ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

941–960 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Humoral Immunity Profiling of Subjects with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Using a Random Peptide Microarray Differentiates Cases from Controls with High Specificity and Sensitivity.

Singh, Sahajpreet, Stafford, Phillip, Schlauch, Karen A et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2018

Researchers tested blood samples from 21 people with ME and 21 healthy controls to look for distinctive antibody patterns that could serve as a diagnostic test. Using a high-tech screening tool that checks for antibodies against thousands of different peptides, they found 25 unique patterns that could reliably distinguish people with ME from those without the disease. The antibodies appeared to target the person's own proteins and certain virus-like sequences found in human DNA.

Immune System

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

A Brief Questionnaire to Assess Post-Exertional Malaise.

Cotler, Joseph, Holtzman, Carly, Dudun, Catherine et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2018

This study focused on creating a better way to identify post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms that happens after physical or mental activity in ME/CFS patients. Researchers tested whether five additional questions from an existing questionnaire could help doctors confirm PEM in the second step of diagnosis. The test was successful: it correctly identified patients with ME/CFS 82% of the time and rarely misidentified other conditions like multiple sclerosis as ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Integrated Analysis of Gene Expression Differences in Twins Discordant for Disease and Binary Phenotypes.

Tangirala, Sivateja, Patel, Chirag J·Scientific reports·2018

Researchers compared gene activity in identical twins where one twin had ME/CFS and the other didn't, along with studying six other conditions. They wanted to understand how environment (rather than genes) influences disease by looking at which genes were turned on or off differently between affected and unaffected twins. The study found that while different diseases may share some similar changes in gene activity, each condition has its own unique pattern of gene changes.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A reexamination of the cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sunnquist, Madison, Jason, Leonard A·Journal of clinical psychology·2018

This study tested whether the idea that ME/CFS is caused or worsened mainly by unhelpful thoughts and not being active enough actually explains what happens to patients with ME/CFS. Researchers looked at 990 people with ME/CFS and found this explanation didn't fit well, especially for people who met stricter diagnostic criteria. The findings suggest that ME/CFS may work differently than this model assumes.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparison of Fatigue Severity and Quality of Life between Unexplained Fatigue Patients and Explained Fatigue Patients.

Yoo, Eun Hae, Choi, Eun Sil, Cho, Soo Hyun et al.·Korean journal of family medicine·2018

This study compared fatigue and quality of life in 200 Korean adults with fatigue. Researchers divided participants into two groups: those whose fatigue had a clear medical explanation (like anemia or thyroid disease) and those whose fatigue remained unexplained after testing. People with unexplained fatigue reported significantly lower quality of life, especially in physical functioning, compared to those with explained fatigue.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

How to Distinguish Patients with pSS among Individuals with Dryness without Invasive Diagnostic Studies.

Sebastian, Agata, Sebastian, Maciej, Misterska-Skóra, Maria et al.·Journal of immunology research·2018

This study looked at whether doctors can tell the difference between primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS)—an autoimmune disease that damages moisture-producing glands—and simple dryness caused by other reasons, without needing invasive tests like biopsies. The researchers found that certain blood markers and symptoms like fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and specific antibodies were much more common in pSS patients than in people with dryness alone.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Effects of a short-term aquatic exercise intervention on symptoms and exercise capacity in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a pilot study.

Broadbent, Suzanne, Coetzee, Sonja, Beavers, Rosalind·European journal of applied physiology·2018

This small study looked at whether exercising in water could help women with ME/CFS. Eleven women did gentle water exercise twice a week for 4 weeks, and researchers measured their strength, fitness, and fatigue levels before and after. The women were able to walk farther, felt less tired and had less pain after the program, and nobody reported feeling worse from the exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The etiologic relation between disequilibrium and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Miwa, Kunihisa, Inoue, Yukichi·Journal of cardiology·2018

This study looked at 44 ME/CFS patients to understand why they struggle to stay upright (orthostatic intolerance). Researchers found that balance problems—difficulty staying steady when standing with eyes closed—were common and seemed to make orthostatic intolerance worse. Patients with balance problems were more likely to have trouble completing a 10-minute standing test than those with only heart rate changes, suggesting balance issues may be just as important as blood pressure and heart rate problems in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep patterns among patients with chronic fatigue: A polysomnography-based study.

