ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2422 studies

1121–1140 of 2,422 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Review of the effects of mindfulness meditation on mental and physical health and its mechanisms of action].

Ngô, Thanh-Lan·Sante mentale au Quebec·2013

This review looked at whether mindfulness meditation—a practice of focused attention and acceptance—can help improve both mental and physical health. The authors found that mindfulness may reduce stress, ease chronic pain and fatigue, improve sleep, and help the body's immune system work better. They also describe how meditation appears to change the way the brain works, particularly in areas that control emotions, attention, and how we perceive physical sensations.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Psychobiotics: a novel class of psychotropic.

Dinan, Timothy G, Stanton, Catherine, Cryan, John F·Biological psychiatry·2013

This review examines 'psychobiotics'—beneficial bacteria that may help with mood and mental health by producing brain chemicals like serotonin. These bacteria communicate with the brain through the gut-brain connection. Early research in animals and some patient studies suggests they might reduce depression, anxiety, and fatigue symptoms, possibly by lowering inflammation and stress hormone levels.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Role of the Toll Like receptor (TLR) radical cycle in chronic inflammation: possible treatments targeting the TLR4 pathway.

Lucas, Kurt, Maes, Michael·Molecular neurobiology·2013

This review examines how a part of the immune system called TLR4 may trigger ongoing inflammation in several diseases, including ME/CFS. The authors discuss environmental factors (like air pollution and certain chemicals) that can activate TLR4, and they review several drugs and natural substances that might reduce this harmful inflammation by blocking TLR4 activation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Utilization of replication-competent XMRV reporter-viruses reveals severe viral restriction in primary human cells.

Stürzel, Christina Martina, Palesch, David, Khalid, Mohammad et al.·PloS one·2013

Researchers tested whether XMRV, a virus once thought to be linked to ME/CFS, could actually infect and spread in human immune cells. They found that while the virus could replicate in some laboratory cell lines, it could not effectively infect or spread in real human blood cells from patients. This supports the conclusion that XMRV is unlikely to be a genuine human pathogen responsible for ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Xenotropic MLV envelope proteins induce tumor cells to secrete factors that promote the formation of immature blood vessels.

Murgai, Meera, Thomas, James, Cherepanova, Olga et al.·Retrovirology·2013

This study examined how certain viruses found in cancer cell lines affect tumor blood vessel growth. Researchers discovered that when tumor cells were infected with specific retroviruses, they produced substances that prevented normal blood vessel maturation, which could make tumors more aggressive and likely to spread. However, the study makes clear that these viruses do not actually infect humans and are not responsible for ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

A multidisciplinary approach to study a couple of monozygotic twins discordant for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on potential salivary biomarkers.

Ciregia, Federica, Giusti, Laura, Da Valle, Ylenia et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2013

Researchers studied saliva samples from identical twins—one with ME/CFS and one healthy—to look for protein differences that might help diagnose the disease. They found 13 proteins that were expressed differently in the sick twin compared to the healthy twin, with many of these proteins linked to inflammation and immune system function. This suggests that a simple saliva test might one day help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more reliably.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Persistent human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with an inherited form of the virus.

Pantry, Shara N, Medveczky, Maria M, Arbuckle, Jesse H et al.·Journal of medical virology·2013

Some people inherit a virus called HHV-6 that becomes integrated into their DNA from birth. This study found that a small group of patients with this inherited virus also had active infections from a related but separate HHV-6 strain, and these patients experienced neurological symptoms including long-term fatigue. When treated with antiviral medications, the active viral infection was suppressed, suggesting the medication could help control symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Natelson, Benjamin H·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study suggests that ME/CFS is not one single disease but rather multiple conditions with different underlying causes. By grouping patients based on specific characteristics—like whether they have psychiatric diagnoses, fibromyalgia, or blood pressure problems when standing—researchers found that different groups showed different types of brain dysfunction. This approach could help explain why some patients experience trouble with concentration and attention in different ways.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

Yun, Myeong-Ja, Kang, Dong-Mug, Lee, Kyoung-Hye et al.·Annals of occupational and environmental medicine·2013

This case report describes a 55-year-old woman who developed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)—a condition where exposure to everyday smells and chemicals triggers symptoms like swelling and muscle pain—after being exposed to coal fumes at work. Her symptoms started with coal fumes but gradually expanded to include reactions to city gas, burning smells, and exhaust. After careful testing ruled out other conditions, she was diagnosed with MCS and learned to avoid her triggers.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[20-Hydroxyecdysone--plant adaptogen: an anabolic effect, possible use in sports nutrition].

Volodin, V V, Sidorova, Iu S, Mazo, V K·Voprosy pitaniia·2013

This review discusses 20-hydroxyecdysone, a compound found in plants that may help the body become more resistant to stress. The authors suggest it could reduce fatigue and improve memory and attention, and propose it as a possible supplement for athletes and people with chronic fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Fibromyalgia Symptom Reduction by Online Behavioral Self-monitoring, Longitudinal Single Subject Analysis and Automated Delivery of Individualized Guidance.

Collinge, William, Yarnold, Paul, Soltysik, Robert·North American journal of medical sciences·2013

This study tested a website tool called SMARTLog that helps people with fibromyalgia track their symptoms and receive personalized feedback. Patients who used the tool several times a week for a few months reported improvements in pain, fatigue, memory, mood, and sleep. The more consistently people used the tool, the greater their symptom improvements tended to be.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Psychological stress contributed to the development of low-grade fever in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report.

Oka, Takakazu, Kanemitsu, Yoshio, Sudo, Nobuyuki et al.·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2013

This study followed one ME/CFS patient who noticed her low-grade fevers got worse during stressful work situations. Researchers had her recall stressful memories while measuring her body temperature and stress hormones. Her core temperature rose by about 1°C during stress, but blood markers related to fever-causing inflammation didn't change, suggesting stress hormones (not immune inflammation) triggered the temperature increase.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Back pain and somatisation].

