ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2581–2600 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Selected Health Conditions Among Overweight, Obese, and Non-Obese Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War: Results from a Survey Conducted in 2003-2005.

Coughlin, Steven S, Kang, Han K, Mahan, Clare M·The open epidemiology journal·2011

This study looked at nearly 10,000 Gulf War veterans and veterans from the same era to see if weight and obesity were connected to health problems like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multi-symptom illness. The researchers found that obese veterans were more likely to have PTSD, but obesity did not explain why Gulf War veterans had more CFS-like illness or multi-symptom illness compared to other veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serologic and PCR testing of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States shows no association with xenotropic or polytropic murine leukemia virus-related viruses.

Satterfield, Brent C, Garcia, Rebecca A, Jia, Hongwei et al.·Retrovirology·2011

In 2009, researchers reported finding a virus called XMRV in most people with ME/CFS, which sparked hope for a potential cause. This study tested blood samples from 45 ME/CFS patients and 42 healthy people from across the United States using sensitive laboratory methods to look for XMRV and related viruses. The researchers found no evidence of these viruses in any of the samples, suggesting that XMRV is not present in most ME/CFS cases.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Cognitive impairment in fatigue and sleepiness associated conditions.

Neu, Daniel, Kajosch, Hendrik, Peigneux, Philippe et al.·Psychiatry research·2011

This study compared how fatigue and sleepiness affect thinking and memory. Researchers tested 15 people with ME/CFS, 15 people with sleep apnea, and 16 healthy controls using memory tests, attention tasks, and brain wave measurements. Both patient groups showed cognitive problems, though people with sleep apnea had slightly more difficulty with certain thinking tasks and movement speed.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Barnden, Leighton R, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2011

This study used specialized brain imaging (MRI) to compare 25 people with ME/CFS to 25 healthy controls, looking at brain structure and how it related to fatigue severity and other symptoms. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS showed differences in brainstem volume (a critical part of the brain controlling basic functions) that correlated with how long fatigue had lasted, and unusual patterns in how blood pressure related to brainstem structure. These findings suggest ME/CFS may involve damage to a specific brain region that disrupts the body's automatic control systems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Unraveling the role of perfectionism in chronic fatigue syndrome: is there a distinction between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism?

Kempke, Stefan, Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Luyten, Patrick et al.·Psychiatry research·2011

This study looked at perfectionism in ME/CFS patients and found that there are two different types: one that involves setting high personal standards (which wasn't harmful) and another involving excessive worry about mistakes and self-doubt (which was harmful). The harmful type of perfectionism was linked to worse fatigue and depression symptoms. Interestingly, depression appeared to be the main pathway through which this harmful perfectionism made fatigue worse.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Maloney, Elizabeth M, Lin, Jin-Mann et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2011

This study looked at whether gynecological history—including conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, and surgeries—might be connected to ME/CFS. Researchers compared 36 women with ME/CFS to 48 healthy women and found that women with ME/CFS reported more pelvic pain, endometriosis, and gynecological surgeries. The study suggests that gynecological health may play a role in ME/CFS and deserves closer medical attention.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Alcohol use and selected health conditions of 1991 Gulf War veterans: survey results, 2003-2005.

Coughlin, Steven S, Kang, Han K, Mahan, Clare M·Preventing chronic disease·2011

This study looked at how alcohol use relates to health problems in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. Researchers surveyed nearly 10,000 veterans and found that those who drank heavily had higher rates of several conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness. The findings suggest that veterans with drinking problems and war-related health conditions need better access to treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Puri, B K, Gunatilake, K D R, Fernando, K A C et al.·The Journal of international medical research·2011

Researchers examined the chests of 42 people with ME/CFS and 20 healthy people to look for physical signs. They found that 81% of people with ME/CFS had tenderness (pain when touched) in a specific area on the left side of their rib cage, while none of the healthy people had this tenderness. This suggests there may be a consistent physical finding that doctors could potentially use to help identify ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Clinical cardiology·2011

This study found that ME/CFS patients who experience dizziness or fainting when standing up (orthostatic intolerance) have smaller hearts and pump less blood with each beat compared to ME/CFS patients without these symptoms and healthy people. The researchers used ultrasound imaging to measure heart size and function in different groups and discovered that about half of ME/CFS patients with orthostatic intolerance had unusually small left heart chambers.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The search for pain relief in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a descriptive study.

Marshall, Rebecca, Paul, Lorna, Wood, Les·Physiotherapy theory and practice·2011

This study asked 50 people with ME/CFS who experience pain about treatments they had tried to help manage their symptoms. Researchers found that many patients tried complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and physiotherapy, with acupuncture being the treatment most people reported as helpful for pain relief. The study suggests some of these treatments may help people cope with ME/CFS pain, though more research is needed to confirm how well they actually work.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical characteristics of patients with medically unexplained chronic widespread pain: a primary care center study.

