ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4421–4440 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of small-fiber polyneuropathy with three previously unassociated rare missense SCN9A variants.

Kelley, Mary A, Oaklander, Anne Louise·Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur·2020

This study describes two patients who developed small fiber nerve damage (affecting the smallest nerves in the body) and severe fatigue after infections. Both had immune system abnormalities and improved dramatically with immune-suppressing treatments. Genetic testing found rare changes in a gene called SCN9A that affects how nerve cells communicate. The findings suggest that genetic variations in this gene might play a role in some cases of small fiber nerve damage that respond to immune therapy.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neurasthenia: tracing the journey of a protean malady.

Bhola, Poornima, Chaturvedi, Santosh K·International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)·2020

This article traces the history of 'neurasthenia,' an old medical diagnosis meaning nervous exhaustion that was popular in the past but has largely disappeared from modern medicine. The authors explain how this diagnosis reflected the culture, biases, and social beliefs of its time, and how similar conditions today—like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia—are trying to describe the same patient experience of fatigue, pain, and weakness without clear medical causes.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patients' hopes for recovery from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: Toward a "recovery in" framework.

Devendorf, Andrew R, Rown, Abigail A, Jason, Leonard A·Chronic illness·2020

This study asked 10 women over age 50 with ME/CFS what recovery means to them. Most patients didn't believe they could fully recover from ME/CFS, but they did believe they could achieve meaningful improvement through learning better coping strategies. Patients defined recovery as being able to function without constant fear of getting worse, returning to activities that matter to them, and having their symptoms improve significantly.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Can linguistic analysis be used to identify whether adolescents with a chronic illness are depressed?

Jones, Lauren Stephanie, Anderson, Emma, Loades, Maria et al.·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2020

This study looked at whether doctors could use the words young people write in online therapy messages to figure out if they also have depression alongside ME/CFS. Researchers developed a system to analyze language patterns in 16 teenagers' messages, but found it didn't work very well at identifying depression compared to standard depression screening tests. A few language patterns showed promise—for example, teenagers with depression used more words about the past and fewer words showing mixed feelings—but the method overall wasn't reliable enough to be useful.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Suicidal ideation in non-depressed individuals: The effects of a chronic, misunderstood illness.

Devendorf, Andrew R, McManimen, Stephanie L, Jason, Leonard A·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS think about suicide, even when they don't have depression. Researchers interviewed 29 patients with these thoughts and found two main reasons: feeling trapped by their illness with no available treatments, and losing their sense of self, their relationships, and facing stigma from others. The severe disability and pain from ME/CFS—not depression—appeared to be driving these thoughts.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Mapping the Alterations of Glutamate Using Glu-Weighted CEST MRI in a Rat Model of Fatigue.

Li, Ruili, Dai, Zhuozhi, Hu, Di et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2020

Researchers used a special brain imaging technique to measure glutamate (a chemical messenger in the brain) in rats that were made fatigued through a 10-day stressful procedure. They found that fatigued rats had higher levels of glutamate in their brains compared to rested rats, and the fatigued rats moved around less. This suggests that too much glutamate in the brain might be involved in causing fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Sugars and Sweeteners: Structure, Properties and In Silico Modeling.

Janežič, Dušanka, Jäntschi, Lorentz, Bolboacă, Sorana D·Current medicinal chemistry·2020

This study reviews how different types of sugars and sweeteners affect health, including their possible links to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The researchers explain that each sugar and sweetener is processed differently by the body based on its chemical structure, and they used computer models to help understand and predict how these substances might affect health.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances].

Sidorova, Yu S, Petrov, N A, Shipelin, V A et al.·Voprosy pitaniia·2020

This review examined whether common foods like spinach and quinoa contain natural compounds that might help with chronic fatigue and other health problems. Researchers found that both foods contain substances called phytoecdysteroids and other active compounds that have been shown in animal studies to reduce fatigue, improve memory, and support overall health. The authors suggest these foods could be useful additions to supplements and specialized diets.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Eradication of persistent coxsackievirus B infection from a pancreatic cell line with clinically used antiviral drugs.

