Simon McGrath
@simonmcg.bsky.social
I occasionally try to explain and comment on ME researchh, or even contribute to it. And I advocate for more and better research.
1) The research team of Leonard Jason has published the DSQ-PEM-2, a new short questionnaire to assess post-exertional malaise (PEM). It includes extra questions about multiple PEM triggers, delayed onset, and prolonged recovery. But there are also some issues...
1) We wrote a new article on cell and tissue analysis using genetic data. For ME/CFS, the results strongly point to neurons. One of the top hits is the medium spiny neuron, located in a region deep inside the brain called the striatum.
Cell and tissue enrichment in ME/CFS - ME/CFS Science
By matching DNA results with gene expression databases researchers can determine the tissues and cellContinue readingCell and tissue enrichment in ME/CFS
mecfsscience.org
Cross-definition GWAS of IBS in 2.8 million individuals reveals cardiometabolic & triglyceride-linked mechanisms gut.bmj.com/content/earl... "we identify 35 risk loci & demonstrate a consistent polygenic architecture across different case definitions” #irritablebowelsyndrome #IBS 1/
Cross-definition GWAS of IBS in 2.8 million individuals reveals cardiometabolic and triglyceride-linked mechanisms
Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder of gut-brain interaction, with heterogeneous symptoms, no available biomarkers and limited pathogenetic insight. Objective To identify ...
gut.bmj.com
15 years after the Pace trial, CBT enthusiast still shoe no interest in a proper clinical trial. Even with the usual fatal flaws, only one of five primary outcomes sneaks into statistical significance. With correct corrections for multiple comparisons, which the authors fail apply, none do. A bust.
ME/CFS Science@mecfsscience.org · 3w ago1) 🇩🇪 There's a new randomised trial of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Long Covid, from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. It claims that CBT lowered fatigue but it has the usual fatal limitations that make the results unreliable.
1) 🇩🇪 There's a new randomised trial of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Long Covid, from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. It claims that CBT lowered fatigue but it has the usual fatal limitations that make the results unreliable.
1) A new randomized trial in Long Covid patients tested Temelimab, a drug that targets a potentially pathogenic protein (HERV-W ENV) from endogenous retroviruses. Unfortunately, the results are pretty clear: Temelimab had no beneficial effect.
1) 🇬🇧 The results of the big STIMULATE-ICP study are in. It tested three repurposed drugs in hundreds of Long Covid patients: - colchicine: an anti-inflammatory - famotidine and loratadine: antihistamines - rivaroxaban: an anticoagulant Sadly, all three had poor results.
1) "SARS-CoV-2 antigens circulate in plasma up to one year after infection in a minority of individuals, regardless of whether they develop Long COVID or not, and become rarely detectable later on."
For those missing any World Cup action today youtu.be/PjV9eZzNs2g?...
Monty Python's World Cup Team of Philosophers
YouTube video by Lonnie Goldman
youtu.be
1) An overview of positive developments in ME/CFS research 👇 The European Union awarded €7.5 to a ME/CFS consortium that will conduct multi-omics and test biomarkers in hundreds of patients. It will connect and harmonize five biobanks across the continent. bsky.app/profile/mecf...
ME/CFS Science@mecfsscience.org · last mo.1) 🇪🇺 Good news! The European Union has awarded € 7.5 million for a big ME/CFS consortium that will study biological mechanisms in hundreds of patients. This is a major milestone for ME/CFS research in Europe.
Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen at scale Cambridge Uni made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/07/scie...
Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen . . .at scale.
A Cambridge University team made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
anthropocenemagazine.org
A brilliant clip from a BBC weather forecast and presenter with ME/CFS
Adam@abrokenbattery.bsky.social · last mo.“They're not lazy, they're not skiving and they're not doing it to get attention. They're really, really ill and they've lost so much from their lives.” BBC weather presenter Trai Anfield speaking about young people with #MECFS.
Comparing the UK heatwaves of June 1976 and June 2026... Daytime maximum & night minimum temperatures were much hotter in 2026. Details: maxima over 21st-30th June in both years. Uses provisional 2026 HadUK-Grid data from Met Office NCIC. Note the difference scale is larger for night minimums.
