ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

941–960 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Hand Grip Strength as a Clinical Biomarker for ME/CFS and Disease Severity.

Nacul, Luis Carlos, Mudie, Kathleen, Kingdon, Caroline C et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2018

Researchers tested whether hand grip strength could be a useful tool for diagnosing ME/CFS and measuring how severe the condition is. They found that people with ME/CFS—especially those with severe disease—have noticeably weaker grip strength compared to healthy people, and their grip strength drops more across repeated tests. This simple, objective test may help doctors better diagnose ME/CFS and track how patients are doing over time.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Functional Status and Well-Being in People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Compared with People with Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls.

Kingdon, Caroline C, Bowman, Erinna W, Curran, Hayley et al.·PharmacoEconomics - open·2018

This study compared how much ME/CFS affects people's daily lives compared to people with multiple sclerosis and healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS reported significantly worse physical function, ability to work, and social activities than the other two groups. People with ME/CFS also worked fewer hours and earned less money, showing the real-world impact of the illness on their lives.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Poor self-reported sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Zaragozá, Maria C, González-Garcia, Sergio et al.·Journal of sleep research·2018

This study looked at sleep problems in 1,455 Spanish ME/CFS patients and found that nearly all of them reported poor sleep quality that wasn't refreshing, even when they slept. The researchers discovered that poor sleep was strongly linked to worse pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life overall. Several factors—including pain intensity, mood problems, fibromyalgia, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction—were particularly associated with sleep difficulties.

Pain and SensitizationSleepAutonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Value of Circulating Cytokine Profiling During Submaximal Exercise Testing in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Moneghetti, Kegan J, Skhiri, Mehdi, Contrepois, Kévin et al.·Scientific reports·2018

Researchers tested whether measuring immune chemicals (called cytokines) in the blood after exercise could help identify people with ME/CFS. They compared 24 people with ME/CFS to 24 healthy controls and measured 51 different immune markers both before and 18 hours after exercise. They found that the pattern of immune chemicals measured 18 hours after exercise was different enough to reliably distinguish people with ME/CFS from healthy people.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Estimating Prevalence, Demographics, and Costs of ME/CFS Using Large Scale Medical Claims Data and Machine Learning.

Valdez, Ashley R, Hancock, Elizabeth E, Adebayo, Seyi et al.·Frontiers in pediatrics·2018

Researchers used insurance billing records and computer analysis to estimate how many Americans have ME/CFS. They found that between 1.7 and 3.4 million people in the U.S. may have been diagnosed with ME/CFS, making it more common than many people realize. The study also showed that ME/CFS costs patients far more in medical expenses than other serious diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Restricted Spatial Windows of Visibility in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Ahmed, Nadia S, Gottlob, Irene, Proudlock, Frank A et al.·Vision (Basel, Switzerland)·2018

This study looked at how ME affects vision by testing how well people can see contrast (the difference between light and dark areas). Researchers tested 19 people with ME and 19 healthy people by asking them to identify faint striped patterns. People with ME had more difficulty seeing these patterns, especially at lower levels of detail, suggesting that ME may affect how the eyes and brain process visual information.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Defining the prevalence and symptom burden of those with self-reported severe chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a two-phase community pilot study in the North East of England.

Strassheim, Victoria Jane, Sunnquist, Madison, Jason, Leonard A et al.·BMJ open·2018

This study tried to find out how many people in Northern England have severe ME/CFS and what symptoms they experience. Researchers sent questionnaires to people with ME/CFS and then invited five participants to take part in home-based research visits. The study found that people with severe ME/CFS want to participate in research but struggle with their high symptom burden and poor quality of life, which makes completing research visits challenging.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness beliefs of adolescents with CFS and their parents: the perceived causes of illness and beliefs about recovery.

Loades, Maria E, Rimes, Katharine A, Lievesley, Kate et al.·International journal of adolescent medicine and health·2018

This study asked teenagers with ME/CFS and their parents what they thought caused the illness. Most believed it was triggered by a virus or stressful life events. Interestingly, teenagers and parents largely agreed with each other about the causes. Many teenagers weren't sure how long it would take them to recover, suggesting doctors should better inform young patients about what to expect.

E2 ModeratePEM unclearBiobank-Resource

The UK ME/CFS Biobank: A Disease-Specific Biobank for Advancing Clinical Research Into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lacerda, Eliana M, Mudie, Kathleen, Kingdon, Caroline C et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2018

Researchers in the UK created a special collection of biological samples (like blood) and health information from 600 people—including those with ME/CFS, people with multiple sclerosis, and healthy volunteers. This resource, called the UK ME/CFS Biobank, was designed to help scientists study ME/CFS more effectively and find reliable ways to diagnose the disease. The biobank is being shared with researchers around the world to speed up discovery.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Eukaryotes in the gut microbiota in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mandarano, Alexandra H, Giloteaux, Ludovic, Keller, Betsy A et al.·PeerJ·2018

This study looked at tiny organisms called eukaryotes (which include fungi and parasites) living in the gut of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had slightly less diversity of these organisms and some differences in fungal types, though these differences were small. The findings suggest that gut imbalances in ME/CFS may involve more than just bacteria.

