ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

1341–1360 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Impaired range of motion of limbs and spine in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rowe, Peter C, Marden, Colleen L, Flaherty, Marissa A K et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·2014

This study compared how freely teenagers and young adults with ME/CFS could move their limbs and spine compared to healthy peers. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had much more restricted movement and were more likely to experience pain or other symptoms when their nerves and muscles were gently stretched during testing. The findings suggest that movement limitations are a real physical feature of ME/CFS, not just in the mind.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

How is paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis diagnosed and managed by paediatricians? An Australian Paediatric Research Network Study.

Knight, Sarah, Harvey, Adrienne, Towns, Susan et al.·Journal of paediatrics and child health·2014

This study asked Australian pediatricians how they diagnose and treat children with ME/CFS. Only 39% of the doctors who responded said they actually diagnose and manage this condition, and they used very different approaches from each other. The doctors found that children with ME/CFS often also have anxiety, depression, and other conditions, and most used a team approach involving teachers, physiotherapists, and psychologists.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Value-added reporting of antinuclear antibody testing by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Schouwers, Sofie, Bonnet, Myriam, Verschueren, Patrick et al.·Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine·2014

This study tested a new automated machine system that measures antinuclear antibodies (ANA)—proteins the immune system sometimes makes that can indicate autoimmune diseases. Researchers found that the machine's measurement of fluorescence brightness (how bright the antibody signals are) correlates with disease likelihood: brighter signals were more likely to indicate rheumatic diseases like lupus or Sjögren's syndrome. This automated brightness measurement could help doctors better interpret ANA test results.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evidence for Borna disease virus infection in neuropsychiatric patients in three western China provinces.

Zhang, L, Xu, M-M, Zeng, L et al.·European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2014

Researchers tested whether a virus called Borna disease virus (BDV) is found more often in people with ME/CFS and other brain-related illnesses compared to healthy people. They analyzed blood samples from nearly 1,700 people across three regions in western China and found that people with ME/CFS had higher rates of BDV infection (12.7%) compared to healthy controls. This suggests BDV might be involved in causing ME/CFS in some patients, though more research is needed to understand the connection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following herpes zoster: a population-based study.

Tsai, S-Y, Yang, T-Y, Chen, H-J et al.·European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2014

This study found that people who had shingles (herpes zoster) had a higher risk of developing ME/CFS compared to people who didn't have shingles. Researchers followed thousands of people over several years and found that those with a history of shingles were about 29% more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting that viral infections like shingles may trigger ME/CFS in some people.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive functioning in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between subjective and objective measures.

Cockshell, Susan J, Mathias, Jane L·Neuropsychology·2014

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who report memory and concentration problems actually perform worse on cognitive tests. Fifty people with ME/CFS and 50 healthy controls completed questionnaires about their cognitive difficulties and took standardized memory and attention tests. Surprisingly, while people with ME/CFS reported significantly more cognitive problems in daily life, both groups performed similarly on the objective tests, and reported problems didn't match test results in either group.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

Life course study of the etiology of self-reported irritable bowel syndrome in the 1958 British birth cohort.

Goodwin, Laura, White, Peter D, Hotopf, Matthew et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2013

This study followed thousands of people born in 1958 in the UK to see who developed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by age 42. Researchers found that women were twice as likely to develop IBS, and people who had psychological distress in their 20s and 30s were more likely to later develop IBS. Surprisingly, difficult childhood experiences were not associated with later IBS development.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Views on the nature of chronic fatigue syndrome: content analysis.

Hossenbaccus, Zahra, White, Peter D·JRSM short reports·2013

This study looked at how ME/CFS is described in newspapers, patient websites, and medical textbooks in the UK. Researchers found that patient organizations typically view ME/CFS as a physical illness, while doctors' resources were more likely to describe it as both physical and psychological. This disagreement may explain why some patients and doctors struggle to understand each other.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Multiscale analysis of heart rate variability in non-stationary environments.

Gao, Jianbo, Gurbaxani, Brian M, Hu, Jing et al.·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study looked at how the heart rate patterns of people with ME/CFS differ from healthy people, especially when they're under stress. Researchers used advanced computer methods to analyze heart rate data collected during a social stress test. They found that before the stress test, people with ME/CFS had noticeably different heart rate patterns than healthy controls, but these differences became smaller during the stress test itself.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome: complex presentations and protracted time to diagnosis.

Knight, Sarah, Harvey, Adrienne, Lubitz, Lionel et al.·Journal of paediatrics and child health·2013

This study looked at 59 young people (average age 15) diagnosed with ME/CFS at a specialist clinic in Australia to understand how the illness affects them and how long it takes to get diagnosed. Researchers found that young people typically wait over a year after their symptoms start before getting a diagnosis, and most experience significant problems with school attendance and daily activities. The most common symptoms included extreme tiredness, sleep problems, pain, and difficulty thinking clearly.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Latent class analysis of comorbidity patterns among women with generalized and localized vulvodynia: preliminary findings.

Nguyen, Ruby Hn, Veasley, Christin, Smolenski, Derek·Journal of pain research·2013

This study examined 1,457 women with vulvodynia (chronic vulvar pain) to understand which other pain conditions tend to occur together. Researchers found that women with more severe vulvar pain were much more likely to also have multiple other pain conditions, particularly irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. The findings suggest that these different pain conditions may share common underlying causes.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Heart rate variability during sleep and subsequent sleepiness in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Togo, Fumiharu, Natelson, Benjamin H·Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2013

This study looked at how the heart's rhythm changes during sleep in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people, and whether these changes relate to feeling more or less tired after sleep. Researchers found that some ME/CFS patients who woke up feeling sleepier had different heart rhythm patterns during deep sleep than healthy controls, even though standard sleep measurements looked normal. This suggests the nervous system's control of the heart during sleep might be disrupted in ME/CFS, which could contribute to unrefreshing sleep.

SleepAutonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitions, behaviours and co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cella, M, White, P D, Sharpe, M et al.·Psychological medicine·2013

This study looked at how often certain thought patterns and behaviors occur in ME/CFS patients, and whether these patterns differ when patients also have depression or anxiety. Researchers surveyed 640 ME/CFS patients and found that more than half had ME/CFS alone, while the rest also had depression and/or anxiety. Different thinking patterns appeared in patients with different mental health combinations—for example, patients with anxiety were more likely to focus heavily on their symptoms, while those with depression were more likely to avoid activities.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Epitopes of microbial and human heat shock protein 60 and their recognition in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Elfaitouri, Amal, Herrmann, Björn, Bölin-Wiener, Agnes et al.·PloS one·2013

This study looked at whether ME/CFS patients have different immune responses to heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a protein found in both human cells and bacteria. Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people, finding that some ME/CFS patients had specific antibodies against a bacterial version of this protein. This suggests that a past infection might trigger the immune system to attack proteins in the body, which could contribute to ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attributions, distress and behavioural responses in the significant others of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brooks, Joanna M, Daglish, Julie, Wearden, Alison J·Journal of health psychology·2013

This study looked at how family members and close friends of people with ME/CFS think about the illness and how those beliefs affect their emotions and behavior toward the patient. Researchers interviewed 30 family members and found that when they blamed the patient personally for their symptoms—rather than understanding it as a medical condition—they experienced more stress and were more likely to respond negatively to the patient. Understanding these beliefs could help develop better family-based support programs.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Relationship between autonomic cardiovascular control, case definition, clinical symptoms, and functional disability in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory study.

Wyller, Vegard B, Helland, Ingrid B·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2013

This study looked at how the nervous system controls heart rate in teenagers with ME/CFS and how this relates to their symptoms and disability. Researchers tested 38 teenagers using a tilt test (lying flat then tilting upright) while measuring heart rate changes, and asked them about their symptoms. They found that disability in ME/CFS comes from multiple symptoms—not just fatigue—and that problems with heart rate control are linked to certain symptoms like brain fog and sensitivity to stimulation.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with urinary calculus: a nationwide population-based study.

Keller, Joseph, Chen, Yi-Kuang, Lin, Herng-Ching·International urogynecology journal·2013

This study looked at whether people with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) are more likely to have had kidney stones or other urinary stones. Researchers compared about 9,000 people newly diagnosed with BPS/IC to over 46,000 similar people without BPS/IC and found that those with BPS/IC were significantly more likely to have a history of urinary stones, particularly bladder stones.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Detection of mycotoxins in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brewer, Joseph H, Thrasher, Jack D, Straus, David C et al.·Toxins·2013

Researchers tested urine samples from 112 ME/CFS patients to see if they had been exposed to mycotoxins—toxic substances produced by mold found in water-damaged buildings. They found that 93% of patients had detectable mycotoxins in their urine, with most patients having been exposed to moldy buildings. When they tested urine from 55 healthy people with no mold exposure, none showed mycotoxins at detectable levels.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

In myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT is associated with immuno-inflammatory pathways and bacterial translocation.

Maes, Michael, Ringel, Karl, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2013

This study found that people with ME/CFS often develop antibodies (immune proteins) against serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. These antibodies were linked to higher levels of inflammation, signs of bacteria leaking from the gut, and worse symptoms including pain, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes. The findings suggest ME/CFS involves immune system problems that may contribute to the condition's core symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Cholecystectomy and clinical presentations of gastroparesis.

Parkman, Henry P, Yates, Katherine, Hasler, William L et al.·Digestive diseases and sciences·2013

This study looked at 391 patients with gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach empties food slowly) to see if those who had their gallbladder removed had different symptoms than those who hadn't. They found that patients who had gallbladder surgery experienced more severe upper abdominal pain and retching, but less constipation. Interestingly, patients with prior gallbladder removal also had more other health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

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Impaired range of motion of limbs and spine in chronic fatigue syndrome.

How is paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis diagnosed and managed by paediatricians? An Australian Paediatric Research Network Study.

Value-added reporting of antinuclear antibody testing by automated indirect immunofluorescence analysis.

Evidence for Borna disease virus infection in neuropsychiatric patients in three western China provinces.

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following herpes zoster: a population-based study.

Cognitive functioning in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between subjective and objective measures.

Life course study of the etiology of self-reported irritable bowel syndrome in the 1958 British birth cohort.

Views on the nature of chronic fatigue syndrome: content analysis.

Multiscale analysis of heart rate variability in non-stationary environments.

Paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome: complex presentations and protracted time to diagnosis.

Latent class analysis of comorbidity patterns among women with generalized and localized vulvodynia: preliminary findings.

Heart rate variability during sleep and subsequent sleepiness in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cognitions, behaviours and co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Epitopes of microbial and human heat shock protein 60 and their recognition in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Attributions, distress and behavioural responses in the significant others of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Relationship between autonomic cardiovascular control, case definition, clinical symptoms, and functional disability in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory study.

Association of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with urinary calculus: a nationwide population-based study.

Detection of mycotoxins in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

In myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT is associated with immuno-inflammatory pathways and bacterial translocation.

Cholecystectomy and clinical presentations of gastroparesis.

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