🌞 First Bladder Transplant

Daily Upsider - Wednesday, May 28th, 2025

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James Linder & Julia Mejia
May 28, 2025

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025

Good Morning! 🌞 

Ever have one of those days where your brain’s just
 buffering? Yeah, same. Apparently, our four-legged friends get it too.

Today we put together a compilation of dogs having what we can only describe as “one braincell moments.” From running headfirst into glass doors to barking at their own reflection, it’s chaotic, adorable, and weirdly relatable.

Because let’s be real—sometimes we all operate on vibes and instinct. Hit play, and let these pups remind you that it’s okay to be a little silly sometimes. 😄 

Today’s Upside

Innovation

First Bladder Transplant

Dr. Nima Nassiri with patient Oscar Larrainzar – Photo by Nick Carranza / UCLA Health

The first-ever human bladder transplant in a living patient has been successfully completed at UCLA Medical Center, following four years of careful preparation. The groundbreaking surgery, previously limited to procedures on cadavers, involved transplanting both a kidney and a bladder into a patient who had lost most of his bladder due to cancer surgery and had been dependent on dialysis for seven years. The eight-hour operation was led by Dr. Nima Nassiri, director of UCLA’s bladder replacement research program, in collaboration with Dr. Inderbir Gill of USC Urology. “This first attempt at bladder transplantation has been over four years in the making,” Nassiri said. “For the appropriately selected patient, it is exciting to be able to offer a new potential option.”

Bladder transplants had not been attempted before primarily because of the pelvis’s complex blood supply and the operation’s technical challenges. Nassiri and Gill spent years developing and refining their transplant technique through multiple pre-clinical procedures conducted at USC and Southern California’s organ procurement organization. During the groundbreaking surgery, the transplanted kidney immediately began functioning, eliminating the patient’s need for dialysis, and the urine began flowing into the new bladder right away. “The kidney immediately made a large volume of urine, and the patient’s kidney function improved immediately,” Nassiri said. “There was no need for any dialysis after surgery, and the urine drained properly into the new bladder.”

Despite this success, significant challenges remain. The long-term function of the transplanted bladder is still unknown, and as with any organ transplant, the risks of rejection and side effects from immunosuppressive drugs are considerable. Nassiri noted that ideal candidates for bladder transplantation are likely those who already require immunosuppression or will need it imminently. Current bladder dysfunction treatments typically involve creating a urinary reservoir from intestinal tissue, which can lead to significant complications. In contrast, a successful bladder transplant offers a more natural solution. “A bladder transplant, on the other hand, results in a more normal urinary reservoir,” Nassiri explained. Dr. Mark Litwin, UCLA Urology Chair, highlighted the significance of this breakthrough: “It is incredibly gratifying to see him take this work from the laboratory to human patients at UCLA, which operates the busiest and most successful solid-organ transplant program in the western United States.”

World News

The Mango Project

The Mango Project in Uganda (Courtesy of their Facebook page)

Early in his career, a Ugandan nurse named Francis Asiku discovered that medicine wasn’t always the solution—nutrition often was. Fourteen years ago in Uganda’s Yumbe district, Asiku encountered a severely malnourished four-year-old child, an experience that deeply shook him. Shortly after, as he walked through the village of Midigo, he saw birds feasting on ripe mangoes rotting on the ground. This observation led him to ask a critical question: Why were nutritious mangoes wasted, while local children remained hungry? Driven by this realization, Asiku founded the Mango Project, a grassroots initiative aimed at preserving mangoes harvested twice a year and distributing them to children most in need.

Malnutrition remains a severe issue in Uganda, where about one in four children suffers from stunting—a condition linked to chronic undernutrition. While a single mango alone isn't a complete nutritional solution, it offers a day's worth of vitamin C, along with valuable nutrients such as copper, potassium, vitamin A, folate, and vitamin E. Yet around 40% of mangoes in regions like Midigo go to waste due to the lack of refrigeration. To address this, the Mango Project collects, slices, and preserves mangoes in jars with boiled water and sugar, extending their shelf-life up to a year. These jars are then distributed to local health centers and refugee camps; notably, 12,000 jars were handed out during the COVID-19 pandemic alone.

Asiku has evolved into a dedicated advocate for child nutrition, even cultivating an orchard of 310 hybrid mango trees resistant to fruit flies and harsh weather. Recognizing that mangoes alone don't offer a full nutritional profile—lacking protein, iron, B vitamins, choline, and zinc—he expanded his efforts by purchasing a solar-powered food dryer through donations. Now, he also dries okra and eggplant, which provide essential nutrients such as vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B1. Currently, Asiku is pursuing a government license to expand distribution of these dried foods. “It’s fulfilling to see my people smiling at the end of the day,” Asiku told Christian Science Monitor. “Malnutrition is still there, but this does not mean that we should give up.”

Environment

A ‘Rare’ Moment

Mistle thrush feeds orphaned blackbird juvenile Credit: Andrew Fusek-Peters via SWNS

In a rare display of interspecies care, a juvenile blackbird was photographed being fed by a mistle thrush—an unusual behavior seldom documented on camera. Photographer Andrew Fusek-Peters captured this remarkable moment in North Shropshire, England. His detailed images reveal the adult mistle thrush first feeding her own chicks, then turning to offer a worm to the patiently waiting blackbird fledgling. “It’s such a rare thing to see, let alone photograph,” Fusek-Peters explained. “It is known to happen but is almost never photographed—and I’ve not known of a mistle thrush and a blackbird doing this before.”

