Author: drsriramnathan

Do you know who is an idiot?

I am sure you would know a lot of them!

But (he he!) this is a new term for the modern generation! Or at least the full form is new!


More specifically it is called the idiot syndrome!


IDIOT syndrome or Syndrome of Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment!


This is a modern phenomenon where patients endanger their health by trusting online information over professional medical advice.

Previously it was just googling your symptoms and trying to treat yourself or watching YouTube video and trying to treat yourself! Now it has progressed to using  AI like the chat GPT or Gemini and trying to ‘play’ the doctor!


It involves self-diagnosing, abrupt treatment cessation, and anxiety caused by “googling” symptoms, often leading to poor health outcomes.


The key point here is the misleading health information found online (Infodemic).

These further cause more intense anxiety, panic, and stress!

The issue gets complicated when this leads up abruptly stopping prescribed medication, ignoring doctor advice, or self-medicating based on web searches!

This of course leads to worsened health conditions and high levels of stress.

Of course there is no cure for stupidity but maybe there is a cure for the idiots!


It’s of course better to only trust reputable medical websites. More importantly you must rely on licensed doctors and not internet searches!


And end of the day it’s a matter of trust! Would you rather trust an AI or a human doctor?

Unfortunately if someone and ask this questions many years back the answer would have been obvious! With the lack of trust now, the answer may not be that clear!

Then again don’t be an IDIOT!
Be a legend like Major General Hardev Singh Kler!

Do read about this war hero and legend played by Sunny paji in Border 2…

Jai hind…
Shubh ratri…

Do you know what is tau?

Well it’s not another form of tai chi!

So while Tai Chi is a build up of your general body including muscles and mind; Tau build up can cause lots of problems!

So Tau is a protein! Now of course proteins are good in general but like everything else, too much of anything is bad!


Tau protein accumulation, forming neurofibrillary tangles inside brain cells, is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and other “tauopathies”.

These tangles destroy neurons by disrupting nutrient transport, causing severe brain cell dysfunction.

Recent research suggests these proteins also damage brain blood vessels, hindering their removal.

Normally, tau stabilizes microtubule “highways” in nerve cells, allowing nutrients and information to move efficiently.

In Alzheimer’s, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, detaches from these structures, and clumps into tangles.

When tau detaches, the microtubules collapse, destroying the cell’s internal structure. These tangles (specifically called neurofibrillary tangles) are strongly associated with the progression and severity of cognitive decline.

Tau buildup often works in conjunction with amyloid-beta plaques. A new theory suggests that Alzheimer’s arises when amyloid-beta interferes with the normal function of tau.

Tau spreads between cells via connected neurons, allowing the disease to spread through the brain. A novel discovery found that harmful tau also weakens the blood-brain barrier by impairing how cells lining the blood vessels produce energy.

A recently identified group of cells, tanycytes, are crucial for clearing these toxins, but they malfunction in Alzheimer’s, leading to the accumulation of tau.

So a High level of modified tau in the blood are strong indicators of Alzheimer’s…

So protein is good but too much anything is bad! Of course some talent is always good in more quantity! Like the abundance of talent which is the Hallmark of Alka Yagnik!

Now give rest to your brain and let it bath in good thoughts!!

Shubh ratri…

Do you like status quo?

Now the mundane is boring but then routine is nice!

Going to work; coming back then have sometime with the family! Eat and sleep and repeat!

It may sound boring actually having a routine is one of the most amazing thing in the world!

It means that’s there is stability!

As far as life and health is concerned I’ll love to have just status quo!

But (he he!); In health, the status quo refers to the current state of a patient’s health or treatment plan.

The status quo bias is a cognitive bias where patients or providers prefer maintaining the current, familiar treatment or inaction over adopting new, potentially better options, often due to inertia, fear of regret, or comfort with the familiar.

It is actually a type of treatment inertia; in which Patients may prefer to keep taking an ineffective or suboptimal medication, rather than changing it.

Physicians might also struggle to escalate care (e.g., intensive therapy) for chronic illnesses like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, keeping with the same treatment.

The status quo is often chosen because altering it is perceived as risky or demanding more effort.

Families or doctors might stick to a default, familiar path (continued treatment) instead of withdrawing, even if it is not in the patient’s best interest.

Doctors are often more susceptible to this bias when reviewing plans made by colleagues. They are statistically more likely to stick to a treatment plan already in place rather than suggesting a better alternative.

During open enrollment, many people automatically renew their current health plan without comparing it to newer, potentially cheaper or more comprehensive options.

