ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4701–4720 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Potential use of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy for the analysis and diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (Review).

Sakudo, Akikazu·Molecular medicine reports·2016

This review examines whether a special type of light-based scanning called visible and near-infrared spectroscopy could help diagnose ME/CFS objectively. Currently, doctors diagnose ME/CFS only by listening to patient symptoms, with no blood test or physical measurement available. Researchers found that this light-scanning technique can detect differences in blood samples and thumb tissue between people with ME/CFS and healthy people, suggesting it might identify biological markers of the disease.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Intrinsic Functional Hypoconnectivity in Core Neurocognitive Networks Suggests Central Nervous System Pathology in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

Zinn, Marcie L, Zinn, Mark A, Jason, Leonard A·Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback·2016

Researchers used EEG brain scans to measure electrical activity and communication between brain regions in 9 ME/CFS patients and 9 healthy controls. They found that people with ME/CFS had weaker electrical activity in the back of the brain and reduced communication between three important brain networks that help with thinking, attention, and rest. These differences suggest that ME/CFS involves measurable changes in how the brain works.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Metagenomic Investigation of Plasma in Individuals with ME/CFS Highlights the Importance of Technical Controls to Elucidate Contamination and Batch Effects.

Miller, Ruth R, Uyaguari-Diaz, Miguel, McCabe, Mark N et al.·PloS one·2016

Researchers used advanced genetic sequencing to search for viruses and bacteria in the blood of people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with other conditions and healthy individuals. They found very little microbial material in anyone's blood, and the small differences they observed were likely caused by contamination during sample handling rather than actual differences between groups. This study teaches an important lesson: when looking for germs in blood samples, scientists must be extremely careful about how they handle samples and must use proper controls to avoid false conclusions.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Maximizing potential impact of experimental research into cognitive processes in health psychology: A systematic approach to material development.

Hughes, Alicia M, Gordon, Rola, Chalder, Trudie et al.·British journal of health psychology·2016

This paper is a guide for researchers on how to properly design experiments that test whether people with conditions like ME/CFS have unconscious biases in how they pay attention to and interpret information about their illness. The authors explain that many past studies used different, untested materials, making it hard to compare results. They provide a step-by-step process and practical tools to help researchers create better, standardized materials for these types of studies.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Metabolic mechanism of a polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis to relieve chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chi, Aiping, Zhang, Yang, Kang, Yijiang et al.·International journal of biological macromolecules·2016

Researchers tested whether a natural substance extracted from Schisandra chinensis (a traditional Chinese fruit) could help reduce fatigue in rats with a condition similar to ME/CFS. They found that the substance, called SCP, helped improve the rats' activity and behavior. The improvement appeared to work by fixing problems in how the rats' bodies were processing energy and certain amino acids.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The Putative Role of Viruses, Bacteria, and Chronic Fungal Biotoxin Exposure in the Genesis of Intractable Fatigue Accompanied by Cognitive and Physical Disability.

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael, Walder, Ken et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2016

This paper reviews how viruses (like EBV and cytomegalovirus), bacteria (like those causing Lyme disease), and mold exposure might cause ME/CFS in some patients. The authors explain that standard treatments like counseling and exercise have limited success, and suggest that doctors should look more carefully for hidden infections or past mold exposure when standard blood tests don't find an obvious cause.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Herpesviruses dUTPases: A New Family of Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) Proteins with Implications for Human Disease.

Williams, Marshall V, Cox, Brandon, Ariza, Maria Eugenia·Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2016

This review examines how herpesvirus proteins called dUTPases may trigger harmful immune responses in ME/CFS and other diseases. Most adults carry dormant herpesviruses (like Epstein-Barr virus) that can reactivate throughout life. The researchers suggest that proteins released during reactivation may overstimulate the immune system, potentially worsening ME/CFS symptoms and inflammation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Exercise-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: a myth or reality?

Ostojic, Sergej M·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2016

Exercise is usually good for your cells' energy factories (mitochondria), but this review asks whether extremely intense or exhausting exercise might actually damage them instead. The authors explore how very hard exercise could harm mitochondrial function and suggest this might explain some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome and muscle problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia syndrome pathology and environmental influences on afflictions with medically unexplained symptoms.

