ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4781–4800 of 6,163 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Characterisation of cell functions and receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Hardcastle, Sharni Lee, Brenu, Ekua Weba, Johnston, Samantha et al.·BMC immunology·2015

This study examined immune system cells from people with moderate and severe ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had abnormal patterns in their immune cells, including changes in markers on T cells, NK cells, and other infection-fighting cells. These differences were more pronounced in people with more severe illness, suggesting that immune dysfunction may be connected to ME/CFS severity.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Yang/Qi invigoration: an herbal therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome with yang deficiency?

Leong, Pou Kuan, Wong, Hoi Shan, Chen, Jihang et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2015

This study explores whether certain Chinese herbal medicines might help ME/CFS by improving how cells produce energy. The researchers suggest that traditional concepts of 'Yang' and 'Qi' deficiency in Chinese medicine may relate to mitochondrial problems (the energy-producing parts of cells) seen in ME/CFS. They propose that specific herbs like Cistanches and Schisandrae might boost mitochondrial function and help patients with fatigue.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese, neurological diseases, and associated pathologies.

Samsel, Anthony, Seneff, Stephanie·Surgical neurology international·2015

This paper explores whether glyphosate (a common herbicide in Roundup) might deplete the body of manganese, an essential mineral needed for brain health, nerve protection, and gut bacteria balance. The authors suggest that low manganese levels could contribute to various neurological conditions and gut problems, and they propose a mechanism connecting herbicide exposure to these health issues.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Abnormalities of AMPK activation and glucose uptake in cultured skeletal muscle cells from individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brown, Audrey E, Jones, David E, Walker, Mark et al.·PloS one·2015

Researchers grew muscle cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people in the lab and stimulated them electrically to mimic exercise. They found that muscle cells from ME/CFS patients didn't respond normally to this simulated exercise: they failed to activate a key energy-sensing protein (AMPK) and didn't increase glucose uptake like healthy cells did. This suggests the problem may be rooted in how the muscle cells themselves are built or programmed, not just from being inactive.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Nature of Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Olson, Karin, Zimka, Oksana, Stein, Eleanor·Qualitative health research·2015

This study asked 14 people with ME/CFS to describe their experience of fatigue in their own words. Participants identified three different types of tiredness: regular tiredness (before diagnosis), fatigue (during daily activities), and exhaustion (after overexertion). The most helpful strategies people used were pacing activities and taking extended rest periods to manage their symptoms and prevent crashes.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Metacognitions about Symptoms Control Scale: Development and Concurrent Validity.

Fernie, Bruce A, Maher-Edwards, Lorraine, Murphy, Gabrielle et al.·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2015

Researchers created a new questionnaire called the MaSCS to measure how people with ME/CFS think about their symptoms—specifically, how much they focus on symptoms and what they believe about controlling them. They tested this questionnaire with 124 ME/CFS patients and found it reliably measured two types of thinking: positive beliefs about symptom control and negative beliefs about symptom control. Both types of thinking were linked to how severe fatigue was, even when accounting for anxiety and depression.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Evidence for sensitized fatigue pathways in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Staud, Roland, Mokthech, Meriem, Price, Donald D et al.·Pain·2015

This study tested whether ME/CFS patients have unusually sensitive "fatigue pathways" in their muscles and nerves that overreact to exercise. Researchers had patients and healthy controls do hand exercises, then briefly cut off blood flow to the forearm to trap muscle chemicals in the tissues. ME/CFS patients reported increased fatigue during the blood flow cutoff, while healthy people's fatigue actually decreased—suggesting their muscles and nerves are sending stronger fatigue signals.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS IN CHILDREN (REVIEW).

Khundadze, M, Mkheidze, R, Geladze, N et al.·Georgian medical news·2015

This review article examines somatoform disorders—conditions where physical symptoms occur without a clear physical cause—in children and teenagers. It covers several conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, and discusses why these disorders happen, how they present differently, and how doctors can diagnose and treat them. The authors note that these conditions have become more common over the past 20 years.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The many roads to mitochondrial dysfunction in neuroimmune and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael·BMC medicine·2015

This paper examines how mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of our cells—can become damaged in several conditions including ME/CFS. The authors found that while the specific causes may differ between patients, most people with these conditions share a common problem: their bodies produce too many harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, which damage cells and trigger inflammation. This damage to mitochondria may explain why patients struggle with energy production and fatigue.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Modeling diurnal hormone profiles by hierarchical state space models.

Liu, Ziyue, Guo, Wensheng·Statistics in medicine·2015

This study developed a new statistical method to measure hormonal patterns in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients compared to healthy people. Researchers focused on ACTH, a stress hormone that naturally rises and falls throughout the day in waves. They found that the daily rhythm of this hormone was similar between patients and healthy controls, but patients' hormone pulses were weaker and less frequent.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.

Chen, Yunhua, Liu, Weijian, Zhang, Ling et al.·Computers in biology and medicine·2015

Researchers developed a computer program that analyzes facial features—such as forehead wrinkles, under-eye puffiness, skin color, and mouth shape—to help diagnose ME/CFS. The program was trained using photographs of Chinese patients and achieved about 88% accuracy in identifying who had the condition. This approach could potentially help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more objectively without needing blood tests or other invasive procedures.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Induction Murine Models of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Brucella abortus Antigen Injections: Is Anemia Induced or Not?

