ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2422 studies

661–680 of 2,422 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Could Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Be an Effective Treatment for Long COVID and Post COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome? Lessons from the Qure Study for Q-Fever Fatigue Syndrome.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study looked at whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)—a talk therapy that focuses on changing thought patterns—is effective for long COVID and post-COVID fatigue. The researchers re-examined a previous study on a similar condition called Q-fever fatigue syndrome and found serious problems with how that study was done. They concluded that CBT likely doesn't actually help people with these post-infection fatigue conditions feel better or become more able to do daily activities.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearObservational

Research, recommendations and lived/personal experience with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Mooney, Amy·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This editorial piece brings together research findings, expert recommendations, and personal stories from people living with ME/CFS to provide a comprehensive look at the condition. The article emphasizes the importance of listening to patients' experiences alongside scientific evidence when developing treatment approaches and policies. By combining these three perspectives—research, recommendations, and lived experience—the piece highlights what we currently know and what still needs to be understood about ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

[What scientific evidence do the current classifications have in order to assess occupational disability in patients with central sensitisation syndrome?].

Regal Ramos, R J·Semergen·2020

This study looked at whether doctors have good, scientific ways to measure how much ME/CFS and related conditions limit a person's ability to work. The researchers found that while many different rating systems exist, none of them have strong enough evidence to be considered reliable. This is a significant problem because patients need fair, consistent methods to document their disability for work accommodations and benefits.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclear

A Unifying Hypothesis of the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Recognitions from the finding of autoantibodies against ß2-adrenergic receptors.

Wirth, Klaus, Scheibenbogen, Carmen·Autoimmunity reviews·2020

Researchers found that some ME/CFS patients have antibodies (immune proteins) that attack receptors that normally help blood vessels relax and improve blood flow. When these receptors don't work properly, blood vessels may constrict and reduce oxygen delivery to muscles and the brain. This could explain why ME/CFS patients experience fatigue, pain, and cognitive problems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) as a medicinal plant and its natural products.

Sawicka, Barbara, Skiba, Dominika, Pszczółkowski, Piotr et al.·Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)·2020

This review examined Jerusalem artichoke, a root vegetable, to understand its nutritional and health benefits. The researchers found that Jerusalem artichoke contains compounds that may help with blood sugar control, weight management, immune function, and several chronic conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome. However, this is a review of existing research rather than a new experiment testing these benefits in patients.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Mapping the Alterations of Glutamate Using Glu-Weighted CEST MRI in a Rat Model of Fatigue.

Li, Ruili, Dai, Zhuozhi, Hu, Di et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2020

Researchers used a special brain imaging technique to measure glutamate (a chemical messenger in the brain) in rats that were made fatigued through a 10-day stressful procedure. They found that fatigued rats had higher levels of glutamate in their brains compared to rested rats, and the fatigued rats moved around less. This suggests that too much glutamate in the brain might be involved in causing fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Substrate utilisation of cultured skeletal muscle cells in patients with CFS.

Tomas, Cara, Elson, Joanna L, Newton, Julia L et al.·Scientific reports·2020

This study examined how muscle cells from ME/CFS patients use different fuels for energy compared to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS muscle cells have trouble using glucose (a key fuel source) for energy, but can still use other fuels normally. This suggests the energy-producing problem in ME/CFS starts very early in the energy-making process, and may be caused by something genetic or chemical that persists even when cells are grown in a laboratory.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified.