Albrecht, Phillip J, Rice, Frank L·Reviews on environmental health·2016

This review examines fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) as a model for understanding conditions with symptoms that are difficult to explain medically. The authors discuss how nerve endings in the skin and stress hormones (particularly estrogen) may play a role in causing widespread pain and fatigue. They propose that environmental stress and past trauma can trigger changes in how the nervous system works, leading to increased pain sensitivity.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearObservational

"I Always Vet Things": Navigating Privacy and the Presentation of Self on Health Discussion Boards Among Individuals with Long-Term Conditions.

Brady, Ellen, Segar, Julia, Sanders, Caroline·Journal of medical Internet research·2016

This study asked 20 people with ME/CFS and 21 people with diabetes about how they share information on online health forums and what privacy means to them. The researchers found that people carefully decide what personal details to share online, changing their approach depending on the situation and who they're talking to. Rather than having simple rules about what's private or public, people make complex, individual decisions about how much of themselves to reveal.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Investigation of the effects of vanilloids in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sarvaiya, Kuldeep, Goswami, Sunita·Brain research bulletin·2016

This study tested whether compounds that affect a pain-sensing protein called TRPV1 could help reduce fatigue and related symptoms in an animal model of ME/CFS. Rats that were stressed through repeated swimming showed improvements in fatigue, muscle strength, mood, and stress hormone levels when treated with these compounds, suggesting that TRPV1 may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Integrating Cell Phone Imaging with Magnetic Levitation (i-LEV) for Label-Free Blood Analysis at the Point-of-Living.

Baday, Murat, Calamak, Semih, Durmus, Naside Gozde et al.·Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2016

Researchers developed a new technology that uses smartphones and magnetic fields to analyze blood cells without needing special dyes or labels. The system can identify and count white and red blood cells quickly and affordably, and it works in clinics, hospitals, and homes. This portable device could help doctors monitor patients with rare diseases, including ME/CFS, more easily and at lower cost.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Reversal of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis and Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms Arising from Immune Disturbance in an HLA-DR/DQ Genetically Susceptible Individual with Multiple Biotoxin Exposures.

Gunn, Shelly R, Gunn, G Gibson, Mueller, Francis W·The American journal of case reports·2016

This case report describes one 25-year-old man who had both severe inflammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue syndrome that improved dramatically after identifying and removing mold exposure from his home, receiving a hormone replacement therapy (VIP), and doing stress-reduction exercises. The patient's genetic makeup made him more susceptible to problems when exposed to toxic mold, and treating the underlying immune disturbance resolved his symptoms without medication.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Investigating unexplained fatigue in general practice with a particular focus on CFS/ME.

Bansal, Amolak S·BMC family practice·2016

This paper looks at how doctors in general practice can identify ME/CFS in patients who come in complaining of unexplained tiredness. The authors explain that ME/CFS is a real condition with specific diagnostic criteria, and that normal blood tests (ruling out infections, thyroid problems, and other common causes) combined with careful clinical assessment can confidently diagnose it. They argue that early diagnosis in primary care can reduce patient worry and prevent unnecessary, costly tests.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus (XMRV) and the Safety of the Blood Supply.

Johnson, Andrew D, Cohn, Claudia S·Clinical microbiology reviews·2016

In 2009, a virus called XMRV was found in some ME/CFS patients and created significant concern about blood safety. However, scientists later discovered that the virus actually came from contaminated laboratory samples, not from patients' actual infections. This paper explains how the virus was traced back to a laboratory mouse and why it turned out not to be a real threat to ME/CFS patients or blood donors.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatifue syndrome.].

Holecek, V, Rokyta, R·Ceskoslovenska fysiologie·2016

This review article provides an overview of ME/CFS, explaining what it is, how common it is, and how doctors diagnose and treat it. The condition lasts about 6 months or longer in adults and at least 3 months in children, causing persistent fatigue and other symptoms. The article covers multiple possible causes including biological, genetic, infectious, and psychological factors, as well as the economic impact of the disease.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A concept mapping study evaluating the UK's first NHS generic fatigue clinic.