Honkimaa, Anni, Sioofy-Khojine, Amir-Babak, Oikarinen, Sami et al.·Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2020

This study tested whether common antiviral medications could eliminate persistent coxsackievirus B infections in laboratory pancreatic cells. Researchers found that four drugs—Enviroxime, Fluoxetine, Hizentra (an immune protein), and Pleconaril—successfully cleared the virus from infected cells. The results suggest these medications might be worth testing in patients with chronic enterovirus infections.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not required

The effect of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) severity on cellular bioenergetic function.

Tomas, Cara, Elson, Joanna L, Strassheim, Victoria et al.·PloS one·2020

This study looked at how well the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) work in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that both people with moderate and severe ME/CFS had problems with how their cells produce energy, but severely affected patients had additional problems with how their cells break down glucose for energy. This suggests that severe ME/CFS involves more widespread energy problems than moderate ME/CFS.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Is the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation influenced by baseline severity of fatigue symptom in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Yang, De Gang, Gu, Rui, Kubo, Jin et al.·The International journal of neuroscience·2020

Researchers tested whether a brain stimulation treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could help ME/CFS patients with fatigue. They treated 22 patients with 6-8 sessions of rTMS and measured fatigue levels before and after treatment. The study found that rTMS improved fatigue symptoms in all patients, whether they started with severe or mild fatigue.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

The Development of a Consistent Europe-Wide Approach to Investigating the Economic Impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS): A Report from the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE).

Pheby, Derek F H, Araja, Diana, Berkis, Uldis et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study created a unified European system for measuring how much ME/CFS costs society in terms of healthcare, lost work, and other expenses. The researchers found that ME/CFS places a heavy financial burden on Europe, mostly because patients lose work productivity. However, they discovered that calculating these true costs is very difficult because different countries use different diagnostic criteria and many doctors don't diagnose ME/CFS, leaving many patients uncounted.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Efficacy of Repeat Immunoadsorption.

Tölle, Markus, Freitag, Helma, Antelmann, Michaela et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study tested a blood-cleaning treatment called immunoadsorption (IA) on five ME/CFS patients who had previously improved with this therapy. About two years later, they received the treatment again using a slightly modified approach. Four of the five patients showed improvement in their symptoms that lasted 6-12 months, and the treatment was well tolerated with no serious side effects.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Exercise alters brain activation in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Washington, Stuart D, Rayhan, Rakib U, Garner, Richard et al.·Brain communications·2020

This study used brain imaging to compare how the brains of people with ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness respond to exercise during a memory task. Researchers found that exercise affected brain activity differently in the two conditions—specifically in areas related to pain awareness, attention, and threat detection. These differences suggest that ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness may involve distinct biological mechanisms, which could help doctors distinguish between them.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Human Herpesvirus-6 Reactivation, Mitochondrial Fragmentation, and the Coordination of Antiviral and Metabolic Phenotypes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Schreiner, Philipp, Harrer, Thomas, Scheibenbogen, Carmen et al.·ImmunoHorizons·2020

This study explores how a virus called HHV-6 might trigger ME/CFS by examining what happens inside cells when the virus reactivates. The researchers found that when HHV-6 wakes up, it causes cells to switch into a protective mode that fights other viruses but seriously damages the cell's power plants (mitochondria) and energy-making abilities. Importantly, blood serum from ME/CFS patients showed similar patterns, suggesting HHV-6 reactivation may play a role in the disease.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Spilanthes oleracea with potential effect in chronic fatigue syndrome infirmity.

Nipate, Sonali S, Tiwari, Anand H·Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine·2020

This study tested whether an extract from Spilanthes oleracea (a plant used in traditional medicine) could help relieve fatigue symptoms in mice subjected to chronic stress. The researchers found that the plant extract reduced markers of cellular damage and improved physical performance in stressed mice, suggesting it may work by reducing harmful molecules called oxidative stress in the body.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Fungal Dysbiosis Correlates with the Development of Tumor-Induced Cachexia in Mice.

