ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

1461–1480 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Kinesiophobia and symptomatology in chronic fatigue syndrome: a psychometric study of two questionnaires.

Nijs, Jo, Thielemans, Alice·Psychology and psychotherapy·2008

This study tested two questionnaires designed to measure fear of movement (called kinesiophobia) and symptom severity in ME/CFS patients. Researchers asked 100 Dutch speakers and 48 French speakers with ME/CFS to fill out these questionnaires twice within 24 hours. Both questionnaires worked reliably in both languages and accurately captured what patients said were their most important symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: characteristics and possible causes for its pathogenesis.

Bassi, Nicola, Amital, Daniela, Amital, Howard et al.·The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ·2008

This review examines multiple biological abnormalities that might explain ME/CFS symptoms. Researchers found evidence that the immune system may not work properly in ME/CFS patients, with potential problems in natural killer cells, antibody levels, and inflammatory markers. The study also suggests that certain autoantibodies and problems with chemical messengers in the nervous system might contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Self within a climate of contention: Experiences of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Travers, Michele Kerry, Lawler, Jocalyn·Social science & medicine (1982)·2008

This study explored how people with ME/CFS experience their illness and how they cope with it, based on interviews with 19 Australian adults (including 3 who recovered). Researchers found that people with ME/CFS often feel their sense of self is damaged by the illness, and they use two main strategies to manage this: protecting themselves (the Guardian Response) and rebuilding their lives with new meaning (the Reconstructing Response). The study shows that living with ME/CFS involves an ongoing struggle as people balance these coping strategies depending on how severe their symptoms are at any given time.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Clinical neurophysiology of fatigue.

Zwarts, M J, Bleijenberg, G, van Engelen, B G M·Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2008

This review explains what fatigue is and how doctors can measure it in patients with nerve and muscle disorders. Fatigue has both physical and mental components, and scientists can assess it using muscle tests, electrical measurements, and questionnaires. The study found that in many neurological conditions, fatigue comes mainly from problems with how the brain activates muscles, rather than from the muscles themselves.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evidence of inflammatory immune signaling in chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study of gene expression in peripheral blood.

Aspler, Anne L, Bolshin, Carly, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Behavioral and brain functions : BBF·2008

This study looked at blood samples from 111 women to see if people with ME/CFS have different patterns of immune cell activity compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that certain immune cells—particularly B cells and neutrophils—showed unusual patterns of communication with each other in ME/CFS patients. These findings suggest the body's immune system is stuck in an activated state, which could explain why people with ME/CFS experience persistent fatigue and symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Neuroendocrine and immune network re-modeling in chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory analysis.

Fuite, Jim, Vernon, Suzanne D, Broderick, Gordon·Genomics·2008

This study looked at how the nervous system, hormone-regulating glands, and immune system communicate with each other in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Researchers found that these communication networks are organized differently in ME/CFS, with particular changes around the pituitary gland and thyroid. The findings suggest that immune system problems may interfere with thyroid function, and that the body's stress-response system (which normally helps manage inflammation) may not be working properly.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neuroactive steroids and fatigue severity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C.

Ahboucha, S, Butterworth, R F, Pomier-Layrargues, G et al.·Neurogastroenterology and motility·2008

This study looked at whether certain brain chemicals called neuroactive steroids might explain why people with liver disease feel extremely tired. Researchers measured these chemicals in patients with two types of liver disease and compared them to healthy people. They found that patients with liver disease had higher levels of these chemicals, and those with the most fatigue had the highest levels.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Teaching medical students about medically unexplained illnesses: a preliminary study.

Friedberg, Fred, Sohl, Stephanie J, Halperin, Peter J·Medical teacher·2008

Researchers taught 45 medical students about ME/CFS and fibromyalgia in a 90-minute class and then measured whether their attitudes changed. After the class, students had significantly more favorable views about ME/CFS—they were more likely to support research funding, believe employers should offer flexibility to patients, and recognize that ME/CFS is not primarily a psychological condition.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Contact lens-related acanthamoeba keratitis in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jhanji, Vishal, Beltz, Jacqueline, Vajpayee, Rasik B·Eye & contact lens·2008

This case report describes a man with ME/CFS who developed a serious eye infection from improper contact lens care. Because his ME/CFS made it difficult for him to maintain proper lens hygiene, bacteria-like organisms called Acanthamoeba infected his cornea (the clear front part of his eye). He eventually needed eye surgery to restore his vision after medical treatments alone did not work.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Medication-induced mitochondrial damage and disease.

Neustadt, John, Pieczenik, Steve R·Molecular nutrition & food research·2008

Mitochondria are the energy-producing structures in our cells, and when they are damaged, they don't work properly. This review article explains that many common medications—including psychiatric drugs, cholesterol medications, and pain relievers like acetaminophen—can damage mitochondria, which may explain some of their harmful side effects. Since ME/CFS involves problems with energy production, understanding how medications damage mitochondria and how certain nutrients might help repair them could be important for patients.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Chalder Fatigue Scale among youth in Japan.

Tanaka, Masaaki, Fukuda, Sanae, Mizuno, Kei et al.·Psychological reports·2008

This study tested whether a fatigue measurement tool called the Chalder Fatigue Scale works well in Japanese. Researchers gave the scale to healthy schoolchildren and young people with childhood chronic fatigue syndrome to see if it could reliably measure how tired they were. The tool performed reasonably well and was able to tell the difference between healthy children and those with severe fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Identification of significant genes in genomics using Bayesian variable selection methods.