Lee, Kye Hwa, Kim, Cheol Hwan, Shin, Ho Cheol et al.·Korean journal of family medicine·2011

This study examined 109 patients with chronic widespread pain to understand what makes medically unexplained pain different from pain caused by known medical or psychological conditions. Researchers found that patients with unexplained pain had more tender points on their body, greater fatigue, and more functional impairment than those with pain linked to known medical causes, but were very similar to those with pain linked to psychological factors.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Hai-Ying, Liu, Zhan-Dong, Hu, Chao-Jun et al.·Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi·2011

Researchers measured levels of a immune signaling molecule called TGF-β1 in blood cells from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people and patients with other illnesses. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher levels of TGF-β1 than both groups, suggesting this molecule may play a role in ME/CFS disease development.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Diagnostic accuracy of symptoms characterising chronic fatigue syndrome.

Davenport, Todd E, Stevens, Staci R, Baroni, Katie et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2011

This study looked at which symptoms best identify people with ME/CFS by comparing 16 patients with the condition to 14 healthy controls. The researchers found that failure to recover within one day after intense exercise was the strongest single indicator of ME/CFS, and combining three symptoms—immune problems, sleep disturbance, and pain—could accurately identify most patients. The findings suggest that fewer symptoms may be needed to diagnose ME/CFS than current guidelines require.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Spindler, J, Hackett, J, Qiu, X et al.·Advances in virology·2011

This study tested blood samples from men in an HIV research study to see if they were infected with XMRV, a virus that had been proposed as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Researchers used two different methods to look for the virus: checking for antibodies (immune system responses) and checking for the virus itself. They found no evidence that XMRV was actually present in any of the samples tested.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Absence of detectable xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors or individuals in Africa.

Tang, Shixing, Zhao, Jiangqin, Viswanath, Ragupathy et al.·Transfusion·2011

Researchers tested blood samples from HIV-positive individuals and blood donors in Africa to see if they carried a virus called XMRV, which had been suggested as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Using sensitive laboratory tests, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the 268 samples they examined. This suggests that XMRV may not be common in these populations.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Li, Bo, Mahan, Clare M, Kang, Han K et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2011

This study followed US veterans from the 1991 Gulf War for 10 years (1995–2005) to see how their health changed over time. Deployed veterans reported more ongoing health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, than veterans who were not deployed. By 2005, deployed veterans were also more likely to develop new health problems compared to nondeployed veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

Reuter, S E, Evans, A M·Journal of internal medicine·2011

This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of certain fat-like molecules called acylcarnitines in their blood compared to healthy people. These molecules are important for cells to produce energy from fat. The researchers suggest this difference might be related to how the body processes fatty acids, and they propose that taking omega-3 fatty acids along with carnitine supplements might help improve symptoms.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Constant, E L, Adam, S, Gillain, B et al.·Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2011

This study tested memory and attention in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with depression and healthy volunteers. People with ME/CFS showed real, measurable problems with attention and memory, but these problems were NOT simply caused by depression or by getting tired during testing. Importantly, the cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS appeared to be their own distinct issue, separate from their mood symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

Frost, Jeana, Okun, Sally, Vaughan, Timothy et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2011

This study looked at how patients can help doctors understand whether existing medicines work for conditions they weren't originally designed to treat. Researchers analyzed information from an online patient community where people with conditions like ME/CFS shared their experiences with two medicines: amitriptyline and modafinil. The study found that most patients were using these drugs for purposes other than what they were officially approved for, and many reported the drugs helped them.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

Sullivan, Patrick F, Allander, Tobias, Lysholm, Fredrik et al.·BMC microbiology·2011

Researchers used advanced genetic sequencing to search for viruses in the blood of 45 people with chronic fatigue syndrome, comparing each patient to their identical twin who did not have the illness. They found that a virus called GB virus C appeared in a few patients but not in their healthy twins, suggesting it might be linked to ME/CFS. However, the overall results did not strongly support the idea that a single detectable virus causes chronic fatigue.

Immune System

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Selected Health Conditions Among Overweight, Obese, and Non-Obese Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War: Results from a Survey Conducted in 2003-2005.

Serologic and PCR testing of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States shows no association with xenotropic or polytropic murine leukemia virus-related viruses.

Cognitive impairment in fatigue and sleepiness associated conditions.

A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Unraveling the role of perfectionism in chronic fatigue syndrome: is there a distinction between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism?

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

Alcohol use and selected health conditions of 1991 Gulf War veterans: survey results, 2003-2005.

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The search for pain relief in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a descriptive study.

Clinical characteristics of patients with medically unexplained chronic widespread pain: a primary care center study.

Up-regulation of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diagnostic accuracy of symptoms characterising chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Absence of detectable xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors or individuals in Africa.

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

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