This bias is considered a major hurdle in medical compliance and treating chronic disease, as it causes “patient inertia” and, in some cases, can lead to unfavorable outcomes.

In fact the bias is cognitive and not limited to health; the Status Quo Bias causes people to prefer their current situation or the “default” option over change, even when a different choice would objectively be more beneficial.

So while routine is good; life always needs a change!

Of course every likes life to change for the better!

Which is why we wish you a very happy ugadi by a Sketch inspired by the Kannada LEGEND; Sampath Kumar AKA Dr.Vishnuvardhan

Have a healthy and blessed and posperous Ugadi!

Shubh Ratri!

Maxwell Maltz book called Psycho Cybernetic, published in 1960, is considered one of the best books in the self-help category, of the psychology masterpieces that paved the way for most of today’s personal empowerment programs! In one section he states how physical scars are formed because the wound heals under tension and the gap between the wounds is filled by fibrous tissue!

A plastic surgeon ensures that there is no tension which makes the scars less or none! In the same way apparently even emotional scars develop when there is stress and tension or frustration! According to him the best way to heal or repair those scars is to reduce emotional stress or tension!

And then you have the healing of the fracture!  The issue with fracture is that  you need to give complete rest to the joint. Then again when you give rest to the joint the muscles become stiff! So you need to keep on moving the muscles!

Unfortunately you cannot move them too much lest the joint also moves and that may impede the healing of the fracture!

In this delicate balance between moment and restriction the body slowly tries to recover.

There is no shortcut to healing it will take its own time!

In fact if you try to mobilise faster then the healing will be delayed or incorrect and if you mobilize later then your joint will be more stiff!

And then you have the pain after the first major pain! By this time you realise that it is a fracture and then you will get pain in short intervals! So you have major pain and a minor constant pain!

The pain here is good since that means that the fracture is healing it also tells you how much you can move your joint! Then again too much pain is not good!

Slowly the pain may go or you get used to it! Just like life!

It’s all matter of balance! Just like life!

It’s not too good and then again it’s not too bad! Just like life!

A perfect balance of look and talent is also Abhay Deol!

Now for the perfect balance in life you have to sleep!

Shubh ratri!

Wilson Greatbatch was an American electrical engineer; In 1956, while building an oscillator to record heart sounds at the University of Buffalo, Greatbatch accidentally installed a resistor with the wrong resistance (1 MΩ instead of 10 KΩ). 

What happened was instead of recording the circuit emitted a steady electrical pulse!

He recognized tthat his rhythmic pulse mirrored a healthy heartbeat and could potentially regulate a diseased heart!

Greatbatch spent two years refining the device in a workshop behind his home! 

He later teamed with surgeon Dr. William Chardack and after many refinements and modification the device was ready for human implant

In 1960, the device was successfully implanted in a 77-year-old human patient by Dr. William Chardack 

He then licensed the invention to Medtronic, which led to its widespread clinical use.

Initially he was frustrated by the 2-year lifespan of early mercury batteries, Greatbatch developed the lithium-iodide battery in the early 1970s. This became the industry standard, extending pacemaker longevity to over 10 years!

Apart from this he held over 325 patents throughout his life!

His work transformed heart block from a fatal condition into a manageable one, with nearly one million pacemakers now installed annually worldwide.

All started with an accident! Remember that there are no accidents! Only opportunities! Start by dreams and then make castles! Or a bungalow! 

Or simply by your charity you can make everything you do legendary and even if you are gone you are memories and your actions will remain forever!

Praying for peace and health

Subh ratri…

This was an answer in the NYT the other day; PACS

In medical field we know PACS as the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) which is a medical imaging technology that provides economical storage, rapid retrieval, and digital distribution of medical images (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans).

It replaces physical film by storing images in DICOM format, allowing clinicians to access, view, and report on studies electronically! It is a norm now!

But (he he!) the PACS according to the NYT was a group which influences elections!


Their full form is Political Action Committees (PACs) who are apparently increasingly hiring social media influencers—ranging from micro-creators to major personalities—to drive 2024 election engagement, particularly among younger voters!

These influencers are paid to create authentic, non-traditional political content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, often aiming to sway audiences in battleground states.

PACs use micro-influencers to target specific demographics, such as farmers or young people in specific regions.

Subtle Messaging: Influencers are favored for “off-the-cuff” content, inserting political messages into lifestyle, beauty, or comedy content rather than traditional campaign slogans, which is perceived as more genuine.

So PAC is a political hack!

One hack of sorts was also a movie called executive decision! I rented that think Steven Seagal was the lead only to he dies in the first 10 minutes of the movie! The movie was really nice and Kurt Russell did a good job!

