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I'm rather puzzled as to why so many researchers seem to think increasing cortisol in people with ME/CFS and Long Covid is desirable, when most of them have perfectly good levels for their level of activity already.

I think part of the story is probably that there is the expectation that a much bigger percentage of the population will go to university, and go on to do some sort of research, or even get a PhD. That's a good thing as a more diverse group of people get to contribute to moving knowledge...

Here's another cortisol paper that I find interesting: Day-to-Day Differences in Cortisol Levels and Molar Cortisol-to-DHEA Ratios among Working Individuals Kim et al 2010 Abstract Purpose The present study was carried out to determine day-to-day differences in cortisol levels and the molar...

If that chart on the left is of cortisol measured at various times, it could be that the waking cortisol peak is delayed. That might be normal if the usual waking time is later than people who have to get to the office, especially if the testing was done at home. If DHEA is normal , and the...

The finding of virus in the eye of an animal reminds me of the finding of Ebola virus persisting in the eye tissue of survivors. Some other quotes from the Discussion that I found interesting: Sadly, the comment in this 2021 paper about the vaccination program (potentially eliminating both...

Have a look at the places the virus is turning up - it's really variable from animal to animal. No virus at all was found in 4 out of the 8 animals. Virus was found in a calf vein, in lymph nodes, in the heart and in the throat, the spleen, among other places. They looked for subgenomic...

The macaques had sensors inserted into their abdomen cavity to measure activity. There were two species of macaques - rhesus (shown in warm colours) and cynomolgus (shown in cool colours). Each animal is represented by one colour. The activity of the cynomolgus macaques didn't change...

With respect and thanks to the animals that died in this study; it's never nice to read about primate research that ends in the animals being killed. Also thanks to the people who took care of the animals - it must be difficult work. This seems to be a well-conducted study aiming to infect...

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1673 The Post-Acute Phase of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Macaque Species Is Associated with Signs of Ongoing Virus Replication and Pathology in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tissues Primarily a Dutch study Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Department...

This is the only mention of ME/CFS, well, the name approaches ME/CFS. It's for low cortisol of course: But, not a whiff of psychosomaticism, so that's encouraging.

From the abstract, this looks like a fairly uncritical compilation of Long Covid research of varying quality. Most of the researchers are based in Macau (China).

And then there's this recent study: Larger gray matter volumes in neuropsychiatric long-COVID syndrome, Besteher et al, 2022 I'm not sure what is going on. Perhaps this latest study attempts to explain the differing results.

An RNZ item based around the recent Davis, Topol Long Covid paper, with helpful local commentary from Michael Baker, a very well known epidemiologist: Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations, 2023, Davis, Topol et al

Picture from that NEJM paper that SNT Gatchaman linked - showing how the virus's spike protein can attach to the ACE2 receptor. And also showing that the anti-idiotype antibody that the body might make could also attach to the ACE2 receptor. I can see how anti-idiotype antibodies might...

So, these researchers with links to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford have BPS leanings and mention HPA axis dysfunction in the article. They wanted to find out if prebiotics could help lower morning cortisol. Three areas - placebo, and two sorts of prebiotic, all in...

An old paper, but it has a measure of salivary cortisol in healthy volunteers. Abstract Rationale There is now compelling evidence for a link between enteric microbiota and brain function. The ingestion of probiotics modulates the processing of information that is strongly linked to anxiety...

Second on Cort's list is this trial: Impact of Monoclonal Antibody Treatment on Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (MAbPACs) specifically casirivimab-imdevimab antibody infusion, anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies that were given during acute Covid-19 treatment. Summary: This treatment gives...

If you have results outside of normal ranges, it is perfectly reasonable for you to ask a doctor that you are seeing about them. In fact, I think it's a good idea, as sometimes results can be overlooked, especially if the doctor you are seeing didn't order the tests. And, I think it can be...

:) Although, I don't know this Brett Sutton. I'm happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for a while, and look forward to concrete action from the Victorian government to improve the situation of people with LC and ME/CFS.

The new name is 'talking therapies for anxiety and depression', with 'for anxiety and depression' in a much smaller font. I had been expecting a clever acronym. I agree with SL, it actually seems like a good move. It's an accurate description of what they should be doing. (crosspost with Trish)