ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

341–360 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Khairi Abed, Anwar, Rouf Moustafa, Shatha et al.·Frontiers in molecular neuroscience·2023

This study looked at 90 Long COVID patients and measured specific molecules in their blood related to how their body processes an amino acid called tryptophan. The researchers found that patients with the most severe Long COVID symptoms had low tryptophan levels and high levels of a related compound called kynurenine, along with markers of inflammation. These three measurements together explained about 40% of why patients had fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Characteristics of Persistent Symptoms Manifested after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: An Observational Retrospective Study in a Specialized Clinic for Vaccination-Related Adverse Events.

Tokumasu, Kazuki, Fujita-Yamashita, Manami, Sunada, Naruhiko et al.·Vaccines·2023

Researchers at a specialized clinic in Japan studied 121 patients who experienced long-lasting symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The most common symptoms were numbness or tingling sensations (28% of patients), extreme tiredness (25%), fever (17%), and headaches (17%). Some patients developed serious conditions including ME/CFS, and most symptoms started within a week of vaccination but lasted months or longer.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Observational Study of Repeat Immunoadsorption (RIA) in Post-COVID ME/CFS Patients with Elevated ß2-Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibodies-An Interim Report.

Stein, Elisa, Heindrich, Cornelia, Wittke, Kirsten et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study tested a blood-cleaning procedure called immunoadsorption in 10 patients with ME/CFS that developed after COVID-19. The treatment removes harmful antibodies from the blood that may be attacking the body's nerve receptors. Seven patients showed meaningful improvement in physical function within four weeks, suggesting this approach may help some people with post-COVID ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Shinba, Toshikazu, Kuratsune, Daisuke, Shinba, Shuntaro et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at heart rhythm patterns in people with ME/CFS and depression to see if these patterns could help doctors tell the two conditions apart. Researchers measured how heart rate changes during rest, mental tasks, and recovery in both groups. They found that while both conditions affect the heart's nervous system control, the patterns are different enough that a computer analysis could correctly identify which condition a person had about 92% of the time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Long COVID Are Strongly Predicted by Neuroimmune and Neuro-Oxidative Pathways Which Are Caused by the Inflammation during Acute Infection.

Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Al-Rubaye, Haneen Tahseen, Almulla, Abbas F et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study examined whether severe COVID-19 infection—particularly high fever and low oxygen levels—can trigger lasting fatigue, depression, and anxiety through inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Researchers compared 86 long COVID patients with 39 healthy controls and found that about one-third of long COVID patients had very high signs of immune activation and cellular damage. The study suggests that the severity of initial COVID infection may predict who develops long-term symptoms through measurable changes in inflammatory markers.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Royston, Alexander Peter, Rai, Manmita, Brigden, Amberly et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2023

This British study looked at how many children and young people aged 5-16 have severe ME/CFS, a condition that causes extreme tiredness and makes it very difficult to do everyday activities. Researchers found that severe ME/CFS is uncommon in children, but when it does occur, it causes major disability—most affected young people missed almost all their schooling. The study also found that children got diagnosed relatively quickly, within about 5-6 months of when their symptoms started.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Multi-'omics of gut microbiome-host interactions in short- and long-term myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Xiong, Ruoyun, Gunter, Courtney, Fleming, Elizabeth et al.·Cell host & microbe·2023

Researchers studied the gut bacteria and blood chemicals of people with ME/CFS to understand how the disease affects the body. They compared three groups: people with ME/CFS for less than 4 years, people who've had it for over 10 years, and healthy people without the disease. They found that early ME/CFS patients have significant changes in their gut bacteria, while long-term patients' bacteria had mostly normalized, but their blood chemistry and symptoms remained abnormal.

Gut Microbiome

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Prolonged indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2 activity and associated cellular stress in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Guo, Lihui, Appelman, Brent, Mooij-Kalverda, Kirsten et al.·EBioMedicine·2023

This study found that people with long-COVID have persistent activity of an enzyme called IDO2 in their blood cells and brain tissue, months or years after initial infection. This enzyme breaks down tryptophan (an amino acid) into other compounds that may trigger cellular stress and energy problems. The researchers also discovered that blocking a specific receptor (called AHR) could stop this process in laboratory tests, suggesting a potential treatment target.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

Belcaro, Gianni, Cox, David, Cesarone, Maria R et al.·Minerva surgery·2023

This study tested whether Robuvit®, an oak wood extract supplement, could help reduce fatigue in people recovering from chemotherapy for colon cancer. Over six weeks, patients taking Robuvit® showed greater improvements in tiredness, strength, fitness, and mood compared to those receiving standard care alone, with no reported side effects.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

In Schizophrenia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- and Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms are Driven by Breakdown of the Paracellular Pathway with Increased Zonulin and Immune Activation-Associated Neurotoxicity.

Maes, Michael, Andrés-Rodríguez, Laura, Vojdani, Aristo et al.·CNS & neurological disorders drug targets·2023

This study looked at people with schizophrenia who also experience fatigue and pain symptoms similar to ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Researchers found that these symptoms may be caused by a breakdown in the intestinal barrier (the paracellular pathway), which allows harmful substances into the bloodstream and triggers immune system activation. This immune activation then produces neurotoxic byproducts that may cause the fatigue and pain symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Seeley, Marie-Claire, Gallagher, Celine, Ong, Eric et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2023

This study compared quality of life in people with POTS (a condition causing rapid heartbeat when standing) to people without POTS. Researchers found that people with POTS reported significantly worse quality of life across all areas tested, including mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, and mood. The impact was consistent across all age groups, and was worse in people with severe symptoms, women, those with fatigue, and those who also had ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Beyond Anxiety and Depression: Loneliness and Psychiatric Disorders in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.