Lin, Eugene, Huang, Lung-Cheng·Advances and applications in bioinformatics and chemistry : AABC·2008

Researchers developed a new mathematical method to find which genes are most important in ME/CFS by sorting through large amounts of genetic data. Instead of looking at every gene equally, this approach helps identify a smaller group of genes that appear to have the strongest connection to the disease. This method could help scientists focus their research on the most promising genetic leads.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Open-label study of s-citalopram therapy of chronic fatigue syndrome and co-morbid major depressive disorder.

Amsterdam, Jay D, Shults, Justine, Rutherford, Nancy·Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2008

This study tested whether an antidepressant medication called s-citalopram could help people with ME/CFS who also had depression. Sixteen patients took the medication for up to 12 weeks, and researchers measured changes in fatigue, pain, sleep, and mood using standard questionnaires. The results showed improvements in fatigue severity, several ME/CFS symptoms, and depression scores during treatment.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Acute phase phospholipids related to the cardiolipin of mitochondria in the sera of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic Ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), and other diseases attributed to chemicals, Gulf War, and marine toxins.

Hokama, Yoshitsugi, Empey-Campora, Cara, Hara, Cynthia et al.·Journal of clinical laboratory analysis·2008

This study looked for specific molecules in the blood of ME/CFS patients that might be related to mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells). Researchers found that over 91% of ME/CFS patients had elevated levels of these molecules, similar to what was seen in people with other conditions linked to toxins. The study suggests these molecules might be a biological marker—like a sign—of ME/CFS, comparable to well-known inflammation markers in other diseases.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Unravelling intracellular immune dysfunctions in chronic fatigue syndrome: interactions between protein kinase R activity, RNase L cleavage and elastase activity, and their clinical relevance.

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, McGregor, Neil et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2008

This study looked at three immune system proteins in people with ME/CFS to see if they were connected to each other and to patients' ability to do daily activities. Researchers found that these three proteins (RNase L, PKR, and elastase) were all linked together, and that higher levels of two of them (RNase L and elastase) were associated with greater difficulty doing everyday tasks. This suggests these immune abnormalities may play a real role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Assessment of fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome: a new protocol designed to determine work capability--chronic pain abilities determination (CPAD).

Kelly, M, Gagne, R, Newman, J D et al.·Irish medical journal·2008

This study created a new testing system to help doctors objectively measure how much work someone with ME/CFS or fibromyalgia can do. The system combines patient interviews, standardized questionnaires about pain and fatigue, and several objective tests (including strength measurements, fitness tests, and cognitive assessments) to give a complete picture of someone's working abilities. The results are then compared to databases of normal working capacity to determine what kinds of work might be realistic.

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

Using multiple sources of knowledge to reach clinical understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chew-Graham, Carolyn A, Cahill, Greg, Dowrick, Christopher et al.·Annals of family medicine·2008

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients and their family doctors understand the illness and talk about it during medical visits. Researchers interviewed 24 patients and 14 doctors in England and found that both groups use general knowledge from society and media—not just medical training—to make sense of ME/CFS. When they talk together, both patients and doctors use scientific language to be heard and trusted, which can help them work together better.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Gene profiling of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Kerr, Jonathan R·Current rheumatology reports·2008

Researchers used gene testing to look at which genes are turned on or off differently in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. They found 88 genes with different activity levels, mostly related to immune function and infection fighting. Importantly, they discovered that ME/CFS patients appear to fall into at least seven different subtypes based on their gene patterns, suggesting that ME/CFS may not be one single disease but rather several related conditions that might need different treatments.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comorbid somatic symptoms and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: sensory amplification as a common mechanism.

Geisser, Michael E, Strader Donnell, Cathy, Petzke, Frank et al.·Psychosomatics·2008

This study looked at why people with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS experience so many body symptoms. Researchers found that both conditions may share a common problem: the nervous system amplifies sensory signals, making pain and other sensations feel stronger than they might to other people. This heightened sensitivity to stimulation appears to be a key reason why these conditions affect daily functioning, and this mechanism seems separate from depression.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Anaesthesia for patients with idiopathic environmental intolerance and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fisher, M McD, Rose, M·British journal of anaesthesia·2008

This study looked at how anesthesia should be safely given to ME/CFS patients undergoing surgery. Researchers found that while some patients experienced side effects after anesthesia, these were not severe allergic reactions and were usually temporary. The study suggests that doctors can use standard anesthesia techniques for ME/CFS patients, simply avoiding any drugs the patient has previously reacted badly to.

Pain and Sensitization

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Kinesiophobia and symptomatology in chronic fatigue syndrome: a psychometric study of two questionnaires.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: characteristics and possible causes for its pathogenesis.

Self within a climate of contention: Experiences of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clinical neurophysiology of fatigue.

Evidence of inflammatory immune signaling in chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study of gene expression in peripheral blood.

Neuroendocrine and immune network re-modeling in chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory analysis.

Neuroactive steroids and fatigue severity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C.

Teaching medical students about medically unexplained illnesses: a preliminary study.

Contact lens-related acanthamoeba keratitis in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Medication-induced mitochondrial damage and disease.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Chalder Fatigue Scale among youth in Japan.

Identification of significant genes in genomics using Bayesian variable selection methods.

Open-label study of s-citalopram therapy of chronic fatigue syndrome and co-morbid major depressive disorder.

Acute phase phospholipids related to the cardiolipin of mitochondria in the sera of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic Ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), and other diseases attributed to chemicals, Gulf War, and marine toxins.

Unravelling intracellular immune dysfunctions in chronic fatigue syndrome: interactions between protein kinase R activity, RNase L cleavage and elastase activity, and their clinical relevance.

Assessment of fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome: a new protocol designed to determine work capability--chronic pain abilities determination (CPAD).

Using multiple sources of knowledge to reach clinical understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gene profiling of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Comorbid somatic symptoms and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: sensory amplification as a common mechanism.

Anaesthesia for patients with idiopathic environmental intolerance and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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