ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

781–800 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The presence of overlapping quality of life symptoms in primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Bansal, Rhea A, Tadros, Susan, Bansal, Amolak S·Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·2020

This study looked at whether people with primary antibody deficiency (PAD)—a condition where the immune system doesn't make enough protective proteins—also experience ME/CFS-like symptoms. Researchers sent questionnaires to over 680 PAD patients and found that about 16% of those who responded had symptoms matching ME/CFS criteria, which is much higher than the general population. The study also found that sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and low mood were very common in PAD patients.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Almenar-Pérez, Eloy, Sarría, Leonor, Nathanson, Lubov et al.·Scientific reports·2020

This study looked for biological markers (tiny genetic molecules called microRNAs) in blood samples from severely ill ME/CFS patients that could help doctors diagnose the disease. Researchers found that certain microRNAs and physical characteristics of particles in the blood appeared different in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. If validated in larger studies, these findings could eventually lead to a simple blood test for diagnosis.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Lee, Jihyun, Wall, Pelle, Kimler, Chris et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study looked at how much time ME/CFS patients can spend upright (standing or walking around) each day and how this relates to dizziness and other symptoms caused by orthostatic intolerance—a condition where symptoms get worse when standing or being active. Researchers compared 25 women with ME/CFS to 25 healthy women and found that ME/CFS patients spend far fewer hours upright and experience much worse symptoms that interfere with daily life. The study suggests that measuring upright hours and asking patients about orthostatic symptoms could be helpful tools for doctors diagnosing and managing ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Terman, Julia M, Awsumb, Jessica M, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study measured how much stigma (negative judgments and social shame) people with ME/CFS experience. Over 550 people with ME/CFS from around the world filled out a survey designed to assess stigma, feelings of isolation, and concerns about disclosing their illness. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS reported high levels of stigma and struggled with whether to tell others about their condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Sato, Daisuke·Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing·2020

This study looked at fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who lived in an area affected by a major earthquake in Japan. Researchers measured both what patients reported about their tiredness and objective measurements of nervous system function and activity levels. The main finding was that patients showed changes in how their nervous system was functioning, with their stress-response system becoming more dominant over time.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Thomsen, Reimar Wernich, Öztürk, Buket, Pedersen, Lars et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2020

This large Danish study looked at whether the HPV vaccine (which prevents cervical cancer) was linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, or heart problems in girls. Researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated girls over 14 years and found no increase in hospital visits for these symptoms in vaccinated girls. The symptoms they tracked increased over time in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, suggesting other factors were responsible.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Mueller, Christina, Lin, Joanne C, Sheriff, Sulaiman et al.·Brain imaging and behavior·2020

Researchers used advanced brain imaging to measure chemical substances in the brains of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found several differences in brain chemistry and temperature in ME/CFS patients, particularly in areas involved in processing pain and regulating energy. These changes suggest that inflammation in the brain may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Patterns of daytime physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

King, E, Beynon, M, Chalder, T et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2020

Researchers studied how 579 ME/CFS patients moved and exercised during their daily lives using activity monitors. They found that patients fell into four different activity patterns: some stayed quite inactive, some stayed fairly active, some had a 'boom and bust' pattern (very active then very inactive), and some had mixed patterns. Each group showed different health characteristics—inactive patients had more physical disability, active patients had more anxiety, and boom-and-bust patients had more sleep problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Walsh, R Stephen, Denovan, Andrew, Drinkwater, Kenneth et al.·BMC family practice·2020

This study looked at how often people with ME visit their GP and what factors affect these visits. Researchers surveyed 476 ME patients across the UK and found that several things—including how long someone has had ME, where they live, whether they trust their GP, how quickly they got diagnosed, and their gender—all predict how many GP visits they make each year. The study highlights that the relationship between ME patients and their doctors is really important for getting good care.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Jonsjö, Martin A, Åström, Jenny, Jones, Michael P et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study compared how 'sick' people with ME/CFS and chronic pain feel compared to other groups. Researchers found that ME/CFS and chronic pain patients reported feeling as sick as healthy people who were given a bacterial toxin to trigger temporary inflammation. These high levels of sickness feelings were similar across both conditions and higher than what primary care patients reported, suggesting that the persistent sickness sensation in ME/CFS and chronic pain may involve similar biological mechanisms related to inflammation and how the brain processes illness signals.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Identification of actin network proteins, talin-1 and filamin-A, in circulating extracellular vesicles as blood biomarkers for human myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Eguchi, Akiko, Fukuda, Sanae, Kuratsune, Hirohiko et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2020

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in their blood, which contain specific proteins (talin-1 and filamin-A) that appear to be unique markers of the disease. By measuring these particles and proteins in a simple blood test, researchers were able to correctly identify ME/CFS patients about 90-94% of the time, suggesting this could become a useful diagnostic tool.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben Z, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Child & youth care forum·2020

