Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · 15d

"described for the first time widespread abnormalities in the function of unmyelinated C fibers, both somatosensory and sympathetic, that could represent a common pathophysiological mechanism explaining the multiplicity of symptoms in #longCOVID"

#MECFS

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Microneurography Reveals Unmyelinated Small Nerve Fiber Dysfunction in Long COVID

Objective To review the microneurography findings of long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) patients who presented to the clinic with multisystem involvement affecting neurological, cardiovascular, g.....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · 17d

New in this release

- Heart rate zones display
- More monthly metrics, eg walking and stair speed, stability
- Interface improvements
- iOS 26 compatibility

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · 17d

WatchME for iPhone and Apple Watch
v2.8 now available

To help #pwME with daily pacing

iOS 17 | watchOS 10
Free. No data collected.

apps.apple.com/app/watchme/...

‎WatchME

‎For people with ME/CFS. This app helps you to pace and stay within your capacity envelope. Use your watch and phone to monitor your daily heart rate, steps and distance. Integrated with HealthKit....

apps.apple.com

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Brian Hughes @bmhughes.bsky.social · 29d

The Irish health service has initiated a process to develop a clinical guideline for ME (#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis). I am honoured to be part of its Steering Group

The process so far has been extremely progressive

I am hugely optimistic that a world-leading guideline will be produced

#pwME #MECFS

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) - HSE.ie

www.hse.ie

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

DecodeME @decodemestudy.bsky.social · Aug 15

“DecodeME shows the incredible level of support that the ME/CFS patient community can give to research that involves them on a deep and meaningful level. Without the community, we could not have achieved all that we have.” Andy Devereux-Cooke (PPI Member and Co-Investigator)

Photo of Andy Devereux-Cooke, PPI member and Co-investigator, next to his quote: "DecodeME shows the incredible level of support that the ME/CFS patient community can give to research that involves them on a deep and meaningful level. Without the community, we could not have achieved all that we have"

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

DecodeME @decodemestudy.bsky.social · Aug 12

"DecodeME is now calling on researchers worldwide to join us in accelerating ME/CFS research.” - Prof Chris Ponting (DecodeME Investigator).

We encourage researchers to explore and build on our findings. Apply for access to our rich dataset now shorturl.at/F8aOM

Image of Chris Ponting next to quote "This is a wakeup call. These extraordinary results speak the language of people with ME/CFS, often recounting people's ME/CFS symptoms. DecodeME is now calling on researchers worldwide to join us in accelerating ME/CFS research"

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Binita Kane @binitakane.bsky.social · Aug 11

My piece for The RCP Commentary Magazine for #SouthAsianHeritageMonth.

This is my lovely Mum and Dad in 1969.

Immigrants helped build the NHS

www.rcp.ac.uk/78702?utm_so...

Roots to Routes: why South Asian Heritage Month matters to the NHS

www.rcp.ac.uk

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 12

"we identified significant differences in cfRNA contributions from multiple immune cell types. Notably, we observed a decrease in platelet-derived cfRNA and an increase in pDCs, monocytes, and certain T cell subset-derived cfRNA"

#MECFS

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Circulating cell-free RNA signatures for the characterization and diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome | PNAS

People living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experience heterogeneous and debilitating symptoms that lack suffici...

www.pnas.org

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 7

One of the identified genes is SUDS3 which is proposed to be linked to microglial activation.

https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/533352484/Candidate_Genes.pdf

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 7

"includes seven Tier 1 genes, with BTN2A2 and TRIM38 eQTLs colocalised with ME/CFS risk […] Complexes involving butyrophilin3 and -2 homologues […] allow innate-like Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to distinguish self-derived from non-self-derived pyrophosphate antigens"

#gdTcells #MECFS
@forum-gd.bsky.social

DecodeME @decodemestudy.bsky.social · Aug 6

Our initial DNA results! DecodeME have discovered that people with an ME/CFS diagnosis have significant genetic differences compared to the general population.
-
Summary of our results: shorturl.at/pgsjk
Check out our full preprint paper: shorturl.at/VwN3s

DecodeME: The Results announcement post. The graphic has a blue background with a DNA helix. In the centre of the graphic it says ‘We have released our initial DNA results! We have discovered that your genes contribute to your chances of developing ME/CFS.’ At the bottom left of the graphic is an image of a research paper.

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 6

"The project is part of a “notable increase” in ME/CFS research in recent years, Bosch says—a trend he attributes to a mix of patient advocacy, the failure of psychological and behavioral explanations for the condition, and increasing awareness of #MECFS thanks to its similarities to #LongCovid."

Chris Ponting @cgatist.bsky.social · Aug 6

Science magazine’s coverage of the DecodeME initial results : www.science.org/content/arti...

Possible genetic clues to ME/chronic fatigue syndrome identified in massive study

DNA analysis of more than 15,500 people with the debilitating condition identifies eight tentative “genetic signals”

www.science.org

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Brian Hughes @bmhughes.bsky.social · Aug 6

Proud to be on the Science Advisory Board for DecodeME, a peripheral role but a fantastic vantage point from which to witness such outstanding work by Chris Ponting @cgatist.bsky.social and colleagues

#MECFS #pwME

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scientists find link between genes and ME/chronic fatigue syndrome

Large study suggests people’s genetics could ‘tip the balance’ on whether they would develop the illness

www.theguardian.com

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 6

With clear evidence of a genetic predisposition linked to relevant biological pathways, these findings need to mark a turning point away from medicine's historic failure to correctly research this disease and meet its duty of patient care.

