The Weekly Dose - Episode 46

The Weekly Dose...

... the latest from Dr Karan

  Here is your weekly dose...  

Hi all!Here is your weekly dose of the Sunday Six! A few things I found interesting this week. If you enjoy this please feel free to forward this to friends. families and enemies alike!If you've enjoyed any of my content over the years, I know you will enjoy my new book "This Book May Save Your Life", available to pre-order here: My First Ever Book!**You'll find more in depth analysis of some of these subjects on my social platforms in the links just below, including Dr Karan Investigates! for deep dives into interesting topics on my YouTube channel.**

The Man With The Golden Arm...

They say there's no such thing as true altruism.Everyone does something for an ulterior motive or some nebulous gain.Not James Harrison, an Australian man whose blood contains a rare antibody that can create a treatment that saves babies' lives - aka the man with the golden arm.The Australian Red Cross Blood Service estimates that over the course of his life, he has helped save some 2.4 million babies. 

Harrison has donated blood and plasma regularly for more than six decades, from age 18 to age 81. All told, he donated 1,172 times — 1,162 from his right arm, 10 from his left.Very early on, researchers discovered that his plasma had a property that could save infants' lives.

You see when a woman with Rh-negative blood has an Rh-positive fetus, it's known as Rh incompatibility.Her body can develop an immune reaction that attacks her baby's blood cells, and those antibodies put future children at risk.

In the 1960s, scientists discovered that the same antibody — Rho(D) immune globulin, also known in Australia as anti-D — can also be used to create a treatment, saving babies hat would otherwise get sick or die.

It just so happens that Harrison had anti-D in his bloodstream and a lot of it.What a legacy to leave behind!

What You Should Watch...

Love, Death & RobotsIf you enjoyed Black Mirror, then this dystopian collection of tales is right up your street.Each episode is illustrated or depicted in a unique cinematic style. Most of the episodes reflect badly on humanity - think WALL-E but more dystopian and destructive.There's 3 seasons to binge on so I'll leave you to it.

The Backwards Law...

This may seem counterintuitive but sometimes wanting a positive experience can lead to negative experience but accepting a negative experience can feel like a positive experience.This confusing concept is known as 'The backwards law" and is a 2000 year old concept theorised by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.In even more simple, less ambiguous terms; the more you chase the constant feeling of happiness in life, it can become increasingly less satisfying trying to fill that happiness hole as you shine more light on the fact that you have that hole in the first place.  Life invariably ebbs and flows, so sometimes it's worth just letting the wave of discomfort hit you and acknowledge those negative feelings and be present in the moment.Sometimes choosing the "negative" option can make you feel more grounded and your stressors more manageable. 

Tampons Soaked In...

 Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, cocaine was regularly used as a local anaesthetic in surgery.It was often administered in the form of what doctors referred to as a tampon – a medical device invented in the 18th century primarily as an antiseptic to clog up bullet wounds.The tampon was traditionally soaked in whatever antiseptic or anaesthetic drug was in general use, before being applied to a wound.These tampons were later in the 19th century used as a treatment for gynaecological diseases.Cocaine was believed effective against a whole range of women’s ailments: From painful intercourse; to uterine diseases; to cervical endometritis; to inflammation of the urethra; to dysmenorrhea – the list goes on and on. In fact, cocaine was even believed to assure a ‘painless childbirth’...Of course, accidents do happen and the effect of a numbing tampon meant sometimes these tampons were never removed... 

How Social Media Has Ruined Everything...

Arguably one of the worst things about social media is the emotional theatre that you see. A production house of emotional theatrics and performative actions and statements.People giving money to homeless people and filming their charity..or a Youtuber crashing a plan for views.

Trevor Jacob, 29, posted a video of him crashing a plane to YouTube in December 2021, implying it was an accident. It has over 4 million views to date.

He later admitted he filmed the video as part of a product sponsorship deal.

He could face up to 20 years in prison.

What is real and what isn't anymore on the online abyss?A person crying over a job that they lost - is it real or manufactured emotions for views?An influencer reviewing a restaurant - is it a real honest review or a paid advert without disclosing the fact it was a "hashtag ad/sponsored"?What about the teenager in the USA who faked having 3 cancers and received thousands of dollars in her GoFundMe account?Social media has made us more cynical and real emotions are now at a premium. 

Serotonin In The Gut...

You've more than likely heard that 90% of your serotonin in produced in the gut and perhaps also that 50% of dopamine in also produced here.It is worth acknowledging that the microbiota (the microbes dwelling in your gut) are key to regulating your serotonin levels.Your microbes boost the production of serotonin molecules by the cells lining your colon known as enterochromaffin cells.This same serotonin also feeds and nourishes the lining of the intestine, the surrounding tissues and platelets.It is also worth noting that the serotonin produced in the gut does not cross the blood brain barrier into the brain BUT serotonin precursor (5-HTP) can do.So certainly there is an interesting link between food, mood and microbes.It is hypothesised that this gut serotonin can influence microbes to produce other chemicals which can influence mood and even interact with the vagus nerve (the highway between the brain and gut).Additionally, serotonin isn't just the "happy chemical" everyone considered it to be - it is far more. It is involved in regulating your immune health, bone development and even cardiac function! 

As always, please give me feedback on Twitter. Which of this weeks Sunday six is your favourite? Is there something you want more, or less of? I'm open to any suggestions so please let me know! Just send a  tweet to @drkaranrajan and use the hashtag #theweeklydose at the end so I can find it!

Have a wonderful week, all.

Much love,

Karan