ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2422 studies

321–340 of 2,422 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Whole-body cryotherapy as a treatment for chronic medical conditions?

Tabisz, Hanna, Modlinska, Aleksandra, Kujawski, Sławomir et al.·British medical bulletin·2023

This review article examines whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)—exposing your entire body to very cold temperatures—as a possible treatment for various chronic conditions, including ME/CFS. The authors suggest that because WBC appears to reduce inflammation in the body, it might help conditions involving persistent inflammation. However, they emphasize that current research quality is low and that proper clinical trials are needed before we can know if WBC actually works.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Psychometric validation of the French Multidimensional Chronic Asthenia Scale (MCAS) in a sample of 621 patients with chronic fatigue.

Banovic, Ingrid, Scrima, Fabrizio, Fornasieri, Isabelle et al.·BMC psychology·2023

Researchers tested a new questionnaire called the MCAS to measure chronic fatigue and exhaustion in French-speaking patients. The questionnaire asks about physical tiredness, how much fatigue limits daily life, and how it affects relationships. The study found that the MCAS works well and can detect differences in fatigue severity between people with different conditions, including ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Exploring the scope of homoeopathy in combating the unfortunate consequences of post-COVID-19 survivors based on non-COVID conditions: a narrative review.

Dixit, Ashish Kumar, Giri, Nibha, Singh, Shishir·Journal of complementary & integrative medicine·2023

This review looked at whether homeopathy—a complementary medicine approach—might help people recover from long-term symptoms after COVID-19. The authors searched published research and found that homeopathy has shown some promise in treating anxiety, depression, pain, and heart problems in other conditions, and they suggest it might be worth studying for post-COVID recovery.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Association of multiple sclerosis with chronic fatigue syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and various sleep disorders, along with the recent updates.

Prajjwal, Priyadarshi, Kalluru, Pavan K R, Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa et al.·Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)·2023

This review examines how multiple sclerosis (MS) and ME/CFS are similar, particularly in how they cause fatigue and affect sleep. Both conditions involve damage to similar brain regions and may share genetic risk factors. The authors discuss how treatments like supervised exercise can help manage fatigue in both illnesses, though the underlying causes differ.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How to Help Yourself.

American family physician·2023

This is a practical guide published in a family medicine journal to help ME/CFS patients manage their condition themselves. The article provides advice on self-care strategies and coping techniques that people with ME/CFS can use in their daily lives. Since there is no abstract available, the specific recommendations cannot be detailed, but the resource aims to give patients actionable steps they can take to improve their quality of life.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Electroacupuncture at BL15 attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome by downregulating iNOS/NO signaling in C57BL/6 mice.

Zhu, Yang, Wang, Jingya, Yao, Lin et al.·Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)·2023

This study tested whether electroacupuncture (a treatment involving tiny needles and electrical stimulation) could help mice with a condition similar to ME/CFS. Researchers found that electroacupuncture improved the mice's ability to move and strengthened their heart function by reducing levels of a particular chemical messenger (nitric oxide) in the body.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Role of Tau protein in long COVID and potential therapeutic targets.

Marwaha, Bharat·Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology·2023

Long COVID causes ongoing fatigue, breathing problems, brain fog, and other symptoms that can last months or years. This review suggests that a protein called tau—which is known to damage the brain in other diseases—may also be involved in Long COVID. The authors propose that future research should look for tau damage in Long COVID patients and that treatments designed to stop tau buildup might help.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

A review of cytokine-based pathophysiology of Long COVID symptoms.

Low, Russell N, Low, Ryan J, Akrami, Athena·Frontiers in medicine·2023

This review examines how Long COVID may develop through a chain reaction of immune system problems. When the virus infects the body, it can trigger ongoing inflammation that affects both the immune system and the brain, potentially causing blood clots in small vessels. This combination may explain symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and pain that Long COVID and ME/CFS patients experience.

NeuroinflammationPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Asthenia, mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction].

Titova, N V, Bezdolny, Yu N, Katunina, E A·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2023

This article discusses asthenia, which is a condition characterized by extreme tiredness that affects daily functioning and productivity. The authors explain that it's important to distinguish between simple chronic tiredness and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and that fatigue can affect both the body and the mind. The article reviews how the brain may be involved in causing fatigue and cognitive problems, and suggests that a combination treatment using specific medications may help patients with fatigue and thinking difficulties.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

The fragile process of Homecoming - Young women in recovery from severe ME/CFS.

Krabbe, Silje Helen, Groven, Karen Synne, Schrøder Bjorbækmo, Wenche et al.·International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being·2023

This study followed 13 young women who recovered from severe ME/CFS that started during childhood or adolescence. Through in-depth interviews, researchers explored what helped them get better. The women described recovery as a slow, bumpy process that involved learning how their bodies worked and gradually gaining confidence, rather than a straight path to wellness.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools.

Kunasegaran, Kaveena, Ismail, Ahamed Miflah Hussain, Ramasamy, Shamala et al.·PeerJ·2023

Mental fatigue is a common problem that makes it harder to concentrate, process information, and make decisions. Currently, doctors mainly ask patients to describe their fatigue using questionnaires, which can be unreliable because people's answers are subjective. This review compared different methods of detecting mental fatigue—including questionnaires, heart rate measurements, stress hormones, brain scans, and eye movement tests—to find the most objective and accurate tool.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Exercise-induced changes in gene expression do not mediate post exertional malaise in Gulf War illness.

Boruch, Alexander E, Lindheimer, Jacob B, Ninneman, Jacob V et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2023

This study looked at whether post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical activity—is caused by changes in gene activity in Gulf War illness patients. Veterans with Gulf War illness and healthy controls exercised on stationary bikes, and researchers measured gene expression in blood samples before and after exercise. While the study found that certain genes did change after exercise in Gulf War illness patients, these gene changes did not explain why their symptoms got worse.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

In vitro B cell experiments explore the role of CD24, CD38, and energy metabolism in ME/CFS.

