ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

461–480 of 2,420 studies

The circuit of symbolic violence in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (I): A preliminary study.

Gimeno Torrent, Xavier·Health care for women international·2022

This study examined letters written by ME/CFS patients to Spanish newspapers to understand why such a serious illness affecting millions remains poorly recognized by the public. The researchers found 13 different ways that society dismisses or ignores ME/CFS patients—including treating them with disrespect, refusing proper medical care, and making their illness invisible in public discussion. These patterns of dismissal work together to keep ME/CFS hidden and misunderstood.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Cheng, Li, Wang, Fei, Li, Zi-Heng et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2022

This study examined how an ancient Chinese herbal remedy called Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) might help improve thinking and memory problems caused by poor sleep. Researchers used computer analysis and laboratory experiments to identify the active ingredients in the herbs and understand how they work in the body, finding that the remedy may work through pathways related to estrogen in the brain.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome from yangming meridian].

Xue, Kai-Yang, Cui, Jin·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2022

This paper discusses a traditional Chinese medicine approach to treating ME/CFS by focusing on the yangming meridian (energy pathways in the body). The authors propose that ME/CFS is connected to the brain and digestive system and suggest using Chinese herbal medicine combined with acupuncture might help by clearing heat, reducing inflammation, improving energy flow, and strengthening the body.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Understanding myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie·Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

This article examines myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness, pain, and other symptoms that get worse after activity. The researchers note that ME/CFS and Long COVID (a condition affecting some people after COVID-19) share many similar features. Understanding these overlaps may help doctors better recognize and treat both conditions.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Muscle sodium content in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Petter, Elisabeth, Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Linz, Peter et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

Researchers used a special type of MRI scan to measure sodium levels in the leg muscles of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher sodium buildup in their muscles both at rest and after exercise, and this sodium overload was linked to weaker grip strength. This suggests that muscles in ME/CFS may not be handling sodium properly, which could contribute to fatigue and muscle pain.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fatigue in Cirrhosis.

Bhandari, Krishnagopal, Kapoor, Dharmesh·Journal of clinical and experimental hepatology·2022

This review examines fatigue in patients with liver disease, explaining that fatigue is common and significantly affects quality of life. The authors describe how the liver plays a central role in energy production and how fatigue in liver disease likely has multiple causes involving the gut, muscles, and brain. The article discusses various ways to measure fatigue and different treatment approaches, including lifestyle changes, medications, diet, and exercise.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Elevated ATG13 in serum of patients with ME/CFS stimulates oxidative stress response in microglial cells via activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE).

Gottschalk, Gunnar, Peterson, Daniel, Knox, Konstance et al.·Molecular and cellular neurosciences·2022

Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of a protein called ATG13 in their blood compared to healthy people. When they tested this protein on brain immune cells in the lab, it triggered the production of harmful molecules called free radicals (oxidative stress). This suggests that a breakdown in the body's cellular recycling system (autophagy) might contribute to the inflammation and stress response seen in ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Mechanism of the Huangguoshu waterfall forest environment's promotive effect on human health in Guizhou, China.

Zhu, Zixin, Zhao, Xueke, Ouyang, Qiuyue et al.·Annals of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at whether spending time in a waterfall forest environment in China could help people with ME/CFS feel better. Researchers tracked what participants looked at, measured their fatigue and mood, and checked blood markers for inflammation and antioxidants. They found that people who spent time near the waterfall had less fatigue and depression, lower inflammation, and higher antioxidant levels.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Red ginseng extract improves skeletal muscle energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in chronic fatigue mice.

Zhang, Haijing, Zhao, Chunhui, Hou, Jinli et al.·Frontiers in pharmacology·2022

This study tested whether red ginseng extract could help mice with chronic fatigue by improving how their muscles produce energy. Researchers found that medium and high doses of red ginseng reduced markers of fatigue and improved the function of mitochondria (the "power plants" inside muscle cells), helping restore the muscle's ability to generate energy.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM required

Letter: Could endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage contribute to pain, inflammation and post-exertional malaise in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)?