Pajediene, Evelina, Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Friberg, Danielle·The clinical respiratory journal·2018

This study looked at sleep problems in people with chronic fatigue by using a sleep monitoring test called polysomnography. Researchers found that more than half of the fatigued patients who also felt excessively sleepy had treatable sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless legs, or periodic leg movements. The authors suggest that people with these symptoms should be tested for sleep disorders and treated before being diagnosed with ME/CFS, since fixing the sleep problem might help with fatigue.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Adolescent's descriptions of fatigue, fluctuation and payback in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME): interviews with adolescents and parents.

Parslow, Roxanne M, Anderson, Nina, Byrne, Danielle et al.·BMJ paediatrics open·2018

Researchers interviewed 21 teenagers with ME/CFS and their parents to understand how they experience fatigue and symptoms. All the teenagers described fatigue, good days and bad days, and getting worse after activity (called payback). However, each teenager's experience was different—some felt constantly tired while others had more variable symptoms, and the impact on their daily lives ranged from minor activity limitations to being mostly sedentary.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Supplementation with Robuvit® in subjects with burnout associated to high oxidative stress.

Belcaro, Gianni, Hosoi, Morio, Feragalli, Beatrice et al.·Minerva medica·2018

This study tested whether a supplement called Robuvit® (made from French oak wood) could help people with burnout syndrome who experience severe fatigue and high oxidative stress (a type of cellular damage). Over 4 weeks, people taking Robuvit® showed improvements in emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and stress levels compared to those receiving standard treatment alone. The supplement also reduced markers of oxidative stress in the blood.

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Defining the minimally clinically important difference of the SF-36 physical function subscale for paediatric CFS/ME: triangulation using three different methods.

Brigden, Amberly, Parslow, Roxanne M, Gaunt, Daisy et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2018

This study determined the smallest meaningful improvement in physical function that children and teenagers with ME/CFS can experience. Researchers asked young patients and their parents what amount of improvement would feel worthwhile, and they also analyzed clinical data from a specialist service. They found that an improvement of 10 points on a standard physical function scale represents a clinically meaningful change for children with ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A Concurrent Cognitive Task Does Not Perturb Quiet Standing in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rasouli, Omid, Fors, Egil A, Vasseljen, Ottar et al.·Pain research & management·2018

This study examined how well people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia can balance while standing still, and whether doing mental math at the same time makes balancing harder. Researchers found that both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients had slightly worse balance control than healthy people, but surprisingly, adding a math task didn't make their balance worse—unlike what researchers expected.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Pitfalls in cytokine measurements - Plasma TGF-β1 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Roerink, M E, van der Schaaf, M E, Hawinkels, L J A C et al.·The Netherlands journal of medicine·2018

This study measured a protein called TGF-β1 in the blood of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Previous research suggested this protein was elevated in ME/CFS, but the researchers found that how blood samples are processed in the lab—specifically how fast they spin them—dramatically affects the results. When they carefully controlled this process, they found no actual difference in TGF-β1 levels between patients and healthy controls.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) symptom-based phenotypes and 1-year treatment outcomes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

Collin, Simon M, Heron, Jon, Nikolaus, Stephanie et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2018

This study looked at different patterns of ME/CFS symptoms in nearly 2,300 patients across the UK and Netherlands to see if the types of symptoms people have when they first seek treatment predict how well they'll improve. Researchers found three main symptom patterns: patients with few extra symptoms, patients with multiple symptoms, and patients with mainly pain symptoms. After one year of treatment, patients who started with fewer symptoms were significantly more likely to feel much better, while those with many symptoms or pain-focused symptoms were less likely to improve.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A test of the adaptive network explanation of functional disorders using a machine learning analysis of symptoms.

