ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4581–4600 of 6,163 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Old muscle in young body: an aphorism describing the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Pietrangelo, Tiziana, Fulle, Stefania, Coscia, Francesco et al.·European journal of translational myology·2018

This study found that muscles in people with ME/CFS show patterns similar to muscles in elderly people, even though the patients are young. The researchers discovered problems with how muscles use energy, handle calcium, and produce new muscle protein. Importantly, the findings suggest that appropriate physical activity may actually help rather than harm, though the right type and intensity still need to be determined.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Severe eosinophilic colitis caused by neuropathic agents in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome and functional abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature.

Fragkos, Konstantinos C, Barragry, John, Fernando, Charisma Shahi et al.·Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie·2018

This case report describes one young woman with ME/CFS and chronic pain who developed severe inflammation in her colon (eosinophilic colitis) after taking two common pain medications—gabapentin and pregabalin. Her symptoms improved when she stopped the medications and received steroid treatment. This is an extremely rare side effect, but doctors should be aware of it if ME/CFS patients taking these drugs develop abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood cell changes.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Era of the Human Microbiome: Persistent Pathogens Drive Chronic Symptoms by Interfering With Host Metabolism, Gene Expression, and Immunity.

Proal, Amy, Marshall, Trevor·Frontiers in pediatrics·2018

This review explores the idea that ME/CFS may be caused by persistent infections (like Epstein-Barr virus) that disrupt the body's microbial communities and normal cell functions. These infections can interfere with how cells work, how genes are expressed, and how the immune system responds, potentially leading to the chronic symptoms patients experience. The authors suggest that treating ME/CFS might involve helping the immune system fight these persistent infections.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Tetramethoxyluteolin for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Theoharides, Theoharis C, Tsilioni, Irene·Current topics in medicinal chemistry·2018

This review examines how certain molecules in the brain called cytokines and neuropeptides may trigger inflammation in specific brain areas (the hypothalamus and amygdala) in people with ME/CFS. The authors propose that a natural compound called tetramethoxyluteolin (a modified form of a plant-derived substance called luteolin) might help reduce this inflammation and improve symptoms. The study suggests this compound could be delivered directly into the nasal passages to reach the brain more effectively.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The High Costs of Low-Grade Inflammation: Persistent Fatigue as a Consequence of Reduced Cellular-Energy Availability and Non-adaptive Energy Expenditure.

Lacourt, Tamara E, Vichaya, Elisabeth G, Chiu, Gabriel S et al.·Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience·2018

This study explores why people with ME/CFS experience persistent fatigue by examining how inflammation in the body may damage cells' ability to produce energy. The researchers propose that chronic inflammation forces cells to switch to a less efficient energy-production method, while at the same time the body may be spending energy at rates it cannot sustain, creating an energy crisis. Sleep problems and disrupted body rhythms may also play a role in this imbalance.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Mathis, Johannes·Praxis·2018

This article discusses how doctors can tell the difference between several sleep-related conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue. The authors explain that complaints like tiredness and fatigue are common, but they can have many different causes. Careful diagnosis using sleep studies and other tests is needed to distinguish narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome from one another, since each condition requires different treatments.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Fatigue Is Associated With Altered Monitoring and Preparation of Physical Effort in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

van der Schaaf, Marieke E, Roelofs, Karin, de Lange, Floris P et al.·Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging·2018

This study used brain imaging to understand why people with ME/CFS feel so fatigued and struggle with physical effort. Researchers asked patients and healthy people to squeeze a hand device at different force levels and give them feedback on their performance. People with ME/CFS were more likely to use less effort after feedback, especially at higher effort levels, and this related to lower activity in a brain region involved in decision-making and planning.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclearBiobank-Resource

Using a participatory approach to develop and implement the UK ME/CFS Biobank.

Lacerda, Eliana M, Kingdon, Caroline C, Bowman, Erinna W et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2018

This study describes how researchers in the UK created a biobank—a collection of biological samples and health information from ME/CFS patients—using input from patients themselves. By involving patients in the planning and running of the biobank, the researchers were able to build a resource that better meets the needs of both patients and scientists studying the disease.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Tiredness, Fatigue, and Exhaustion as Perceived by Recreational Marathon Runners.

