ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4861–4880 of 6,163 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Modulation of the axon-reflex response to local heat by reactive oxygen species in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Medow, Marvin S, Aggarwal, Arun, Baugham, Ila et al.·Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2013

When skin is heated, blood vessels normally dilate to increase blood flow. This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower baseline blood flow in their skin compared to healthy people. When researchers used drugs to reduce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (particularly hydrogen peroxide), blood flow improved and the initial blood vessel response to heat increased in ME/CFS patients but not in healthy controls.

Pain and SensitizationAutonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

Yun, Myeong-Ja, Kang, Dong-Mug, Lee, Kyoung-Hye et al.·Annals of occupational and environmental medicine·2013

This case report describes a 55-year-old woman who developed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)—a condition where exposure to everyday smells and chemicals triggers symptoms like swelling and muscle pain—after being exposed to coal fumes at work. Her symptoms started with coal fumes but gradually expanded to include reactions to city gas, burning smells, and exhaust. After careful testing ruled out other conditions, she was diagnosed with MCS and learned to avoid her triggers.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Natelson, Benjamin H·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study suggests that ME/CFS is not one single disease but rather multiple conditions with different underlying causes. By grouping patients based on specific characteristics—like whether they have psychiatric diagnoses, fibromyalgia, or blood pressure problems when standing—researchers found that different groups showed different types of brain dysfunction. This approach could help explain why some patients experience trouble with concentration and attention in different ways.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Clinical Practice: Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Werker, Charlotte L, Nijhof, Sanne L, van de Putte, Elise M·European journal of pediatrics·2013

This review explains how doctors diagnose ME/CFS in teenagers and describes what we know works to treat it. ME/CFS is a serious illness causing extreme fatigue that doesn't get better with rest, along with other symptoms like trouble thinking clearly, sore throat, and muscle pain. The good news is that a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy helps about two-thirds of teenagers with ME/CFS feel better and stay better for years.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in atopic dermatitis.

Sivaranjani, N, Rao, S Venkata, Rajeev, G·Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR·2013

This study looked at whether skin damage from harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species plays a role in atopic dermatitis (eczema). Researchers compared 25 people with atopic dermatitis to 25 healthy people and measured levels of damaging molecules and protective antioxidants in their bodies. They found that people with eczema had more damage and lower levels of natural protective substances, suggesting that antioxidants might help treat the condition.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The role of mitochondrial dysfunctions due to oxidative and nitrosative stress in the chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndromes and fibromyalgia patients: peripheral and central mechanisms as therapeutic targets?

Meeus, Mira, Nijs, Jo, Hermans, Linda et al.·Expert opinion on therapeutic targets·2013

This study explores how damage to the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) might explain why ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients experience persistent pain and fatigue. When the body experiences oxidative stress, it produces harmful molecules that can damage mitochondria and reduce the energy (ATP) available to muscles and the brain. The researchers suggest that boosting antioxidants and repairing mitochondria could be promising treatments worth testing.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredMechanistic

Anti depressant activity of Mamsyadi Kwatha: An Ayurvedic compound formulation.

Shreevathsa, M, Ravishankar, B, Dwivedi, Rambabu·Ayu·2013

Researchers tested an Ayurvedic herbal mixture called Mamsyadi Kwatha to see if it could help with depression and fatigue-like symptoms in mice. The mixture contains three plant ingredients and showed some ability to reduce signs of depression and fatigue in animal tests, suggesting it might have antidepressant properties.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Re-writing the natural history of pain and related symptoms in the joint hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type.

Castori, Marco, Morlino, Silvia, Celletti, Claudia et al.·American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2013

This review examines joint hypermobility syndrome and a related condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type, which cause chronic pain, loose joints, and other symptoms like fatigue and headaches. The authors describe how these conditions develop over time and suggest that they may share similar underlying mechanisms with other chronic illnesses like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. The goal is to help doctors better recognize and treat these conditions.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Self-regulatory fatigue in chronic multisymptom illnesses: scale development, fatigue, and self-control.

Nes, Lise Solberg, Ehlers, Shawna L, Whipple, Mary O et al.·Journal of pain research·2013

This study created a new questionnaire to measure a specific type of mental tiredness called self-regulatory fatigue—the exhaustion that comes from having to constantly manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Researchers gave this 18-question test to nearly 300 people with chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, along with standard fatigue and self-control tests. They found that this mental tiredness is related to, but distinct from, physical fatigue—suggesting it's a separate problem worth measuring and understanding.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Thiamine and fatigue in inflammatory bowel diseases: an open-label pilot study.

Costantini, Antonio, Pala, Maria Immacolata·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2013

This small study tested whether high-dose vitamin B1 (thiamine) could help fatigue in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Twelve patients took large amounts of thiamine for 20 days, and ten of them reported their fatigue almost completely went away. The researchers suggest that fatigue in these patients may come from cells not absorbing thiamine properly, rather than from actual vitamin deficiency in the blood.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Xenotropic MLV envelope proteins induce tumor cells to secrete factors that promote the formation of immature blood vessels.

Murgai, Meera, Thomas, James, Cherepanova, Olga et al.·Retrovirology·2013

This study examined how certain viruses found in cancer cell lines affect tumor blood vessel growth. Researchers discovered that when tumor cells were infected with specific retroviruses, they produced substances that prevented normal blood vessel maturation, which could make tumors more aggressive and likely to spread. However, the study makes clear that these viruses do not actually infect humans and are not responsible for ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Utilization of replication-competent XMRV reporter-viruses reveals severe viral restriction in primary human cells.

