ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

2101–2120 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Health effects of dental amalgam exposure: a retrospective cohort study.

Bates, Michael N, Fawcett, Jackie, Garrett, Nick et al.·International journal of epidemiology·2004

This study looked at whether mercury in dental fillings causes health problems like chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer's disease. Researchers tracked 20,000 New Zealand Defence Force members for about 20 years and compared how many dental fillings they received to whether they developed these illnesses. The study found no link between dental fillings and chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting that amalgam fillings are unlikely to cause ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Heim, Christine, Bierl, Cynthia, Nisenbaum, Rosane et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2004

This study examined whether severe fatigue and ME/CFS-like illness were more or less common in different U.S. regions before and after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Researchers interviewed over 7,000 people about fatigue symptoms and found that reported cases of prolonged fatigue and chronic fatigue actually decreased after the attacks, which was unexpected. The authors suggest that the extreme stress of the attacks may have temporarily changed how people experienced or reported fatigue symptoms.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Impairment and coping in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparative study with other paediatric disorders.

Garralda, M Elena, Rangel, Luiza·Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines·2004

This study compared how much ME/CFS affects children's daily lives compared to other conditions like arthritis and emotional disorders. Children with ME/CFS had more severe problems with school attendance and were more worried about their illness than the other groups. The study found that children with ME/CFS used different coping strategies—they were less likely to solve problems actively and more likely to give up or regulate their emotions when dealing with illness.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Objective assessment of personality disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Henderson, Max, Tannock, Charles·Journal of psychosomatic research·2004

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have personality traits that might be associated with mental health conditions. Researchers interviewed 61 ME/CFS patients, 40 people with depression, and 45 healthy students using a structured clinical assessment tool. They found that 39% of ME/CFS patients had identifiable personality patterns, which was higher than healthy people but lower than those with depression—and importantly, this wasn't simply explained by having depression alongside ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Burnet, Richard B, Chatterton, Barry E·BMC gastroenterology·2004

This study found that people with ME/CFS often have stomach problems that can be measured with special imaging tests. Researchers compared 32 ME/CFS patients with 45 healthy people and discovered that most ME/CFS patients had slower movement of food through their stomachs, particularly liquids. These measured stomach delays matched up with how severe patients' digestive symptoms were.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Incidence of fatigue symptoms and diagnoses presenting in UK primary care from 1990 to 2001.

Gallagher, Arlene M, Thomas, Janice M, Hamilton, William T et al.·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2004

This study looked at how often fatigue and related diagnoses were recorded in UK doctor's offices between 1990 and 2001. While the overall number of fatigue diagnoses decreased, the number of people diagnosed with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia actually increased during this time. Interestingly, the number of people reporting fatigue symptoms stayed roughly the same, suggesting that doctors may have simply changed how they labeled and diagnosed these conditions rather than there being a real change in how many people were affected.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fisher, Linda, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2003

This study looked at whether childhood experiences—particularly how parents cared for them and how they handled illness—might influence whether someone develops ME/CFS as an adult. Researchers compared 30 people with ME/CFS to 30 people with broken bones (as a comparison group) by asking them about their childhood. They found that having an overprotective mother or a mother with depression was more common in the ME/CFS group, suggesting these factors might increase the risk of developing the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tiev, Kiet Phong, Demettre, Edith, Ercolano, Philippe et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2003

This study looked at a protein called RNase L in the immune cells of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had a different pattern of RNase L forms compared to healthy volunteers, and this pattern could potentially be used as a simple blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS. The test showed promise in distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy people in this small group.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with macrophagic myofasciitis.

Authier, François-Jérôme, Sauvat, Stéphane, Champey, Julien et al.·Arthritis and rheumatism·2003

This study looked at patients with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), a rare inflammatory muscle condition, and found that some of them also developed symptoms very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The researchers observed that these patients experienced persistent fatigue, muscle pain, and other symptoms characteristic of ME/CFS alongside their muscle inflammation.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Is hypercortisolaemia a factor in chronic fatigue syndrome?

Renan, M J·Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme·2003

This study investigated whether people with ME/CFS have abnormal levels of cortisol, a stress hormone produced by the body. Cortisol helps regulate energy, immune function, and stress response. The researchers wanted to understand if problems with cortisol production might explain some of the fatigue and other symptoms experienced by ME/CFS patients.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Narita, Masaaki, Nishigami, Naoko, Narita, Naoko et al.·Biochemical and biophysical research communications·2003

This study looked at a specific gene that controls serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. Researchers compared the genetic versions of this gene in 78 ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients were more likely to have a genetic variant that may reduce how much serotonin stays active in the brain, which could make people more vulnerable to developing ME/CFS.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Disorder of adrenal gland function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Zarković, Milos, Pavlović, Milorad, Pokrajac-Simeunović, Ana et al.·Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo·2003

This study tested how well the adrenal glands (which produce stress hormones) respond to a small dose of ACTH hormone in people with ME/CFS, compared to healthy people and those with adrenal problems from steroid use. The researchers found that some people with ME/CFS had a slower initial hormone response similar to adrenal insufficiency, but the response eventually caught up. This suggests ME/CFS patients may have a subtle problem with how quickly their adrenal glands respond to signals.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome versus neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome:differential attributions.