Gut Microbiome

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Genome-epigenome interactions associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Herrera, Santiago, de Vega, Wilfred C, Ashbrook, David et al.·Epigenetics·2018

This study examined how genes and chemical switches on genes (called methylation) work together in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared immune cells from people with ME/CFS to healthy people, looking at hundreds of thousands of genetic markers and chemical modifications. They found that certain chemical switches on genes involved in immune function and energy production are different in ME/CFS patients, and these differences are connected to a person's genetic makeup.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Two-Year Follow-Up of Impaired Range of Motion in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rowe, Peter C, Marden, Colleen L, Flaherty, Marissa A K et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·2018

This study tracked how physical flexibility and movement changed in 53 young people with ME/CFS over two years while they received multimodal therapy. Researchers measured range of motion in 11 different body areas and found that most participants showed significant improvement—the proportion with abnormal movement patterns dropped from 78% to 20%. Importantly, improvements in flexibility were linked with improvements in physical quality of life.

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 unclearObservational

Low Sensitivity of Abbreviated Tilt Table Testing for Diagnosing Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Adults With ME/CFS.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Frontiers in pediatrics·2018

Many people with ME/CFS experience dizziness and rapid heartbeat when standing up, a condition called POTS. This study found that when doctors use shortened tilt table tests (lasting only 2 minutes) to diagnose POTS, they miss more than half of the patients who actually have it. The researchers recommend using the full 10-minute test instead of the abbreviated version to properly identify POTS in ME/CFS patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Weighting of orthostatic intolerance time measurements with standing difficulty score stratifies ME/CFS symptom severity and analyte detection.

Richardson, Alice M, Lewis, Don P, Kita, Badia et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

This study tested a new way to measure ME/CFS severity by combining how long patients can stand with how difficult standing feels to them. Researchers found that this combined measurement (called weighted standing time) was significantly different between ME/CFS patients and healthy people, and it also related to differences in certain inflammation markers in the blood. This suggests that a simple standing test could help doctors diagnose ME/CFS and track how severe a patient's symptoms are.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Low omega-3 index and polyunsaturated fatty acid status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Zaragozá, Maria Cleofé, Domingo, Joan Carles et al.·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2018

This study measured omega-3 fatty acid levels in the blood of 31 ME/CFS patients and found that nearly all of them (92.6%) had unusually low levels. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for heart health and reducing inflammation in the body. The researchers suggest that increasing omega-3 levels in ME/CFS patients might be worth testing as a potential treatment.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Dry eye syndrome and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome-a prospective population-based study in Taiwan.

Chen, Chih-Sheng, Cheng, Hui-Man, Chen, Hsuan-Ju et al.·Oncotarget·2018

This study found that people with dry eye syndrome (DES) are more likely to develop ME/CFS than those without dry eye problems. Researchers followed patients in Taiwan over many years and discovered that those with dry eye had about twice the risk of developing ME/CFS. Even after accounting for age, sex, and other health conditions, the increased risk remained significant.

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Emotional Regulation in Women with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Depression: Internal Representations and Adaptive Defenses.

Bram, Anthony D, Gottschalk, Kiley A, Leeds, William M·Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·2018

This study looked at how women with ME/CFS and depression process and manage their emotions differently than healthy women. Researchers tested 186 women in four groups—those with ME/CFS and high depression, ME/CFS with lower depression, depression alone, and healthy controls—to see if difficulty expressing emotions psychologically might lead to more physical symptoms. The findings suggest that some people with ME/CFS, particularly those with both ME/CFS and depression, may have more trouble managing emotions, but not all patients show this pattern.

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Hand Grip Strength as a Clinical Biomarker for ME/CFS and Disease Severity.

Functional Status and Well-Being in People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Compared with People with Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls.

Poor self-reported sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Value of Circulating Cytokine Profiling During Submaximal Exercise Testing in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Estimating Prevalence, Demographics, and Costs of ME/CFS Using Large Scale Medical Claims Data and Machine Learning.

Restricted Spatial Windows of Visibility in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Defining the prevalence and symptom burden of those with self-reported severe chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a two-phase community pilot study in the North East of England.

Illness beliefs of adolescents with CFS and their parents: the perceived causes of illness and beliefs about recovery.

The UK ME/CFS Biobank: A Disease-Specific Biobank for Advancing Clinical Research Into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Eukaryotes in the gut microbiota in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Genome-epigenome interactions associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Two-Year Follow-Up of Impaired Range of Motion 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.

Low Sensitivity of Abbreviated Tilt Table Testing for Diagnosing Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Adults With ME/CFS.

Weighting of orthostatic intolerance time measurements with standing difficulty score stratifies ME/CFS symptom severity and analyte detection.

Low omega-3 index and polyunsaturated fatty acid status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Dry eye syndrome and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome-a prospective population-based study in Taiwan.

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

Emotional Regulation in Women with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Depression: Internal Representations and Adaptive Defenses.

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