ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4281–4300 of 6,188 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Does Coenzyme Q10 Plus Selenium Supplementation Ameliorate Clinical Outcomes by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Domingo, Joan Carles, Cordobilla, Begoña et al.·Antioxidants & redox signaling·2022

This study tested whether taking Coenzyme Q10 and selenium supplements together could help ME/CFS patients feel better. Twenty-seven patients took these supplements daily for 8 weeks, and researchers measured their fatigue, quality of life, sleep, and blood markers related to stress and inflammation. The supplements improved overall fatigue and quality of life, and blood tests showed reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, though sleep did not improve.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on behavioral stress reactions and blood lactic acid level and muscular AMPK/PGC-1α signaling in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Xu, Xiao-Shan, Ma, Wei, Xiong, Luo-Jie et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2022

Researchers tested a traditional Chinese medicine treatment called herbal cake-separated moxibustion on rats with chronic fatigue syndrome to see if it could improve fatigue and stress responses. The treatment appeared to reduce physical exhaustion markers in the blood (lactic acid) and activate cellular energy-producing pathways in muscles, similar to effects seen with oral herbal medicine.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Occurrence of Hyperactivated Platelets and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Nunes, Jean M, Kruger, Arneaux, Proal, Amy et al.·Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study found that people with ME/CFS have blood clotting abnormalities similar to those seen in Long COVID. Researchers discovered that ME/CFS patients have overactive platelets (blood cells involved in clotting) and tiny clots made of a protein called fibrin scattered throughout their blood plasma. These microscopic clots may block small blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to tissues, potentially explaining fatigue and other ME/CFS symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Lessons Learned From a Coordinated Health System Response.

Ganesh, Ravindra, Vanichkachorn, Greg S, Munipalli, Bala et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes·2022

This study describes how Mayo Clinic, a large healthcare system across five states, created a coordinated plan to help patients recover from long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Doctors from many different specialties worked together to develop consistent guidelines for evaluating and treating these patients. The system includes specialized appointment forms, sample collection for research, and dedicated treatment programs to provide better care.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

A Paradigm for Post-Covid-19 Fatigue Syndrome Analogous to ME/CFS.

Mackay, Angus·Frontiers in neurology·2021

This study proposes that long-term fatigue following COVID-19 works similarly to ME/CFS—both may result from severe infection triggering dysfunction in a brain region called the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In people genetically susceptible to this condition, the stress from COVID-19 infection could overwhelm this brain center, making it oversensitive to everyday stressors and causing the fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and other symptoms characteristic of ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antioxidant and antifatigue effect of a standardized fraction (HemoHIM) from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora.

Kwon, Da-Ae, Kim, Yong Sang, Kim, Seul-Ki et al.·Pharmaceutical biology·2021

Researchers tested an herbal supplement called HemoHIM, made from three plants used in traditional medicine, to see if it could help reduce fatigue and improve antioxidant protection in the body. In laboratory and animal studies, HemoHIM appeared to restore protective enzymes that fight cellular damage and helped mice perform better on physical tests, suggesting it may have antifatigue properties.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function by inhibiting NF-κB activity in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Feng, Chu-Wen, Qu, Yuan-Yuan, Sun, Zhong-Ren et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2021

This study tested whether electroacupuncture (a form of acupuncture with electrical stimulation) could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome recover cognitive abilities like memory and learning. The researchers found that electroacupuncture reduced inflammation in the brain's memory center (hippocampus) and improved the rats' ability to learn and remember, likely by blocking a inflammatory protein called NF-κB.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Coombs-Negative Haemolytic Anaemia, Direct Hyperbilirubinaemia and Splenomegaly: A Rare Amalgam.

Kulkarni, Radhika, Basheer, Amjad, Khan, Aziz·European journal of case reports in internal medicine·2021

This case report describes a young woman who developed an unusual combination of liver problems, destruction of red blood cells, and an enlarged spleen—all caused by reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus behind infectious mononucleosis. The case highlights that EBV can cause rare and complex symptoms affecting multiple body systems, and doctors should test for EBV early when patients have these types of multi-system problems rather than jumping to expensive or invasive tests.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Dorsal root ganglia: fibromyalgia pain factory?

