ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

1621–1640 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Brief and distinct empirical sleepiness and fatigue scales.

Bailes, Sally, Libman, Eva, Baltzan, Marc et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2006

Doctors and patients often use the words 'sleepiness' and 'fatigue' interchangeably, but they actually describe different experiences. This study created two short, separate questionnaires—one to measure sleepiness (the urge to sleep) and one to measure fatigue (overall exhaustion)—by pulling items from existing popular fatigue and sleepiness scales. Testing these new scales on people with ME/CFS, narcolepsy, and healthy controls showed they measure distinct conditions that may respond to different treatments.

SleepDiagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Challenges for molecular profiling of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vernon, Suzanne D, Whistler, Toni, Aslakson, Eric et al.·Pharmacogenomics·2006

This paper discusses why it's been difficult for scientists to find reliable blood tests (biomarkers) to diagnose ME/CFS and develop treatments. The authors explain that ME/CFS is complex because it affects many body systems at once, and each researcher may focus on different areas based on their expertise. They suggest that blood tests show promise for understanding ME/CFS and that combining genetic information, protein data, and information about patients' environments and behaviors could help researchers better understand why different patients experience the illness differently.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Maoz, Daniel, Shoenfeld, Yehuda·Harefuah·2006

ME/CFS is a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms that interfere with daily life. Doctors often fail to diagnose it correctly, and we still don't fully understand what causes it. This review suggests that ME/CFS likely results from multiple different factors working together, and that two treatments—cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy—might help some patients.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Clinical activity of folinic acid in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lundell, Kathleen, Qazi, Sanjive, Eddy, Linda et al.·Arzneimittel-Forschung·2006

This study looked at 58 ME/CFS patients and found that most had weakened immune systems with low levels of a type of immune cell called B-lymphocytes, and most also had reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. When researchers gave patients folinic acid (a form of vitamin B), about 81% reported feeling better. The findings suggest that folinic acid might help some ME/CFS patients and that immune problems may play a role in the illness.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antidepressant-like activity of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, Koso-san (Xiang-Su-San), and its mode of action via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Ito, N, Nagai, T, Yabe, T et al.·Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology·2006

This study tested whether Koso-san, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, could help reduce depression-like symptoms in mice exposed to stress. Mice given Koso-san showed improved behavior in stress tests, and the herb appeared to normalize stress hormone systems in their brains that were overactive due to the stress exposure.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia, infection and vaccination: two more parts in the etiological puzzle.

Ablin, Jacob N, Shoenfeld, Yehuda, Buskila, Dan·Journal of autoimmunity·2006

This review examines whether infections and vaccinations might trigger fibromyalgia and related conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that certain infections (like Lyme disease and hepatitis C) have been linked to fibromyalgia, and some people report symptoms starting after vaccinations, but antibiotics and antivirals don't appear to help treat fibromyalgia effectively. The authors suggest that vaccinations might act as one trigger among several factors that together cause these conditions.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[The problem of fatigue in neurological disorders].

Kumor, Klaudiusz, Pierzchała, Krystyna·Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)·2006

Fatigue is an extremely common and often severely disabling symptom in many neurological disorders, affecting 40–90% of patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. This review explains that fatigue is a real medical symptom that should be carefully distinguished from depression, weakness, and sleepiness, though these conditions often occur together. Currently, doctors assess fatigue mainly through patient questionnaires, and there is no clear biological test or proven cure—treatments focus on addressing the underlying disease and using behavioral and psychological approaches.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with diminished intracellular perforin.

Maher, K J, Klimas, N G, Fletcher, M A·Clinical and experimental immunology·2005

This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of a protein called perforin in their immune cells, particularly in natural killer cells. Perforin is a weapon that immune cells use to fight off infections and abnormal cells. The researchers suggest this deficiency might help explain why people with ME/CFS often have weakened immune function.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Persistent nonallergic rhinosinusitis.

Staevska, Maria, Baraniuk, James N·Current allergy and asthma reports·2005

This review describes different types of nasal and sinus inflammation that are not caused by allergies. The authors propose a new way to organize these conditions based on whether they involve certain immune cells (eosinophils or neutrophils) or other mechanisms like hormonal changes. Interestingly, they mention that nonallergic rhinitis can occur in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and may involve nerve-related sensitivity.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cytokine production and modulation: comparison of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and normal controls.

Tomoda, Akemi, Joudoi, Takako, Rabab, El-Mezayen et al.·Psychiatry research·2005

This study examined immune system chemicals called cytokines in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy volunteers. Researchers took blood cells from both groups and stimulated them in the laboratory to see how they would respond. They found that ME/CFS patients produced lower levels of certain immune chemicals, particularly one called TGF-beta1, which might play a role in the inflammation seen in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Urinary electrophoretic profiles from chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia patients: a pilot study for achieving their normalization.

Casado, Begoña, Zanone, Chiara, Annovazzi, Laura et al.·Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences·2005

Researchers collected urine samples from people with ME/CFS, people with ME/CFS plus fibromyalgia, and healthy controls to look for chemical differences. Using a specialized lab technique called electrophoresis, they found that the urine samples from people with these conditions showed distinct patterns of chemicals compared to healthy people. These patterns might potentially be used as biological markers to help identify and understand these illnesses.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Objective evidence of cognitive complaints in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a BOLD fMRI study of verbal working memory.