Lubell, Jeffrey·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This editorial letter explores whether problems with blood vessel function and damage might explain some of the key symptoms of ME/CFS, including pain, inflammation, and post-exertional malaise (the exhaustion that follows physical activity). The author proposes that if blood vessels aren't working properly, they may not deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to tissues, which could trigger the symptoms many ME/CFS patients experience.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Inflammation From Peripheral Organs to the Brain: How Does Systemic Inflammation Cause Neuroinflammation?

Sun, Yuanjie, Koyama, Yoshihisa, Shimada, Shoichi·Frontiers in aging neuroscience·2022

This review explores how inflammation in the body's organs—like the gut, lungs, or joints—can trigger inflammation in the brain. The authors describe several pathways by which this happens, including damage to the protective barrier around the brain, activation of immune cells in the brain, and communication through nerves connecting organs to the brain. ME/CFS is highlighted as one disease where this peripheral-to-brain inflammation mechanism may be important.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Long COVID Citizen Scientists: Developing a Needs-Based Research Agenda by Persons Affected by Long COVID.

Ziegler, Sarah, Raineri, Alessia, Nittas, Vasileios et al.·The patient·2022

This study asked people with Long COVID what research questions matter most to them. Researchers created a group of 28 people with Long COVID and ME/CFS, plus a larger working group of over 240 people, who together identified 68 research questions and ranked which ones were most important. The top five priorities were: finding better treatments and rehabilitation, ensuring continuous care between doctors, improving access to healthcare, training healthcare providers to understand Long COVID, and studying Long COVID in children and teens.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Experiences of occupational disruption for adults in Australia.

Bartlett, Chelsea, Hughes, Julie L, Miller, Laura·The British journal of occupational therapy·2022

This Australian study interviewed five people with ME/CFS about how the illness affected their ability to work and participate in daily activities. Participants described losing the ability to do the things that mattered to them—first hobbies and leisure activities, then work, and eventually basic self-care tasks. They also faced challenges from lack of understanding about ME/CFS, financial difficulties, and limited healthcare support.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Role of Kynurenine Pathway and NAD+ Metabolism in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dehhaghi, Mona, Panahi, Hamed Kazemi Shariat, Kavyani, Bahar et al.·Aging and disease·2022

This review examines how tryptophan, an amino acid we get from food, is processed differently in people with ME/CFS. The body normally converts tryptophan into important substances like serotonin (which affects mood) and NAD+, an energy molecule. The authors propose that this conversion process may become overactive in ME/CFS, depleting NAD+ and making fatigue worse. They suggest that NAD+ supplements might help reduce fatigue and improve quality of life.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Estimating total morbidity burden of COVID-19: relative importance of death and disability.

Smith, Maia P·Journal of clinical epidemiology·2022

This study looked at the total health impact of COVID-19 by measuring not just deaths, but also the years of healthy life lost due to long-COVID symptoms. The researchers found that most of the burden from COVID-19 actually comes from people who survive but live with ongoing disability—not from deaths alone. The study suggests that resources should focus on preventing and treating long-COVID, especially in younger people and women who appear to bear a larger share of this burden.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

"I Just Want to Feel Safe Going to a Doctor": Experiences of Female Patients with Chronic Conditions in Australia.

Merone, Lea, Tsey, Komla, Russell, Darren et al.·Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.)·2022

This study interviewed 20 Australian women with various chronic conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, to understand their experiences with doctors and the healthcare system. The women reported that their pain and exhaustion were often dismissed or not taken seriously, which created fear and trauma around seeking medical care. The researchers found that women with chronic illnesses need doctors who are more knowledgeable, understanding, and empathetic about their conditions.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Role of Neuro-Immune Interaction in Chronic Pain Conditions; Functional Somatic Syndrome, Neurogenic Inflammation, and Peripheral Neuropathy.

