ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2961–2980 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

JP-8 jet fuel exposure and divided attention test performance in 1991 Gulf War veterans.

Bell, Iris R, Brooks, Audrey J, Baldwin, Carol M et al.·Aviation, space, and environmental medicine·2005

This study examined how exposure to low levels of jet fuel affected thinking and attention in Gulf War veterans who were chronically ill. Researchers tested veterans' reaction times on a computer task before and after brief exposures to either jet fuel fumes or clean air, done three times over three weeks. Veterans who were ill and had chemical sensitivities showed faster reaction times after jet fuel exposure, which the researchers suggest might indicate changes in brain chemistry rather than improved thinking.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

A 12-month follow-up study of self-management training for people with chronic disease: are changes maintained over time?

Barlow, J H, Wright, C C, Turner, A P et al.·British journal of health psychology·2005

This study followed 171 people with chronic illnesses (including ME/CFS) for 12 months after they completed a self-management training course. The improvements they experienced at 4 months—such as better fatigue management, increased confidence in managing their health, and improved mood—stayed the same at 12 months. People continued using the techniques they learned on the course.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Clinical observation on effect of electro-acupuncture on back-shu points in treating chronic fatigue syndrome].

Wang, Qian, Xiong, Jia-xuan·Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine·2005

This study tested whether a type of acupuncture called electro-acupuncture (using small electrical currents with acupuncture needles) could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) feel less tired and have fewer symptoms. Forty patients received treatment targeting specific acupuncture points on the back, and researchers measured their fatigue and symptom levels before and after treatment. The results showed that fatigue and symptoms improved significantly after the treatment.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Urinary and plasma organic acids and amino acids in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jones, Mark G, Cooper, Elizabeth, Amjad, Saira et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2005

Researchers tested blood and urine samples from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people, those with depression, and those with rheumatoid arthritis. Previous studies claimed certain chemicals in urine were markers for ME/CFS, but this study could not confirm those earlier findings. However, the study did find some signs of inflammation and possible muscle changes that might explain why ME/CFS patients experience fatigue and muscle pain.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Brain 5-HT1A receptor binding in chronic fatigue syndrome measured using positron emission tomography and [11C]WAY-100635.

Cleare, Anthony J, Messa, Cristina, Rabiner, Eugenii A et al.·Biological psychiatry·2005

This study used brain imaging to measure a specific receptor (5-HT1A) that helps regulate serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. Researchers compared 10 ME/CFS patients with 10 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients had significantly fewer of these receptors, especially in a brain region called the hippocampus (involved in memory and emotion). This suggests that serotonin regulation in the brain may work differently in ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evaluation of autoantibodies to common and neuronal cell antigens in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vernon, Suzanne D, Reeves, William C·Journal of autoimmune diseases·2005

Researchers tested blood samples from people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to look for autoantibodies—proteins the immune system makes that can attack the body's own cells. They found that some people with ME/CFS had higher levels of antibodies against two specific targets: a brain protein called MAP2 and a component of DNA. However, most common autoantibodies were not elevated in ME/CFS patients.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise.

Jammes, Y, Steinberg, J G, Mambrini, O et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2005

This study examined how muscles respond to exercise in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers had patients cycle at increasing intensities while measuring oxygen use, heart rate, muscle electrical signals, and markers of cellular stress. They found that ME/CFS patients showed increased oxidative stress (cellular damage) and abnormal muscle electrical activity during and after exercise, which may explain exercise-related pain and exhaustion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Family health and characteristics in chronic fatigue syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and emotional disorders of childhood.

Rangel, Luiza, Garralda, M Elena, Jeffs, Jim et al.·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·2005

This study looked at families of children with ME/CFS and compared them to families of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA, an autoimmune joint disease) and emotional disorders like anxiety or depression. Researchers found that parents of children with ME/CFS were more likely to have ME/CFS-like symptoms themselves, experience greater emotional stress, and report their child's illness as more burdensome to family life compared to parents of children with JRA.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate but normal insulin-like growth factor in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relevance for the inflammatory response in CFS.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, De Ruyter, Marcel·Neuro endocrinology letters·2005

This study compared hormone levels in people with ME/CFS to healthy controls. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had significantly lower levels of DHEAS (a hormone made by the adrenal glands), but normal levels of another hormone called IGF1. The low DHEAS was closely linked to markers of immune system activation and inflammation, suggesting this hormone imbalance may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

Smith, J, Fritz, E L, Kerr, J R et al.·Journal of clinical pathology·2005

This study looked at whether certain genetic markers related to the immune system (called HLA types) are more common in people with ME/CFS than in healthy people. Researchers compared the genetic profiles of 49 ME/CFS patients with 102 healthy controls from the same region of England. They found that one particular genetic marker (HLA-DQA1*01) was significantly more common in ME/CFS patients, suggesting genes may play a role in who develops this illness.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Reeves, William C, Wagner, Dieter, Nisenbaum, Rosane et al.·BMC medicine·2005

This study tested two different ways of diagnosing ME/CFS to see which one worked better. Researchers in Kansas recruited 227 people—some with ME/CFS, some with unexplained fatigue that didn't meet ME/CFS criteria, some depressed, and some healthy—and admitted them to a hospital for two days of testing. They found that a new method for diagnosing ME/CFS (based on measuring fatigue severity, disability, and symptoms) worked much better at identifying truly ill people than the old method.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Ambulatory monitoring of physical activity and symptoms in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kop, Willem J, Lyden, Angela, Berlin, Ali A et al.·Arthritis and rheumatism·2005

This study used activity trackers to measure how much people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia move during daily life, and whether their pain and fatigue change based on activity levels. The researchers found that patients with these conditions did less intense activity and experienced more pain and fatigue when they were less active, but interestingly, having pain or fatigue seemed to cause them to reduce activity rather than the other way around.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Primary healthcare provision and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a survey of patients' and General Practitioners' beliefs.