Challenging also to sketch and blog sometimes when you have some limitations!

Still nothing wrong in trying!


Praying for health and peace…

Subh ratri…

We all now what an idiot box television is! Your phone now has become an Idiot making one!

But did you know that there was a show that was specifically invented or created to improve the education quality of the lower strata?

It was seen that children from lower economic status when they join the kindergarten, they were significantly behind from their peers from richer family.

This was attributed to the lack of basic education or an educational environment in their home.


By simple characterisation and models like puppets, this show, soon became a landmark in educational Entertainment

You may have heard the about the show in passing!


The name is similar to the name called by Alibaba!

Yes! It’s Sesame Street!

Created in 1969, Sesame Street was the first television program to combine a strictly researched educational curriculum with high-quality entertainment to help underprivileged children prepare for school.

The show was conceived in 1966 during a dinner party conversation between TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Corporation executive Lloyd Morrisett.

They wondered if the “addictive” qualities of television could be used to teach basic literacy and numeracy, effectively “leveling the playing field” for disadvantaged preschoolers.

For the first time, researchers and producers collaborated as equal partners to ensure every segment had measurable educational outcomes.

Sesame Street premiered on November 10, 1969, on public television (NET, later PBS). It was immediate successful but also groundbreaking for its intentionally diverse cast, which was rare for the era.


The most important thing is that for the first time ever a television show was found to improve the quality of education!

Early studies by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) found that children who watched frequently scored significantly higher in letter and number recognition than non-viewers.

The show soon became a global phenomenon through “co-productions”—localized versions that adapted the Sesame model to different cultures.

Even difficult topics like death, HIV positivity, and Autism were discussed with sensitivity in the series

Even now we have so many educational materials all over the web and social media. All we need is an intent to learn!


You have to decide whether you want to learn with which actress does your favourite actor has an affair with or what is the origin of the solar system?

It’s your choice!

You can also make them watch stories which inspire like the one of Sandeep Unnikrishnan!

We miss you Sandeep; you will never be forgotten…

Jai Hind…

Circle of days by Ken Follet

Ebook

Book review

Historical fiction Genre

Based on the supposed story behind the Stonehenge monument

One major departure in this novel though is that lead character of the novel does not get into the action till much into the story! Now since it is Ken you know that the novel will move along smoothly but occasionally you do get a GOT vibe! Especially when some supposedly main characters get knocked off!

Starts with a main character who later on assumes a constant background role but still important.

He is the only character who survives the circle of days so to speak!

The only chief spoiler is that the whole novel is about the construction of the Stonehenge monument!

So once that let’s spoiler is out; you can go into the action so to speak!

The novel is set in 2500 BCE on the Great Plain, the novel follows a society divided into tribes of miners, herders, woodlanders, and farmers.

Though initially there is peace all round that’s only because the novelist starting! Even his non prehistoric  novels were, violent you can imagine how the prehistoric novels would be!

There are rigid sections and divisions within the society, people who are farmers cannot marry people who are woodlanders or herders!

Even here the actual work yes done by the women!

The miners mine flint and sell them to the other class like herders and farmers and woodlanders

The farmers grow crop and they are the  most hard working of the the lot as well as the most rigid!

The woodlanders are the most in tune with the nature and the most simple in their actions so to speak.

So you have lots of violence and you have a lots of issues and of course when two people get together you have a lots of love and fight!

All of this centered around the building of this huge monument with stones! The stones have to be procured from a place which was very far and in ancient times it is like 2 days of walk by people who may not know how to count about 10! So they have a group of people led by a priestess and they have a miner turned herder who is now a builder who is leading the whole construction!

And between then you have a dozen or so people who simply do not want any progress! These narrow minded gentleman (if you can call them that!) stand at every point of the way causing obstruction destruction death and damage!

Guess the prehistoric world is not that different after all!

The story flows like a swift boat on a smooth river guided by a great and expert driver!

A stand alone novel though the construction aspect can be linked to the Pillar of Earth series…

Enjoy!

Yesterday was the day when this planet was officially named the ninth planet and after 75 or so glorious years; it was demoted mainly because it could not keep its surroundings clean!

That is what you get when your neighbourhood is dirty! You lose your planetary status!

That too when in addition to the planet, a Disney character (introduced the same year) and a major element discovered later were named in its honor!

The planet was discovered on February 18, 1930, by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona.

Searching for a predicted “Planet X” beyond Neptune, Tombaugh used a blink comparator to identify a moving object on photographic plates taken in January 1930. The discovery was officially announced on March 13, 1930.