Moriya, Junji, He, Qiang, Uenishi, Hiroaki et al.·BioMed research international·2015

Researchers injected mice with bacterial antigens from Brucella abortus to create an animal model of ME/CFS. They found that at high doses, the injections caused temporary anemia (low red blood cells), but at moderate doses, anemia did not develop. Importantly, in both groups, the mice showed persistent low activity levels for weeks after treatment stopped, suggesting the injections could trigger lasting fatigue-like symptoms without necessarily causing anemia.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

The Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Depression and Low Self-Esteem in the Context of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME): A Case Study.

Loades, Maria·Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc·2015

This study describes treating a 16-year-old girl with ME/CFS who also had depression and low self-esteem using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a talking treatment that helps change unhelpful thinking patterns. While the therapy successfully improved her mood and self-esteem, her ME/CFS symptoms got worse during treatment. This suggests that mood treatments for people with ME/CFS need to be carefully designed to avoid making fatigue symptoms worse.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms.

Eccles, Jessica A, Owens, Andrew P, Mathias, Christopher J et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2015

This review examines how physical differences in the body's automatic nervous system—the system that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and stress responses—may explain why some people experience anxiety more easily. The authors focus on three conditions: joint hypermobility (loose joints due to collagen differences), postural tachycardia syndrome (rapid heart rate when standing), and fainting with emotional stress. They propose that differences in how the brain controls these bodily functions may make people more vulnerable to anxiety and related conditions.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: Beyond Orthostatic Intolerance.

Garland, Emily M, Celedonio, Jorge E, Raj, Satish R·Current neurology and neuroscience reports·2015

This review explains postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition where your heart rate increases excessively when you stand up, often causing dizziness, fatigue, and other symptoms that improve when lying down. POTS can result from several different underlying problems—such as low blood volume, overactive stress nerves, or problems with small nerves in the legs—and may overlap with other conditions like ME/CFS. Treatment typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes, structured exercise, and sometimes medications.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Macrophagic myofasciitis and vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

Santiago, Tânia, Rebelo, Olinda, Negrão, Luís et al.·Rheumatology international·2015

This study looked at 16 patients with a muscle condition called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), where aluminum from vaccines builds up in muscle tissue at the injection site. Half of these patients also had chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers found that most patients had received aluminum-containing vaccines before their symptoms started, suggesting vaccines might trigger this muscle condition in some people.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Multiple Sclerosis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome overlap: When two common disorders collide.

Gaber, Tarek A-Z K, Oo, Wah Wah, Ringrose, Hollie·NeuroRehabilitation·2014

This study looked at whether people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) might also have ME/CFS at the same time. Researchers examined 64 MS patients and found that 14% of them—all women—also met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. Their fatigue and other symptoms like pain and headaches couldn't be fully explained by their MS alone, suggesting the two conditions can occur together in the same person.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Deficient EBV-specific B- and T-cell response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Loebel, Madlen, Strohschein, Kristin, Giannini, Carolin et al.·PloS one·2014

This study looked at how the immune system responds to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that causes mono, in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients have a weaker immune response to EBV, particularly in their B cells and T cells—the immune cells that normally fight off this virus. The findings suggest that ME/CFS patients may have difficulty controlling EBV reactivation in their bodies.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Competences required for the delivery of high and low-intensity cognitive behavioural interventions for chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME and irritable bowel syndrome.

Rimes, Katharine A, Wingrove, Janet, Moss-Morris, Rona et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2014

This study developed clear guidelines describing what skills therapists need to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for ME/CFS and related conditions. Researchers gathered input from experienced therapists to create competence frameworks for both brief interventions and longer, more intensive treatments. These guidelines can help train new therapists and identify what skills they need to learn.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Current Status and Future Potentials of Emerging Biomarkers.

Fischer, David Benjamin, William, Arsani Hany, Strauss, Adam Campbell et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2014

This review examines potential blood tests and biological markers that could help doctors better understand and diagnose ME/CFS. Currently, ME/CFS is diagnosed mainly based on symptoms because we lack clear objective tests. The authors suggest that identifying specific biomarkers—measurable biological signs—could help identify different subtypes of ME/CFS, which might respond better to different treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

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Evidence browser

Characterisation of cell functions and receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Yang/Qi invigoration: an herbal therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome with yang deficiency?

Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese, neurological diseases, and associated pathologies.

Abnormalities of AMPK activation and glucose uptake in cultured skeletal muscle cells from individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Nature of Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The Metacognitions about Symptoms Control Scale: Development and Concurrent Validity.

Evidence for sensitized fatigue pathways in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS IN CHILDREN (REVIEW).

The many roads to mitochondrial dysfunction in neuroimmune and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Modeling diurnal hormone profiles by hierarchical state space models.

Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.

Induction Murine Models of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Brucella abortus Antigen Injections: Is Anemia Induced or Not?

The Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Depression and Low Self-Esteem in the Context of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME): A Case Study.

Neurovisceral phenotypes in the expression of psychiatric symptoms.

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: Beyond Orthostatic Intolerance.

Macrophagic myofasciitis and vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

Multiple Sclerosis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome overlap: When two common disorders collide.

Deficient EBV-specific B- and T-cell response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Competences required for the delivery of high and low-intensity cognitive behavioural interventions for chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME and irritable bowel syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Current Status and Future Potentials of Emerging Biomarkers.

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