Martínez-Lavín, Manuel·Clinical rheumatology·2021

This article explores whether structures called dorsal root ganglia (DRG)—small nerve clusters along the spine—might be the main source of pain in fibromyalgia. These ganglia contain pain-sensing nerve cells and immune molecules that can become overactive. Recent evidence suggests that in some fibromyalgia patients, these nerve clusters show signs of damage and increased pain signaling.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Evaluation of natural killer cell assay performance on shipped blood specimens.

Querec, Troy D, Abrams, Joseph, Stewart, Jennifer J et al.·Journal of immunological methods·2021

This study tested different laboratory methods for measuring natural killer (NK) cell function—an immune system measurement that may be important for ME/CFS—using blood samples that were shipped overnight instead of tested immediately. Researchers compared three different testing approaches and found that two of them (CRCA and FCCA) gave similar results when blood samples were processed a day after collection, suggesting these tests could work for clinical settings where samples need to be shipped.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Wirth, Klaus J, Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Paul, Friedemann·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This paper proposes an explanation for why ME/CFS patients experience brain fog, cognitive problems, headaches, and other neurological symptoms. The authors suggest that blood vessels in the brain may not be working properly, reducing blood flow to the brain and increasing pressure inside the skull. They argue this could also cause an overactive stress response in the nervous system, leading to the wide range of symptoms patients experience.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Comorbidity of chronic fatigue syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and narcolepsy with 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in an adolescent: a case report.

Liao, Ying, Qi, Jian-Guang, Yan, Hui et al.·Chinese medical journal·2021

This case report describes one adolescent patient who had three conditions at the same time: ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), postural tachycardia syndrome (a condition where heart rate increases abnormally when standing), and narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness). The doctors discovered this patient had a genetic variation in the MTHFR gene, which is involved in processing folate and other important molecules in the body. The authors suggest this genetic variation might help explain why this patient developed all three conditions together.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Dysregulated Provision of Oxidisable Substrates to the Mitochondria in ME/CFS Lymphoblasts.

Missailidis, Daniel, Sanislav, Oana, Allan, Claire Y et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2021

This study looked at how cells from ME/CFS patients use energy differently than healthy cells. Researchers found that ME/CFS cells are overproducing enzymes that break down fats, amino acids, and other nutrients to fuel their mitochondria (the cell's power plants), while their glycolysis (the main way cells normally produce energy) stays normal. This suggests ME/CFS cells may be forced to use alternative, less efficient pathways to generate the energy they need.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Broadband electrical impedance as a novel characterization of oxidative stress in single L6 skeletal muscle cells.

Ferguson, Caroline, Pini, Niccolo, Du, Xiaotian et al.·Analytica chimica acta·2021

This study tested whether a special electrical measurement could detect damage from oxidative stress (harmful chemical reactions) in muscle cells. Researchers treated rat muscle cells with hydrogen peroxide to create oxidative stress, then measured how these stressed cells behaved electrically compared to healthy cells. The stressed cells showed distinctly different electrical patterns, suggesting this technology might one day help diagnose ME/CFS by detecting oxidative stress in patients' muscle cells.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

A Natural History of Disease Framework for Improving the Prevention, Management, and Research on Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome and Other Forms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

O'Boyle, Shennae, Nacul, Luis, Nacul, Flavio E et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study proposes a new way to understand ME/CFS by looking at how the disease develops over time in stages, rather than trying to categorize patients by their different symptoms. The authors suggest that each stage of the disease may need different types of care—early stages might focus on rest and preventing worsening, while later stages need more comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patients. They emphasize that clearer definitions and standards are needed in ME/CFS research to make treatments and policies more reliable.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Modulatory effects of cognitive exertion on regional functional connectivity of the salience network in women with ME/CFS: A pilot study.

