ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2784 studies

841–860 of 2,784 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

How fair is our service? Evaluating access to specialist paediatric care.

Neale, Francesca K, Armstrong, Edward J, Cohen, Jonathan M et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2019

This study looked at whether all children, regardless of their family's income level, had equal access to specialist hospital clinics in one UK hospital between 2007 and 2018. Researchers found that local outpatient clinics (like those for asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome) served children from all income levels fairly equally, but specialist tertiary clinics served more children from wealthier families. This suggests that some children may have better access to specialized care depending on where they live and their family's economic situation.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Psychometric properties of the PROMIS® Fatigue Short Form 7a among adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yang, Manshu, Keller, San, Lin, Jin-Mann S·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2019

Researchers tested whether a short questionnaire called PROMIS Fatigue (7 questions) accurately measures fatigue in people with ME/CFS. They found that the questionnaire reliably captures how tired ME/CFS patients feel, works the same way for different ages and genders, and can detect when fatigue changes over time. This tool may help doctors and researchers measure whether new treatments for ME/CFS actually work.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Abnormal blood lactate accumulation during repeated exercise testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lien, Katarina, Johansen, Bjørn, Veierød, Marit B et al.·Physiological reports·2019

This study looked at how the bodies of ME/CFS patients handle repeated exercise tests done 24 hours apart. Researchers measured how much oxygen patients used and tracked a substance called lactate in their blood during exercise. They found that ME/CFS patients performed worse on the second test and had higher lactate levels, opposite to what happened in healthy people, whose bodies actually recovered better the second time.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Factors associated with work status in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Stevelink, S A M, Fear, N T, Hotopf, M et al.·Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2019

This study looked at how ME/CFS affects people's ability to work. Researchers surveyed 507 patients and found that about half were still working, while nearly one-third had stopped working completely. People who were older, had more severe symptoms, or felt depressed were more likely to have left work, while those with higher education or strong relationships were more likely to still be employed.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

MtDNA population variation in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome in two populations: a study of mildly deleterious variants.

Venter, Marianne, Tomas, Cara, Pienaar, Ilse S et al.·Scientific reports·2019

This study looked at mitochondrial DNA (the genetic material in the energy-producing parts of our cells) in people with ME/CFS to see if differences in this DNA might help explain the condition. Researchers compared DNA samples from ME/CFS patients in the UK and South Africa to look for variations. Interestingly, they found that ME/CFS patients were less likely to have certain common genetic variations that most people carry, but they did not find any confirmed disease-causing mutations.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brain abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Evaluation by diffusional kurtosis imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging.

Kimura, Yukio, Sato, Noriko, Ota, Miho et al.·Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI·2019

Researchers used advanced brain imaging to examine 20 ME/CFS patients and 23 healthy people. The imaging revealed that people with ME/CFS had subtle structural differences in specific brain regions involved in communication, thinking, and sensation. These differences were not visible on standard brain scans but were detected using newer, more detailed imaging techniques.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Fatigue in Epstein-Barr virus infected adolescents and healthy controls: A prospective multifactorial association study.

Pedersen, Maria, Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre, Godang, Kristin et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2019

This study followed teenagers with acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and compared them to healthy teenagers to understand what causes fatigue. Researchers measured 148 different factors including symptoms, quality of life, sleep, emotions, immune markers, and heart rate control at the start of infection and again six months later. They found that fatigue was consistently linked to sleep problems, negative emotions, and poor quality of life, but surprisingly, markers of active infection were not associated with how tired people felt.

SleepAutonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A new approach to find biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) by single-cell Raman micro-spectroscopy.

Xu, Jiabao, Potter, Michelle, Tomas, Cara et al.·The Analyst·2019

Researchers used a new scanning technology called Raman spectroscopy to look at individual cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that cells from ME/CFS patients had higher levels of a protein building block called phenylalanine, similar to cells with broken energy-producing structures (mitochondria). Using computer learning, they could identify ME/CFS patient cells with 98% accuracy based on this signature.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Musculoskeletal Pain in Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Reflects Three Distinct Profiles.

