ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2423 studies

701–720 of 2,423 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Altered Structural Brain Networks Related to Adrenergic/Muscarinic Receptor Autoantibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fujii, Hiroyuki, Sato, Wakiro, Kimura, Yukio et al.·Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging·2020

This study looked at whether certain antibodies in the blood (proteins that attack the body's own receptors) are connected to changes in brain structure in ME/CFS patients. Researchers scanned the brains of 89 ME/CFS patients and measured levels of four specific autoantibodies, then looked for patterns. They found that two of these autoantibodies showed a relationship with how brain networks are organized in specific areas, suggesting these antibodies might be useful markers for identifying ME/CFS.

Immune System

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Drifting from micro to macro concerns on autoimmune disorders.

Bjørklund, Geir, Peana, Massimiliano, Dadar, Maryam et al.·Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.)·2020

Mercury is a toxic metal that can enter the body through dental fillings, certain vaccines and medicines, seafood, and environmental sources. This review examines how mercury exposure might trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions—where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. In people who are genetically susceptible, even low levels of mercury exposure over time could cause inflammation and increase harmful antibodies in the blood.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Hope, disappointment and perseverance: Reflections of people with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Multiple Sclerosis participating in biomedical research. A qualitative focus group study.

Lacerda, Eliana M, McDermott, Clare, Kingdon, Caroline C et al.·Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy·2019

Researchers asked people with ME/CFS and MS about their experiences participating in a major study that collected blood samples and health information. Patients shared their hopes and frustrations about research, what they want scientists to study next, and how they'd like findings to be shared with them. The participants felt that research progress is like slowly putting together a puzzle, and they emphasized how important collaboration and persistence are.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene-2 Upregulation Identifies a Particular Subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Kerr, Jonathan R·Frontiers in pediatrics·2019

This study found that about 38-55% of ME/CFS patients have higher levels of a specific gene called EBI2 turned on in their immune cells. Patients with this EBI2 pattern appear to have more severe symptoms and different antibody levels compared to other ME/CFS patients. Because EBI2 is known to affect both immune function and brain function, finding this subtype could help explain why ME/CFS patients experience such different symptoms and may lead to new treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Defining and measuring recovery from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: the physician perspective.

Devendorf, Andrew R, Jackson, Carly T, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2019

This study asked ME/CFS doctors what they think it means to truly recover from these illnesses. The researchers found that doctors see recovery as getting back to how a person functioned before they got sick, with all symptoms gone. They also identified a separate category called 'significant improvement,' where patients feel much better and can do more, but still experience some symptoms or need treatment.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Advances in Understanding the Pathophysiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Komaroff, Anthony L·JAMA·2019

This review article examines what scientists currently understand about how ME/CFS develops and affects the body at a cellular level. Researcher Anthony Komaroff synthesizes evidence suggesting that ME/CFS involves problems with energy production in cells, immune system dysfunction, and nervous system abnormalities. The article helps explain why ME/CFS causes such severe fatigue and why patients often feel worse after physical activity.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome following immunization: macrophagic myofasciitis and animal studies support linkage to aluminum adjuvant persistency and diffusion in the immune system.

Gherardi, Romain K, Crépeaux, Guillemette, Authier, François-Jérome·Autoimmunity reviews·2019

This review examines whether ME/CFS could be triggered by aluminum-containing substances in certain vaccines. The authors present evidence that aluminum particles may persist in immune cells and travel to the brain, potentially causing the cognitive problems, muscle pain, and fatigue seen in ME/CFS. They argue this condition represents a broader category of vaccine-related adverse effects called ASIA.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neuroinflammation disorders exacerbated by environmental stressors.

O'Callaghan, James P, Miller, Diane B·Metabolism: clinical and experimental·2019

This review examines how inflammation in the brain and nervous system may be involved in ME/CFS and similar conditions. The authors suggest that various environmental stressors—like infections or other physical demands—can trigger or worsen this brain inflammation, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, and brain fog. They propose that stress affects a key hormone system in the body (the HPA axis), which may play a role in how long these symptoms persist.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Changes in circulating microRNA after recumbent isometric yoga practice by patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an explorative pilot study.

Takakura, Shu, Oka, Takakazu, Sudo, Nobuyuki·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2019

This small study tested whether a gentle form of yoga (practiced lying down with adjustable resistance) could help ME/CFS patients feel less tired. Nine patients with ME/CFS who hadn't improved with standard treatment practiced this yoga for 3 months. Their fatigue scores improved significantly, and their blood showed changes in tiny molecules called microRNAs that may be related to how the yoga helped reduce their tiredness.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredMechanistic

Mental fatigue is linked with attentional bias for sad stimuli.

Watanabe, Kyosuke, Sasaki, Akihiro T, Tajima, Kanako et al.·Scientific reports·2019

When healthy people become mentally tired from doing difficult thinking tasks, their brains start paying more attention to sad and negative images. This study used computer tasks to measure how people's attention shifts before and after mental exhaustion. The findings suggest that fatigue changes how our brains process sad information, which may help explain why ME/CFS patients often struggle with mood-related challenges.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neuroimmunology: What Role for Autoimmunity, Neuroinflammation, and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Adverse Events after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination?