Melidis, Christos, Denham, Susan L, Hyland, Michael E·Bio Systems·2018

This study looked at whether ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS might result from the body's biological systems becoming overly adapted in ways that backfire. Researchers surveyed 1,751 people with these conditions about their symptoms and used computer analysis to identify patterns. They found that as symptoms become more severe and widespread, the differences between these three conditions blur, suggesting they may share common underlying mechanisms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Latent class analysis of a heterogeneous international sample of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Huber, Kayla A, Sunnquist, Madison, Jason, Leonard A·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2018

This study looked at 1,210 ME/CFS patients to see if there are different types or subtypes of the illness based on their symptoms. Researchers found six distinct groups of patients, each experiencing different combinations of symptoms like heart and blood pressure problems, dizziness when standing, and digestive issues. Importantly, patients in different groups had very different abilities to function in daily life, suggesting that tailored treatment approaches might work better than one-size-fits-all care.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Decreased Connectivity and Increased Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent Complexity in the Default Mode Network in Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Shan, Zack Y, Finegan, Kevin, Bhuta, Sandeep et al.·Brain connectivity·2018

This study used brain imaging to look at how a specific network in the brain (called the default mode network) works differently in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that in ME/CFS patients, this brain network shows more chaotic activity and weaker communication between different regions. These differences might one day help doctors diagnose ME/CFS using brain scans.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The presence of co-morbid mental health problems in a cohort of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Loades, Maria Elizabeth, Rimes, Katharine A, Ali, Sheila et al.·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2018

This study looked at mental health problems in 52 teenagers with ME/CFS to see how common depression and anxiety are in this group. About one-third of the teenagers had depression, and over a quarter had anxiety disorders. Teenagers with depression reported more difficulty with school and social life. The researchers found that using a proper psychiatric interview was better than just asking teenagers to fill out questionnaires for identifying these mental health conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Structural brain changes versus self-report: machine-learning classification of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Sevel, Landrew S, Boissoneault, Jeff, Letzen, Janelle E et al.·Experimental brain research·2018

Researchers compared two methods for identifying ME/CFS patients: looking at structural brain changes on MRI scans versus asking patients to rate their symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sleep quality. While brain imaging showed some useful differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy people, patients' own descriptions of their symptoms were actually better at identifying who had ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

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Humoral Immunity Profiling of Subjects with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Using a Random Peptide Microarray Differentiates Cases from Controls with High Specificity and Sensitivity.

A Brief Questionnaire to Assess Post-Exertional Malaise.

Integrated Analysis of Gene Expression Differences in Twins Discordant for Disease and Binary Phenotypes.

A reexamination of the cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Comparison of Fatigue Severity and Quality of Life between Unexplained Fatigue Patients and Explained Fatigue Patients.

How to Distinguish Patients with pSS among Individuals with Dryness without Invasive Diagnostic Studies.

Effects of a short-term aquatic exercise intervention on symptoms and exercise capacity in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a pilot study.

The etiologic relation between disequilibrium and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Sleep patterns among patients with chronic fatigue: A polysomnography-based study.

Adolescent's descriptions of fatigue, fluctuation and payback in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME): interviews with adolescents and parents.

Supplementation with Robuvit® in subjects with burnout associated to high oxidative stress.

Defining the minimally clinically important difference of the SF-36 physical function subscale for paediatric CFS/ME: triangulation using three different methods.

A Concurrent Cognitive Task Does Not Perturb Quiet Standing in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Pitfalls in cytokine measurements - Plasma TGF-β1 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) symptom-based phenotypes and 1-year treatment outcomes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

A test of the adaptive network explanation of functional disorders using a machine learning analysis of symptoms.

Latent class analysis of a heterogeneous international sample of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Decreased Connectivity and Increased Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent Complexity in the Default Mode Network in Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The presence of co-morbid mental health problems in a cohort of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Structural brain changes versus self-report: machine-learning classification of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

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