ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1721–1740 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Sato, Daisuke·Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing·2020

This study looked at fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who lived in an area affected by a major earthquake in Japan. Researchers measured both what patients reported about their tiredness and objective measurements of nervous system function and activity levels. The main finding was that patients showed changes in how their nervous system was functioning, with their stress-response system becoming more dominant over time.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Helliwell, A M, Sweetman, E C, Stockwell, P A et al.·Clinical epigenetics·2020

This study looked at chemical tags on DNA called methylation patterns in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. These tags can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different methylation patterns, particularly in genes related to energy production, immune function, and brain chemistry, which may help explain why they experience the symptoms they do.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Resting-state functional connectivity, cognition, and fatigue in response to cognitive exertion: a novel study in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Josev, Elisha K, Malpas, Charles B, Seal, Marc L et al.·Brain imaging and behavior·2020

Researchers compared how the brains of teenagers with ME/CFS and healthy teenagers responded to a mentally demanding task using brain imaging. Both groups showed similar changes in brain activity and felt more tired after the mental effort. However, teenagers with ME/CFS started out more fatigued, performed worse on thinking tasks overall, and may have less energy available to draw from when their brain works hard.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Preliminary ICF core set for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in rehabilitation medicine.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Schult, Marie-Louise, Borg, Kristian et al.·Journal of rehabilitation medicine·2020

Researchers studied 100 ME/CFS patients to identify which body functions, activities, and life areas are most affected by the illness. They found that nearly all patients experience severe fatigue, poor sleep, and pain, while most struggle with work, household tasks, and socializing. This study created a standardized checklist that doctors can use to understand and measure how ME/CFS impacts different aspects of patients' lives.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Walsh, R Stephen, Denovan, Andrew, Drinkwater, Kenneth et al.·BMC family practice·2020

This study looked at how often people with ME visit their GP and what factors affect these visits. Researchers surveyed 476 ME patients across the UK and found that several things—including how long someone has had ME, where they live, whether they trust their GP, how quickly they got diagnosed, and their gender—all predict how many GP visits they make each year. The study highlights that the relationship between ME patients and their doctors is really important for getting good care.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Twomey, Rosie, Yeung, Samuel T, Wrightson, James G et al.·Journal of pain and symptom management·2020

This study looked at whether people with long-lasting cancer-related fatigue experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a condition where symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity. Researchers asked 18 people with severe, ongoing fatigue to report their experiences over six months and during exercise testing. They found that up to one-third of participants showed signs of PEM, including fatigue that worsened after minimal effort and recovery taking more than 24 hours.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Autoimmunity-Related Risk Variants in PTPN22 and CTLA4 Are Associated With ME/CFS With Infectious Onset.

Steiner, Sophie, Becker, Sonya C, Hartwig, Jelka et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2020

This study looked at specific genetic variations that are known to affect how the immune system works. Researchers compared DNA from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls, and found that certain genetic variations were more common in ME/CFS patients whose illness started with an infection. These genetic changes affect how immune cells are controlled, suggesting that autoimmunity may play a role specifically in ME/CFS cases that begin with an infection.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Plasma proteomic profiling suggests an association between antigen driven clonal B cell expansion and ME/CFS.

Milivojevic, Milica, Che, Xiaoyu, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·PloS one·2020

Researchers studied blood proteins in ME/CFS patients and healthy controls to look for disease markers. They found that certain immune-related proteins, particularly immunoglobulin proteins (which are part of the immune system), were abnormal in ME/CFS patients and could help identify who has the disease. The results suggest ME/CFS involves an overactive or dysregulated immune response.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Sleep problems in adolescents with CFS: A case-control study nested within a prospective clinical cohort.

Loades, Maria Elizabeth, Rimes, Katharine A, Chalder, Trudie·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2020

This study looked at sleep problems in teenagers with ME/CFS compared to healthy teenagers and those with asthma. Teenagers with ME/CFS reported significantly more sleep difficulties than both comparison groups. When researchers checked in 3 months later without any treatment, sleep problems remained largely unchanged, suggesting that sleep issues in ME/CFS don't improve on their own and may need specific attention during treatment.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shikova, Evelina, Reshkova, Valentina, Kumanova, Аntoniya et al.·Journal of medical virology·2020

Researchers tested 58 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people for three common viruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV-6) that have been suspected of triggering ME/CFS. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher rates of active EBV infection in their bloodstream compared to healthy people, though most people in both groups carried these viruses in a dormant state. This suggests that for some patients, active EBV infection may play a role in ME/CFS development.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Lee, Jihyun, Wall, Pelle, Kimler, Chris et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study looked at how much time ME/CFS patients can spend upright (standing or walking around) each day and how this relates to dizziness and other symptoms caused by orthostatic intolerance—a condition where symptoms get worse when standing or being active. Researchers compared 25 women with ME/CFS to 25 healthy women and found that ME/CFS patients spend far fewer hours upright and experience much worse symptoms that interfere with daily life. The study suggests that measuring upright hours and asking patients about orthostatic symptoms could be helpful tools for doctors diagnosing and managing ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Almenar-Pérez, Eloy, Sarría, Leonor, Nathanson, Lubov et al.·Scientific reports·2020

