ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

2021–2040 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression.

Robertson, M J, Schacterle, R S, Mackin, G A et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2005

This study looked at immune cells in the blood of people with ME/CFS and compared them to people with depression, multiple sclerosis, and healthy individuals. While the total numbers of major immune cell types were similar across groups, researchers found differences in specific subtypes of these cells, particularly in natural killer cells. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve changes in how the immune system is organized, even if total cell counts appear normal.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exercise and cognitive performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cook, Dane B, Nagelkirk, Paul R, Peckerman, Arnold et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2005

This study tested whether a 25-minute light exercise session affected thinking and memory skills in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS alone showed slower thinking speed and less consistent performance on cognitive tests compared to healthy people, but light exercise did not make their thinking worse. Interestingly, people with ME/CFS plus fibromyalgia did not show these cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Normal opioid tone and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome despite marked functional impairment.

Inder, Warrick J, Prickett, Timothy C R, Mulder, Roger T·Clinical endocrinology·2005

This study tested whether ME/CFS is caused by low levels of pain-relieving chemicals (opioids) in the brain or problems with the stress hormone system. Researchers measured hormone levels and responses in 12 ME/CFS patients and 11 healthy people, and found no differences between the groups, suggesting these hormonal systems are working normally in ME/CFS despite severe fatigue and physical limitations.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The relationships among coping styles and fatigue in an ethnically diverse sample.

Njoku, Mary Gloria C, Jason, Leonard A, Torres-Harding, Susan R·Ethnicity & health·2005

This study looked at how people from different ethnic backgrounds (African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans) cope with ME/CFS and chronic fatigue. Researchers asked patients about their coping strategies—like turning to religion, staying active, accepting their illness, or focusing on their symptoms. The study found that different ethnic groups tend to use different coping strategies, and some approaches (like denial) seemed to be less helpful across all groups.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Spinal fluid abnormalities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Weaver, Shelley A, Tseng, Chin-Lin et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2005

Researchers performed spinal taps on 44 ME/CFS patients and 13 healthy people to look for signs of brain inflammation. They found that 30% of ME/CFS patients had abnormal levels of white blood cells or proteins in their spinal fluid, compared to none in the healthy group. They also found that certain immune molecules were different in ME/CFS patients, particularly in those with sudden flu-like symptom onset. These results suggest that ME/CFS may involve real physical changes in the nervous system, not just psychological factors.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Wang, Qian, Xiong, Jia-Xuan·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2005

This small study looked at whether acupuncture with electrical stimulation could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Forty patients received electroacupuncture treatments targeting specific points on the back. After treatment, patients reported that their fatigue improved, their mood lifted, and anxiety decreased based on questionnaire scores.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

JP-8 jet fuel exposure and divided attention test performance in 1991 Gulf War veterans.

Bell, Iris R, Brooks, Audrey J, Baldwin, Carol M et al.·Aviation, space, and environmental medicine·2005

This study examined how exposure to low levels of jet fuel affected thinking and attention in Gulf War veterans who were chronically ill. Researchers tested veterans' reaction times on a computer task before and after brief exposures to either jet fuel fumes or clean air, done three times over three weeks. Veterans who were ill and had chemical sensitivities showed faster reaction times after jet fuel exposure, which the researchers suggest might indicate changes in brain chemistry rather than improved thinking.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Is the chronic fatigue syndrome an exercise phobia? A case control study.

Gallagher, A M, Coldrick, A R, Hedge, B et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2005

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS avoid exercise because they are afraid of it (exercise phobia). Researchers compared patients with ME/CFS to healthy but inactive people, measuring their physical stress responses and anxiety levels during normal daily activities and during an exercise test. The study found that while ME/CFS patients felt more fatigued and anxious overall, they did not show signs of fear-based anxiety specifically triggered by exercise.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Gulf War veterans' health: medical evaluation of a U.S. cohort.

Eisen, Seth A, Kang, Han K, Murphy, Frances M et al.·Annals of internal medicine·2005

This study looked at over 2,000 U.S. veterans from the 1991 Gulf War, comparing those who were deployed to the Persian Gulf with those who were not. Researchers found that deployed veterans had higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, skin problems, and stomach issues 10 years after the war. Overall physical health scores were similar between the two groups, but the increased risk of these specific conditions in deployed veterans suggests Gulf War deployment may have lasting health effects.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a survey of GPs' attitudes and knowledge.

Bowen, Jo, Pheby, Derek, Charlett, Andre et al.·Family practice·2005

This study asked general practitioners (GPs) in the UK what they knew about ME/CFS and how confident they felt diagnosing and treating it. About half of the GPs surveyed didn't feel confident making a diagnosis, and 41% didn't feel confident treating the condition. The study found that GPs who believed ME/CFS was a real medical condition had much more positive attitudes toward patients.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence and correlates of nonrestorative sleep complaints.