Geraghty, Keith, Scott, Michael J·BMC psychology·2020

This paper examines a UK mental health program called IAPT that offers psychological therapy for conditions with unexplained physical symptoms, including ME/CFS. The authors identified serious problems with how the program treats ME/CFS patients, including using treatments that haven't been proven to work, overstating how many people recover, and not being honest about how many patients drop out. The paper calls for better independent checking of the program and warns that psychology should not be the automatic treatment when doctors don't understand what's causing physical symptoms.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mitochondria and immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anderson, G, Maes, M·Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2020

This review examines how problems with energy-producing structures in cells (mitochondria) and immune system dysfunction may contribute to ME/CFS. The authors propose that two key areas—the gut and immune cells—work together with the body's natural sleep-wake cycle to drive the condition. They also explore how factors like viral infections, gut bacteria, and hormones may play interconnected roles in ME/CFS symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

IgG stimulated β2 adrenergic receptor activation is attenuated in patients with ME/CFS.

Hartwig, Jelka, Sotzny, Franziska, Bauer, Sandra et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study examined a specific immune problem in some ME/CFS patients: abnormal antibodies that interfere with a receptor protein called β2 adrenergic receptor, which helps regulate immune response and stress recovery. Researchers found that immune cells (antibodies) from healthy people could activate this receptor and boost immune regulation, but antibodies from ME/CFS patients with elevated levels of these specific autoantibodies could not. This dysfunction in the immune system may help explain why ME/CFS patients experience persistent fatigue and immune dysregulation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Eradication of persistent coxsackievirus B infection from a pancreatic cell line with clinically used antiviral drugs.

Honkimaa, Anni, Sioofy-Khojine, Amir-Babak, Oikarinen, Sami et al.·Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2020

This study tested whether common antiviral medications could eliminate persistent coxsackievirus B infections in laboratory pancreatic cells. Researchers found that four drugs—Enviroxime, Fluoxetine, Hizentra (an immune protein), and Pleconaril—successfully cleared the virus from infected cells. The results suggest these medications might be worth testing in patients with chronic enterovirus infections.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

Documenting disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Podell, Richard, Dimmock, Mary E, Comerford, Barbara B·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This article helps doctors and lawyers understand how to properly document ME/CFS for disability benefits. The authors reviewed successful disability cases and identified the best ways to prove that ME/CFS prevents someone from working, including showing how post-exertional malaise (getting much worse after activity) impacts daily life. The goal is to help more ME/CFS patients access the disability benefits they need and deserve.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

["Tired, weak and exhausted" - which diagnostic steps make sense in the GP's practice?].

Schlüssel, Sabine, Gensichen, Jochen·MMW Fortschritte der Medizin·2020

This article reviews how general practitioners (GPs) can best diagnose ME/CFS by examining which tests and questions make the most sense in a regular doctor's office. The authors looked at practical diagnostic steps that doctors can use when patients report feeling tired, weak, and exhausted to help identify ME/CFS versus other conditions that cause similar symptoms.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not required

The effect of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) severity on cellular bioenergetic function.

Tomas, Cara, Elson, Joanna L, Strassheim, Victoria et al.·PloS one·2020

This study looked at how well the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) work in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that both people with moderate and severe ME/CFS had problems with how their cells produce energy, but severely affected patients had additional problems with how their cells break down glucose for energy. This suggests that severe ME/CFS involves more widespread energy problems than moderate ME/CFS.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

International expert consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) aggravated by air pollutants: Impact of air pollution on patients with AR: Current knowledge and future strategies.

Naclerio, Robert, Ansotegui, Ignacio J, Bousquet, Jean et al.·The World Allergy Organization journal·2020

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever and similar nasal allergies) affects millions of people and becomes worse when air pollution is present. This expert consensus report reviews how air pollution—both indoors and outdoors—makes allergic rhinitis symptoms worse, and discusses the best ways to manage it. The main treatment involves following standard allergy guidelines and reducing exposure to pollutants, though more research is needed on which medicines work best for people dealing with both allergies and air pollution.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Protective Effect of Hemin Against Experimental Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Mice: Possible Role of Neurotransmitters.

