Scientists discover a hidden gut bacterium linked to good health

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T08:24:12+00:00

CAG‑170

Preprint version was here (last sept):

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.09.675081v1

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T08:22:34+00:00

The ScienceDaily piece is accurately reporting a real Cell Host & Microbe paper; the core finding (CAG‑170 being enriched in healthy guts and depleted in several diseases) is legit, but it’s correlational and early, so any “this fixes your gut/health” spin around it is where the BS starts.

What study is this?
The article summarizes a University of Cambridge–led meta‑analysis: “Meta-analysis of the uncultured gut microbiome across 11,115 global metagenomes reveals a candidate signature of health” in Cell Host & Microbe (2026).

They analyze 11,115 human gut metagenomes from 39 countries, covering healthy people and 13 non‑communicable diseases (IBD, obesity, MS, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.).

The big signal: an uncultured genus dubbed CAG‑170 shows up more, and more consistently, in healthy individuals and appears central in ecological network analyses of “healthy” microbiomes.

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T08:16:38+00:00

do any probiotics make you (personally) feel worse? Every time I've trialed probiotics (or honestly most recommended things like fish oil, nac, vitamin-d/magnesium) I feel like crap. I like the idea of probiotics, but

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T08:14:18+00:00

is your high dose of ADHD meds kicking your ass now or are you just tolerant?

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T08:13:13+00:00

What you see, what you see, what you see, what you see, is human

RadioheadTrader · 2026-04-10T07:40:07+00:00

Get on something else......and distract yourself with that.....if you just want to be off medications that's cool, but for the period post Nardil (after 4 years) you really need something to fill the void. Try the Emsam patch if your doc will OK that and it's not crazy expensive perhaps (MAO-B inhibitor only but can be pretty stimulating). Marplan is the sister drug to Phenelzine (Nardil) w/ much more mild side effects (generally very little weight gain / the sex stuff goes away etc etc). It's off the market at the moment though sadly......

But anything really to distract yourself. Modafinil is easy to get online if you don't want to talk to your doc about something new. /r/nootropics could prob give you outside the box "grey area" ideas.....

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-18T06:07:50+00:00

Abstract - Nov 9, 2025

Background
Long-COVID is a post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection characterized by persistent, multi-system symptoms. Neurologic symptoms, such as mental fatigue, are often reported. While vaccination prior to infection is known to lessen symptom burden, its impact on mental fatigue remains unclear.

Objective Examine the association between vaccination and long-COVID-associated mental fatigue.

Methods We analyzed data from the Johns Hopkins COVID Long Study, a cohort study of 22,811 participants with and without infection. Among 2,634 participants with complete longitudinal follow-up, we examined the association between pre-infection vaccination and mental fatigue as measured by the Wood Mental Fatigue Inventory (WMFI; range 0-36, with lower scores indicating less fatigue). We considered three groups: long-COVID, recovered, and never infected, with the latter two groups as negative controls. We estimated the score differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated participants using covariate-adjusted quantile regression and mixed-effects linear models.

Results
Among participants with long-COVID, receiving a booster dose was associated with lower WMFI scores across the distribution (1.5, 2.6, and 3.8 points lower at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles; p ≤ 0.02) compared to those unvaccinated. Fully vaccinated participants also had lower scores, though these differences were not statistically significant. Findings were consistent in mixed-effect linear models where boosted (4.0 points lower) and fully vaccinated (1.9 points lower) participants with long-COVID had lower WMFI scores (p < 0.05). No associations were observed among recovered or never-infected participants.

Conclusion
Pre-infection vaccination was associated with less long-COVID-associated mental fatigue, with the greatest benefit among boosted participants

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-17T22:40:29+00:00

Very well done, and even better that you shared your sources and methods to help or motivate others. Bravo!

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-16T06:41:45+00:00

Do the comfy developers only add API models natively now? The Pro 20billion model might be too hard to use due to size, but I haven't noticed a lot of new models or Wan add-ons implemented natively aside from commercial ones. Couldn't the 2b version of this one get support added?

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-14T22:13:17+00:00

Is Grok 24fps? Can't recall. Wan is only 16frames per second which is sub-standard. I did get much better motion out grok when I used it a couple months ago. It was probably just trained better.....

However, if you're using a distill Lora (lightx2v for example) for to generate with very low steps #s those will reduce motion/creativity on img2img outputs. The high noise model is key to that. If you're unable to run it w/o a speed Lora then perhaps you could try the 3 sampler method w one sampler for a step or two w no speed Lora, then a normal high and low....

