ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

101–120 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Mitochondrial Measures in Primary Cells Isolated from Patients with ME/CFS.

Allan, Claire Y, Katsaros, Tina, Missailidis, Daniel et al.·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes laboratory methods to test how well the mitochondria (the energy factories in our cells) are working in people with ME/CFS. Researchers took two types of cells from ME/CFS patients—fibroblasts (skin cells) and immune cells from the blood—and used special dyes and measurements to check if these cells have problems with energy production, cellular damage, or stress responses. These techniques could help scientists understand whether mitochondrial problems contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Advocating the role of trained immunity in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS: a mini review.

Humer, Bart, Dik, Willem A, Versnel, Marjan A·Frontiers in immunology·2025

This review explores how a single severe infection might trigger long-term changes in the immune system that could lead to ME/CFS. After infection, immune cells can become 'trained' to overreact to future triggers, potentially causing the chronic symptoms patients experience. The researchers suggest this overactive immune response might explain why about 60% of ME/CFS patients remember getting sick before their symptoms started.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Metabolomics-Based Machine Learning Diagnostics of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Cai, Ethan, Kouznetsova, Valentina L, Tsigelny, Igor F·Metabolites·2025

Researchers developed a computer program that can identify Long COVID (PASC) by analyzing chemical markers in the blood called metabolites. The program successfully distinguished Long COVID from several similar conditions like Lyme disease and POTS, but had difficulty telling Long COVID apart from fibromyalgia, suggesting these two conditions may share similar chemical patterns in the body.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Rasch analysis of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bartholomew, Emerson J, Medvedev, Oleg N, Petrie, Keith J et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2025

This study tested whether a common questionnaire called the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) accurately measures anxiety and depression in people with ME/CFS. Researchers analyzed responses from 286 ME/CFS patients and found that the questionnaire works reasonably well, but they discovered that converting the scores into a different format makes the results more precise and reliable for clinical use.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Extracellular vesicle proteomics uncovers energy metabolism, complement system, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response dysregulation postexercise in males with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Glass, Katherine A, Giloteaux, Ludovic, Zhang, Sheng et al.·Clinical and translational medicine·2025

Researchers studied tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in the blood of ME/CFS patients before and after exercise. They found that in people with ME/CFS, these particles show signs of energy problems, immune overactivity, and cellular stress after exertion—changes that were linked to post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity). These findings suggest new targets for treatment that could help improve recovery and energy in ME/CFS.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis share similar pathophysiologic mechanisms of exercise limitation.

Jothi, Swathi, Insel, Michael, Claessen, Guido et al.·Physiological reports·2025

This study compared how bodies use oxygen during exercise in people with long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls. Researchers found that both long COVID and ME/CFS patients had trouble getting oxygen into their muscles during exercise, which was the main reason they couldn't exercise as much as healthy people. If this muscle oxygen problem could be fixed, it might significantly improve exercise ability in both conditions.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Monitoring of cardiorespiratory vagal desynchrony using novel biomarkers derived from smartwatch electrocardiograms in a patient recovering from long COVID: case report.

Kranck, Gustaf, Ståhlberg, Marcus, Andersson, Ulf et al.·European heart journal. Case reports·2025

Researchers tracked one long COVID patient over time using a smartwatch to record heart activity while he was sitting and standing. They noticed that when his fatigue improved, his heart's electrical patterns also normalized, suggesting smartwatch recordings could help monitor autonomic dysfunction (when the nervous system struggles to control heart rate and blood pressure). This simple at-home method may offer a practical way for patients to track their own recovery.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Watai, Kentaro, Taniguchi, Masami, Azuma, Kenichi·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This review examines how changes in gut bacteria may contribute to ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity—three conditions that share similar symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sensitivity to environmental triggers. The researchers found that people with these conditions tend to have fewer helpful bacteria and more harmful bacteria in their gut, which may affect how their immune system and brain work. The review suggests that treatments targeting the microbiome—such as probiotics or other interventions—might help, though more research is needed to confirm this.

