ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2784 studies

981–1000 of 2,784 studies

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Reciprocal associations between daily need-based experiences, energy, and sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Campbell, Rachel, Vansteenkiste, Maarten, Delesie, Liesbeth et al.·Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·2018

This study tracked 120 ME/CFS patients for 14 days to understand how their daily psychological needs, energy levels, and sleep quality relate to each other. Researchers found that on days when patients felt their needs were met (feeling in control, capable, and connected to others), they had more energy and better sleep. On days when patients felt frustrated in meeting these needs, they experienced more fatigue and worse sleep quality.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Operationalizing Substantial Reduction in Functioning Among Young Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Gleason, Kristen D, Stoothoff, Jamie, McClellan, Damani et al.·International journal of behavioral medicine·2018

This study looked for the best way to measure the 'substantial reduction in functioning' that is required for ME/CFS diagnosis. Researchers used a standard health survey (SF-36) with young adults (ages 18-29) who had ME/CFS and compared them to people without the condition. They found that specific cutoff scores on four areas of the survey—physical functioning, general health, role physical (ability to work), and social functioning—could accurately identify who has ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

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 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 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

McManimen, Stephanie L, McClellan, Damani, Stoothoff, Jamie et al.·Journal of community psychology·2018

This study looked at why some ME/CFS patients experience suicidal thoughts and depression. Researchers found that patients who felt blamed for their illness, had their symptoms minimized by others, or felt socially rejected were more likely to experience both depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, some patients had suicidal thoughts without meeting the criteria for clinical depression, suggesting that stigma and unsupported social interactions alone can be harmful.

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 ModerateTrialPEM unclearRCT

Hair and salivary cortisol in a cohort of women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Roerink, Megan E, Roerink, Sean H P P, Skoluda, Nadine et al.·Hormones and behavior·2018

This study measured cortisol (a stress hormone) in hair and saliva samples from women with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy women. The ME/CFS patients showed lower cortisol levels, particularly a weaker morning cortisol rise. When some patients took a medication called anakinra (which reduces inflammation), their cortisol levels changed differently than in patients taking placebo, suggesting a link between the immune system and hormonal stress response in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Rheumatism and chronic fatigue, the two facets of post-chikungunya disease: the TELECHIK cohort study on Reunion island.

Duvignaud, A, Fianu, A, Bertolotti, A et al.·Epidemiology and infection·2018

This study followed over 1,000 people on Reunion Island to understand why some patients infected with chikungunya virus develop long-lasting fatigue and joint pain. Researchers found that people who had chikungunya were much more likely to experience chronic fatigue and a condition resembling ME/CFS compared to those who were never infected. About 24% of people with chikungunya developed CFS-like illness, compared to only 7% of those without the virus.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics and determinants of dietary intake and physical activity in a group of patients with multiple chemical sensitivity.

Aguilar-Aguilar, Elena, Marcos-Pasero, Helena, de la Iglesia, Rocío et al.·Endocrinologia, diabetes y nutricion·2018

This study looked at the eating habits and exercise levels of 52 people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a condition where people react badly to everyday chemicals. The researchers found that most patients weren't eating enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, were taking many supplements, and very few were exercising regularly. The study suggests that better nutritional guidance tailored to each person's needs could help improve their health and quality of life.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Higher Prevalence of "Low T3 Syndrome" in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Ruiz-Núñez, Begoña, Tarasse, Rabab, Vogelaar, Emar F et al.·Frontiers in endocrinology·2018

This study compared thyroid hormone levels in 98 ME/CFS patients with 99 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients were more than twice as likely to have low levels of an active thyroid hormone called T3. The patients also showed signs of chronic low-grade inflammation and had more reverse T3 (an inactive form), which may explain why their bodies aren't producing or using thyroid hormones efficiently.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Evaluation of four clinical laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

De Meirleir, Kenny L, Mijatovic, Tatjana, Subramanian, Krishnamurthy et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

Researchers tested four substances in the blood of 140 ME/CFS patients and 140 healthy people to see if they could help diagnose the disease. They found that three specific markers—sCD14, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin 8—were most useful for identifying ME/CFS. These findings suggest that a simple blood test might one day help doctors confirm ME/CFS diagnosis more quickly and objectively.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Incidence of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue following GI infection: a population-level study using routinely collected claims data.

