ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

601–620 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Angina Simultaneously Diagnosed with the Recurrence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Li, Koki, Otsuka, Yuki, Nakano, Yasuhiro et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This case report describes a young woman who experienced chest pain and worsening ME/CFS symptoms at the same time. Doctors discovered she had angina (reduced blood flow to the heart), which was successfully treated with heart medication. This case highlights that ME/CFS patients experiencing chest pain should be evaluated for actual heart problems, not assume all chest symptoms are from ME/CFS alone.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Radiation exposure and mitochondrial insufficiency in chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.

Rusin, Andrej, Li, Megan, Cocchetto, Alan et al.·Medical hypotheses·2021

This paper explores the idea that ME/CFS may be caused by damage to mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of cells—possibly triggered by radiation exposure or other environmental stressors like viruses or toxins. When mitochondria cannot produce enough energy, cells throughout the body struggle, and neighboring tissues try to compensate, which may explain why ME/CFS patients experience widespread symptoms like fatigue and immune problems.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Abnormally fast muscle fiber conduction in the membranes of motor units at low static force load.

Klaver-Krol, E G, Hermens, H J, Vermeulen, R C et al.·Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2021

Researchers used muscle sensors to measure how electrical signals travel through muscle fibers in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and healthy people during light strength exercises. They found that in ME/CFS patients, these electrical signals traveled unusually fast through muscle fibers as force increased, which didn't happen in the other groups. This suggests that muscle cells in ME/CFS may have a problem with how they work at the membrane level.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Homeostatic disturbance of thermoregulatory functions in rats with chronic fatigue.

Li, Danxi, Hu, Di, Shigeta, Mika et al.·Neuroscience research·2021

Many ME/CFS patients report feeling feverish or chilled even when their body temperature is normal. This study used rats with chronic fatigue to understand what goes wrong with the body's temperature control system. Researchers found that in early fatigue, the body tried to raise its temperature to cope, but over time this system broke down and stopped working properly, which may explain why fatigue becomes long-lasting.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antioxidant and antifatigue effect of a standardized fraction (HemoHIM) from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora.

Kwon, Da-Ae, Kim, Yong Sang, Kim, Seul-Ki et al.·Pharmaceutical biology·2021

Researchers tested an herbal supplement called HemoHIM, made from three plants used in traditional medicine, to see if it could help reduce fatigue and improve antioxidant protection in the body. In laboratory and animal studies, HemoHIM appeared to restore protective enzymes that fight cellular damage and helped mice perform better on physical tests, suggesting it may have antifatigue properties.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

A Paradigm for Post-Covid-19 Fatigue Syndrome Analogous to ME/CFS.

Mackay, Angus·Frontiers in neurology·2021

This study proposes that long-term fatigue following COVID-19 works similarly to ME/CFS—both may result from severe infection triggering dysfunction in a brain region called the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In people genetically susceptible to this condition, the stress from COVID-19 infection could overwhelm this brain center, making it oversensitive to everyday stressors and causing the fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and other symptoms characteristic of ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Discernment of mediator and outcome measurement in the PACE trial.

Carr, Ewan, Vitoratou, Silia, Chalder, Trudie et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

Researchers wanted to check whether different questionnaires used in ME/CFS studies were actually measuring different things. They looked at data from 640 people in a large treatment trial and used statistical methods to see if the questions meant to measure thinking/behavior problems overlapped too much with questions measuring physical function and fatigue. They found that most of the questionnaires were measuring distinct concepts, which means the study design was solid.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Recovery from refractory chronic fatigue syndrome with CBT and modafinil.

Garg, Himanshu, Douglas, Maggie, Turkington, Gordon Douglas et al.·BMJ case reports·2021

This small study looked at three patients with severe, long-lasting ME/CFS who had not improved with standard treatments. When doctors added a medication called modafinil to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), two of the three patients reported meaningful improvements in fatigue, pain, and concentration, and all three were able to return to work or study. This suggests that combining modafinil with CBT might help some treatment-resistant patients, though more research is needed.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function by inhibiting NF-κB activity in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Feng, Chu-Wen, Qu, Yuan-Yuan, Sun, Zhong-Ren et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2021

This study tested whether electroacupuncture (a form of acupuncture with electrical stimulation) could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome recover cognitive abilities like memory and learning. The researchers found that electroacupuncture reduced inflammation in the brain's memory center (hippocampus) and improved the rats' ability to learn and remember, likely by blocking a inflammatory protein called NF-κB.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Global survey-based assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agarwal, Poonam, Kaushik, Abhinav, Sarkar, Sutapa et al.·PloS one·2021

This study surveyed people during the COVID-19 lockdowns to understand how the pandemic affected their daily lives, work, mental health, and social connections. Most people found ways to cope by using technology to stay connected with others, staying physically active, and spending time on hobbies. The study found that while many people faced mental health challenges from isolation and pandemic stress, most kept their jobs and lived with family or roommates, which may have provided support.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Ross River Virus Immune Evasion Strategies and the Relevance to Post-viral Fatigue, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Onset.

Lidbury, Brett A·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study examines how Ross River virus, a mosquito-borne virus common in Australia, might trigger long-lasting fatigue and ME/CFS symptoms. The virus uses several tricks to hide from the immune system, and researchers propose these tricks may disrupt the body's energy-producing systems and cause the persistent exhaustion seen in ME/CFS. The findings suggest that understanding how this virus evades immunity could help explain why some viral infections lead to chronic fatigue.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclear

ME/CFS: Past, Present and Future.