Hackett, Katie L, Lambson, Rebecca L, Strassheim, Victoria et al.·Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy·2016

This study looked at a new NHS clinic in Newcastle that treats people with fatigue from various causes, not just ME/CFS. Researchers asked 30 patients and 10 healthcare referrers what they needed from the clinic, then had 46 patients rate how important those needs were and how well the clinic was meeting them. The study identified eight key areas patients cared about—including how the clinic made them feel, communication, self-management support, and peer support—and found some areas working well and others needing improvement.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Aluminum adjuvants of vaccines injected into the muscle: Normal fate, pathology and associated disease.

Gherardi, R K, Aouizerate, J, Cadusseau, J et al.·Morphologie : bulletin de l'Association des anatomistes·2016

This study reviews how aluminum compounds used in vaccines are processed by the body and whether they might cause long-term health problems. The researchers found that aluminum can persist in the body for extended periods, accumulate in organs, and in some cases may be associated with muscle pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties—a condition called macrophagic myofasciitis. The authors suggest that the long-term safety of aluminum-containing vaccines needs more careful examination.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

MicroRNAs hsa-miR-99b, hsa-miR-330, hsa-miR-126 and hsa-miR-30c: Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Natural Killer (NK) Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Petty, Robert D, McCarthy, Neil E, Le Dieu, Rifca et al.·PloS one·2016

This study examined tiny molecules called microRNAs in immune cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. Researchers found that four specific microRNAs were abnormally high in patients' blood, particularly in natural killer (NK) immune cells. When they tested these microRNAs in the lab, they found they affected how NK cells work, suggesting this might contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse fatigue and its relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Zi-Teng, Du, Xiu-Ming, Ma, Xiu-Juan et al.·Journal of neuroinflammation·2016

Researchers created a mouse model of fatigue by exposing mice to immune stress (a bacterial compound) combined with physical stress. They found that a specific immune protein called NLRP3 becomes active in the brain during fatigue, and that blocking this protein reduced fatigue symptoms. This suggests that controlling this immune pathway might help treat fatigue in conditions like ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

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Evidence browser

Potential use of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy for the analysis and diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (Review).

Intrinsic Functional Hypoconnectivity in Core Neurocognitive Networks Suggests Central Nervous System Pathology in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

Metagenomic Investigation of Plasma in Individuals with ME/CFS Highlights the Importance of Technical Controls to Elucidate Contamination and Batch Effects.

Maximizing potential impact of experimental research into cognitive processes in health psychology: A systematic approach to material development.

Metabolic mechanism of a polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis to relieve chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Putative Role of Viruses, Bacteria, and Chronic Fungal Biotoxin Exposure in the Genesis of Intractable Fatigue Accompanied by Cognitive and Physical Disability.

Herpesviruses dUTPases: A New Family of Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) Proteins with Implications for Human Disease.

Exercise-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: a myth or reality?

Fibromyalgia syndrome pathology and environmental influences on afflictions with medically unexplained symptoms.

"I Always Vet Things": Navigating Privacy and the Presentation of Self on Health Discussion Boards Among Individuals with Long-Term Conditions.

Investigation of the effects of vanilloids in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Integrating Cell Phone Imaging with Magnetic Levitation (i-LEV) for Label-Free Blood Analysis at the Point-of-Living.

Reversal of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis and Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms Arising from Immune Disturbance in an HLA-DR/DQ Genetically Susceptible Individual with Multiple Biotoxin Exposures.

Investigating unexplained fatigue in general practice with a particular focus on CFS/ME.

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus (XMRV) and the Safety of the Blood Supply.

[Chronic fatifue syndrome.].

A concept mapping study evaluating the UK's first NHS generic fatigue clinic.

Aluminum adjuvants of vaccines injected into the muscle: Normal fate, pathology and associated disease.

MicroRNAs hsa-miR-99b, hsa-miR-330, hsa-miR-126 and hsa-miR-30c: Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Natural Killer (NK) Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse fatigue and its relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome.

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