#MECFS #DecodeME

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 6

Scientists find link between genes and ME/chronic fatigue syndrome

Large study suggests people’s genetics could ‘tip the balance’ on whether they would develop the illness Scientists have found the first robust evidence that people’s genes affect their chances of developing myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a mysterious and debilitating illness that has been neglected and dismissed for decades by many in the medical community. Early findings from the world’s largest study into the genetics of the condition pinpointed eight regions of the human genome that were substantially different in people with an ME/CFS diagnosis compared to those without the illness. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Binita Kane @binitakane.bsky.social · Aug 6

DECODE ME has published its results.

Massive congratulations to @cgatist.bsky.social and team in Edinburgh.

Let’s hope this is the start of a paradigm shift in how we view, research and treat this dreadful illness.

www.decodeme.org.uk/initial-dna-...

Initial DecodeME DNA Results - DecodeME

06 August 2025 The DecodeME team is delighted to announce that the initial analysis of 15,579 DNA samples is complete, and we have important news to share. Main findings from our analysis Your genes ...

www.decodeme.org.uk

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 6

Thank you Professor Chris Ponting @cgatist.bsky.social and the team at @decodemestudy.bsky.social

#MECFS #genomics

DecodeME @decodemestudy.bsky.social · Aug 6

Our initial DNA results! DecodeME have discovered that people with an ME/CFS diagnosis have significant genetic differences compared to the general population.
-
Summary of our results: shorturl.at/pgsjk
Check out our full preprint paper: shorturl.at/VwN3s

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 1

"We propose that skeletal muscle tissue in ME/CFS and Long COVID-19 progresses through a hypermetabolic state, leading to severe muscular and mitochondrial deterioration. This is the first study to suggest such transient metabolic adaptation."

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 1

"Structural analyses confirmed myotube hypertrophy and elevated mitochondrial oxygen consumption in ME/CFS. While muscles initially adapted by increasing glycolysis, prolonged exposure (96–144 hours) caused muscle fragility and weakness, with mitochondria fragmenting into a toroidal conformation."

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 1

"Short exposures (48 hours) to patient sera led to a significant reduction in muscle contractile strength. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the upregulation of protein translation, glycolytic enzymes, disturbances in calcium homeostasis, hypertrophy, and mitochondrial hyperfusion."

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 1

#MECFS and #LongCovid pilot study 👀

(Small numbers: 4 ME, 5 LC and 4 healthy sedentary controls)

Metabolic adaptation and fragility in healthy 3-D in vitro skeletal muscle tissues exposed to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID-19 sera

iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Aug 1

On the outdated, flawed and harmful 'current' review on exercise in #MECFS. From one of Cochrane's founder members:

"Given the Cochrane Collaboration’s reliance on their exceptional status and members, that is untenable. Not retiring influential out-of-date reviews is a ticking time bomb."

Hilda Bastian @hildabast.bsky.social · Aug 1

Six months later: What their response on ME/CFS tells us about the Cochrane Collaboration.

New post at Absolutely Maybe .... 1/2

absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/07/31/s...

#MECFS

Six Months Later: What Their Response on ME/CFS Tells Us About the Cochrane Collaboration - Absolutely Maybe

Six months ago, I wrote a post called “When journal, scientific society, and community values clash.” I recounted the tale of the…

absolutelymaybe.plos.org

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Jul 31

WatchME for iPhone and Apple Watch
v2.7 now available

To help #pwME with daily pacing for #MECFS

iOS 17 | watchOS 10
Free. No data collected.

apps.apple.com/app/watchme/...

Phone
- Adds more widget options
- Adds heart and HRV gauges to status tab
- Adds O2 sat gauge to status tab if available

‎WatchME

‎For people with ME/CFS. This app helps you to pace and stay within your capacity envelope. Use your watch and phone to monitor your daily heart rate, steps and distance. Integrated with HealthKit....

apps.apple.com

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Jul 31

"UK Biobank analyses show that cancer survivors had increased cancer mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This risk peaked in the months after infection, paralleling mouse models showing greater than 100-fold DCC expansion into metastatic lesions within two weeks"

#BreastCancer #Cancer #Covid

Nature @nature.com · Jul 30

Hidden in the lungs of some breast cancer survivors are tumour cells that can remain dormant for decades — until they one day trigger a relapse

go.nature.com/41iIdJR

‘Sleeping’ cancer cells in the lungs can be roused by COVID and flu

Inflammation from the respiratory infections seems to be the culprit, study in mice finds.

go.nature.com

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Hilda Bastian @hildabast.bsky.social · Jul 25

My rapid response at BMJ is online now. I joined the chorus of protest about an opinion piece claiming people with severe ME/CFS can recover by "reframing their beliefs" &c. People with ME/CFS deserve so much better than that:

www.bmj.com/content/389/...

#MECFS

Patients with severe ME/CFS deserve better than unproven theories

www.bmj.com

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David Davies-Payne @d2p.bsky.social · Jul 25

"work presented here and by these two independent research teams provides strong support for investing in research focused on dissecting innate immunity in ME/CFS"

"mechanistic dissection of its pathobiology is revealing subtype-specific biomarkers"

#MECFS #LongCovid

medRxivpreprint @medrxivpreprint.bsky.social · Jul 24

Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.23.25332049v1

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Reposted by David Davies-Payne

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · Jul 22

Incredibly powerful watch about the government plan on ME from @binitakane.bsky.social and Sarah, whose daughter Maeve died from ME.

NHS urgently needs to commission specialist services for the 100,000s people living with this debilitating condition.

watch here
youtu.be/GZbSrdtiA9k?...

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