The discovery was telegraphed to the Harvard College Observatory on March 13, 1930, intentionally chosen to coincide with the anniversary of Lowell’s birth and the discovery of Uranus!

The planet was actually was named in 1930 by 11-year-old Venetia Burney from Oxford, England, who suggested the name of the Roman god of the underworld to her grandfather.

The name was chosen because the planet was dark, cold, and distant!

The Lowell Observatory officially adopted it, partially because “PL” are the initials of Percival Lowell!

The name fit because, as the god of the underworld, the god could make himself invisible, mirroring how the planet had been hidden, and it followed the naming convention of other planets (Jupiter and Neptune are brothers to the said Greek god!)

The staff at Lowell Observatory considered many names, including Minerva and Cronus, but voted unanimously for this name on March 24, 1930!

The name was officially announced on May 1, 1930, and Venetia received a five-pound reward from her grandfather!

After more than 75 years of being the beloved darling and ninth planet it was moved to the stature of a Dwarf planet!

This is because a ‘real’ planet must: 1) Orbit the Sun, 2) Be spherical (have enough mass for gravity to create a round shape), and 3) Have cleared its orbital neighborhood of other debris!

The planet however got only 2 out of three!

It orbits the Sun and is round, but it fails the third criterion. It is located in the Kuiper Belt, a region filled with other icy bodies and debris. Because its gravity is not strong enough to clear this area, it is not considered a “dominant” planet!

In 2006, the IAU or International Astronomical Union  reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet because it fits the criteria of being round and orbiting the Sun but not having the gravitational dominance to clear its path! Basically it has it “has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects.”

Now do not feel sad!  It has company!

The planet is now classified alongside other dwarf planets like Eris, Ceres, Haumea, and Makemake (that is not a song by Yohani!)!

Did you get the Planet or the dwarf planet? Do not say Uranus!

It is PLUTO!

Interesting story by the way, but why I wrote the blog was that in all this time; when it was called a planet and then discovered as a planet and when it was promoted and then demoted as a dwarf planet!

During all this time Pluto didn’t really care what we thought about it!

At some point in our life, I think we also should just do our job and not simply care what people think about you!

Just like Rohit Shetty who does not overthink when he makes his movies! Just some action and full PLUTO, I mean paisa wasool!

Now stop thinking about Pluto and sleep!

shubh ratri!

Did you know that everyone has some culture!

Even animals by the way!

I am talking about bacterial culture by the way!

Now a ‘cultured’ person like you would know that but did you know that your behaviour is determined by the bacteria in your gut!

That feeling in your gut may be a bacteria after all!


Now research indicates that the composition, diversity, and sheer amount of bacteria in your gut (the microbiome) can significantly influence your behavior, mood, and personality.

While they do not completely control you like a “puppet master,” microbes in the gut communicate with the brain, impacting stress levels, anxiety, sociability, and even cognitive functions!


The gut contains a “second brain”—the enteric nervous system—which is composed of around 100 million neurons and is in constant, two-way communication with the brain via the vagus nerve! It also produces the vital bullets of our mood guns! The neurotransmitters! Gut bacteria manufacture, or signal the body to produce, more than 90% of the body’s serotonin (which regulates mood) and significant amounts of dopamine and Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps manage anxiety!


A more diverse gut microbiome is generally associated with lower stress and anxiety, while reduced diversity or an unhealthy balance (dysbiosis) is linked to higher anxiety and depression. Microbes may even influence your eating habits by producing neuroactive compounds that trigger cravings for sugar or fat, encouraging the growth of the bacteria that thrive on those specific foods.


Research has also shown that changing the gut microbiome via diet can alter social decision-making, such as increasing a sense of fairness in financial games.
A high-fiber diet with natural prebiotics and probiotics (e.g., fermented foods) supports a diverse and healthy gut, which is linked to better mood and behavior.

While the overuse of antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome, reducing its diversity and potentially causing “behavioral” side effects, such as lower scores on cognitive tests.


In fact in some “germ-free” mouse studies; it has been seen that transplanting gut microbiota from depressed humans into mice resulted in the mice displaying depression-like behaviors!

Remember that next time your gobble down those antibiotics without prescription like it’s a dessert you got in your uncle’s house!

You are what you eat and what’s in your gut!

Now this blog may not get viral because; well it’s bacterial!

Then again more than the blog getting viral I would like the world getting more peaceful! One way would be by listening to wise ‘cultured’ people like Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal…

Now stop that junk food and get more fiber for your gut and health!

Subh ratri…