Donnachie, Ewan, Schneider, Antonius, Mehring, Michael et al.·Gut·2018

This study looked at medical records from nearly one million people in Germany to see if stomach and intestinal infections could lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers found that people who had a GI infection were 2-4 times more likely to develop IBS and 1.4-1.8 times more likely to develop CFS compared to people who hadn't had such infections. The study also found that having anxiety, depression, or stress before the infection increased the risk even more.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have alterations in their oral microbiome composition and function.

Wang, Taiwu, Yu, Lei, Xu, Cong et al.·PloS one·2018

Researchers studied the bacteria living in the mouths of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients have a different balance of oral bacteria, with some types being more common and others less common. These bacterial differences appear to affect how the body processes energy and amino acids, which could be relevant to understanding ME/CFS.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Association between cytokines and psychiatric symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Fors, Egil A, Iversen, Valentina C et al.·Nordic journal of psychiatry·2018

This study looked at immune system markers called cytokines in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people, and how these markers related to mood and anxiety symptoms. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had slightly higher levels of one immune marker (TNF-α) and discovered different patterns of how immune markers connected to psychiatric symptoms in ME/CFS patients versus healthy controls. The findings suggest that immune system activity may work differently in ME/CFS, which could help explain some symptoms and guide future treatments.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal associations of lymphocyte subsets with clinical outcomes in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mehalick, Melissa L, Schmaling, Karen B, Sabath, Daniel E et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2018

This study looked at how different types of immune cells (called lymphocytes) change over 18 months in people with ME/CFS and whether these changes connected to symptom severity and physical ability. Researchers tracked three types of immune cells in 93 ME/CFS patients and measured their fatigue, physical functioning, and energy levels over time. They found that certain immune cell patterns were linked to worse physical function and more symptoms, suggesting the immune system may play a role in ME/CFS severity.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Identification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-associated DNA methylation patterns.

Trivedi, Malav S, Oltra, Elisa, Sarria, Leonor et al.·PloS one·2018

Researchers studied chemical tags on DNA (called methylation) in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. While the overall amount of these tags was similar between groups, they found specific locations on thousands of genes where the tags differed. Many of these differences were in genes involved in immune system function, which aligns with what doctors already know about ME/CFS affecting immunity.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical Examination for Men and Women With Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A MAPP (Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain) Network Study.

Yang, Claire C, Miller, Jane L, Omidpanah, Adam et al.·Urology·2018

This study looked at physical examination findings in people with chronic pelvic pain to see if doctors could identify characteristic patterns. Researchers examined 62 people with pelvic pain and compared them to 42 people with chronic fatigue syndrome and 39 healthy people. They found that people with pelvic pain were much more likely to have tender muscles in the pelvic floor area, and a special extended examination could help identify which specific areas were affected.

Pain and Sensitization

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

Rethinking childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clark, James E, Davidson, Sean L, Maclachlan, Laura et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2018

This study looked at whether difficult childhood experiences are more common in people with ME/CFS. The researchers carefully separated people with ME/CFS who had never had depression from those who had. They found that childhood trauma was not actually more common in ME/CFS patients without depression compared to healthy people, suggesting previous studies may have been confused by patients who also had depression.

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

Reciprocal associations between daily need-based experiences, energy, and sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Operationalizing Substantial Reduction in Functioning Among Young Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

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

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Hair and salivary cortisol in a cohort of women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rheumatism and chronic fatigue, the two facets of post-chikungunya disease: the TELECHIK cohort study on Reunion island.

Characteristics and determinants of dietary intake and physical activity in a group of patients with multiple chemical sensitivity.

Higher Prevalence of "Low T3 Syndrome" in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Evaluation of four clinical laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Incidence of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue following GI infection: a population-level study using routinely collected claims data.

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have alterations in their oral microbiome composition and function.

Association between cytokines and psychiatric symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls.

Longitudinal associations of lymphocyte subsets with clinical outcomes in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Identification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-associated DNA methylation patterns.

Physical Examination for Men and Women With Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A MAPP (Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain) Network Study.

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

Rethinking childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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