Jenewein, Josef·Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique·2013

Back pain is common in people with somatoform disorders, where physical symptoms occur without a clear medical cause. About 10–20% of back pain patients have this type of disorder, and up to half also experience depression or anxiety. Doctors need to distinguish somatoform pain from other conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. Treatment typically involves talk therapy, relaxation techniques, physical activity, and sometimes antidepressant medications.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Method Issues in Epidemiological Studies of Medically Unexplained Symptom-based Conditions in Veterans.

Coughlin, Steven S, McNeil, Rebecca B, Provenzale, Dawn T et al.·Journal of military and veterans' health·2013

This study examined how researchers diagnose ME/CFS and related conditions in veterans, particularly those who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. The researchers found that many veterans had other medical conditions that could complicate or mask ME/CFS diagnosis. The study highlights that how doctors define and diagnose these conditions matters a lot, and different approaches can lead to very different results.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Somatic symptoms in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Grover, Sandeep, Kate, Natasha·International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)·2013

This review discusses how doctors who specialize in both medical and mental health (called consultation-liaison psychiatrists) can help patients with ME/CFS and similar conditions where physical symptoms don't have a clear medical explanation. The review explains that these patients often experience depression and anxiety alongside their physical symptoms, and they use healthcare services frequently. Treatment options include talking therapies, cognitive behavior therapy, and antidepressants, which work with varying degrees of success.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic Lyme; diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Ljøstad, U, Mygland, Å·Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Supplementum·2013

This review discusses chronic Lyme disease, a rare condition caused by ongoing infection with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The main symptoms include progressive brain and spinal cord inflammation, skin changes, nerve damage, and joint pain. The authors explain how doctors can diagnose chronic Lyme using specific blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid tests, and recommend standard antibiotic treatment rather than experimental or prolonged approaches.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in South Asians: Lessons from a Secondary Analysis of a UK Qualitative Study.

De Silva, R Erandie Ediriweera, Bayliss, Kerin, Riste, Lisa et al.·Journal of family medicine and primary care·2013

This study looked at why ME/CFS is rarely diagnosed in South Asia, even though people there experience its symptoms. By interviewing South Asian patients, doctors, and community leaders in the UK, researchers found that cultural beliefs, language barriers, and doctors' lack of knowledge about ME/CFS make it harder for people to get a proper diagnosis. The study suggests that raising awareness about ME/CFS in South Asia could help more people get diagnosed and treated.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Self-regulatory fatigue in chronic multisymptom illnesses: scale development, fatigue, and self-control.

Nes, Lise Solberg, Ehlers, Shawna L, Whipple, Mary O et al.·Journal of pain research·2013

This study created a new questionnaire to measure a specific type of mental tiredness called self-regulatory fatigue—the exhaustion that comes from having to constantly manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Researchers gave this 18-question test to nearly 300 people with chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, along with standard fatigue and self-control tests. They found that this mental tiredness is related to, but distinct from, physical fatigue—suggesting it's a separate problem worth measuring and understanding.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Conditions, controversies and contradictions between Central Sensitivity Syndrome and Depressive Disorders].

Maresca, Tomás, Covini, Elvira, Mato, Andrea Márquez López·Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)·2013

This review article explains Central Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS), a condition where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain and other stimuli, and how it relates to ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. The authors describe how CSS differs from depression, even though people with CSS often experience depression as well, by comparing how the body's stress hormones, sleep patterns, and immune systems function differently in each condition.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

Case definitions and diagnostic criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic fatigue Syndrome: from clinical-consensus to evidence-based case definitions.

Morris, Gerwyn, Maes, Michael·Neuro endocrinology letters·2013

Over the past 50+ years, doctors have created many different definitions and diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, but these criteria were often based on expert opinion rather than scientific evidence. This paper examines why so many different definitions exist and argues that future diagnostic criteria should be built on objective test results (like blood work and brain imaging) rather than just symptoms alone, to better distinguish between ME and CFS as two related but separate conditions.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Evidence browser

[Review of the effects of mindfulness meditation on mental and physical health and its mechanisms of action].

Psychobiotics: a novel class of psychotropic.

Role of the Toll Like receptor (TLR) radical cycle in chronic inflammation: possible treatments targeting the TLR4 pathway.

Utilization of replication-competent XMRV reporter-viruses reveals severe viral restriction in primary human cells.

Xenotropic MLV envelope proteins induce tumor cells to secrete factors that promote the formation of immature blood vessels.

A multidisciplinary approach to study a couple of monozygotic twins discordant for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on potential salivary biomarkers.

Persistent human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with an inherited form of the virus.

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

[20-Hydroxyecdysone--plant adaptogen: an anabolic effect, possible use in sports nutrition].

Fibromyalgia Symptom Reduction by Online Behavioral Self-monitoring, Longitudinal Single Subject Analysis and Automated Delivery of Individualized Guidance.

Psychological stress contributed to the development of low-grade fever in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case report.

[Back pain and somatisation].

Method Issues in Epidemiological Studies of Medically Unexplained Symptom-based Conditions in Veterans.

Somatic symptoms in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Chronic Lyme; diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in South Asians: Lessons from a Secondary Analysis of a UK Qualitative Study.

Self-regulatory fatigue in chronic multisymptom illnesses: scale development, fatigue, and self-control.

[Conditions, controversies and contradictions between Central Sensitivity Syndrome and Depressive Disorders].

Case definitions and diagnostic criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic fatigue Syndrome: from clinical-consensus to evidence-based case definitions.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research