New Scientist: Blood cells in CFS are drained of energy

[Kalliope]

https://www.newscientist.com/article/blood-cells-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-drained-energy/

- For many years, arguments have raged over whether CFS — also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME — has a physiological or psychological basis. But the latest research comparing samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 52 people with the condition and 35 without has reinforced the case for a biological explanation.

(article behind paywall)

 

[ukxmrv]

Oh wow - they used that old photo from one of the blood ban demos in the UK. I think the London one. Quite a day

 

[Cheesus]

I can't wait for the day when an article doesn't have to start out by saying that there is a debate between psychological and physiological explanations for the disease. When that day finally arrives we will know this whole sorry BPS mess is behind us.

 

[Guest 102]

Full text here: my brother sent me pdf, he subscribes to NS: https://www.docdroid.net/3Y3S8Ci/bl...rome-are-drained-of-energy-new-scientist1.pdf

 

[BruceInOz]

Thirteen years ago, Cara Tomas was rendered bedbound with chronic fatigue syndrome. It came on suddenly, she says, without warning signs. Even now she has good days and bad days due to the lingering effects of the disease. “A lot of people dismiss it as a psychological disease, which is a big frustration,” she says.

Tomas knows more about CFS than most. A PhD student at Newcastle University in the UK, she has just published a paper demonstrating that white blood cells in people with the disease are as listless as the people themselves often feel. “Now we’ve shown there’s a physiological difference, it could explain the whole-body fatigue shown by patients,” she says.

This is a report on the paper discussed in this thread:

https://www.s4me.info/index.php?thr...n-patients-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.257/

Cara Tomas is the lead author.

 

[Samuel]

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

listless
adj 1: lacking zest or vivacity; "he was listless and bored"
2: marked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm; "a dispirited
and divided Party"; "reacted to the crisis with listless
resignation" [syn: {dispirited}, {listless}]

 

[Barry]

I can't wait for the day when an article doesn't have to start out by saying that there is a debate between psychological and physiological explanations for the disease. When that day finally arrives we will know this whole sorry BPS mess is behind us.

At this time, unfortunately, it's true there is a lot of debate. The article very rightly targets the many readers, from all walks of life, who believe ME to be psychological, confronting them with a truth they are resistant to, but increasingly irrefutable, even to the skeptics.

Edit: I wasn't disagreeing with you by the way @Cheesus; I wholeheartedly agree with you. You are very right, that it will be a major milestone when we reach that point.

 

[Alvin]

drained may not be correct, unable to utilize, but why nitpick

 

[NelliePledge]

Is the Holgate quoted in new scientist the CMRC guy?

 

[Esther12]

Is the Holgate quoted in new scientist the CMRC guy?

I'd assume so.

 

[Barry]

Is the Holgate quoted in new scientist the CMRC guy?

Yes. Although not obvious, the pdf has a hyperlink in it. If you click on his name it takes you to ...

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/about/staff/sth.page

This is surely the same Stephen Holgate. However, despite his uncompromising/unforgivable support for EC etc, his comment in the article seems good to me, so credit where credit's due ...

"These exciting results conrm [sic] what others have postulated but not been able to prove, namely that cells of patients with CFS are easily metabolically exhausted when put under any form of stress,” says Stephen Holgate of Southampton General Hospital. “In many ways, this is how patients describe their whole-body experience with CFS."

Though you do wonder if his terminology of "whole-body experience" might have something up its sleeve.

 

[Simone]

I can't wait for the day when an article doesn't have to start out by saying that there is a debate between psychological and physiological explanations for the disease. When that day finally arrives we will know this whole sorry BPS mess is behind us.

I was thinking the exact same thing. There've been some articles which don't mention it, and it's like a breath of fresh air. Finally! Hopefully the trickle will soon become a flood.

 

[Sisterofpwme]

Yes. Although not obvious, the pdf has a hyperlink in it. If you click on his name it takes you to ...

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/about/staff/sth.page

This is surely the same Stephen Holgate. However, despite his uncompromising/unforgivable support for EC etc, his comment in the article seems good to me, so credit where credit's due ...

Though you do wonder if his terminology of "whole-body experience" might have something up its sleeve.

Re. Holgate quote in this article and in case anyone not already aware, he is due to participate at UK Unrest screening at Royal Free hosp with Afme on 7 Nov https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/join-us-for-me-event-at-the-royal-free-hospital/

 

[NelliePledge]

Re. Holgate quote in this article and in case anyone not already aware, he is due to participate at UK Unrest screening at Royal Free hosp with Afme on 7 Nov https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/join-us-for-me-event-at-the-royal-free-hospital/

I will put this link on the AFME 14 Nov Bath thread