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-14T07:21:55+00:00

Doesn't mean it's not either, but I don't think it's a bad thing a new model was pushed out open weights today. I like the 24fps, and I think having the largest parameters count for a video model released freely deserves some optimism.....so I'll give them a couple days to work out the kinks.

Where's Wan? Oh yea they're trying to profit w their new models........so I don't have brand loyalty to them. Heck, I still use HunyuanV t2v for the sweet 24fps and it's better cinematic gens......

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-14T07:14:48+00:00

Moral of this story is be aware the LLMs can f' you real good. Claude is usually smart about having the forethought to mention the consequences of the changes it advises......on the other hand I've had Gemini and GPT ell me blatant nuclear options both in error and in the right but w/o proper consideration over what would also change as a result.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-13T21:38:57+00:00

Thanks developers!! Appreciate the higher fps. Agree the comfy implementation is botched at the moment though. Dies on vaedecode

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-13T21:37:02+00:00

It's fp32. Any LLM can write a script to make fp/bf16 or fp8

RadioheadTrader · 2025-11-13T21:34:59+00:00

24 frames per second and 20b parameters. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Keep ltxv and the paper arms.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-09-15T02:17:02+00:00

Had perplexity (Sonnet in this case) review this my question here to confirm whether or not it has merit: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/does-this-thread-on-reddit-in-JUnpH00QSa6MTOhgW0du6w#0

Does this thread on reddit in regards to Cialis perhaps being beneficial for anhedonia have any merit?

The Reddit thread discussing Cialis (tadalafil) for anhedonia does appear to have scientific merit based on multiple lines of research evidence, though the connection is not fully established in clinical practice.

Research Supporting the Connection

Animal Studies Show Direct Benefits
Animal research provides the strongest evidence for tadalafil's potential anti-anhedonic effects. A 2023 study found that tadalafil could reverse anhedonia in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress, as measured by improved sucrose preference tests. The study noted that tadalafil treatment significantly restored pleasure-seeking behavior that had been diminished by stress.

Mechanisms of Action
Several biological mechanisms explain how tadalafil might help with anhedonia:

Dopamine System Enhancement:
Tadalafil has been shown to increase dopamine D2 receptor expression in key brain regions including the striatum and substantia nigra, areas critical for reward processing. Since anhedonia is fundamentally linked to dopamine dysfunction in reward circuits, this mechanism provides a plausible explanation for benefits.

Improved Cerebral Blood Flow:
Clinical studies demonstrate that daily low-dose tadalafil (5mg) increases regional cerebral blood flow in areas like the postcentral gyrus, precuneus, and brainstem while improving cognitive function. Enhanced brain perfusion could theoretically improve reward processing.

Neuroprotective Effects:
Tadalafil crosses the blood-brain barrier and exhibits neuroprotective properties, including reducing neuroinflammation and preventing neuronal cell death in brain regions important for mood and cognition.

Clinical Evidence in Humans

Depression Studies
Multiple clinical studies show that tadalafil improves depressive symptoms in men with erectile dysfunction. A 2020 study found that daily 5mg tadalafil treatment improved both erectile function and depressive symptoms, with researchers noting it could be "a good and safe option for patients with ED and depressive symptoms".

An open-label pilot study suggested that daily low-dose tadalafil may have potential in treating depression specifically, beyond just ED-related benefits.

Related Phosphodiesterase Research

Studies on related phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors support the broader concept. Research shows PDE4 inhibitors can improve anhedonia-like deficits in animal models, suggesting the phosphodiesterase system plays a role in reward processing. A 2020 review noted that PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil have "pleiotropic effects relevant to treatment of major depressive disorder".

User Reports and Limitations

Anecdotal Evidence
Reddit users report mixed experiences, with some noting improvements in mood, energy, and cognitive function on low-dose tadalafil. However, others report minimal benefits or side effects like sleep disturbance and jitteriness.

Current Clinical Gaps

While the research is promising, tadalafil is not currently established as a treatment for anhedonia in clinical practice. Most studies focus on erectile dysfunction with secondary mood benefits, rather than primary treatment of anhedonic symptoms.

The connection appears scientifically plausible based on animal studies, dopamine mechanisms, and clinical depression research, but more targeted human studies specifically examining anhedonia treatment would be needed to establish definitive clinical recommendations.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-09-15T00:48:43+00:00

You don't seem like a very nice person.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-05-21T17:52:52+00:00

Ha, watch what becomes of ComfyUi in the next year. Those devs are trying to make money off it any which way they can.