Thakur, Vandana, Jamwal, Sumit, Kumar, Mandeep et al.·Neurotoxicity research·2020

Researchers studied a substance called hemin in mice to see if it could help with fatigue-like symptoms. Mice that were stressed for 21 days showed signs of exhaustion, weakness, and anxiety. When treated with hemin, these mice improved—they became more active, stronger, and less anxious. The improvements seemed to work through a specific pathway in the body related to an enzyme called HO-1.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Fungal Dysbiosis Correlates with the Development of Tumor-Induced Cachexia in Mice.

Jabes, Daniela L, de Maria, Yara N L F, Aciole Barbosa, David et al.·Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study looked at how fungi (different from bacteria) in the gut change when cancer causes severe weight loss and muscle wasting called cachexia. Researchers compared mice with cancer-induced cachexia to healthy mice and found significant differences in their fungal populations. Interestingly, some of these fungal changes are similar to those seen in other conditions, including ME/CFS, suggesting a common gut-related mechanism across different diseases.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Efficacy of Repeat Immunoadsorption.

Tölle, Markus, Freitag, Helma, Antelmann, Michaela et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study tested a blood-cleaning treatment called immunoadsorption (IA) on five ME/CFS patients who had previously improved with this therapy. About two years later, they received the treatment again using a slightly modified approach. Four of the five patients showed improvement in their symptoms that lasted 6-12 months, and the treatment was well tolerated with no serious side effects.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Low-dose naltrexone as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bolton, Monica Jane, Chapman, Bryan Paul, Van Marwijk, Harm·BMJ case reports·2020

This study describes three people with ME/CFS who tried taking low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a medication sometimes used off-label for immune-related conditions. The patients experienced different results—some reported major improvements in their quality of life, while others noticed only modest reductions in specific symptoms like pain or fatigue. The doses used were quite small (4-12 mg), and the authors suggest that larger clinical trials might be worth doing to properly test whether LDN could help ME/CFS patients.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

An Isolated Complex V Inefficiency and Dysregulated Mitochondrial Function in Immortalized Lymphocytes from ME/CFS Patients.

Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J, Allan, Claire Y et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2020

Researchers studied the energy-producing structures (mitochondria) in blood cells from ME/CFS patients and found a specific problem: the cells have difficulty using a protein complex called Complex V that normally makes ATP, the body's energy currency. To compensate, the cells turn up their other energy-making machinery, which keeps ATP levels normal while resting but may leave the cells exhausted when they need to produce extra energy quickly—similar to running a car engine at maximum capacity just to maintain normal speed.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Could Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Be an Effective Treatment for Long COVID and Post COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome? Lessons from the Qure Study for Q-Fever Fatigue Syndrome.

Research, recommendations and lived/personal experience with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

[What scientific evidence do the current classifications have in order to assess occupational disability in patients with central sensitisation syndrome?].

A Unifying Hypothesis of the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Recognitions from the finding of autoantibodies against ß2-adrenergic receptors.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) as a medicinal plant and its natural products.

Mapping the Alterations of Glutamate Using Glu-Weighted CEST MRI in a Rat Model of Fatigue.

Substrate utilisation of cultured skeletal muscle cells in patients with CFS.

Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified.

Mitochondria and immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

IgG stimulated β2 adrenergic receptor activation is attenuated in patients with ME/CFS.

Eradication of persistent coxsackievirus B infection from a pancreatic cell line with clinically used antiviral drugs.

Documenting disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

["Tired, weak and exhausted" - which diagnostic steps make sense in the GP's practice?].

The effect of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) severity on cellular bioenergetic function.

International expert consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) aggravated by air pollutants: Impact of air pollution on patients with AR: Current knowledge and future strategies.

Protective Effect of Hemin Against Experimental Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Mice: Possible Role of Neurotransmitters.

Fungal Dysbiosis Correlates with the Development of Tumor-Induced Cachexia in Mice.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Efficacy of Repeat Immunoadsorption.

Low-dose naltrexone as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

An Isolated Complex V Inefficiency and Dysregulated Mitochondrial Function in Immortalized Lymphocytes from ME/CFS Patients.

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