ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2423 studies

1481–1500 of 2,423 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Hypothesis: the chaos and complexity theory may help our understanding of fibromyalgia and similar maladies.

Martinez-Lavin, Manuel, Infante, Oscar, Lerma, Claudia·Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·2008

This article proposes a new way to understand fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and similar conditions by applying complexity theory—the study of how complex systems work. Instead of looking for a single cause or structural damage, the authors suggest these illnesses result from the body's systems losing their ability to adapt flexibly to stress. This perspective could help explain why these conditions involve so many different symptoms affecting different body systems.

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 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

'That was my old life; it's almost like a past-life now': identity crisis, loss and adjustment amongst people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dickson, Adele, Knussen, Christina, Flowers, Paul·Psychology & health·2008

This study asked 14 people with ME/CFS about their personal experiences living with the condition. Participants described feeling a loss of identity and control over their lives, struggling with not being able to plan for the future, and feeling worthless. They also mentioned how disbelief from others made these feelings worse. The study found that learning to accept the illness and adapt to their new life helped people cope better.

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Differential heat shock protein responses to strenuous standardized exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome patients and matched healthy controls.

Thambirajah, Anita A, Sleigh, Kenna, Stiver, H Grant et al.·Clinical and investigative medicine. Medecine clinique et experimentale·2008

This study looked at special protective proteins called heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the blood cells of ME/CFS patients and healthy people before and after exercise. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of these proteins at rest, but their levels dropped after exercise and stayed low for a week. In contrast, healthy people's HSP levels stayed stable or increased after exercise. This difference suggests ME/CFS patients may have trouble recovering from physical stress.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue.

Findlay, Sheri M·Paediatrics & child health·2008

This review examines why teenagers feel tired and sleepy, and how doctors can help. Many teens experience sleepiness or fatigue, but the authors found that most cases are caused by not getting enough sleep rather than serious medical conditions. The review emphasizes that doctors need to thoroughly evaluate each teen's situation, as underlying medical problems are rarely discovered.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Identification of marker genes for differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Saiki, Takuya, Kawai, Tomoko, Morita, Kyoko et al.·Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2008

This study looked at blood samples from ME/CFS patients and compared the activity of genes between patients and healthy people. Researchers found 9 genes that showed different activity patterns in ME/CFS patients—genes involved in energy production, immune cell function, and protein breakdown. These 9 genes were able to correctly identify ME/CFS patients about 94% of the time, suggesting they could potentially be useful as a biological test to diagnose the condition.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the central nervous system.

Chen, R, Liang, F X, Moriya, J et al.·The Journal of international medical research·2008

This review examined brain imaging studies and blood tests in ME/CFS patients to understand how the illness affects the brain and nervous system. Researchers found evidence that ME/CFS patients show structural and functional differences in their brains, and that certain brain chemicals and immune molecules are abnormal. The authors suggest that future ME/CFS research should focus more on understanding how the central nervous system is involved in this illness.

Endocrine Disruption

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 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Individuals' experience of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Arroll, Megan A, Senior, Victoria·Psychology & health·2008

This study asked eight people with ME/CFS to describe their personal experience of the illness through telephone interviews. Researchers found that patients experience their symptoms in complex ways, with fatigue, pain, and other problems affecting their daily lives in varying patterns. An important discovery was that receiving a diagnosis, while helpful, didn't necessarily make the journey easier—patients continued to struggle with understanding and managing their condition.

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Diagnostic and treatment challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome: role of immediate-release methylphenidate.

Valdizán Usón, José Ramón, Idiazábal Alecha, María Angeles·Expert review of neurotherapeutics·2008

This study explores whether a medication called methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin) might help people with ME/CFS who experience brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. The authors reviewed existing research, including one small study showing positive results, and discussed how this medication works in the brain to boost focus and thinking speed. They suggest methylphenidate could be a promising treatment option worth further investigation for ME/CFS patients.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Nitric oxide modulation mediates the protective effect of trazodone in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kumar, Anil, Garg, Ruchika, Kumar, Puneet·Pharmacological reports : PR·2008

This study tested whether a medication called trazodone could help mice recover from fatigue caused by repeated physical stress. Researchers found that trazodone did reduce fatigue-like behavior and improved activity levels in stressed mice. The protective effect seemed to involve a chemical messenger in the body called nitric oxide, suggesting this might be one way trazodone works to improve symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Intracellular immune dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: state of the art and therapeutic implications.

Nijs, Jo, Frémont, Marc·Expert opinion on therapeutic targets·2008

This review examines how the immune system's internal functions may be broken in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that a specific immune protein called RNase L appears to be damaged in people with this illness, and this damage may be connected to why patients have low natural killer cell function and poor exercise tolerance. The authors suggest that targeting this damaged protein pathway could be a promising new treatment approach.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial.

Nijs, Jo, Almond, Freya, De Becker, Pascale et al.·Clinical rehabilitation·2008

This study tested whether limiting both how hard and how long people with ME/CFS exercise could prevent post-exertional malaise (feeling much worse after activity). Twenty-four patients did a controlled walking test designed to stay within their personal limits. While tiredness improved within 24 hours, pain increased and didn't fully go away, and some patients reported their overall health got worse. The exercise limits helped prevent major health changes but didn't completely stop symptom flare-ups.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Overview of chronic fatigue syndrome focusing on prevalence and diagnostic criteria].

Kuratsune, Hirohiko·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2007

This review examines ME/CFS as a real medical condition affecting the nervous system, immune system, and stress response. While researchers have found many different abnormalities in ME/CFS patients—including viral reactivation, immune problems, and chemical imbalances in the brain—no single cause has been identified in everyone with the condition. The authors suggest that ME/CFS likely results from a combination of genetic factors and life stress that disrupts how the body's immune and hormone systems work together.

Immune System

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Hypothesis: the chaos and complexity theory may help our understanding of fibromyalgia and similar maladies.

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

'That was my old life; it's almost like a past-life now': identity crisis, loss and adjustment amongst people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

Differential heat shock protein responses to strenuous standardized exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome patients and matched healthy controls.

The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue.

Identification of marker genes for differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the central nervous system.

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.

Individuals' experience of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

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

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

Diagnostic and treatment challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome: role of immediate-release methylphenidate.

Nitric oxide modulation mediates the protective effect of trazodone in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Intracellular immune dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: state of the art and therapeutic implications.

Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial.

[Overview of chronic fatigue syndrome focusing on prevalence and diagnostic criteria].

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