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Stone Cold Pillar

@stonecoldpillar.bsky.social
3.4K followers 4.4K following 35 posts

Vote like your life depends on it. At the very least, the future of the planet does.🌎 COVID. Climate Change. Democracy. Xitter refugee. #pwme #pwlc #longcovid #POTS

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Reposted by Stone Cold Pillar
Dr Elisa Perego @elisaperego78.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Oncogenic potential of SARS-CoV-2: "the virus encodes several proteins that alter key signaling pathways associated with cancer hallmarks." #LongCovid biosignaling.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
biosignaling.biomedcentral.com
Oncogenic potential of SARS-CoV-2—targeting hallmarks of cancer pathways - Cell Communication and Signaling
The 2019 outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has caused a major worldwide health crisis with high rates of morbidity and death. Interestingly, it has also been linked to cancer, which begs the issue of whether it ...
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Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD @arghavansallesmd.medsky.social · 13/06/2025
I went through all 8 ACIP nominees, with the help of @debunk-the-funk.bsky.social @statnews.com @tom.medsky.social @luckytran.com @ryanmarino.bsky.social @johnrossmd.bsky.social @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social Don’t worry, it’s probably worse than you think! (Too long to upload here) MedSky 🩺
tiktok.com
STAT news did a lot of this background research in their article, “A closer look at the new members of the CDC vaccine advisory panel” published yesterday. They are an excellent outlet for health news...
TikTok video by Dr. Arghavan Salles
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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
BREAKING: Judge Breyer orders Trump to "return control of the California National Guard" to CA Gov. Newsom, finding that Trump's order taking control was illegal because it did not follow the required procedure. The order is stayed until noon Friday. More to come at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
GAVIN NEWSOM, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 25-cv-04870-CRB
v.
DONALD J. TRUMP, et al,
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
Defendants.
On June 6, 2025, the federal government initiated immigration raids across the City of Los Angeles. Protests swiftly followed, and some individuals involved in those protests were unruly and even violent. State and local law enforcement responded. The following day, President Trump ordered that members of the California National Guard be federalized, and thereupon assumed control of those forces.
At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not.
His actions were illegal both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.
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Irish ME/CFS Association @irishmecfsassoc.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🧵 This information bundle has gone out to 3600 Irish GPs in advance of the webinar on April 8. Just 48 hours left if you want to send in your GP's details to get a bundle. People in Ireland can also request a copy of the bundle for themselves #MEcfs #CFS 1/
Logo of Irish ME/CFS Association - for Information. Support & Research
In March 2025, we sent nearly 3600 Irish GPs the following bundle:
- 2-page covering letter
- Flyer for free GP webinar with Dr Ros Vallings, "Key messages for Primary Care on the Diagnosis and Management of Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome and ME/CFS"
- Flyer for free 1-hour CPD course, "Improve your knowledge on diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)" whose chief author is Dr Nina
Muirhead
- "Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" by Dr Stephanie Grach et al from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal (8 pages)
"Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer" by Peter Rowe et al (2 pages of extracts with link & QR code to fulltext)
- "10-Minute NASA Lean Test Clinician Instructions" (Bateman Horne Center) (4 pages)
- "What Is ME/CFS?" from the CDC (1 page)
- "ME/CFS Guide for Primary Care" (from the UK ME Association) (A3-sized poster)
- "Orthostatic Intolerance Overview" (Bateman Horne Center) (2022 version, minus refs)
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Marushka-T @marushka-t.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
#COVID didn't end because Joe Biden said it had. Or because airline execs lobbied to get sick workers back to work. Or when most people decided to stop #masking and get back to "normal". It's year 6 now, it's disabling us and will keep doing that as long as we ignore the facts. #disability #mecfs
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loretta1956.bsky.social @loretta1956.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
rnz.co.nz
Long Covid warning: 'Silent organ damage is a real problem'
Experts are urging the government to protect people from Long Covid, which they say could have already affected a quarter of a million New Zealanders.
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Yong Li @precisionmedicine.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Australian research finds brain swelling in #LongCOVID and #MECFS patients, linked to memory and concentration issues. MRI showed a significantly larger hippocampal volume in affected individuals compared to healthy controls. The study included 17 long COVID, 29 ME/CFS patients, and 15 controls.
journals.plos.org
Hippocampal subfield volume alterations and associations with severity measures in long COVID and ME/CFS: A 7T MRI study
Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients share similar symptoms including post-exertional malaise, neurocognitive impairment, and memory loss. The neurocogni...
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Sarah Szalavitz💡 @dearsarah.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
In just 16 days, NIH has shifted from actively including folks to expressly, explicitly & openly violating the constitution & anti-discrimination laws. I have no doubt there’ll be an injunction—but undoubtedly they’ve already marked all the apps that hadn’t been disqualified based on race & gender
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The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 06/02/2025
Exclusive: The White House is preparing an executive order to fire thousands of workers from the Department of Health and Human Services
wsj.com
Exclusive | White House Preparing Order to Cut Thousands of Federal Health Workers
The executive order could come as soon as next week, if the Trump administration goes ahead with plans, according to people familiar with the matter.
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dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
NEW: USAID source says staff are scrambling to save archived copies of US regulations before they're gone & are being actively locked out of systems, including a publicly available database of USAID documents. WIRED has built software to systematically check the status of 1,374 government domains.
wired.com
US Government Websites Are Disappearing in Real Time
