This post summarises a couple of things I stumbled upon. While browsing Wikipedia, the page on peptides actually contains this:

It has also been documented that, when certain food proteins such as gluten, casein, egg protein and spinach protein are broken down, opioid peptides are formed. These peptides mimic the effects of morphine, and those who are unable to break them down will experience mental illness. These peptides are quite short and are given names such as casomorphine, gluten exorphine and dermorphine.

What proof have they got for that? peptides are basically like proteins, but simpler. It's not alltogether clear where one category starts and the other ends.

Science Blog speculates that obesity may be contagious, via a virus.

Same guy behind that obesity stuff though. More sources needed.

Lastly I read a claim on Slashdot (How's that for trusted sources :-) that 90% of autists are of blood type A. Sources needed!

(First posted Jan. 31, 2006 12:12 am)

Not only has Viagra been linked to the production of new brain cells, now it seeems that the active ingredient can help the body fight cancer. We're as usual talking about mice. So far.

In a report published in the Nov. 27 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the Hopkins team says boosted levels of the chemical messenger nitric oxide appear to dampen the effects of a specialized cell that diverts the immune system away from tumors, allowing swarms of cancer-attacking T-cells to migrate to tumor sites in the rodents. Lab-grown cancer cells treated with sildenafil showed similar results, as did tissue samples taken from 14 head and neck cancer and multiple myeloma patients.

Read more: Viagra helps fight cancer | Science Blog

(First posted Dec. 7, 2006 7:41 pm)

Scientists from Johns Hopkins and from the University of Milan have effectively proven that they can inhibit lethal human brain cancers in mice using a protein that selectively induces positive changes in the activity of cells that behave like cancer stem cells. The report is published this week in Nature.

Read more: Natural protein stops deadly human brain cancer in mice | Science Blog

(First posted Dec. 8, 2006 10:44 am)

LaFerla; James McGaugh, research professor of neurobiology and behavior; and postdoctoral researchers Kim Green and Lauren Billings studied hundreds of mice between two and 18 months of age that were bred to develop the plaques and tangles characteristic of the disease. Mice in one group were allowed to "learn" by swimming in a round tank of water until they found a submerged platform on which to stand.

Read more: Learning slows physical progression of Alzheimer's disease | Science Blog

(First posted Jan. 24, 2007 7:55 pm)

Some may throw up their hands at this increase in autism and feel despair and pessimism. They may feel that the future is bleak for all of these newly diagnosed cases of autism. But I remain optimistic that for a good proportion of them, it has never been a better time to have autism. Why? Because there is a remarkably good fit between the autistic mind and the digital age.

Read more: THE WORLD QUESTION CENTER 2007 — Page 7

(First posted Jan. 3, 2007 1:27 pm)