Falling, Carrie, Stebbings, Simon, Baxter, George D et al.·The Clinical journal of pain·2019

Most people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience muscle and joint pain, but the pain works differently in different people. This study found three distinct groups: one with mixed types of pain, one with pain driven by nervous system sensitivity, and one with pain in specific areas that improves when the IBD is under control. The group with nervous system-driven pain had higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness perceptions in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and other physical health conditions: Application of the common sense model.

Haines, Cara, Loades, Maria, Davis, Cara·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2019

This study compared how teenagers with ME/CFS view their illness compared to teenagers with diabetes or arthritis. Teenagers with ME/CFS had very different beliefs about their condition—particularly about how much control they had over it, how long it would last, and how well they understood what was happening to them. The researchers suggest that helping teenagers with ME/CFS feel more in control and understand their condition better might help them cope better.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Adolescent and parent factors related to fatigue in paediatric multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome: A comparative study.

Carroll, Susan, Chalder, Trudie, Hemingway, Cheryl et al.·European journal of paediatric neurology : EJPN : official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society·2019

This study compared teenagers with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experienced fatigue, teenagers with ME/CFS, and healthy teenagers to understand what factors contribute to severe fatigue. Researchers found that teenagers with MS who were fatigued and teenagers with ME/CFS had very similar patterns of fatigue and unhelpful thinking patterns about their symptoms, but teenagers with ME/CFS had normal brain function while those with MS had some cognitive difficulties. The study suggests that psychological approaches used successfully in ME/CFS might also help teenagers with MS who experience fatigue.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Implementation of stepped care for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in community-based mental health care: outcomes at post-treatment and long-term follow-up.

Janse, Anthonie, van Dam, Arno, Pijpers, Coby et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2019

This study tested whether a step-by-step treatment program combining self-help materials and talk therapy (CBT) for ME/CFS could work well in regular mental health clinics, not just specialist centers. The treatment did help patients—their fatigue decreased and physical function improved—and these improvements lasted for years afterward. However, patients improved somewhat less in community clinics than they did in specialist ME/CFS centers.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical symptoms and markers of disease mechanisms in adolescent chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Kristiansen, Miriam Skjerven, Stabursvik, Julie, O'Leary, Elise Catriona et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2019

This study looked at adolescents who had Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and tracked whether they developed chronic fatigue 6 months later. Researchers found that those with ongoing fatigue had more symptoms overall, but blood tests and heart-monitoring showed only small differences compared to those who recovered—mainly slightly higher inflammation markers and changes in nervous system activity. The study suggests that post-EBV fatigue in teenagers involves subtle changes in the body's stress and immune systems, even though the virus itself had cleared.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Changes in the transcriptome of circulating immune cells of a New Zealand cohort with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sweetman, Eiren, Ryan, Margaret, Edgar, Christina et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2019

Researchers studied blood immune cells from 10 ME/CFS patients and 10 healthy people to understand what's different at the genetic level. They found that several genes related to inflammation were more active in ME/CFS patients, and genes related to energy production and circadian rhythms (your body's internal clock) showed abnormal patterns. These findings suggest ME/CFS involves multiple biological systems working incorrectly at the same time.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Fatigue among working and non-working students: a sociological analysis of the environmental determinants of its level].

Kutyło, Łukasz, Łaska-Formejster, Alicja Barbara, Ober-Domagalska, Barbara·Medycyna pracy·2019

This study compared fatigue levels in 298 college students, some who worked while studying and some who did not. Interestingly, non-working students reported significantly more fatigue than working students. The researchers found that students who were less satisfied with their classes, teachers, or peer relationships tended to feel more tired.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Predictors of chronic fatigue in adolescents six months after acute Epstein-Barr virus infection: A prospective cohort study.