NeuroinflammationEnergy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Anti-central fatigue effects of myelophil in 5-HTergic hyperactivity mice model.

Kang, Ji-Yun, Baek, Dong-Cheol, Lee, Jin-Seok et al.·BMC complementary medicine and therapies·2025

This study tested a herbal supplement called Myelophil (made from two traditional Korean medicinal plants) in mice that had high serotonin levels—a condition researchers believe may contribute to ME/CFS fatigue. Mice given Myelophil showed improvements in fatigue-related behaviors and pain sensitivity compared to untreated mice. The results suggest this supplement may help by adjusting how the brain handles serotonin.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Static and Kinetic Disequilibrium are Central Neural Signs in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Therapeutic Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Journal of integrative neuroscience·2025

This study found that nearly half of ME/CFS patients experience balance problems—either when standing still (static disequilibrium) or when walking (kinetic disequilibrium). These balance issues were linked to difficulty standing upright and limitations in daily activities. When researchers used a brain stimulation treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on specific brain regions, most patients' balance problems improved, suggesting the root cause is in the central nervous system rather than the inner ear alone.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Jingfang Granule promotes the tricarboxylic acid cycle to improve chronic fatigue syndrome by increasing the expression of Idh1 and Idh2.

Wang, Kun, Shen, Mengmeng, Tang, Hongguang et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2025

Researchers tested a traditional Chinese medicine called Jingfang Granule (JFG) in mice with chronic fatigue syndrome. The treatment improved fatigue symptoms, helped mice recover weight and exercise capacity, and reduced harmful inflammation and oxidative stress in their bodies. The medicine appeared to work by boosting how efficiently cells produce energy through a key metabolic pathway.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Multifaceted evolution focused on maximal exploitation of domain knowledge for the consensus inference of Gene Regulatory Networks.

Segura-Ortiz, Adrián, Giménez-Orenga, Karen, García-Nieto, José et al.·Computers in biology and medicine·2025

Researchers created a new computer tool called BIO-INSIGHT that helps scientists better understand which genes control other genes by analyzing genetic data from patients. They tested this tool on data from people with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and both conditions together, and found it could identify different gene patterns specific to each illness. This could help doctors find better ways to diagnose and treat these conditions in the future.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Exploring the anti-fatigue properties of ginseng stem and leaf saponins: Using UHPLC-MS metabolomics and neurotransmitter analysis.

Zhang, Meng, Liu, Rui, Zhou, Ting et al.·Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology·2025

Researchers tested whether ginseng stem and leaf saponins (a compound from ginseng plants) could help treat chronic fatigue syndrome in mice. They found that this compound improved swimming endurance, protected the liver and brain from damage, reduced harmful substances in the body, and restored balance to brain chemicals that are often abnormal in fatigue conditions.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Real-Time Measurement of Mitochondrial Function and Glycolysis in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines.

Katsaros, Tina, Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes a new method to measure how cells make energy in people with ME/CFS. Researchers use a special machine to track two main energy-production pathways in cells: one that happens quickly (glycolysis) and one that happens in the cell's energy factories called mitochondria. By measuring how much oxygen cells use and the acids they produce, scientists can see if these energy pathways are working differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Direct effects of prolonged TNF-α and IL-6 exposure on neural activity in human iPSC-derived neuron-astrocyte co-cultures.

Goshi, Noah, Lam, Doris, Bogguri, Chandrakumar et al.·Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2025

This study looked at how two inflammatory chemicals (TNF-α and IL-6) that are elevated in ME/CFS and long-COVID patients affect brain cells. Researchers grew human brain cells in the lab and exposed them to these chemicals for several days. They found that these inflammatory chemicals changed how the brain cells communicate with each other, which could help explain why patients experience cognitive problems like brain fog and difficulty concentrating.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cerebral Blood Flow in Orthostatic Intolerance.