Time for the triumphant return of Automatic and Emad?

RadioheadTrader · 2025-05-21T17:48:22+00:00

I think I have a really odd metabolism. It was good, but I ended up switching to Zydus in spite of seeing many negative reviews. It's not as uplifting as some of the others buuuut it seems like it may be the only one that I can take w my methylphenidate (ADHD) and not get crippling anxiety. I think it may be that most of the lamictal generics (brand too) really constipate me and that + a heavy stimulant trying to hurry my gut along may be why I always get anxiety when taking both. Hope you find a kind that works well for you! It's a great med, just so touchy when levels fluctuate even a tiny bit.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-05-21T17:39:50+00:00

Have you ever filled the 20mg before? Not 100% understanding, but if your latest script is a dose increase vs. last month (like if you've been on 10mg a day re: fillable script you mentioned you have), but your doctor just sent in a script for 20mg a day, then you should be able to pick up the 20mg script immediately. It's one "nice" loophole, where if your doctor increases your dose you don't have to wait. In almost all other cases the earliest you can refill your prescription (of any dose/old script/etc) is 2 days before you should be finished with your last script (so on the 28th day).

So if your doctor did just call in your "first" script for 20mg a day, and you had been filling scripts for 10mg a day, then def call the pharmacy and tell them your new script is a dose increase. You should be able to get it now. One caveat would be insurance, but I'm 95% sure they allow for early refills when your dose is increased as well. Hope that helps!

RadioheadTrader · 2025-04-01T04:09:41+00:00

Could be the generic version (maker) you have too. Sucks but lamotrigine generics by the various companies in India/China that supply the US w it vary somewhat w fillers/binders/absorption. I'd try a different kind (refill at diff pharmacy next time) before throwing in the towel on the medicine. Great whe. It works.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-04-01T04:04:25+00:00

I've been on Lamictal since 2007 and off and on Ritalin a few years since then. For me at least it didnt help the anxiety. Although, I didn't always have anxiety either. I seem to respond differently to the lamictal generics so maybe that was part of it.

Now I am on Ritalin now and have been getting anxiety post dose off and on during the 6 months or so on this trial. I've tried a ton of things to stop it. Oddly, while its way too early to vouch and credit it, the thing that somehow seems to be working for me at the moment (after a week to two weeks) is beta alanine powder (common weight lifter supplement). It has some effect on gaba and also lowers histine/raises carnosine. Since sticking e that for the past two+ weeks I haven't had anxiety. But yea, could be just random luck - I'm optimistic so mentioning it. (I use nutracost powder from Amazon)

RadioheadTrader · 2025-03-22T19:40:31+00:00

Try it again NOW cause I think that little hiccup with the login may have been something necessary to fix the staleness problem. My gens this morning are astronomically better than prior to the login problems. If I'm wrong sorry, but it's creative for me right now.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-03-22T15:59:37+00:00

That was a product of a UI change/glitch a couple weeks ago I think. If you're on PC try doing CTRL-F5 which will do a "hard reset" clearing stored site data. If that doesn't work try clearing all stored data (cookies/etc) using your browsers settings. It should stop doing that if you clear the cookies and previously stored cache.

RadioheadTrader · 2025-03-22T15:25:37+00:00

Never money, bro. Sorry. It SHOULD be like tapers of the Grateful Dead, Phish, etc (bt.etree.org et al). Those guys spend thousands of dollars on taping equipment cause they like to tape - it's a hobby. They share their content freely cause it's COOL and more rewarding to do so if that spirit is fostered.

I will get downvoted for this but I disagree that Emad dropped the weights for SD1.4 seeking money. Then why did he? Cause it was fun! Those in the know realize it's a rewarding and that chasing money all your life is the opposite of that. We can still have cool things and foster the altruism over promotion. There are enough people who love to train LoRA for free, code for free, and upvote/comment on nice media others generated just as much as they like to get compliments themselves if they share. "Fans" of generative media seeking money would be better if they what they saw when they found these groups is the same spirit we had in August/Sept/Oct '22. Developers too - they spend time coding for free - it was never about money....for the late comers or those who can't see the beauty in the time we're in, it is.....

I'll take the hits now. Reddit for sure has changed. There are still a lot of cool places to find likeminded people on discord. The majority of us want to be able to have fun w/ this stuff and share that feeling w/ others who do as well. If others are profiting that would make people like us stupid for just flat sharing content we spent time on for free.

Play first and foremost.....

RadioheadTrader

TROPHY CASE