Olson, Karin, Zimka, Oksana, Pasiorowski, Ashley et al.·Qualitative health research·2018

Researchers interviewed 13 recreational marathon runners to understand how they experience and describe tiredness and fatigue. The runners shared strategies that help them manage exhaustion, including taking planned recovery breaks after intense exercise, using mental distraction techniques, and relying on support from others. The researchers suggest these coping strategies might also be helpful for people with medical conditions that cause severe fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

On chronic fatigue syndrome and nosological categories.

Sharif, Kassem, Watad, Abdulla, Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2018

This paper reviews the history of ME/CFS and explores whether it might be related to autoimmune diseases—conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. The authors discuss how ME/CFS has been called many different names over the past 300 years and how its symptoms overlap with other conditions like POTS and Sjögren's syndrome. They suggest that ME/CFS might be an early stage of an autoimmune disease or might share underlying causes with autoimmune conditions.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Electroacupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) Raises Muscular Force by Adjusting AMPK/PGC-1 α Signaling in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Dong, Jia-Zi, Wei, Yun-Tao, Xu, Huan-Yu et al.·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2018

This study tested whether acupuncture at a specific point (ST 36) could improve muscle weakness in rats with a chronic fatigue condition. Researchers found that the treatment increased muscle strength and improved how the rats' muscles produce energy by activating protective cellular pathways. The results suggest acupuncture may help muscle cells work more efficiently and reduce damage from fatigue.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Challenges in fibromyalgia diagnosis: from meaning of symptoms to fibromyalgia labeling.

Bidari, Ali, Ghavidel Parsa, Banafsheh, Ghalehbaghi, Babak·The Korean journal of pain·2018

Fibromyalgia (FM) is difficult to diagnose because there is no clear dividing line between having FM and not having it. This review examines why doctors and patients struggle with FM diagnosis, including how symptoms vary between people and over time, and how cultural and emotional factors influence whether a doctor labels someone as having FM. The authors argue that doctors' judgment based on talking with patients may be more reliable than relying only on scoring systems.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Recent insights into 3 underrecognized conditions: Myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and environmental sensitivities-multiple chemical sensitivity.

Hu, Howard, Baines, Cornelia·Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2018

This review article examines three conditions that doctors often overlook or misunderstand: ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity. The authors discuss why these conditions are frequently underrecognized and how they affect patients' lives. They highlight that these conditions are real medical problems that deserve proper attention and care.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Clinical Criteria of Central Sensitization in Chronic Pelvic and Perineal Pain (Convergences PP Criteria): Elaboration of a Clinical Evaluation Tool Based on Formal Expert Consensus.

Levesque, Amélie, Riant, Thibault, Ploteau, Stéphane et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2018

This study created a simple checklist to help doctors identify when chronic pelvic pain is caused by the nervous system becoming overly sensitive, rather than from a structural injury or disease they can see on tests. Experts agreed on 10 key signs to look for, including pain that changes in intensity, pain triggered by normal activities, and having other conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome alongside pelvic pain.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

A Comparison of Neuroimaging Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis, Major Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis): is There a Common Cause?

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael, Puri, Basant K·Molecular neurobiology·2018

This review compared brain imaging findings across three conditions—multiple sclerosis, depression, and ME/CFS—looking for similarities that might suggest a common underlying cause. The researchers found that all three conditions show similar patterns of brain abnormalities, including problems with blood flow to the brain and changes in brain structure. They suggest that inflammation and immune cell dysfunction in the brain may explain why patients with these different diagnoses have comparable brain imaging problems.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Dehydroepiandrosterone Research: Past, Current, and Future.

Klinge, Carolyn M, Clark, Barbara J, Prough, Russell A·Vitamins and hormones·2018

This is a historical review of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that naturally decreases with age. Scientists have studied whether DHEA might help with various health conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, but the evidence in humans is limited. While some benefits have been found in postmenopausal women and certain autoimmune disorders, most human studies show only weak connections between DHEA levels and disease outcomes.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

The autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)/Shoenfeld's syndrome: descriptive analysis of 300 patients from the international ASIA syndrome registry.