Stürzel, Christina Martina, Palesch, David, Khalid, Mohammad et al.·PloS one·2013

Researchers tested whether XMRV, a virus once thought to be linked to ME/CFS, could actually infect and spread in human immune cells. They found that while the virus could replicate in some laboratory cell lines, it could not effectively infect or spread in real human blood cells from patients. This supports the conclusion that XMRV is unlikely to be a genuine human pathogen responsible for ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chen, Xiao-Qin, Gang, Zhi-Xiu, Xu, Zhi-Peng·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2013

This study explored whether moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine technique involving burning herbs near the skin—might help improve sleep problems in people with ME/CFS. The treatment focused on a specific acupuncture point on the sole of the foot called Yongquan (KI 1). While the study suggests this approach may have helped some patients sleep better, the research quality is limited and more rigorous testing is needed.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

A multidisciplinary approach to study a couple of monozygotic twins discordant for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on potential salivary biomarkers.

Ciregia, Federica, Giusti, Laura, Da Valle, Ylenia et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2013

Researchers studied saliva samples from identical twins—one with ME/CFS and one healthy—to look for protein differences that might help diagnose the disease. They found 13 proteins that were expressed differently in the sick twin compared to the healthy twin, with many of these proteins linked to inflammation and immune system function. This suggests that a simple saliva test might one day help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more reliably.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Persistent human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with an inherited form of the virus.

Pantry, Shara N, Medveczky, Maria M, Arbuckle, Jesse H et al.·Journal of medical virology·2013

Some people inherit a virus called HHV-6 that becomes integrated into their DNA from birth. This study found that a small group of patients with this inherited virus also had active infections from a related but separate HHV-6 strain, and these patients experienced neurological symptoms including long-term fatigue. When treated with antiviral medications, the active viral infection was suppressed, suggesting the medication could help control symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

The effects of exercise on dynamic sleep morphology in healthy controls and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kishi, Akifumi, Togo, Fumiharu, Cook, Dane B et al.·Physiological reports·2013

This study looked at how sleep changes after exercise in healthy people versus those with ME/CFS. Researchers found that while exercise helped healthy people sleep more deeply and continuously, people with ME/CFS showed different sleep patterns—specifically more disruptions when moving from REM sleep (dream sleep) back to wakefulness. Importantly, these REM sleep disruptions in ME/CFS patients were linked to increased fatigue, pain, and sleepiness the next day.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Role of the Toll Like receptor (TLR) radical cycle in chronic inflammation: possible treatments targeting the TLR4 pathway.

Lucas, Kurt, Maes, Michael·Molecular neurobiology·2013

This review examines how a part of the immune system called TLR4 may trigger ongoing inflammation in several diseases, including ME/CFS. The authors discuss environmental factors (like air pollution and certain chemicals) that can activate TLR4, and they review several drugs and natural substances that might reduce this harmful inflammation by blocking TLR4 activation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Exercise and sleep deprivation do not change cytokine expression levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nakamura, Toru, Schwander, Stephan, Donnelly, Robert et al.·Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2013

Researchers tested whether exercise and sleep loss could trigger increased inflammatory markers in the blood of ME/CFS patients, since many people report that physical activity and poor sleep make their symptoms worse. They found that neither exercise nor sleep deprivation caused the expected increases in inflammatory proteins in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. This suggests that immune activation from these stressors may not be the main reason symptoms worsen with exertion or sleep loss.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Continuous stress promotes expression of VGF in melanotroph via suppression of dopamine.

Tokizane, Kyohei, Konishi, Hiroyuki, Yasui, Masaya et al.·Molecular and cellular endocrinology·2013

When the body experiences prolonged stress, it can affect how the pituitary gland (a small gland in the brain that controls many hormones) works. In this rat study, researchers found that stress caused increased production of a protein called VGF in certain pituitary cells. Interestingly, this increase happened because stress reduced levels of dopamine, a chemical messenger that normally keeps VGF levels low.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryPEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

A pilot registry of unexplained fatiguing illnesses and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brimmer, Dana J, Maloney, Elizabeth, Devlin, Rebecca et al.·BMC research notes·2013

This study tested whether doctors and patient groups could help identify people with ME/CFS for a patient registry (a database of medical information). Researchers in Georgia contacted healthcare providers and a local ME/CFS support group to refer patients for evaluation. Of 104 people who completed clinic visits, 36% had ME/CFS, 17% had fatigue that didn't quite meet ME/CFS criteria, and 47% had other medical or psychiatric conditions instead. This shows that many people with fatigue symptoms may have treatable conditions other than ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

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Evidence browser

Modulation of the axon-reflex response to local heat by reactive oxygen species in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Clinical Practice: Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in atopic dermatitis.

The role of mitochondrial dysfunctions due to oxidative and nitrosative stress in the chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndromes and fibromyalgia patients: peripheral and central mechanisms as therapeutic targets?

Anti depressant activity of Mamsyadi Kwatha: An Ayurvedic compound formulation.

Re-writing the natural history of pain and related symptoms in the joint hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type.

Self-regulatory fatigue in chronic multisymptom illnesses: scale development, fatigue, and self-control.

Thiamine and fatigue in inflammatory bowel diseases: an open-label pilot study.

Xenotropic MLV envelope proteins induce tumor cells to secrete factors that promote the formation of immature blood vessels.

Utilization of replication-competent XMRV reporter-viruses reveals severe viral restriction in primary human cells.

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

A multidisciplinary approach to study a couple of monozygotic twins discordant for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on potential salivary biomarkers.

Persistent human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with an inherited form of the virus.

The effects of exercise on dynamic sleep morphology in healthy controls and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Role of the Toll Like receptor (TLR) radical cycle in chronic inflammation: possible treatments targeting the TLR4 pathway.

Exercise and sleep deprivation do not change cytokine expression levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Continuous stress promotes expression of VGF in melanotroph via suppression of dopamine.

A pilot registry of unexplained fatiguing illnesses and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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