A growing number of US government websites have gone offline as of Saturday, including several related to USAID and others focused on youth programs, Africa, and more.
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
So excited to see so many familiar faces here
media.tenor.com
a quote that says " good friends are like stars you don t always see them but you know they are there "
Alt: a quote that says " good friends are like stars you don t always see them but you know they are there " over a dark gray starry background above black treetops
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Becca Roth @beccaroth.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
It’s such a mindfuck to see ppl walk around in LA without masks because we KNOW the air is toxic. Even if the AQI is good, 9/11 showed us that the air was deadly even though officials said it was safe. It’s mind boggling to see people walking around like everything is normal🧵1/
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Paul Watton @paulwatton.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Here's an excellent review of how many different viruses play a role (in many different ways) in the pathogenesis of Rheumatic diseases. www.translationalres.com/article/S193... It lends weight to Prof. Prusty's model of #MEcfs This is how their ideas potentially align: chatgpt.com/share/678897...
translationalres.com
Infectious agents in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) are diseases with complex outset and courses, in which both genetic and environmental factors participate. Many environmental factors can be committed to AIRDs ou...
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 10/01/2025
ATTN: If you are interviewed by DOGE, make sure your union dues are up to date. Ask your supervisor for administrative leave to speak to the EEO about filing a grievance for 1A (no union membership needed for that step.) This gets you on the record with your supervisor and the EEO.
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Ilkka Rauvola @jukka235.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Finland's epidemic 8 Jan 2025: deaths of 5-9 year olds are now 2.6 times higher than normal, and growing 23 percent annually (7.7 times in 10 years). 1/x
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Brian Fog @uselesspriest.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
It's worth mentioning that the factsheet on PEM appears on a web page next to similar factsheets on POTS and MCAS (!) www.c-support.nu/wat-is-pem-p...
c-support.nu
Wat is PEM, POTS en MCAS - C-support
Patiënten met post-COVID ervaren vaak ook PEM, POTS (een vorm van dysautonomie) en/of MCAS
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Brian Fog @uselesspriest.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
I'm impressed by this handout on PEM. This is attached along with the information every GP needs to register patients with the Long COVID clinics in the Netherlands. I will put the salient text below in thread.
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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
COVID‐19 Infection Risk Assessment in a Kindergarten Utilizing Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Data
Researchers and transnational public health organizations have recognized aerosol transmission as an essential route of COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, improving ventilation systems is now adopted ...
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🇨🇦Joe Vipond🇨🇦 @jvipondmd.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
"Ban fossil fuel advertising. Remove lobbyists from negotiations. End subsidies. The science is clear, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s time to treat fossil fuels like Big Tobacco." www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/01/o...
nationalobserver.com
We need to treat fossil fuels like Big Tobacco
To reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and stem disinformation that blocks effective climate action, a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of fossil fuel products and indust...
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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
theconversation.com/infectious-d...
theconversation.com
Infectious diseases killed Victorian children at alarming rates — their novels highlight the fragility of public health today
Between 40% and 50% of children didn’t live past 5 in the US during the 19th century. Popular authors like Charles Dickens documented the common but no less gutting grief of losing a child.
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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/h...
nytimes.com
California Declares an Emergency Over Bird Flu
Officials have discovered the virus in 645 herds of dairy cattle, more than in any other state so far.
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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
State of SARS-CoV-2 evolution (Nov. 2024).
Evolutionary tree of SARS-CoV-2 variants in radial format, scaled to divergence (number of mutations). All Greek letters were assigned between May and November 2021, and none since "Omicron", which is enormously more diverse and divergent than any other named variant. Data from Nextstrain.org. Graph showing mutations in SARS-CoV-2 versus time. The virus is not running out of mutational space (if anything, the most recent variant clade was above the trend line). Data from Nextstrain.org.Graph showing mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein over time. The virus is not running out of mutational space. There was a very large jump in divergence with the arrival of BA.2.86, which evolved within a single host over a period of a year or so. Data from Nextstrain.org.Graph showing the consistent increase in immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 variants (versus BA.2) over time. Data from Nextstrain.org.
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Matt Pritchett 📷♿️ @crankycyborg.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
The minimum for disabled people whose disability began before they could work enough quarters to qualify for SSDI is roughly half that. Billionaires (that shouldn’t exist) are pressing millionaires in Congress to cut the paltry Social Security benefits of seniors & disabled people. #FuckinParasites
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Yong Li @precisionmedicine.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
A comprehensive review on long COVID post-exertional malaise (PEM) symptoms and potential mechanism. While there are no definitive treatments, ongoing trials explore options like immunoadsorption, dietary supplements, and anti-inflammatory/antiviral therapies. #longCovid #MECFS #PEM
cell.com
Skeletal muscle adaptations and post-exertional malaise in long COVID
