ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

1541–1560 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

Reuter, S E, Evans, A M·Journal of internal medicine·2011

This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of certain fat-like molecules called acylcarnitines in their blood compared to healthy people. These molecules are important for cells to produce energy from fat. The researchers suggest this difference might be related to how the body processes fatty acids, and they propose that taking omega-3 fatty acids along with carnitine supplements might help improve symptoms.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

An Italian study on health-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and patients with chronic HCV virus infection: similarities and differences.

Racciatti, Delia, Gorgoretti, V, Sepede, G et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2011

This Italian study compared fatigue and quality of life in 39 ME/CFS patients versus 49 people with chronic hepatitis C. Using standard questionnaires, researchers found that ME/CFS patients experienced significantly more severe fatigue and lower quality of life than hepatitis C patients. The study concludes that managing fatigue should be a priority for ME/CFS patients to help improve their overall well-being.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in chronic fatigue syndrome as assessed by arterial spin labeling.

Biswal, Bharat, Kunwar, Pratap, Natelson, Benjamin H·Journal of the neurological sciences·2011

Researchers used a brain imaging technique called arterial spin labeling to measure blood flow in the brains of 11 ME/CFS patients and 10 healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients as a group had significantly lower blood flow to their brains compared to healthy controls, though this pattern wasn't universal—some patients showed normal or even slightly increased blood flow. This suggests that reduced brain blood flow may be one physical feature of ME/CFS, though it doesn't affect all patients in the same way.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Constant, E L, Adam, S, Gillain, B et al.·Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2011

This study tested memory and attention in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with depression and healthy volunteers. People with ME/CFS showed real, measurable problems with attention and memory, but these problems were NOT simply caused by depression or by getting tired during testing. Importantly, the cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS appeared to be their own distinct issue, separate from their mood symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Li, Bo, Mahan, Clare M, Kang, Han K et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2011

This study followed US veterans from the 1991 Gulf War for 10 years (1995–2005) to see how their health changed over time. Deployed veterans reported more ongoing health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, than veterans who were not deployed. By 2005, deployed veterans were also more likely to develop new health problems compared to nondeployed veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

Frost, Jeana, Okun, Sally, Vaughan, Timothy et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2011

This study looked at how patients can help doctors understand whether existing medicines work for conditions they weren't originally designed to treat. Researchers analyzed information from an online patient community where people with conditions like ME/CFS shared their experiences with two medicines: amitriptyline and modafinil. The study found that most patients were using these drugs for purposes other than what they were officially approved for, and many reported the drugs helped them.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

The role of changes in activity as a function of perceived available and expended energy in nonpharmacological treatment outcomes for ME/CFS.

Brown, Molly, Khorana, Neha, Jason, Leonard A·Journal of clinical psychology·2011

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS respond to gradual activity increases. The key finding was that patients who stayed within their energy limits—not pushing beyond what energy they had available—improved more in both physical function and fatigue compared to those who pushed beyond their limits. This suggests that personalized treatment based on each person's actual energy availability might be more helpful than one-size-fits-all activity programs.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Distinct cerebrospinal fluid proteomes differentiate post-treatment lyme disease from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schutzer, Steven E, Angel, Thomas E, Liu, Tao et al.·PloS one·2011

This study examined spinal fluid from people with post-treatment Lyme disease and ME/CFS to see if these two conditions are different. Using advanced laboratory techniques, researchers found that each condition has a unique pattern of proteins in the spinal fluid, meaning they appear to be distinct diseases rather than the same illness. This discovery could eventually help doctors tell these conditions apart and develop better treatments for each.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Convergent genomic studies identify association of GRIK2 and NPAS2 with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Smith, Alicia K, Fang, Hong, Whistler, Toni et al.·Neuropsychobiology·2011

Researchers used a novel genetic screening approach to search for genes that might be involved in ME/CFS by comparing DNA variants and gene activity between people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. They identified two genes—GRIK2 and NPAS2—that showed both genetic differences and altered activity levels in people with ME/CFS. GRIK2 is involved in communication between nerve cells, while NPAS2 controls the body's internal clock, suggesting these biological systems may play a role in the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Warren, John W, Wesselmann, Ursula, Morozov, Vadim et al.·Urology·2011

This study looked at whether having multiple conditions alongside bladder pain (like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and allergies) increases the risk of developing interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Researchers found that people who had more of these accompanying conditions before developing IC/PBS were at higher risk, and that these conditions often appeared before the bladder symptoms started. The specific types of conditions varied, but their number seemed to matter most.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

No evidence of XMRV or related retroviruses in a London HIV-1-positive patient cohort.