Researchers studied over 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area to find out how many have ME/CFS. They found that about 0.75% (roughly 1 in 133) young people have the condition, with higher rates among African American and Latino youth. Importantly, less than 5% of these children had been diagnosed before the study, meaning many young people with ME/CFS are going unrecognized by doctors.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Multi-omics examination of Q fever fatigue syndrome identifies similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Raijmakers, Ruud P H, Roerink, Megan E, Jansen, Anne F M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study compared people with Q fever fatigue syndrome (a prolonged tiredness that develops after a Q fever infection) to people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Researchers examined three types of biological markers: gut bacteria, blood chemicals, and inflammatory proteins. They found that people with Q fever fatigue syndrome have very similar patterns to ME/CFS patients, suggesting these two conditions may share similar underlying biological mechanisms.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

Newson, Timothy P, Elias, Annie·Pediatric pulmonology·2020

This study looked at 18 young people (ages 11-16) who had breathing pattern disorders—abnormal ways of breathing that caused problems like chest tightness, difficulty breathing during exercise, or feeling like their throat was closing. Most of these young people also had asthma, anxiety, or other conditions. When properly diagnosed and treated by a speech therapist, most improved significantly and felt more confident managing their symptoms, though it often took months to get the right diagnosis.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A hierarchical logistic regression predicting rapid respiratory rates from post-exertional malaise.

Cotler, Joseph, Katz, Ben Z, Reurts-Post, Corine et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2020

This study looked at whether faster breathing rates could be a sign of post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms that many ME/CFS patients experience after activity. Researchers measured breathing rates in 216 ME/CFS patients over two days and compared them to information about PEM and other symptoms. They found that patients with more severe PEM tended to have faster resting breathing rates, while depression, anxiety, and activity level did not explain the faster breathing.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Mapping of pathological change in chronic fatigue syndrome using the ratio of T1- and T2-weighted MRI scans.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Staines, Don et al.·NeuroImage. Clinical·2020

Researchers used a special type of brain imaging (MRI scans) to look for physical changes in the brains of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS had higher levels of myelin (the protective covering around nerve fibers) and/or iron in specific brain regions, particularly in areas deep in the brain and in white matter tracts. These changes were linked to ME/CFS symptoms like cognitive problems, heart rate variability, breathing patterns, and physical well-being.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Cortisol levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and atypical depression measured using hair and saliva specimens.

Herane-Vives, Andres, Papadopoulos, Andrew, de Angel, Valeria et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2020

This study compared stress hormone (cortisol) levels in people with ME/CFS and people with a specific type of depression called atypical depression, both with and without fatigue. Researchers measured cortisol in two ways: through hair samples (showing levels over 3 months) and saliva samples (showing daily patterns). Both ME/CFS and atypical depression groups had lower daily cortisol output than healthy people, but normal cortisol levels when measured over longer periods, suggesting the low levels might be temporary or related to how the body's rhythm changes.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Guided graded Exercise Self-help for chronic fatigue syndrome: patient experiences and perceptions.

Cheshire, Anna, Ridge, Damien, Clark, Lucy et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2020

This study looked at what patients experienced when they tried a guided exercise self-help program (GES) for ME/CFS. Some patients improved while others got worse. The researchers found that people who improved tended to be more motivated and faced fewer obstacles, while those who worsened had been sick longer, had other health conditions, and experienced symptom flare-ups from the exercise. The study suggests that the booklet alone isn't enough—patients need support from healthcare professionals who understand ME/CFS, especially during the difficult early weeks when improvements haven't started yet.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Piersiala, Krzysztof, Akst, Lee M, Hillel, Alexander T et al.·JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2020

This study looked at whether fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ME/CFS patients have similar voice and throat problems. Researchers reviewed medical records of over 4,000 patients at a voice center and found that patients with these three conditions were more likely to have functional voice disorders (problems with how the voice works rather than visible damage) compared to other patients.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attentional Processing and Interpretative Bias in Functional Neurological Disorder.

Keynejad, Roxanne C, Fenby, Edward, Pick, Susannah et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2020

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS and a related condition called functional neurological disorder (FND) process information and interpret bodily sensations differently than healthy people. Researchers gave participants three types of tests: one measuring whether they automatically notice illness-related information, another testing how well they can control their attention, and a third examining whether they interpret unclear bodily sensations as signs of illness. The findings suggest that both ME/CFS and FND involve similar difficulties with attention control and a tendency to interpret bodily sensations as illness-related.

Cognitive Impairment

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The presence of overlapping quality of life symptoms in primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Patterns of daytime physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Identification of actin network proteins, talin-1 and filamin-A, in circulating extracellular vesicles as blood biomarkers for human myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Multi-omics examination of Q fever fatigue syndrome identifies similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

A hierarchical logistic regression predicting rapid respiratory rates from post-exertional malaise.

Mapping of pathological change in chronic fatigue syndrome using the ratio of T1- and T2-weighted MRI scans.

Cortisol levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and atypical depression measured using hair and saliva specimens.

Guided graded Exercise Self-help for chronic fatigue syndrome: patient experiences and perceptions.

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Attentional Processing and Interpretative Bias in Functional Neurological Disorder.

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