Ryabkova, Varvara A, Churilov, Leonid P, Shoenfeld, Yehuda·International journal of molecular sciences·2019

This review explores three interconnected biological processes that may cause fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): the immune system attacking the body's own tissues, inflammation in the nervous system, and damage to small nerve fibers. The authors propose that these three mechanisms work together and may explain why patients experience widespread pain, extreme fatigue, and other symptoms like brain fog and sleep problems. They also examine whether similar mechanisms might explain some adverse reactions to HPV vaccination.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neurasthenia: Modern Malady or Historical Relic?

Overholser, James C, Beale, Eleanor E·The Journal of nervous and mental disease·2019

This article looks back at a condition called neurasthenia that doctors diagnosed frequently between 1869 and 1930, then largely abandoned. The authors found that many symptoms people with neurasthenia experienced—like exhaustion, mental fog, and physical weakness—are still seen today in conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia. By understanding neurasthenia's history, modern doctors may better recognize and treat these conditions and improve how they listen to their patients.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Emerging Osteopathic Approach: A Narrative Review.

Larrimore, Christopher, Ramnot, Amanda, Jaghab, Annmarie et al.·The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·2019

This article reviews what scientists know about ME/CFS, including its symptoms, how it affects the body, and why it's hard to diagnose. The authors discuss both traditional medical approaches and osteopathic treatment (a type of hands-on therapy that focuses on the body's structure and function) as possible ways to help people with ME/CFS feel better. The review emphasizes that ME/CFS is a real, serious illness that deserves more awareness among doctors and better treatment options.

Immune SystemCognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rodrigues, Lucas S, da Silva Nali, Luiz H, Leal, Cibele O D et al.·Auto- immunity highlights·2019

This study looked at whether certain viral fragments called HERV-K and HERV-W were more active in the blood of ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that HERV-K was elevated in people with moderate ME/CFS but not in those with severe disease, while HERV-W showed no difference. These findings suggest that viral elements may play a role in ME/CFS, though much more research is needed to understand what this means.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): a common but unfamiliar syndrome.

van der Zalm, T, Alsma, J, van de Poll, S W E et al.·The Netherlands journal of medicine·2019

POTS is a condition where standing up quickly causes your heart to beat much faster than normal, and you may feel dizzy, tired, or unwell. This paper describes two different patients with POTS to show how differently the condition can appear from person to person. The authors explain that POTS can overlap with chronic fatigue syndrome and suggest that simple treatments like drinking more water and salt, along with exercise, often help before considering medications.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Severe posterior hypometabolism but normal perfusion in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis revealed by PET/MRI.

Sahbai, S, Kauv, P, Abrivard, M et al.·European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging·2019

This study examined a single ME/CFS patient's brain using advanced imaging technology (PET/MRI) that can show both brain activity and blood flow simultaneously. The researchers found that certain areas in the back of the patient's brain showed significantly lower metabolic activity (meaning cells were using less energy), but blood flow to those same areas appeared normal. This unusual pattern suggests that ME/CFS may involve a specific type of brain dysfunction that current standard brain scans might miss.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Investigating the aetiology of adverse events following HPV vaccination with systems vaccinology.

Campbell-Tofte, Joan, Vrahatis, Aristidis, Josefsen, Knud et al.·Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2019

This paper proposes a research approach to investigate whether HPV vaccine can cause ME/CFS-like symptoms in some people. The authors suggest using detailed blood and immune system tests to compare vaccinated people who experienced problems with unvaccinated people who have similar symptoms, to see if the vaccine is actually responsible. This type of detailed comparison could help identify who might be at risk and provide objective evidence about vaccine safety.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Assessing cellular energy dysfunction in CFS/ME using a commercially available laboratory test.

Tomas, Cara, Lodge, Tiffany A, Potter, Michelle et al.·Scientific reports·2019

This study tested a blood test called the Mitochondrial Energy Score (MES) that is marketed to diagnose ME/CFS by measuring how well cells produce energy. Researchers repeated the test in both ME/CFS patients and healthy people and found no difference between the two groups. They also discovered that waiting even 24 hours before processing blood samples changed the test results significantly, suggesting the test is not reliable enough to use for diagnosis.

Biomarkers

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Altered Structural Brain Networks Related to Adrenergic/Muscarinic Receptor Autoantibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

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

Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Drifting from micro to macro concerns on autoimmune disorders.

Hope, disappointment and perseverance: Reflections of people with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Multiple Sclerosis participating in biomedical research. A qualitative focus group study.

Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene-2 Upregulation Identifies a Particular Subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Defining and measuring recovery from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: the physician perspective.

Advances in Understanding the Pathophysiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Myalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome following immunization: macrophagic myofasciitis and animal studies support linkage to aluminum adjuvant persistency and diffusion in the immune system.

Neuroinflammation disorders exacerbated by environmental stressors.

Changes in circulating microRNA after recumbent isometric yoga practice by patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an explorative pilot study.

Mental fatigue is linked with attentional bias for sad stimuli.

Neuroimmunology: What Role for Autoimmunity, Neuroinflammation, and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Adverse Events after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination?

Neurasthenia: Modern Malady or Historical Relic?

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Emerging Osteopathic Approach: A Narrative Review.

HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): a common but unfamiliar syndrome.

Severe posterior hypometabolism but normal perfusion in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis revealed by PET/MRI.

Investigating the aetiology of adverse events following HPV vaccination with systems vaccinology.

Assessing cellular energy dysfunction in CFS/ME using a commercially available laboratory test.

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