Lange, G, Steffener, J, Cook, D B et al.·NeuroImage·2005

This study used brain imaging to see what happens when people with ME/CFS listen to complex spoken information. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS could understand the information just as well as healthy people, but their brains had to work much harder to do it—using more brain regions and requiring greater effort. This provides scientific proof that the thinking and concentration difficulties ME/CFS patients report are real and visible on brain scans.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Diagnosing asthenia and chronic fatigue syndrome].

Aslangul, Elisabeth, Le Jeunne, Claire·La Revue du praticien·2005

This article discusses how doctors can distinguish between general tiredness (asthenia) and ME/CFS, which is a serious long-term illness characterized by severe fatigue that doesn't improve with rest. The authors review the clinical features and diagnostic approaches that help healthcare providers identify ME/CFS in their patients. Understanding these differences is important so patients receive appropriate diagnosis and care.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

[Report from the Health Council of the Netherlands on the chronic fatigue syndrome: moving away from the body-mind dichotomy with a view to effective prevention and treatment].

Bolk, J H·Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde·2005

This Dutch Health Council report recognizes ME/CFS as a real, serious illness that genuinely affects people's lives, even though doctors cannot find obvious physical signs or blood tests to confirm it. The report suggests that stress and the gap between what the body can handle and what people try to do play important roles in the condition. It recommends moving away from the idea that ME/CFS is purely 'in your head' or purely physical, and instead seeing it as involving both body and mind together.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

The effects of repeated thermal therapy for two patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Masuda, Akinori, Kihara, Takashi, Fukudome, Tsuyoshi et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2005

This study followed two ME/CFS patients who tried a type of heat therapy called far-infrared sauna (heated to 60°C) combined with warming afterward. After about 15-25 sessions, both patients reported major improvements in fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and fever. They continued the therapy once or twice a week for a year and did not get worse, even after stopping their previous medication.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Development of a functional ability scale for children and young people with myalgic encephalopathy (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Moss, Jill·Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community·2005

Children and young people with ME/CFS often have difficulty explaining what activities they can or cannot do on any given day, making it hard for parents and doctors to understand their abilities. Researchers worked with 251 young people from a ME support organization to create a simple 0-100% scale that young people themselves helped design and test. The result was a practical tool that 99% of young people felt accurately measured their functional abilities.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Impairments of the 2-5A synthetase/RNase L pathway in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nijs, Jo, De Meirleir, Kenny·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2005

This study looks at a specific immune system pathway called the 2-5A synthetase/RNase L pathway that may be broken in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that in ME/CFS, this pathway is overactive but also working improperly—it's being broken down into unusual pieces instead of functioning normally. This abnormal pathway appears connected to reduced natural killer cell function and problems with how cells die when they should.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Green tea extract and catechin ameliorate chronic fatigue-induced oxidative stress in mice.

Singal, Anjali, Kaur, Surinder, Tirkey, Naveen et al.·Journal of medicinal food·2005

This study tested whether green tea extract and a compound found in green tea called catechin could help reduce fatigue in mice that were forced to swim repeatedly. The researchers found that these treatments reduced signs of fatigue and lowered harmful chemical damage (oxidative stress) in the brains of fatigued mice, suggesting they might be helpful for people with ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: does nitric oxide trigger central sensitisation?

Nijs, Jo, Van de Velde, Bart, De Meirleir, Kenny·Medical hypotheses·2005

This study proposes a theory about why ME/CFS patients experience widespread pain. The researchers suggest that a molecule called nitric oxide may cause the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to become overly sensitive, amplifying pain signals throughout the body. They propose that viral infections or other pathogens associated with ME/CFS may trigger this chain reaction, and that behaviors like catastrophizing or avoiding activity may either contribute to or result from this heightened sensitivity.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Do vasoactive neuropeptides and heat shock proteins mediate fatigue-related autoimmune disorders?

Staines, Donald R·Medical hypotheses·2005

This paper proposes that ME/CFS and similar fatigue disorders may be caused by the immune system attacking special messenger molecules in the body called vasoactive neuropeptides. These molecules normally help control energy metabolism, nerve function, and immune responses. The authors suggest that when antibodies damage these molecules, it could explain the severe fatigue and other symptoms seen in ME/CFS.

Immune System

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Evidence browser

Brief and distinct empirical sleepiness and fatigue scales.

Challenges for molecular profiling of chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Clinical activity of folinic acid in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Antidepressant-like activity of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, Koso-san (Xiang-Su-San), and its mode of action via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Fibromyalgia, infection and vaccination: two more parts in the etiological puzzle.

[The problem of fatigue in neurological disorders].

Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with diminished intracellular perforin.

Persistent nonallergic rhinosinusitis.

Cytokine production and modulation: comparison of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and normal controls.

Urinary electrophoretic profiles from chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia patients: a pilot study for achieving their normalization.

Objective evidence of cognitive complaints in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a BOLD fMRI study of verbal working memory.

[Diagnosing asthenia and chronic fatigue syndrome].

[Report from the Health Council of the Netherlands on the chronic fatigue syndrome: moving away from the body-mind dichotomy with a view to effective prevention and treatment].

The effects of repeated thermal therapy for two patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Development of a functional ability scale for children and young people with myalgic encephalopathy (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Impairments of the 2-5A synthetase/RNase L pathway in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Green tea extract and catechin ameliorate chronic fatigue-induced oxidative stress in mice.

Pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: does nitric oxide trigger central sensitisation?

Do vasoactive neuropeptides and heat shock proteins mediate fatigue-related autoimmune disorders?

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Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

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