Fusek-Peters suspects the young blackbird may have been orphaned, prompting a maternal response from the thrush. “When the chick opens its mouth, it triggers a maternal response in nearby female birds,” he told SWNS news agency. “The blackbird was sitting with its beak open, and the mistle thrush was close by. It fed its own chick first and then the blackbird.” Initially mistaking the blackbird fledgling for an unusually dark mistle thrush chick, he soon recognized the uniqueness of the event. “I thought it was a very dark thrush baby at first, then I realized it’s actually a blackbird,” he said. “I was only five yards away. I could get quite close because they aren’t bothered by humans.”

The photographer noted that the fledglings appeared just a few weeks old, a stage when parents typically continue feeding them even after they leave the nest. Capturing such behavior is exceedingly rare, making the event particularly special for Fusek-Peters. “I can’t get over how unbelievably rare this is to capture. It was such a special moment,” he reflected.

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Wellness Wednesday: What Your Cravings Are Trying to Tell You

Cravings are a universal experience—whether it's a strong urge for something salty late at night or an afternoon yearning for sweets. Often, we dismiss these cravings as weaknesses or indulge them without question. But what if they were signals from your body, trying to communicate deeper needs?

Let’s explore what your cravings may be revealing about your physical, emotional, and nutritional state.

Craving Something Salty?

Your body may be under stress or dehydrated.

Salt cravings are often linked to stress, adrenal fatigue, or even mild dehydration. Your adrenal glands help regulate your stress response, and when they’re overworked, your body might ask for salty foods to compensate.

Consider:

  • Are you experiencing high levels of stress or fatigue?

  • Are you drinking enough water?

  • Is your diet low in essential minerals?

Try this: Hydrate adequately, include mineral-rich foods like leafy greens or sea salt in moderation, and practice stress-reduction techniques like walking, yoga, or deep breathing.

Constant Sweet Cravings?

You may be low on energy—or lacking key nutrients.

Sugar cravings can indicate blood sugar imbalances, sleep deprivation, or deficiencies in magnesium or chromium. While the occasional dessert is perfectly fine, persistent sweet cravings might signal an energy regulation issue.

Consider:

  • Are your meals balanced with enough protein and healthy fats?

  • Are you sleeping well and managing your energy throughout the day?

Try this: Reach for naturally sweet options like fruit, dark chocolate (rich in magnesium), or a spoonful of nut butter. Prioritize regular meals with complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats.

Craving Carbs Like Bread or Pasta?

You might need emotional comfort or serotonin support.

Carbohydrates help boost serotonin levels—a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep. If you’re craving breads, pasta, or pastries, it might be more about mood than hunger.

Consider:

  • Are you feeling emotionally drained or mentally low?

  • Have you been restricting carbs or skipping meals?

Try this: Incorporate complex carbs like oats, quinoa, or whole grains. Pair them with protein and fat to maintain stable blood sugar and mood support.

Cheese or Creamy Foods Calling Your Name?

You could be low in fats or needing emotional comfort.

Cheese is rich in fat and compounds that stimulate dopamine—the feel-good chemical in the brain. When life feels overwhelming or emotionally cold, rich, fatty foods often feel like a hug.

Consider:

  • Are you eating enough healthy fats?

  • Are you emotionally fulfilled or feeling disconnected?

Try this: Add healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, or olive oil to your meals. Occasionally enjoying a bit of cheese is fine—just tune in to the motivation behind it.

Craving Meat or Heavy Protein?

You might be low in iron or protein.

Cravings for meat, especially red meat, may indicate a deficiency in iron, zinc, or B vitamins—especially for menstruating individuals or those with lower protein intake.

Consider:

  • Are you feeling unusually tired or light-headed?

  • Is your diet lacking in protein sources?

Try this: Incorporate more plant and animal-based protein sources—eggs, beans, tofu, lean meats—or consider an iron supplement if needed (always consult your healthcare provider first).

Craving "Everything"—All the Time?

This might be emotional hunger, not physical.

When cravings feel overwhelming and indiscriminate—one moment it’s chips, then chocolate, then something crunchy—it’s often a sign of emotional eating. Food becomes a distraction or comfort when we’re bored, anxious, lonely, or overstimulated.

Consider:

  • Are you using food to cope with something?

  • Are you eating out of habit, not hunger?

Try this: Pause. Drink water. Take a short walk. Journal or call a friend. Reflect on what you really need—rest, connection, or simply a mindful moment.

Your body is wise—it speaks in symptoms, signals, and yes, cravings. When you learn to listen with curiosity rather than guilt, you can respond in ways that nourish rather than numb.

Next time a craving strikes, don’t just reach for the nearest snack. Take a moment to ask:
What is my body trying to tell me?

You might be surprised by the answer.

Mind Stretchers

⁉ 


Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

I guard your steps with silent paws,
I hunt what you toss without a pause.
My smile’s a crescent, my tail a gauge,
I map your moods without a page.
Ever faithful, never a fraud—
What am I? — a dog! Debbie Ettinger got this correct! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to email.


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