Khan, Muhammad Shahzeb, Miller, Amanda J, Ejaz, Arooba et al.·Journal of the American Heart Association·2025

When you stand up, your body normally adjusts blood flow to keep your brain supplied with oxygen. Some people have problems with this adjustment, causing dizziness, fatigue, or fainting—a condition called orthostatic intolerance. This review explains that many ME/CFS and long COVID patients have reduced blood flow to the brain when standing, even though their heart rate and blood pressure look normal on standard tests. The authors review different tools doctors can use to actually measure brain blood flow, rather than just relying on heart rate and blood pressure readings.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Plasma cell targeting with the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome-a clinical pilot study.

Fluge, Øystein, Rekeland, Ingrid Gurvin, Sørland, Kari et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2025

Researchers tested a drug called daratumumab that targets specific immune cells (plasma cells) in 10 ME/CFS patients to see if removing these cells could improve symptoms. Six patients experienced significant improvement in fatigue, physical function, and daily activity levels after treatment, while four showed no major changes. The drug was well-tolerated with no serious side effects, and improvements were sustained over 8-24 months of follow-up.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Histone phosphorylation analysis of two main TCM syndromes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Xu, Tingting, Gao, Shuo, Cheng, Xinxin et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

Researchers studied blood cells from 20 ME/CFS patients (divided into two Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom patterns) and 10 healthy controls. They found differences in how proteins were modified in the blood cells of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. These differences involved processes that affect how cells communicate with each other and organize their internal structures.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patient experiences of remote consulting with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia: a qualitative study.

Leach, Helen, Eccles, Abi, Chew-Graham, Carolyn A et al.·BJGP open·2025

This study asked 13 people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia about their experiences using phone and video appointments with their doctors during and after 2020. Patients said the most important thing was feeling believed and listened to by their doctor. While remote appointments had some benefits (like being easier when symptoms were bad), many people found it harder to communicate without face-to-face visits, though having a trusted, familiar doctor made a big difference.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Lesnewich, Laura M, Hyde, Justeen K, McFarlin, Mikhaela L et al.·Psychology & health·2025

This study talked to 31 Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness to understand what makes them feel heard and supported by their doctors. The researchers found that patients feel better about their care when doctors believe their symptoms are real, show they understand the condition, and build trust with them. When doctors dismissed patients' experiences or didn't know much about Gulf War Illness, it damaged the relationship and made treatment harder.

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Mitochondrial Measures in Primary Cells Isolated from Patients with ME/CFS.

Advocating the role of trained immunity in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS: a mini review.

Metabolomics-Based Machine Learning Diagnostics of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Rasch analysis of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Extracellular vesicle proteomics uncovers energy metabolism, complement system, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response dysregulation postexercise in males with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis share similar pathophysiologic mechanisms of exercise limitation.

Monitoring of cardiorespiratory vagal desynchrony using novel biomarkers derived from smartwatch electrocardiograms in a patient recovering from long COVID: case report.

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Anti-central fatigue effects of myelophil in 5-HTergic hyperactivity mice model.

Static and Kinetic Disequilibrium are Central Neural Signs in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Therapeutic Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Jingfang Granule promotes the tricarboxylic acid cycle to improve chronic fatigue syndrome by increasing the expression of Idh1 and Idh2.

Multifaceted evolution focused on maximal exploitation of domain knowledge for the consensus inference of Gene Regulatory Networks.

Exploring the anti-fatigue properties of ginseng stem and leaf saponins: Using UHPLC-MS metabolomics and neurotransmitter analysis.

Real-Time Measurement of Mitochondrial Function and Glycolysis in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines.

Direct effects of prolonged TNF-α and IL-6 exposure on neural activity in human iPSC-derived neuron-astrocyte co-cultures.

Cerebral Blood Flow in Orthostatic Intolerance.

Plasma cell targeting with the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome-a clinical pilot study.

Histone phosphorylation analysis of two main TCM syndromes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patient experiences of remote consulting with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia: a qualitative study.

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

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