Pedersen, Maria, Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre, Godang, Kristin et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2019

This study followed 200 teenagers who had an acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection to see which factors predicted who would develop lasting fatigue six months later. Researchers measured many baseline characteristics including pain sensitivity, mood, memory, physical activity level, and blood markers like vitamin B12 and inflammation levels. They found that fatigue six months after EBV was most strongly predicted by things like sensory sensitivity, pain, anxiety, and how active the teenager was—rather than by immune system markers alone.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive and behavioral coping in people with Chronic fatigue syndrome: An exploratory study searching for intervention targets for depressive symptoms.

Kraaij, Vivian, Bik, Janneke, Garnefski, Nadia·Journal of health psychology·2019

This study looked at how 30 people with ME/CFS cope with depression by using different thinking and behavior strategies. The researchers found that the way people think about and reframe their problems has a bigger impact on depression than what they do. Focusing on positive aspects, looking at problems in a different light, and avoiding catastrophizing (imagining the worst) seemed to help the most.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Differentiating Post-Polio Syndrome from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Klebek, Lauren, Sunnquist, Madison, Jason, Leonard A·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2019

This study compared three similar long-term illnesses that cause fatigue and muscle problems: Post-polio syndrome (PPS), ME, and CFS. Researchers used questionnaires and computer analysis to identify which symptoms best distinguish these conditions from each other. They found that people with ME/CFS tend to have more severe overall functional impairment than those with PPS, and that three specific areas—brain fog, post-exertional malaise (getting worse after activity), and hormone-related symptoms—are most helpful in telling these illnesses apart.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Depressive symptoms in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Are rates higher than in controls and do depressive symptoms affect outcome?

Loades, Maria Elizabeth, Rimes, Katharine A, Ali, Sheila et al.·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2019

This study compared depression symptoms in adolescents with ME/CFS to healthy teenagers and teenagers with asthma. Young people with ME/CFS had significantly higher depression scores than both groups. While depression symptoms were linked to some worsening of fatigue over time, they were a stronger predictor of future depression itself, suggesting depression may be a separate concern that needs its own treatment approach.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Blomberg, Jonas, Rizwan, Muhammad, Böhlin-Wiener, Agnes et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2019

This study looked for evidence that common viruses called herpesviruses might be reactivated or causing problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to measure immune responses (antibodies) against several herpesviruses. While the overall antibody levels were similar between the two groups, the study found subtle differences in how ME/CFS patients' immune systems reacted to a few specific herpesvirus proteins.

Immune System

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Evidence browser

How fair is our service? Evaluating access to specialist paediatric care.

Psychometric properties of the PROMIS® Fatigue Short Form 7a among adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Abnormal blood lactate accumulation during repeated exercise testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Factors associated with work status in chronic fatigue syndrome.

MtDNA population variation in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome in two populations: a study of mildly deleterious variants.

Brain abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Evaluation by diffusional kurtosis imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging.

Fatigue in Epstein-Barr virus infected adolescents and healthy controls: A prospective multifactorial association study.

A new approach to find biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) by single-cell Raman micro-spectroscopy.

Musculoskeletal Pain in Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Reflects Three Distinct Profiles.

Illness perceptions in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and other physical health conditions: Application of the common sense model.

Adolescent and parent factors related to fatigue in paediatric multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome: A comparative study.

Implementation of stepped care for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in community-based mental health care: outcomes at post-treatment and long-term follow-up.

Clinical symptoms and markers of disease mechanisms in adolescent chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Changes in the transcriptome of circulating immune cells of a New Zealand cohort with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Fatigue among working and non-working students: a sociological analysis of the environmental determinants of its level].

Predictors of chronic fatigue in adolescents six months after acute Epstein-Barr virus infection: A prospective cohort study.

Cognitive and behavioral coping in people with Chronic fatigue syndrome: An exploratory study searching for intervention targets for depressive symptoms.

Differentiating Post-Polio Syndrome from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Depressive symptoms in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Are rates higher than in controls and do depressive symptoms affect outcome?

Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

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