Jabes, Daniela L, de Maria, Yara N L F, Aciole Barbosa, David et al.·Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study looked at how fungi (different from bacteria) in the gut change when cancer causes severe weight loss and muscle wasting called cachexia. Researchers compared mice with cancer-induced cachexia to healthy mice and found significant differences in their fungal populations. Interestingly, some of these fungal changes are similar to those seen in other conditions, including ME/CFS, suggesting a common gut-related mechanism across different diseases.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

An Isolated Complex V Inefficiency and Dysregulated Mitochondrial Function in Immortalized Lymphocytes from ME/CFS Patients.

Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J, Allan, Claire Y et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2020

Researchers studied the energy-producing structures (mitochondria) in blood cells from ME/CFS patients and found a specific problem: the cells have difficulty using a protein complex called Complex V that normally makes ATP, the body's energy currency. To compensate, the cells turn up their other energy-making machinery, which keeps ATP levels normal while resting but may leave the cells exhausted when they need to produce extra energy quickly—similar to running a car engine at maximum capacity just to maintain normal speed.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during long-term treatment with intravenous saline: A case study.

Davenport, Todd E, Ward, Michael K, Stevens, Staci R et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study followed one woman with ME/CFS who received regular intravenous saline (salt water) infusions over about 2 years. Researchers measured how her heart and lungs responded to exercise tests throughout the treatment. By the end, she recovered faster after exercise, could do more daily activities, and her heart responded better during physical exertion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Determination by ICP-MS and multivariate data analysis of elemental urine excretion profile during the EDTA chelation therapy: A case study.

Robotti, Elisa, Quasso, Fabio, Manfredi, Marcello et al.·Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)·2020

This study looked at one patient with ME/CFS symptoms who may have had heavy metal poisoning. The doctors gave the patient a chelation therapy treatment (a medicine designed to bind to and remove heavy metals from the body) every two weeks for 17 months, and measured how much metal came out in the urine. The study found that most heavy metals were eliminated in the first 24 hours after treatment, but the effect wore off quickly—suggesting more frequent treatments might work better.

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Association of small-fiber polyneuropathy with three previously unassociated rare missense SCN9A variants.

Neurasthenia: tracing the journey of a protean malady.

Patients' hopes for recovery from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: Toward a "recovery in" framework.

Can linguistic analysis be used to identify whether adolescents with a chronic illness are depressed?

Suicidal ideation in non-depressed individuals: The effects of a chronic, misunderstood illness.

Mapping the Alterations of Glutamate Using Glu-Weighted CEST MRI in a Rat Model of Fatigue.

Sugars and Sweeteners: Structure, Properties and In Silico Modeling.

[Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances].

Eradication of persistent coxsackievirus B infection from a pancreatic cell line with clinically used antiviral drugs.

The effect of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) severity on cellular bioenergetic function.

Is the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation influenced by baseline severity of fatigue symptom in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

The Development of a Consistent Europe-Wide Approach to Investigating the Economic Impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS): A Report from the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE).

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Efficacy of Repeat Immunoadsorption.

Exercise alters brain activation in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Human Herpesvirus-6 Reactivation, Mitochondrial Fragmentation, and the Coordination of Antiviral and Metabolic Phenotypes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Spilanthes oleracea with potential effect in chronic fatigue syndrome infirmity.

Fungal Dysbiosis Correlates with the Development of Tumor-Induced Cachexia in Mice.

An Isolated Complex V Inefficiency and Dysregulated Mitochondrial Function in Immortalized Lymphocytes from ME/CFS Patients.

Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during long-term treatment with intravenous saline: A case study.

Determination by ICP-MS and multivariate data analysis of elemental urine excretion profile during the EDTA chelation therapy: A case study.

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