When acute SARS-CoV-2 infections cause symptoms that persist longer than 3 months, this condition is termed long COVID. Symptoms experienced by patients often include myalgia, fatigue, brain fog, cognitive impairments, and post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is the worsening of symptoms following mental or physical exertion. There is little consensus on the pathophysiology of exercise-induced PEM and skeletal-muscle-related symptoms. In this opinion article we highlight intrinsic mitochondrial dysfunction, endothelial abnormalities, and a muscle fiber type shift towards a more glycolytic phenotype as main contributors to the reduced exercise capacity in long COVID. The mechanistic trigger for physical exercise to induce PEM is unknown, but rapid skeletal muscle tissue damage and intramuscular infiltration of immune cells contribute to PEM-related symptoms.
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
SequenceME: first of a kind genetic study www.actionforme.org.uk/news/sequenc... Image is from Science for ME weekly update #MEcfs #CFS #pwme
UK SequenceME: first of a kind genetic study
"SequenceME will bring together experts from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, the University of Edinburgh and Action for ME, to uncover the root causes of ME ... The project builds on the DecodeME study, the world’s largest genetic study of ME led by the University of Edinburgh and Action for ME, which investigated whether common genetic variants were more likely to appear in those with ME than those without the condition. Over 17,000 participants who donated saliva samples to DecodeME have consented to further analysis and he SequenceME partners will seek to analyse them all." The project team are seeking £7 million to analyse the first 10,000 samples.
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
The Impact of #LongCOVID on Employment & Well‑Being: A Qualitative Study of Patient Perspectives link.springer.com/article/10.1... "For those who continued working after their COVID-19 infection, the effort & energy required for work left little capacity to participate in other life activities"
Screenshot of abstract and first paragraph of introduction
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
News Release 16-Dec-2024 "#LongCOVID’s effects on employment: financial distress, fear of judgment: In study, patient perspectives highlight how providers can help" www.eurekalert.org/news-release... "their lives have been completely changed because of this chronic condition" #PASC #PwLC
Screenshot of title and first four paragraphs of linked document
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Dr Kevin Lee @dr-kevinlee.com · 15/12/2024
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... “Autoantibodies to SELENOP are relatively frequent in chronic fatigue syndrome. • SELENOP-aAb are associated with dysregulated GPx3 and DIO expression. • Strongly reduced urinary iodine reflects low TH activation and DIO activity.” #mecfs
sciencedirect.com
Autoantibodies to selenoprotein P in chronic fatigue syndrome suggest selenium transport impairment and acquired resistance to thyroid hormone
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) presents with symptoms of hypothyroidism, including mental and physical fatigue, poor sleep, depression, and anxiety. H…
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Scientist, artist and activist Judith Schoßböck has died www.facebook.com/oegmecfs/pos... Screenshot from the Science for ME update #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
Judith Schoßböck (1981 - 2024)
Scientist, artist and activist Judith Schoßböck has died. Judith was the founder of the BlackFerkStudio which provided touching insights into life with ME/CFS. The Austrian patient organisation Österreichische Gesellschaft für ME/CFS has written more about her on Facebook: "With this post, we would like to express our appreciation and honor the memory of Judith's dedication, creativity and projects. With her tireless educational work for #MECFS, she will be remembered as a role model."
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
@rthm_
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
@rthm.bsky.social
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
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David Tuller @davetuller1.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Here's a letter to The BMJ seeking a correction in the review of Long Covid interventions. They based their recommendation for rehabilitation on another BMJ study that had already been corrected. virology.ws/2024/12/09/t...
virology.ws
Trial By Error: Letter to BMJ Editor Seeking Correction in New Review of Interventions for Long Covid | Virology Blog
By David Tuller, DrPH The BMJ recently published a review of interventions for Long Covid that--surprise!--recommended CBT and a rehabilitation program as t ...
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Putrino Lab @putrinolab.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
This is a @davetuller1.bsky.social appreciation post. Every time there is a badly conducted #LongCOVID, #MECFS or IACC paper being published, he is there organizing a cogent response. I cannot tell you how essential he is to academics and clinicians battling misinformation in the field.
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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Let’s be clear: the entire democratic world thinks the US healthcare system is a joke.
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Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Find out more about our impact this year in our latest newsletter and help us unlock our match funding through the #BigGive before the 10th Dec..! Thank you. longcovidkids.org/so/64PEW0QDc... #LongCovidAwareness #LongCovid #LongCovidKids #MECFS #PIMS #PoTS #Christmas #ChristmasChallenge #Charity
An image with a green background with fairy lights at the top and bottom of the image, they are red, yellow and green. There is a white box in the middle with a quote that reads - 
"LCK was the first team to give me accurate and helpful guidance. As time has gone by, the resources on the website, plus the collective knowledge and experience within the group has helped us more than anything else"
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Holy Frickin Magic @holyfrickinmagic.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
ICYMI: Medicare plans to stop covering telehealth visits starting next month. Telehealth is oftentimes the only way chronically ill, disabled, and elderly folks can access care. Please sign below to tell Medicare to keep covering telehealth services. #chronicillness #mecfs #neisvoid
actionnetwork.org
Preserving Telehealth
Preserving Telehealth Many U.S. telehealth benefits are set to expire shortly at the end of this year (December 31, 2024). With this email campaign, you can simply fill out your information and it wi...
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
URGENT - Save #Telehealth Please see links in article to find and contact your Senators and House representatives @housedemocrats.bsky.social @senatedemocrats.bsky.social www.forbes.com/sites/judyst...
Screenshot of tweet by Dr Judy Stone on Twitter linking Forbes article titled “Telehealth Will Die in 3 Weeks Without Congressional Action”
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
"We talked to a veteran lawyer about applying for disability insurance [employer-based & social security disability] with Long COVID & ME" thesicktimes.org/2024/12/03/w... US focused but some ideas & themes relevant to insurance claims in other countries #MEcfs #CFS #PwME #LongCOVID 1/
The Sick Times logo