This study looked for biological markers (tiny genetic molecules called microRNAs) in blood samples from severely ill ME/CFS patients that could help doctors diagnose the disease. Researchers found that certain microRNAs and physical characteristics of particles in the blood appeared different in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. If validated in larger studies, these findings could eventually lead to a simple blood test for diagnosis.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

Longitudinal outcomes associated with significant other responses to chronic fatigue and pain.

Schmaling, Karen B, Fales, Jessica L, McPherson, Sterling·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study followed 68 people with chronic fatigue (some also with fibromyalgia) for 18 months to see how their loved ones' responses affected their health outcomes. The researchers found that when significant others responded negatively to fatigue and pain, patients experienced more pain, worse mental health, and worse fatigue symptoms over time. Interestingly, when loved ones were more helpful and comforting (solicitous), patients with more fibromyalgia tender points tended to have this response, and when loved ones helped distract patients, mental health was better.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Function: A Validation Study in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Lomas-Vega, Rafael, Rodríguez-Almagro, Daniel, Peinado-Rubia, Ana Belén et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Researchers created and tested a new 20-question tool to measure balance problems and nerve-muscle coordination in people with fibromyalgia. The tool was tested on 62 fibromyalgia patients, 22 older adults, and 24 healthy people. The results show the tool works well at identifying balance issues in fibromyalgia patients, especially problems related to head movements.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Mueller, Christina, Lin, Joanne C, Sheriff, Sulaiman et al.·Brain imaging and behavior·2020

Researchers used advanced brain imaging to measure chemical substances in the brains of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found several differences in brain chemistry and temperature in ME/CFS patients, particularly in areas involved in processing pain and regulating energy. These changes suggest that inflammation in the brain may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Cheema, Amanpreet K, Sarria, Leonor, Bekheit, Mina et al.·Journal of cellular and molecular medicine·2020

This study looked at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood of people with ME/CFS to understand how their immune system responds to exercise. The researchers discovered that men and women with ME/CFS show different patterns in these molecules, and they also found that nutritional status affects these patterns. These findings could help explain why some people experience worsening symptoms after exercise (post-exertional malaise) and suggest that treatment approaches may need to differ between men and women.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Terman, Julia M, Awsumb, Jessica M, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study measured how much stigma (negative judgments and social shame) people with ME/CFS experience. Over 550 people with ME/CFS from around the world filled out a survey designed to assess stigma, feelings of isolation, and concerns about disclosing their illness. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS reported high levels of stigma and struggled with whether to tell others about their condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Systemic Hyperalgesia in Females with Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Surian, Amber A, Baraniuk, James N·Scientific reports·2020

This study measured how sensitive to pain women with ME/CFS, Gulf War Illness, and fibromyalgia are compared to healthy controls. Researchers used a tool called a dolorimeter to apply pressure to 18 specific body points and measured how much pressure it took before women felt pain. Women with these illnesses felt pain at much lower pressure levels than healthy women, showing they have widespread increased pain sensitivity.

Pain and SensitizationDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Piersiala, Krzysztof, Akst, Lee M, Hillel, Alexander T et al.·JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2020

This study looked at whether fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ME/CFS patients have similar voice and throat problems. Researchers reviewed medical records of over 4,000 patients at a voice center and found that patients with these three conditions were more likely to have functional voice disorders (problems with how the voice works rather than visible damage) compared to other patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Iversen, Per Ole, von Lueder, Thomas Gero, Kardel, Kristin Reimers et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Researchers used heart ultrasounds to check if the hearts of people with ME/CFS were structurally different or working differently than healthy people's hearts. They found no significant differences in heart size or function between the 16 women with ME/CFS and 10 healthy women they studied. This suggests that ME/CFS exercise intolerance and lactate buildup may not be caused by problems with how the heart itself is structured or functioning.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Resting-state functional connectivity, cognition, and fatigue in response to cognitive exertion: a novel study in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Preliminary ICF core set for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in rehabilitation medicine.

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Autoimmunity-Related Risk Variants in PTPN22 and CTLA4 Are Associated With ME/CFS With Infectious Onset.

Plasma proteomic profiling suggests an association between antigen driven clonal B cell expansion and ME/CFS.

Sleep problems in adolescents with CFS: A case-control study nested within a prospective clinical cohort.

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Longitudinal outcomes associated with significant other responses to chronic fatigue and pain.

Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Function: A Validation Study in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Systemic Hyperalgesia in Females with Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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