Yesterday afternoon, UK Biobank wrote to all its researchers saying that they are “Planning for a phased re-opening of access to the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform from September”. This further delay is frustrating and costly to our project. We’ll complete our analyses asap thereafter.
7) The paper concludes that: "Given the risk of PEM which may be triggered already by travel to the rehabilitation clinic and the general exertion involved, the value of rehabilitation for patients with ME/CFS should be critically re-evaluated."
1) 🇩🇪 The results of the German rehabilitation program for ME/CFS have been published. Unfortunately, the results are rather bleak: there was no improvement on multiple outcomes. A closer look at the main findings...
Yesterday (29.06.26), GOV UK released a press release stating that an audio recording will be taken at benefit assessments that are face-to-face and via telephone. https://meassociation.org.uk/xgx4 #PIP #DisabilityBenefits #UniversalCredit
Four-winged flying fish (tropical oceans) are remarkable they do not actually fly, but instead glide above the water. Using both their enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins, these fish can reach speeds of 70 km/h and sore up to 400meters in this in a single sustained flight to escape predators.
PRIME International Symposium www.actionforme.org.uk/register-for... www.actionforme.org.uk/wp-content/u... www.tickettailor.com/events/unive... Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update #MEcfs #PwME
So good to see proper studies like this of treatments, even if the studies show the treatments don't help. This helps the science, and saves PwME expanding energy and money on treatments with poor results. Research can focus on subgroups that might benefit.
ME/CFS Science@mecfsscience.org · 2mo ago1) A randomised trial of immunoadsorption in 40 Long COVID patients unfortunately found no significant effect on multiple outcomes. This is similar to the ME/CFS trial reported at the Berlin conference this year.
Full podcast: Long Covid Stole My Olympic Dream with Oonagh Cousins - Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett (53 mins) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
BBC Sounds - Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett, Long Covid Stole My Olympic Dream with Oonagh Cousins
Oonagh Cousins was selected for Team GB, then Long Covid ended her Olympic hopes.
bbc.co.uk
I’ve been asked to highlight this again. #MEcfs #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #CFS
ME Research UK@meresearchuk.bsky.social · 3mo agoIn 2024, @MEResearchUK initiated the “Founders’ Science Writing Award”. This year, early career scientists are invited to discuss heterogeneity in ME/CFS research populations. Cash prizes for winning entries. More info: bit.ly/4tHXlwr #MECFS #MEresearch
I made it out yesterday for an hour to the wildflowers bit of the park and saw these beautiful common blues and my first small heath 😍. Also ringlets but no pic
1) This review found that people with ME/CFS are profoundly impacted by stigmatisation and that it also affects their social circles, such as friends and family. The most frequently identified issue was stigmatising experiences by healthcare professionals and physicians.
"When we examined the areas more closely, we saw two things: Firstly, the genes in these areas are more active in the nervous system than one would expect by chance. Secondly, some of the areas contain genes already known to play a role in the immune system.” @cgatist.bsky.social #ME/CFS #Genetics
People with chronic fatigue have been misunderstood for decades: reputable researcher offers surprising advice to those struggling with the illness
Chronic fatigue syndrome has often been overlooked by doctors and researchers. Geneticist Chris Ponting has revolutionised our understanding of the disease – and he has a remarkable message for those ...
scienceillustrated.com
This image is the iconic Pop Art masterpiece “A Bigger Splash” by British artist David Hockney, created in 1967 during his time at UC Berkeley. It is an acrylic on canvas, a new medium at the time, measuring 242.5 cm × 243.9 cm.
Incidence age is bimodal for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, with higher severity burden for early onset disease Open Access @simonmcg.bsky.social, Charles B Hillier , Joshua J Dibble , @tschei.bsky.social, Arild Angelsen , @aryback.bsky.social #ME/CFS #pwME
Incidence age is bimodal for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, with higher severity burden for early onset disease
Abstract. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), is a disease of uncertain origin. Studies of Norwegian health records have sugge
academic.oup.com
From Germany Impaired microvascular reactivity in post-COVID-19 syndrome is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness journals.physiology.org/doi/10.1152/... #LongCovid #PASC 1/