Thomas, Marie A, Smith, Andrew P·BMC family practice·2005

This study asked both ME/CFS patients and general practitioners (GPs) in Wales what they knew about ME/CFS. Researchers found that many GPs had very little specialist knowledge about the condition, and concerningly, only about half of the GPs surveyed actually believed ME/CFS was a real illness. The study suggested that creating better educational materials for both GPs and patients could help improve understanding and care.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Children and adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in non-specialist settings: beliefs, functional impairment and psychiatric disturbance.

Richards, Josephine, Turk, Jeremy, White, Sarah·European child & adolescent psychiatry·2005

This study looked at 30 children and teenagers with ME/CFS who were seen in regular medical clinics (not specialist ME/CFS centers) and compared them to 30 young people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Young people with ME/CFS had much higher rates of emotional and psychiatric symptoms, missed far more school, and strongly preferred rest over exercise compared to those with IBD. The study found that children and adolescents with ME/CFS experience significant disability and psychological distress.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood. Comparative study with emotional disorders.

Garralda, M Elena, Rangel, Luiza·European child & adolescent psychiatry·2005

This study compared children diagnosed with ME/CFS to children with emotional disorders like anxiety and depression to see how these conditions differ. While both groups of children experienced some similar emotional challenges, children with ME/CFS reported more severe tiredness and physical symptoms, and were more likely to have had infections or medical problems before getting sick. The results show that ME/CFS and emotional disorders can look similar in some ways but have important differences.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Prevalence of atopy in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Ferré Ybarz, L, Cardona Dahl, V, Cadahía García, A et al.·Allergologia et immunopathologia·2005

Researchers compared allergies and allergic sensitivity in 25 people with ME/CFS to 20 healthy controls. While patients with ME/CFS reported slightly more respiratory symptoms and drug allergies, the study found no significant difference in overall allergic sensitization between the two groups. This suggests that allergies may not be a core feature of ME/CFS, though some patients do experience them.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Reliability of physiological, psychological, and cognitive variables in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wallman, Karen E, Morton, Alan R, Goodman, Carmel et al.·Research in sports medicine (Print)·2005

Researchers tested whether measurements of fatigue, mood, thinking ability, and physical performance in ME/CFS patients were reliable when checked weekly over four weeks. Most measurements were reliable and consistent, but fatigue ratings—both mental and physical—varied too much week-to-week to be fully trusted. Interestingly, how well people performed during exercise didn't match up well with their reported depression or mood, suggesting the problem may be in how the brain processes fatigue rather than actual muscle weakness.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

24-hour pituitary and adrenal hormone profiles in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Di Giorgio, Annabella, Hudson, Marina, Jerjes, Walid et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2005

Researchers measured hormone levels in ME/CFS patients and healthy people over a full 24-hour period to see if the body's stress-hormone system works differently. They found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of ACTH (a hormone that signals the adrenal glands) throughout the day, especially in the morning when levels normally peak. Other hormones tested were normal, suggesting a subtle problem with how the stress-hormone system is regulated.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The epidemiology of chronic fatigue in the Swedish Twin Registry.

Evengård, Birgitta, Jacks, Andreas, Pedersen, Nancy L et al.·Psychological medicine·2005

This Swedish study contacted over 31,000 people and found that about 2.4% had symptoms matching chronic fatigue syndrome. Women were nearly four times more likely to have these symptoms than men. The researchers were surprised to find that ME/CFS may be more common than doctors previously thought.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and cortisone output in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jerjes, W K, Cleare, A J, Wessely, S et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2005

This study measured stress hormone levels (cortisol and cortisone) in saliva samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people throughout the day. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of both hormones compared to healthy controls, but the daily pattern of these hormones remained similar between the two groups. This suggests that the body's stress response system may not be working at full capacity in some ME/CFS patients.

Endocrine Disruption

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

JP-8 jet fuel exposure and divided attention test performance in 1991 Gulf War veterans.

A 12-month follow-up study of self-management training for people with chronic disease: are changes maintained over time?

[Clinical observation on effect of electro-acupuncture on back-shu points in treating chronic fatigue syndrome].

Urinary and plasma organic acids and amino acids in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brain 5-HT1A receptor binding in chronic fatigue syndrome measured using positron emission tomography and [11C]WAY-100635.

Evaluation of autoantibodies to common and neuronal cell antigens in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise.

Family health and characteristics in chronic fatigue syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and emotional disorders of childhood.

Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate but normal insulin-like growth factor in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): relevance for the inflammatory response in CFS.

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Ambulatory monitoring of physical activity and symptoms in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Primary healthcare provision and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a survey of patients' and General Practitioners' beliefs.

Children and adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in non-specialist settings: beliefs, functional impairment and psychiatric disturbance.

Chronic fatigue syndrome of childhood. Comparative study with emotional disorders.

[Prevalence of atopy in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Reliability of physiological, psychological, and cognitive variables in chronic fatigue syndrome.

24-hour pituitary and adrenal hormone profiles in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The epidemiology of chronic fatigue in the Swedish Twin Registry.

Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and cortisone output in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research