Jason, Leonard A, Holbert, Cordelia, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Journal of health & social policy·2003

This study looked at how doctors and nurses react differently to the name of this illness. Researchers presented the same patient case to healthcare providers but used different diagnostic labels—some were told it was "chronic fatigue syndrome," while others were told it was "chronic neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome." The results showed that the more medical-sounding name led providers to view the illness as more serious and disabling, even though it was the same patient story.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Plioplys, Audrius V, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Journal of health psychology·2003

This study compared ME/CFS symptoms between two groups of patients: those who sought care at major medical centers and those found in the general community. Researchers found that people being treated at tertiary care hospitals reported experiencing more symptoms than community members with ME/CFS. This suggests that the people typically studied in research may not represent all people living with ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vecchiet, Jacopo, Cipollone, Francesco, Falasca, Katia et al.·Neuroscience letters·2003

This study compared 21 people with ME/CFS to 20 healthy people and found that those with ME/CFS had signs of increased cellular damage (oxidative stress) and lower levels of protective molecules in their blood. People with ME/CFS also had more fatigue and their muscles were more sensitive to pain. The researchers found that the amount of cellular damage correlated with how fatigued people felt and how sensitive their muscles were.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Normal production of inflammatory cytokines in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndromes determined by intracellular cytokine staining in short-term cultured blood mononuclear cells.

Amel Kashipaz, M R, Swinden, D, Todd, I et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2003

Researchers tested whether immune system cells from ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients produce abnormal levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. Using advanced microscopy techniques to examine individual immune cells, they found that cytokine production was normal in patients compared to healthy controls. This suggests that abnormal cytokine production may not be the main cause of these conditions.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

First-night effect in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Le Bon, Olivier, Minner, Pierre, Van Moorsel, Cédric et al.·Psychiatry research·2003

When people with ME/CFS spend a night in a sleep lab, their sleep patterns often change between the first and second night—a phenomenon called the 'first-night effect.' This study found that ME/CFS patients do experience this adaptation effect, where sleep measurements like total sleep time and sleep quality improve on the second night. Understanding this pattern helps doctors interpret sleep test results more accurately.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cook, Dane B, Nagelkirk, Paul R, Peckerman, Arnold et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2003

This study looked at how hard exercise feels to people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers had both groups exercise on a treadmill and rate their effort. While people with ME/CFS said exercise felt harder at moderate intensities, when researchers compared effort levels to each person's maximum oxygen capacity, there was no real difference—suggesting the difference in how hard it felt might be explained by their lower fitness level rather than a problem with how their body perceives effort.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Autoantibodies against muscarinic cholinergic receptor in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tanaka, Susumu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Hidaka, Yoh et al.·International journal of molecular medicine·2003

This study found that about half of ME/CFS patients have unusual antibodies (immune proteins) that target a specific brain receptor involved in muscle control and nervous system function. Patients with these antibodies reported more muscle weakness and cognitive problems than those without them. This suggests that in some ME/CFS patients, the immune system may be mistakenly attacking the body's own nerve receptors.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: Gulf War veterans with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cook, Dane B, Nagelkirk, Paul R, Peckerman, Arnold et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2003

This study compared how hard exercise felt to Gulf War veterans with ME/CFS versus healthy Gulf War veterans. Researchers had both groups exercise on stationary bikes while measuring their effort ratings. People with ME/CFS reported that the same amount of exercise felt much harder than it did for healthy veterans, even though they had similar physical fitness levels.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Health effects of dental amalgam exposure: a retrospective cohort study.

Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Impairment and coping in children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparative study with other paediatric disorders.

Objective assessment of personality disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gastric emptying is slow in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Incidence of fatigue symptoms and diagnoses presenting in UK primary care from 1990 to 2001.

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with macrophagic myofasciitis.

Is hypercortisolaemia a factor in chronic fatigue syndrome?

Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Disorder of adrenal gland function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome versus neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome:differential attributions.

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Normal production of inflammatory cytokines in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndromes determined by intracellular cytokine staining in short-term cultured blood mononuclear cells.

First-night effect in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Autoantibodies against muscarinic cholinergic receptor in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: Gulf War veterans with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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