Manca, Riccardo, Khan, Katija, Mitolo, Micaela et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·2021

This study looked at how the brain responds to mental effort in women with ME/CFS compared to healthy women. Researchers used brain imaging to examine specific networks involved in attention and awareness before and after a cognitive task. Women with ME/CFS experienced increased fatigue and pain after the mental exertion, while a particular brain region (the insula) showed stronger connections to areas controlling reward and decision-making—changes that matched worsening symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Impact of Severe ME/CFS on Student Learning and K-12 Educational Limitations.

Newton, Faith R·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This article examines how severe ME/CFS affects children's ability to attend school and learn. Many severely ill children are confined to bed or home and cannot attend regular classes. The study suggests that schools are not providing adequate support for these students and proposes new educational approaches and resources that could help them continue learning despite their illness.

Severe ME

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Tolerability and Efficacy of s.c. IgG Self-Treatment in ME/CFS Patients with IgG/IgG Subclass Deficiency: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Sotzny, Franziska, Hartwig, Jelka et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study tested whether injecting immunoglobulin G (IgG), a type of protective protein from the immune system, could help ME/CFS patients who have low levels of this protein and get frequent infections. Seventeen patients received monthly injections under the skin for 12 months. About half the patients who completed the treatment felt noticeably better, with less fatigue and improved ability to function in daily life, though some patients had to stop due to side effects.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Reduced Endothelial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Results From Open-Label Cyclophosphamide Intervention Study.

Sørland, Kari, Sandvik, Miriam Kristine, Rekeland, Ingrid Gurvin et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study found that blood vessels in people with ME/CFS don't work as well as they do in healthy people. The researchers measured how blood vessels widen and respond to changes in blood flow, and found these responses were reduced in ME/CFS patients. Interestingly, when patients received a strong immune-suppressing drug called cyclophosphamide, improvements in symptoms didn't match up with improvements in blood vessel function.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

COVID-19 and post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review.

Poenaru, Sonia, Abdallah, Sara J, Corrales-Medina, Vicente et al.·Therapeutic advances in infectious disease·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue experiencing prolonged symptoms like fatigue, difficulty breathing, and brain fog for months afterward. These lingering symptoms are remarkably similar to ME/CFS, a chronic illness characterized by severe fatigue that worsens with activity. While COVID-19 could potentially trigger ME/CFS in some people, researchers currently don't have enough evidence to confirm this connection.

Severe MEPost-Exertional Malaise

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Does Coenzyme Q10 Plus Selenium Supplementation Ameliorate Clinical Outcomes by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

[Effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on behavioral stress reactions and blood lactic acid level and muscular AMPK/PGC-1α signaling in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

The Occurrence of Hyperactivated Platelets and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Lessons Learned From a Coordinated Health System Response.

A Paradigm for Post-Covid-19 Fatigue Syndrome Analogous to ME/CFS.

Antioxidant and antifatigue effect of a standardized fraction (HemoHIM) from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora.

[Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function by inhibiting NF-κB activity in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Coombs-Negative Haemolytic Anaemia, Direct Hyperbilirubinaemia and Splenomegaly: A Rare Amalgam.

Dorsal root ganglia: fibromyalgia pain factory?

Evaluation of natural killer cell assay performance on shipped blood specimens.

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Comorbidity of chronic fatigue syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and narcolepsy with 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in an adolescent: a case report.

Dysregulated Provision of Oxidisable Substrates to the Mitochondria in ME/CFS Lymphoblasts.

Broadband electrical impedance as a novel characterization of oxidative stress in single L6 skeletal muscle cells.

A Natural History of Disease Framework for Improving the Prevention, Management, and Research on Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome and Other Forms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Modulatory effects of cognitive exertion on regional functional connectivity of the salience network in women with ME/CFS: A pilot study.

The Impact of Severe ME/CFS on Student Learning and K-12 Educational Limitations.

Tolerability and Efficacy of s.c. IgG Self-Treatment in ME/CFS Patients with IgG/IgG Subclass Deficiency: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Reduced Endothelial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Results From Open-Label Cyclophosphamide Intervention Study.

COVID-19 and post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review.

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