Zhang, Junfen, Loman, Laura, Oldhoff, Jantje M et al.·Acta dermato-venereologica·2023

This study found that adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition causing itching and inflammation) were more likely to experience loneliness and several psychiatric conditions, including panic disorder, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The associations were strongest in people with more severe skin disease, while those with mild atopic dermatitis did not show these increased risks. The researchers suggest that doctors treating skin conditions should also consider screening for and addressing mental health concerns.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates symptoms in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Miwa, Kunihisa, Inoue, Yukichi·IBRO neuroscience reports·2023

This small study tested a brain stimulation treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in 30 ME/CFS patients. The treatment targeted specific areas of the brain involved in movement and decision-making. After treatment, most patients reported improvements in their ability to do daily activities, reduced dizziness when standing, better balance, and less pain.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Study on Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Electronic Device Usage Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

Huang, Su-Fen, Duan, Hui-Ying·Children (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at whether exercise, extracurricular activities, and screen time affect tiredness in young children in Taiwan. Researchers found that children who exercised regularly and varied their activities felt less tired, while children who used screens out of boredom or did too many after-school activities felt more tired. The findings suggest that balanced exercise and limited screen time may help reduce fatigue in preschoolers.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleeping and Dietary Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

Huang, Su-Fen, Duan, Hui-Ying·Children (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at whether sleep habits and diet affect fatigue in young children (age 5) in Taiwan by asking parents about their children's sleep and eating patterns. The researchers found that children who slept well, got enough sleep, and had regular bedtimes felt less tired, while children with poor sleep quality felt more fatigued. Interestingly, eating regular, balanced meals seemed to help some children, but the connection wasn't as clear.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Briese, Thomas, Tokarz, Rafal, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Journal of medical virology·2023

Researchers looked for viruses in blood, saliva, and stool samples from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They used advanced testing methods to search for viral genetic material but found no consistent differences between the two groups, except that ME/CFS patients had fewer anelloviruses (a common, typically harmless virus). This suggests that if viruses play a role in ME/CFS, the problem may not be the presence of the virus itself, but rather how the body's immune system responds to it.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Cypel, Yasmin S, Vogt, Dawne, Maguen, Shira et al.·Preventive medicine reports·2023

This study compared the health of post-9/11 military veterans to non-veterans in the United States and found that veterans experience significantly higher rates of several health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), back and neck pain, hearing loss, and traumatic brain injury. Women and men veterans had different patterns of illness—for example, female veterans reported more cases of CFS and other conditions, while male veterans had more heart-related problems. The researchers suggest that national health guidelines should better account for veterans' specific health needs.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): Results from a post-COVID-19 multidisciplinary clinic.

Bonilla, Hector, Quach, Tom C, Tiwari, Anushri et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2023

This study looked at 140 people suffering from long COVID symptoms and found that nearly half of them (43%) met the medical criteria for ME/CFS. Most patients had severe fatigue, brain fog, and unrefreshing sleep that lasted around 9-10 months on average. People with higher body weight and greater functional decline were more likely to develop the ME/CFS form of long COVID.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Roca, Miquel, Villamor, Antonio Torres, Molinera, Vicente Gasull et al.·Atencion primaria·2023

This study looked at how often panic disorder occurs in people visiting primary care clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found that about 5.3% of patients had panic disorder, with more cases in women. People with panic disorder were more likely to have money problems, high stress, and other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[Implications of the quality of the doctor-patient relationship on health in adult ME/CFS patients. A qualitative public health study from a patien perspective].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas M·MMW Fortschritte der Medizin·2023

This study surveyed 544 ME/CFS patients about their experiences with doctors. Most patients reported feeling unsupported, misunderstood, and dismissed—with doctors not recognizing ME/CFS as a real biological disease. These poor relationships with healthcare providers led to serious consequences: patients avoided doctors, lost trust in medicine, and some even experienced thoughts of suicide. The researchers conclude that doctors need to treat ME/CFS patients as experts in their own illness and develop better, patient-centered care approaches.

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Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Characteristics of Persistent Symptoms Manifested after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: An Observational Retrospective Study in a Specialized Clinic for Vaccination-Related Adverse Events.

Observational Study of Repeat Immunoadsorption (RIA) in Post-COVID ME/CFS Patients with Elevated ß2-Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibodies-An Interim Report.

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Long COVID Are Strongly Predicted by Neuroimmune and Neuro-Oxidative Pathways Which Are Caused by the Inflammation during Acute Infection.

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Multi-'omics of gut microbiome-host interactions in short- and long-term myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Prolonged indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2 activity and associated cellular stress in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

In Schizophrenia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- and Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms are Driven by Breakdown of the Paracellular Pathway with Increased Zonulin and Immune Activation-Associated Neurotoxicity.

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Beyond Anxiety and Depression: Loneliness and Psychiatric Disorders in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates symptoms in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Study on Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Electronic Device Usage Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

Sleeping and Dietary Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): Results from a post-COVID-19 multidisciplinary clinic.

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

[Implications of the quality of the doctor-patient relationship on health in adult ME/CFS patients. A qualitative public health study from a patien perspective].

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