Weir, William, Speight, Nigel·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This article reviews the history and current understanding of ME/CFS, arguing that the condition has a biological basis rather than being primarily psychological. The authors emphasize that scientific research, not psychological theories, is the path forward for properly understanding and treating ME/CFS. They highlight how patients have suffered from misunderstandings about their condition's cause.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not required

Deconditioning does not explain orthostatic intolerance in ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study examined whether being physically deconditioned (out of shape) causes the dizziness and fainting symptoms that many ME/CFS patients experience when standing up. Researchers tested 199 ME/CFS patients and 22 healthy people using exercise tests and a tilt table test that measures blood flow to the brain. The results showed that ME/CFS patients had significant problems with blood flow to their brain when tilted upright, but this problem occurred regardless of how deconditioned they were.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Orthostatic stress testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients with or without concomitant fibromyalgia: effects on pressure pain thresholds and temporal summation.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Verheugt, Freek W A et al.·Clinical and experimental rheumatology·2021

This study tested how standing up quickly (which can trigger ME/CFS symptoms) affects pain sensitivity in ME/CFS patients. Researchers measured how much pressure patients could tolerate on their finger and shoulder before and after a tilt test. They found that ME/CFS patients became more pain-sensitive after the tilt test, meaning their bodies responded to pain more strongly than healthy people, and this effect was even more pronounced in those who also had fibromyalgia.

Pain and SensitizationAutonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

How do women suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity experience the medical encounter? a qualitative study in Spain.

Briones-Vozmediano, Erica, Espinar-Ruiz, Eva·Disability and rehabilitation·2021

This study interviewed 22 Spanish women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) to understand their experiences with doctors and the healthcare system. The women reported two major problems: they cannot avoid exposure to chemicals in their environment, and they struggle to find effective treatment. Many also felt that healthcare providers didn't believe their illness was real or took their symptoms seriously.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

Maroti, Daniel, Johansson, Robert·Frontiers in psychiatry·2021

This study examined whether changing how patients think about their symptoms (cognitive change) is necessary to improve symptoms in people with functional somatic syndromes like ME/CFS. The researchers explored the relationship between psychological thinking patterns and symptom improvement to understand better which approaches might help patients feel better.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Potential Implications of Mammalian Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 in the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review.

Du Preez, Stanley, Cabanas, Helene, Staines, Donald et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2021

This review examines a protein called TRPM7 that may play a role in ME/CFS. TRPM7 is an ion channel—a type of gateway that controls how calcium and other minerals move in and out of cells—and it appears to affect the nervous system, immune system, heart, and metabolism. The authors suggest that problems with TRPM7 could help explain some of the complex symptoms seen in ME/CFS, though this is still a developing area of research.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Lessons From Heat Stroke for Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Stanculescu, Dominic, Sepúlveda, Nuno, Lim, Chin Leong et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2021

This study compares how the body breaks down during heat stroke with what happens in ME/CFS. Both conditions involve similar problems: inflammation, damage to the gut lining that allows harmful substances into the bloodstream, blood clotting issues, and problems with how cells produce energy. By understanding heat stroke better, researchers hope to find new ways to treat ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Life-Threatening Malnutrition in Very Severe ME/CFS.

Baxter, Helen, Speight, Nigel, Weir, William·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study describes five patients with very severe ME/CFS who developed life-threatening malnutrition because doctors delayed providing tube feeding support. Some severely affected patients cannot eat or drink normally due to swallowing difficulties, severe stomach problems, or being too ill to feed themselves. The research shows that doctors sometimes mistakenly blamed psychological factors instead of recognizing nutrition problems as a direct result of the disease, leading to dangerous delays in life-saving treatment.

Severe ME

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Sick of the Sick Role: Narratives of What "Recovery" Means to People With CFS/ME.

Cheshire, Anna, Ridge, Damien, Clark, Lucy V et al.·Qualitative health research·2021

This study asked 19 people with ME/CFS what "recovery" means to them—some had improved and some had gotten worse after trying a self-help treatment. The researchers found that recovery doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. While some people wanted to be completely symptom-free, many others just wanted to feel "normal" again and stop being defined by their illness, even if symptoms remained. Some people actually didn't want to return to their old lifestyle, thinking it might have caused their illness in the first place.

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Evidence browser

Angina Simultaneously Diagnosed with the Recurrence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Radiation exposure and mitochondrial insufficiency in chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Abnormally fast muscle fiber conduction in the membranes of motor units at low static force load.

Homeostatic disturbance of thermoregulatory functions in rats with chronic fatigue.

Antioxidant and antifatigue effect of a standardized fraction (HemoHIM) from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora.

A Paradigm for Post-Covid-19 Fatigue Syndrome Analogous to ME/CFS.

Discernment of mediator and outcome measurement in the PACE trial.

Recovery from refractory chronic fatigue syndrome with CBT and modafinil.

[Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function by inhibiting NF-κB activity in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Global survey-based assessment of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ross River Virus Immune Evasion Strategies and the Relevance to Post-viral Fatigue, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Onset.

ME/CFS: Past, Present and Future.

Deconditioning does not explain orthostatic intolerance in ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).

Orthostatic stress testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients with or without concomitant fibromyalgia: effects on pressure pain thresholds and temporal summation.

How do women suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity experience the medical encounter? a qualitative study in Spain.

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

Potential Implications of Mammalian Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 in the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review.

Lessons From Heat Stroke for Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Life-Threatening Malnutrition in Very Severe ME/CFS.

Sick of the Sick Role: Narratives of What "Recovery" Means to People With CFS/ME.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research