ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2422 studies

1481–1500 of 2,422 studies

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 unclearReview-Narrative

[Contentious diseases--a medico-social phenomenon from an insurance medicine perspective].

Regenauer, A·Versicherungsmedizin·2008

This article examines a group of conditions—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and others—that are difficult to diagnose with standard medical tests and have become controversial in healthcare and insurance systems. The author explores why these illnesses are questioned by insurers, what they have in common, and why cases are increasing in Western societies. The paper aims to help insurance companies better understand these conditions rather than dismiss them as imaginary.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome and acute psychotic episode: is it coincidental?

Kornreich, Charles, Szombat, Maya, Vandriette, Yun-Marie et al.·Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry·2008

This study looked at whether ME/CFS and sudden onset of psychotic symptoms (like hallucinations or delusions) occur together by chance or if there might be a connection between them. The researchers examined case reports to explore whether patients with ME/CFS experienced psychotic episodes more often than would be expected. This small study helps raise awareness that mental health symptoms can sometimes accompany ME/CFS and deserve clinical attention.

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

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 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

A train-the-trainer education and promotion program: chronic fatigue syndrome--a diagnostic and management challenge.

Brimmer, Dana J, McCleary, K Kimberly, Lupton, Teresa A et al.·BMC medical education·2008

This study tested whether training primary care doctors about ME/CFS could help more patients get diagnosed and treated. Researchers trained 79 doctors and nurse practitioners to recognize and manage ME/CFS, and these trained providers then taught over 2,000 other healthcare workers. The training improved doctors' knowledge and confidence in diagnosing ME/CFS, showing that education programs can help address the problem of missed diagnoses.

Diagnostics

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

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer.

Olson, Karin, Turner, A Robert, Courneya, Kerry S et al.·Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·2008

This paper proposes a new framework for understanding tiredness and fatigue in advanced cancer patients. The researchers suggest that cancer and its treatments stress the body, which then affects four key systems: thinking ability, sleep quality, nutrition, and muscle strength. They propose that problems in all four of these areas together—not just one alone—are what cause severe fatigue, and that studying how these systems interact could lead to better treatments.

SleepCognitive Impairment

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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Resting muscle pain as the first clinical symptom in children carrying the MTTK A8344G mutation.

van de Glind, Gretha, de Vries, Maaike, Rodenburg, Richard et al.·European journal of paediatric neurology : EJPN : official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society·2007

This study describes children in a family who carried a specific genetic mutation in their mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) and presented with muscle pain as their first symptom. The researchers found that muscle pain combined with fatigue in children can sometimes be mistakenly labeled as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, when the real cause is actually a rare inherited mitochondrial disorder called MERRF syndrome.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Specific correlations between muscle oxidative stress and chronic fatigue syndrome: a working hypothesis.

Fulle, Stefania, Pietrangelo, Tiziana, Mancinelli, Rosa et al.·Journal of muscle research and cell motility·2007

This paper explores whether muscle damage from unstable molecules called free radicals might contribute to ME/CFS. The researchers reviewed existing evidence suggesting that muscles in ME/CFS patients may experience harmful oxidative stress—a chemical imbalance that damages cells. While this is a theoretical discussion rather than a new experiment, it proposes that understanding this muscle damage could help explain why ME/CFS causes such severe fatigue.

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

[Contentious diseases--a medico-social phenomenon from an insurance medicine perspective].

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome and acute psychotic episode: is it coincidental?

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

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

A train-the-trainer education and promotion program: chronic fatigue syndrome--a diagnostic and management challenge.

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

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

Clinical neurophysiology of fatigue.

Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer.

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

'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.

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

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

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the central nervous system.

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

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

Resting muscle pain as the first clinical symptom in children carrying the MTTK A8344G mutation.

Specific correlations between muscle oxidative stress and chronic fatigue syndrome: a working hypothesis.

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