Armstrong, Christopher W, Mensah, Fane F K, Leandro, Maria J et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2023

This study examined immune cells called B cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to understand how they handle energy differently. Researchers found that B cells from ME/CFS patients struggle to produce enough energy and have to work harder, using more nutrients to keep functioning. These cells also showed signs of being under stress, which may help explain why ME/CFS patients feel exhausted.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Cardiovascular and haematological pathology in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A role for viruses.

Nunes, Jean M, Kell, Douglas B, Pretorius, Etheresia·Blood reviews·2023

This review examines how the heart, blood vessels, and blood clotting system may be affected in ME/CFS. Research shows that ME/CFS patients often have problems with blood flow to the brain, abnormal blood clotting, and damaged blood vessel linings—similar to what happens in Long COVID. These cardiovascular and blood abnormalities may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms and could potentially become targets for new treatments.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Life changing response to successive surgical interventions on cranial venous outflow: A case report on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Higgins, J Nicholas P, Axon, Patrick R, Lever, Andrew M L·Frontiers in neurology·2023

This case report describes one patient with ME/CFS who had narrowing in the veins that drain blood from the brain. Surgery to open one of these narrowed veins led to significant improvement in fatigue and other symptoms over the follow-up period. The authors suggest that blocked brain venous drainage might explain ME/CFS symptoms in some patients, similar to a related condition called intracranial hypertension.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A Review of Stellate Ganglion Block as an Adjunctive Treatment Modality.

Kirkpatrick, Kennedy, Khan, Mashfee H, Deng, Yi et al.·Cureus·2023

This review article explores a procedure called stellate ganglion block (SGB), where doctors inject local anesthetic into nerve bundles in the neck to calm an overactive nervous system. The authors suggest that several conditions—including chronic fatigue syndrome, long-COVID, and loss of smell—may share a common problem: too much sympathetic nervous system activity (the 'fight or flight' response). Early case reports suggest SGB might help patients with these conditions when standard treatments don't work, though more research is needed.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Investigating the Human Intestinal DNA Virome and Predicting Disease-Associated Virus-Host Interactions in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Hsieh, Shen-Yuan, Savva, George M, Telatin, Andrea et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2023

This study looked at viruses living in the gut of people with severe ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different types and amounts of viruses in their intestines, and they identified specific viruses that might interact with gut bacteria in ways that could be linked to the disease. This research provides a starting point for understanding whether these intestinal viruses might play a role in ME/CFS.

Gut Microbiome

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

A pilot study on the immune cell proteome of long COVID patients shows changes to physiological pathways similar to those in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Peppercorn, Katie, Edgar, Christina D, Kleffmann, Torsten et al.·Scientific reports·2023

This small pilot study looked at immune cells from long COVID patients and compared them to healthy people, analyzing thousands of proteins in their blood. They found that long COVID patients had significant differences in their immune cell proteins, particularly in how their bodies handle energy production and immune function—similar patterns to what researchers have seen in ME/CFS. This suggests that long COVID and ME/CFS may share similar underlying biological problems, even though they start from different triggers.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Common Data Element item content analysis.

Slavin, Mary D, Bailey, Hannah M, Hickey, Emily J et al.·PloS one·2023

This study examined how well existing questionnaires measure the main symptoms of ME/CFS. Researchers looked at 38 different symptom-assessment tools and found they do a good job measuring physical symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and pain. However, most tools don't adequately measure how ME/CFS limits daily activities and participation in work, social life, and other important areas of life.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neuroplasticity Intervention, Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR), Significantly Improves Overall Health and Functioning Across Various Chronic Conditions.

Bratty, Alexandra J·Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.)·2023

This study tested a brain-retraining program called AIR (Amygdala and Insula Retraining) on people with various chronic conditions, including ME/CFS. Participants reported their health and functioning before and after using the program for at least 3 months. The results showed significant improvements in 14 out of 16 conditions studied, suggesting that this brain-focused approach may help people feel better.

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Evidence browser

Whole-body cryotherapy as a treatment for chronic medical conditions?

Psychometric validation of the French Multidimensional Chronic Asthenia Scale (MCAS) in a sample of 621 patients with chronic fatigue.

Exploring the scope of homoeopathy in combating the unfortunate consequences of post-COVID-19 survivors based on non-COVID conditions: a narrative review.

Association of multiple sclerosis with chronic fatigue syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and various sleep disorders, along with the recent updates.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How to Help Yourself.

Electroacupuncture at BL15 attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome by downregulating iNOS/NO signaling in C57BL/6 mice.

Role of Tau protein in long COVID and potential therapeutic targets.

A review of cytokine-based pathophysiology of Long COVID symptoms.

[Asthenia, mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction].

The fragile process of Homecoming - Young women in recovery from severe ME/CFS.

Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools.

Exercise-induced changes in gene expression do not mediate post exertional malaise in Gulf War illness.

In vitro B cell experiments explore the role of CD24, CD38, and energy metabolism in ME/CFS.

Cardiovascular and haematological pathology in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A role for viruses.

Life changing response to successive surgical interventions on cranial venous outflow: A case report on chronic fatigue syndrome.

A Review of Stellate Ganglion Block as an Adjunctive Treatment Modality.

Investigating the Human Intestinal DNA Virome and Predicting Disease-Associated Virus-Host Interactions in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

A pilot study on the immune cell proteome of long COVID patients shows changes to physiological pathways similar to those in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Common Data Element item content analysis.

Neuroplasticity Intervention, Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR), Significantly Improves Overall Health and Functioning Across Various Chronic Conditions.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research