Ohayon, Maurice M·Archives of internal medicine·2005

This study surveyed over 25,000 people across seven European countries to understand how common nonrestorative sleep (feeling unrefreshed after sleep) is and what factors are linked to it. Researchers found that about 1 in 10 people experience nonrestorative sleep, with women and younger adults affected more often. People with this symptom reported worse daytime tiredness and mental fatigue compared to those with other sleep problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Reeves, William C, Wagner, Dieter, Nisenbaum, Rosane et al.·BMC medicine·2005

This study tested two different ways of diagnosing ME/CFS to see which one worked better. Researchers in Kansas recruited 227 people—some with ME/CFS, some with unexplained fatigue that didn't meet ME/CFS criteria, some depressed, and some healthy—and admitted them to a hospital for two days of testing. They found that a new method for diagnosing ME/CFS (based on measuring fatigue severity, disability, and symptoms) worked much better at identifying truly ill people than the old method.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Impact of a maximal exercise test on symptoms and activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bazelmans, Ellen, Bleijenberg, Gijs, Voeten, Marinus J M et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2005

This study tested how a single intense exercise session affected people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. People with ME/CFS experienced increased fatigue that lasted up to 2 days after the exercise test, while healthy people felt back to normal within 2 hours. Interestingly, people with ME/CFS didn't actually move around less after the exercise—their fatigue increased even though their measured activity stayed the same.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Time course of exercise induced alterations in daily activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Black, Christopher D, McCully, Kevin K·Dynamic medicine : DM·2005

This study tracked how much physical activity people with ME/CFS could do while following a walking program. Participants wore activity monitors for 4 weeks. They were able to meet their daily walking goals for the first 1-2 weeks, but then their activity levels dropped significantly and symptoms got worse, suggesting they had hit a limit their bodies could not sustain.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Increased daily physical activity and fatigue symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Black, Christopher D, O'connor, Patrick J, McCully, Kevin K·Dynamic medicine : DM·2005

This small study asked 6 people with ME/CFS to increase their daily walking by about 30% for 4 weeks and tracked how they felt. Unlike some previous research suggesting exercise helps, these patients reported that their muscle pain and mood actually got worse with more activity, even though they were able to increase their activity level. The researchers suggest that people with ME/CFS may have a daily limit to how much activity they can do before symptoms worsen.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate but normal insulin-like growth factor in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relevance for the inflammatory response in CFS.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, De Ruyter, Marcel·Neuro endocrinology letters·2005

This study compared hormone levels in people with ME/CFS to healthy controls. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had significantly lower levels of DHEAS (a hormone made by the adrenal glands), but normal levels of another hormone called IGF1. The low DHEAS was closely linked to markers of immune system activation and inflammation, suggesting this hormone imbalance may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Do support groups help people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia? A comparison of active and inactive members.

Friedberg, Fred, Leung, Debbie W, Quick, Joyce·The Journal of rheumatology·2005

This study asked people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia whether support groups helped them. Researchers found that active members valued support groups mostly for feeling understood and learning new information, though fewer felt the groups directly improved their illness. Interestingly, people who stayed active in groups reported worse symptoms than those who stopped attending, which may mean sicker people keep going or that something about the groups themselves affects outcomes.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Is chronic fatigue syndrome a connective tissue disorder? A cross-sectional study in adolescents.

van de Putte, E M, Uiterwaal, C S P M, Bots, M L et al.·Pediatrics·2005

Researchers investigated whether ME/CFS is related to loose or stretchy connective tissue (the material that holds joints, skin, and blood vessels together). They compared 32 adolescents with ME/CFS to 167 healthy teenagers and measured joint flexibility, blood pressure, skin stretchiness, and blood vessel stiffness. While they found some differences—including lower blood pressure and stretchier skin in the ME/CFS group—they did not find the joint hypermobility that would be expected if ME/CFS were a connective tissue disorder.

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Exercise responsive genes measured in peripheral blood of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and matched control subjects.

Whistler, Toni, Jones, James F, Unger, Elizabeth R et al.·BMC physiology·2005

Researchers studied women with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy women to look for biological markers of post-exertional malaise (when activity makes symptoms worse). They measured how genes 'turn on and off' in blood cells before and after exercise. The study found that genes related to ion transport and cellular functions behave differently in ME/CFS patients after exercise compared to healthy people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

Smith, J, Fritz, E L, Kerr, J R et al.·Journal of clinical pathology·2005

This study looked at whether certain genetic markers related to the immune system (called HLA types) are more common in people with ME/CFS than in healthy people. Researchers compared the genetic profiles of 49 ME/CFS patients with 102 healthy controls from the same region of England. They found that one particular genetic marker (HLA-DQA1*01) was significantly more common in ME/CFS patients, suggesting genes may play a role in who develops this illness.

Immune System

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Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression.

Exercise and cognitive performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Normal opioid tone and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome despite marked functional impairment.

The relationships among coping styles and fatigue in an ethnically diverse sample.

Spinal fluid abnormalities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

JP-8 jet fuel exposure and divided attention test performance in 1991 Gulf War veterans.

Is the chronic fatigue syndrome an exercise phobia? A case control study.

Gulf War veterans' health: medical evaluation of a U.S. cohort.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a survey of GPs' attitudes and knowledge.

Prevalence and correlates of nonrestorative sleep complaints.

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Impact of a maximal exercise test on symptoms and activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Time course of exercise induced alterations in daily activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Increased daily physical activity and fatigue symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate but normal insulin-like growth factor in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relevance for the inflammatory response in CFS.

Do support groups help people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia? A comparison of active and inactive members.

Is chronic fatigue syndrome a connective tissue disorder? A cross-sectional study in adolescents.

Exercise responsive genes measured in peripheral blood of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and matched control subjects.

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

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