HealthQ&A
We talked to a veteran lawyer about applying for disability insurance with Long COVID and ME
Posted by

Betsy Ladyzhets

–

December 3, 2024
Graphic shows a hand banging a gavel, with a red burst coming out of the base and a text bubble with asterisks and exclamation points.
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Stone Cold Pillar @stonecoldpillar.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
@rthm.bsky.social
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Press release: Immune T cells become exhausted in chronic fatigue syndrome patients www.eurekalert.org/news-release... Longer piece from same university with more quotes: news.cornell.edu/stories/2024... #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
News Release 3-Dec-2024
Immune T cells become exhausted in chronic fatigue syndrome patients
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Cornell University

ITHACA, N.Y. – Chronic fatigue syndrome creates conditions where pathogen-killing immune T cells become exhausted, according to a new Cornell University study.

The study’s authors knew the immune system was dysregulated in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) but wondered which parts shift with the condition. A systematic exploration revealed that key CD8+ T cells displayed one of the most pronounced signatures of dysregulation, with signs of constant stimulation that lead to an exhausted state, a condition that is well-studied in cancer.

“This is an important finding for ME/CFS because now we can examine the T cells more carefully, and hopefully by looking in the exhausted cells we can start to get hints as to what they are responding to,” said Andrew Grimson, professor of molecular biology and co-corresponding author of the study. Maureen Hanson, professor of molecular biology and genetics, is the other corresponding author.
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valebodi.bsky.social @valebodi.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Immune cells become exhausted in #MECFS. Read about the latest findings of the PNAS research paper of M. Hanson et al. here: news.cornell.edu/stories/2024...
news.cornell.edu
Immune T cells become exhausted in chronic fatigue syndrome patients | Cornell Chronicle
The study found that key CD8+ T cells showed signs of constant stimulation that lead to an exhausted state, a condition that is well-studied in cancer.
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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
What 10 years of education can do to combat disinformation. The Finland 🇫🇮 case! Education, literacy but also strong media and trustworthy politicians edition.cnn.com/interactive/...
edition.cnn.com
Finland is winning the war on fake news. What it’s learned may be crucial to Western democracy
Russia's neighbor has developed a plan for countering misinformation. Can it be exported to the rest of the world?
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
2/ "Most Troubling Symptoms in ME/CFS and Long COVID Patients. The bar graph shows the frequency of symptoms reported by patients with ME/CFS (blue) and #LongCOVID (red), ordered based on the frequency in Long COVID patients." #PASC #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME
"Most Troubling Symptoms in ME/CFS and Long COVID Patients. The bar graph shows the frequency of symptoms reported by patients with ME/CFS (blue) and #LongCOVID (red), ordered based on the frequency in Long COVID patients."
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BillyD3 ☁️ @billyd3.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
If you deactivated your X account, your old handle becomes available for scammers or trolls to use 30 days after deactivation. What’s worse is that Ai can probably be trained to act like your public persona. I would just lock down and sign in periodically to keep your handle safe, IMHO.
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There Are Some Who Call Me....Tim @timnoego.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Please share this far and wide
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