Watad, Abdulla, Quaresma, Mariana, Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2018

This study examined 300 patients who developed autoimmune diseases after exposure to adjuvants (immune-stimulating substances in vaccines and other products). The most common symptoms were joint pain, muscle pain, and chronic fatigue, and most patients developed another autoimmune condition within about 17 months of exposure. The researchers found that different adjuvants caused slightly different patterns of illness.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

HPV vaccination syndrome: A clinical mirage, or a new tragic fibromyalgia model.

Martínez-Lavín, Manuel·Reumatologia clinica·2018

Some people have reported developing chronic pain and autonomic symptoms (problems with heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating) after receiving the HPV vaccine. This article reviews whether this connection is real and suggests that if it exists, these cases might share similarities with fibromyalgia—a condition involving widespread pain and nervous system dysfunction. The authors propose that understanding fibromyalgia's mechanisms could help diagnose and treat patients who develop symptoms after HPV vaccination.

Pain and SensitizationAutonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCase-Control

[Comparison of differential metabolites in urine of the middle school students with chronic fatigue syndrome before and after exercise].

Chi, Ai-Ping, Wang, Zi-Nan, Shi, Bing et al.·Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology·2018

This study looked at chemicals in the urine of teenagers with ME/CFS before and after exercise to understand how their bodies process energy differently. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had abnormal levels of several metabolites (chemical byproducts), and these changes got worse after exercise, suggesting their bodies struggle to recover from physical activity.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Immunoadsorption to remove ß2 adrenergic receptor antibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS/ME.

Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Loebel, Madlen, Freitag, Helma et al.·PloS one·2018

This small study tested whether a blood-cleaning procedure called immunoadsorption could help ME/CFS patients who have specific antibodies attacking their nervous system. Ten patients received this treatment over 5 days, and seven reported symptom improvement during the procedure. Three patients had improvements lasting 6-12+ months, suggesting the treatment may help some people, though more research is needed.

Immune System

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Evidence browser

Old muscle in young body: an aphorism describing the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Severe eosinophilic colitis caused by neuropathic agents in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome and functional abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Era of the Human Microbiome: Persistent Pathogens Drive Chronic Symptoms by Interfering With Host Metabolism, Gene Expression, and Immunity.

Tetramethoxyluteolin for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The High Costs of Low-Grade Inflammation: Persistent Fatigue as a Consequence of Reduced Cellular-Energy Availability and Non-adaptive Energy Expenditure.

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Fatigue Is Associated With Altered Monitoring and Preparation of Physical Effort in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Using a participatory approach to develop and implement the UK ME/CFS Biobank.

Tiredness, Fatigue, and Exhaustion as Perceived by Recreational Marathon Runners.

On chronic fatigue syndrome and nosological categories.

[Electroacupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) Raises Muscular Force by Adjusting AMPK/PGC-1 α Signaling in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Challenges in fibromyalgia diagnosis: from meaning of symptoms to fibromyalgia labeling.

Recent insights into 3 underrecognized conditions: Myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and environmental sensitivities-multiple chemical sensitivity.

Clinical Criteria of Central Sensitization in Chronic Pelvic and Perineal Pain (Convergences PP Criteria): Elaboration of a Clinical Evaluation Tool Based on Formal Expert Consensus.

A Comparison of Neuroimaging Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis, Major Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis): is There a Common Cause?

Dehydroepiandrosterone Research: Past, Current, and Future.

The autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)/Shoenfeld's syndrome: descriptive analysis of 300 patients from the international ASIA syndrome registry.

HPV vaccination syndrome: A clinical mirage, or a new tragic fibromyalgia model.

[Comparison of differential metabolites in urine of the middle school students with chronic fatigue syndrome before and after exercise].

Immunoadsorption to remove ß2 adrenergic receptor antibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS/ME.

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