Meade, Elaine, Garvey, Mary·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

This review article examines how the nervous and immune systems interact to cause chronic pain and fatigue in conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS. The authors explain that childhood trauma and ongoing stress can permanently change how the body's stress response system works, leading to long-term symptoms. They discuss how these systems become dysregulated and contribute to the wide range of symptoms people with these conditions experience.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is there a role for extracorporeal apheresis?

Bornstein, Stefan R, Voit-Bak, Karin, Donate, Timo et al.·Molecular psychiatry·2022

Some people who had COVID-19 continue to experience fatigue and breathing problems long after recovering from the infection, a condition called long-COVID. This pattern of ongoing symptoms looks similar to ME/CFS, another condition that causes persistent fatigue. Researchers found that both conditions may involve the body producing antibodies (immune proteins) that attack certain nerve receptors. A treatment called extracorporeal apheresis, which filters blood to remove these harmful antibodies, showed promise in improving symptoms in ME/CFS patients and might also help those with long-COVID.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mucosal Immunity and the Gut-Microbiota-Brain-Axis in Neuroimmune Disease.

Sterling, Kathryn G, Dodd, Griffin Kutler, Alhamdi, Shatha et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

This review article examines the connection between gut bacteria, immunity, and the brain in diseases like ME/CFS. The authors explain that the bacteria in our gut can communicate with our brain through chemical signals and nerves, but this communication can be disrupted in certain illnesses. They focus on how the immune system in the gut lining controls which bacteria thrive there, and how changes in these bacterial communities might contribute to neuroimmune diseases.

NeuroinflammationGut MicrobiomeImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Dyspnea in Post-COVID Syndrome following Mild Acute COVID-19 Infections: Potential Causes and Consequences for a Therapeutic Approach.

Wirth, Klaus J, Scheibenbogen, Carmen·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2022

Many people with post-COVID syndrome experience shortness of breath and chest pain, even though their lungs and heart are typically healthy. This study proposes that the problem may stem from overbreathing (hyperventilation) during exercise, combined with problems in how the body regulates breathing and uses energy in muscles. The authors suggest that overbreathing creates a harmful cascade inside cells—disrupting sodium and calcium balance—which worsens fatigue and breathing difficulties. Preventing overbreathing might be a way to help these patients recover.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

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The circuit of symbolic violence in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (I): A preliminary study.

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

[Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome from yangming meridian].

Understanding myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Muscle sodium content in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fatigue in Cirrhosis.

Elevated ATG13 in serum of patients with ME/CFS stimulates oxidative stress response in microglial cells via activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE).

Mechanism of the Huangguoshu waterfall forest environment's promotive effect on human health in Guizhou, China.

Red ginseng extract improves skeletal muscle energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in chronic fatigue mice.

Letter: Could endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage contribute to pain, inflammation and post-exertional malaise in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)?

Inflammation From Peripheral Organs to the Brain: How Does Systemic Inflammation Cause Neuroinflammation?

Long COVID Citizen Scientists: Developing a Needs-Based Research Agenda by Persons Affected by Long COVID.

Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Experiences of occupational disruption for adults in Australia.

The Role of Kynurenine Pathway and NAD+ Metabolism in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Estimating total morbidity burden of COVID-19: relative importance of death and disability.

"I Just Want to Feel Safe Going to a Doctor": Experiences of Female Patients with Chronic Conditions in Australia.

The Role of Neuro-Immune Interaction in Chronic Pain Conditions; Functional Somatic Syndrome, Neurogenic Inflammation, and Peripheral Neuropathy.

Chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is there a role for extracorporeal apheresis?

Mucosal Immunity and the Gut-Microbiota-Brain-Axis in Neuroimmune Disease.

Dyspnea in Post-COVID Syndrome following Mild Acute COVID-19 Infections: Potential Causes and Consequences for a Therapeutic Approach.

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