Gray, Eleanor R, Garson, Jeremy A, Breuer, Judith et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers tested blood samples from 540 people with HIV to see if they carried a virus called XMRV, which had been proposed as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Despite having sensitive tests that could detect even tiny amounts of the virus, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the patients. This suggests the virus is either not present or extremely rare in the population studied.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Emotional expression, self-silencing, and distress tolerance in anorexia nervosa and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hambrook, David, Oldershaw, Anna, Rimes, Katharine et al.·The British journal of clinical psychology·2011

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS and anorexia nervosa process emotions differently compared to healthy people. Researchers found that both patient groups had more difficulty tolerating emotional distress, tended to suppress their own needs for others, and held more negative beliefs about experiencing and expressing emotions. These emotional processing difficulties may play a role in how these illnesses develop and persist.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

Sullivan, Patrick F, Allander, Tobias, Lysholm, Fredrik et al.·BMC microbiology·2011

Researchers used advanced genetic sequencing to search for viruses in the blood of 45 people with chronic fatigue syndrome, comparing each patient to their identical twin who did not have the illness. They found that a virus called GB virus C appeared in a few patients but not in their healthy twins, suggesting it might be linked to ME/CFS. However, the overall results did not strongly support the idea that a single detectable virus causes chronic fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Childhood maltreatment and the response to cognitive behavior therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heins, Marianne J, Knoop, Hans, Lobbestael, Jill et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who experienced abuse or neglect as children respond differently to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) than those without such histories. Researchers followed 216 patients with ME/CFS who received CBT and found that both groups improved similarly with treatment. However, patients with childhood maltreatment histories still had more disability and emotional distress even after CBT.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evidence for a heritable predisposition to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Albright, Frederick, Light, Kathleen, Light, Alan et al.·BMC neurology·2011

This study looked at family medical records in Utah to see whether ME/CFS runs in families. Researchers found that relatives of people with ME/CFS were significantly more likely to also have ME/CFS than would be expected by chance. These findings suggest that genetics plays a role in who develops ME/CFS, though having a relative with the condition doesn't mean you will definitely get it.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in three regions of England: a repeated cross-sectional study in primary care.

Nacul, Luis C, Lacerda, Eliana M, Pheby, Derek et al.·BMC medicine·2011

This study looked at how many people in three regions of England have ME/CFS by checking medical records and asking doctors directly about their patients. Depending on which diagnostic criteria they used, between 0.03% and 0.2% of adults had ME/CFS—meaning roughly 1 in 500 to 1 in 3,300 people. The study shows ME/CFS is a real and significant health problem affecting many people who need better support and care.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

EEG spectral coherence data distinguish chronic fatigue syndrome patients from healthy controls and depressed patients--a case control study.

Duffy, Frank H, McAnulty, Gloria B, McCreary, Michelle C et al.·BMC neurology·2011

Researchers used brain wave recordings (EEG) to look for patterns that could distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy people and those with depression. They found specific patterns in brain wave activity, particularly in the temporal lobes, that were present in ME/CFS patients but not in healthy controls or depressed patients. This suggests ME/CFS involves measurable differences in how the brain functions electrically.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Spindler, J, Hackett, J, Qiu, X et al.·Advances in virology·2011

This study tested blood samples from men in an HIV research study to see if they were infected with XMRV, a virus that had been proposed as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Researchers used two different methods to look for the virus: checking for antibodies (immune system responses) and checking for the virus itself. They found no evidence that XMRV was actually present in any of the samples tested.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Hai-Ying, Liu, Zhan-Dong, Hu, Chao-Jun et al.·Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi·2011

Researchers measured levels of a immune signaling molecule called TGF-β1 in blood cells from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people and patients with other illnesses. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher levels of TGF-β1 than both groups, suggesting this molecule may play a role in ME/CFS disease development.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic conditions and major depression in community-dwelling older adults.

Fiest, Kirsten M, Currie, Shawn R, Williams, Jeanne V A et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2011

This study looked at how common chronic illnesses and depression are together in older adults in Canada. Researchers found that people over 50 with long-term health conditions are much more likely to also have depression. Interestingly, conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, and migraines showed the strongest link with depression in seniors.

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Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

An Italian study on health-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and patients with chronic HCV virus infection: similarities and differences.

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in chronic fatigue syndrome as assessed by arterial spin labeling.

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

The role of changes in activity as a function of perceived available and expended energy in nonpharmacological treatment outcomes for ME/CFS.

Distinct cerebrospinal fluid proteomes differentiate post-treatment lyme disease from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Convergent genomic studies identify association of GRIK2 and NPAS2 with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

No evidence of XMRV or related retroviruses in a London HIV-1-positive patient cohort.

Emotional expression, self-silencing, and distress tolerance in anorexia nervosa and chronic fatigue syndrome.

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

Childhood maltreatment and the response to cognitive behavior therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evidence for a heritable predisposition to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in three regions of England: a repeated cross-sectional study in primary care.

EEG spectral coherence data distinguish chronic fatigue syndrome patients from healthy controls and depressed patients--a case control study.

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic conditions and major depression in community-dwelling older adults.

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