowel cancer.

New research suggests that just one glass a day could reduce the chances of developing the disease by 17 per cent.

A major study by the University of Oxford found that consuming around 300mg of calcium a day -- roughly the amount in a large glass of milk -- was linked to a 17 per cent drop in bowel cancer risk.

The research tracked more than 542,000 women over 16 years and found calcium-rich foods like milk and yoghurt offered the strongest benefit.

However, not all dairy had the same effect, as cheese and ice cream showed no clear link to reduced risk.

Experts found that alcohol use, smoking and consumption of processed meat were linked to higher cancer risk.

"Quitting smoking, if you do, and minimising how much alcohol you consume are also two big ways to prevent bowel cancer," said Rupa Parmar, a general practitioner at Midland Health in the UK. "It's all about moderation and making healthy choices."

Doctors urged people to watch for warning signs, including blood in stools, weight loss and persistent stomach pain, stressing early diagnosis can dramatically boost survival.