ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5001–5020 of 6,164 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Role of infection and neurologic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Komaroff, Anthony L, Cho, Tracey A·Seminars in neurology·2011

This review examines the connection between infections and ME/CFS, looking at decades of cases where people developed long-lasting fatigue after infections. The authors found evidence that certain viruses and bacteria can cause persistent infections that trigger and maintain ME/CFS symptoms by affecting the nervous system and triggering ongoing immune responses. While no single infection has been proven to cause ME/CFS in all cases, the pattern suggests that chronic infections may be important triggers in some people with the illness.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Presence of murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus gene sequences in a commercial RT-PCR reagent.

Wolff, Dietmar, Gerritzen, Andreas·Clinical laboratory·2011

Researchers were trying to develop a test to detect a virus (MLV-related virus) that some studies claimed was found in ME/CFS patients. However, they discovered that their test was giving false positive results—meaning it was detecting the virus when it wasn't actually there. The problem came from contamination in a commercial reagent (a chemical kit) they were using, which helps explain why different research groups were getting different results.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Systemic nickel hypersensitivity and diet: myth or reality?

Pizzutelli, S·European annals of allergy and clinical immunology·2011

This review examines whether eating foods containing nickel causes widespread symptoms in people with nickel allergies. While nickel allergies from skin contact are well-established, the evidence that eating nickel-containing foods causes systemic symptoms—like fatigue, digestive problems, or neurological issues—is unclear and unproven. The authors conclude that current scientific evidence is not strong enough to recommend low-nickel diets as a treatment.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Functional genomics of serotonin receptor 2A (HTR2A): interaction of polymorphism, methylation, expression and disease association.

Falkenberg, Virginia R, Gurbaxani, Brian M, Unger, Elizabeth R et al.·Neuromolecular medicine·2011

This study looked at how a specific genetic variation in the serotonin receptor 2A gene (HTR2A) affects how active this gene is in people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that this gene is turned up (overactive) in ME/CFS patients, and that this overactivity is influenced by both the genetic variant someone inherits and how stress hormones like cortisol affect the gene's activity. Think of it like a volume knob on a radio that can be turned up or down depending on your genes and stress levels.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCase-Control

Polymorphisms of adrenergic cardiovascular control genes are associated with adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sommerfeldt, Line, Portilla, Helene, Jacobsen, Line et al.·Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)·2011

This study looked at genetic differences in genes that control how the body responds to stress and manages heart rate and blood pressure in teenagers with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS were more likely to have certain genetic variations in two specific genes (COMT and the β₂-adrenergic receptor) compared to healthy people. These genetic differences may affect how well the body's autonomic nervous system (which controls automatic body functions) works during physical stress.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

XMRV: usage of receptors and potential co-receptors.

Setty, Mohan Kumar Haleyur Giri, Devadas, Krishnakumar, Ragupathy, Viswanath et al.·Virology journal·2011

Scientists studied how a virus called XMRV enters and infects human cells, particularly immune cells. They found that while this virus is known to use one main doorway (called XPR1) to get into cells, it can also use other doorways, including ones normally used by immune system molecules called chemokine receptors. This suggests the virus may be more flexible at infecting different types of cells than previously thought.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

The left half of the XMRV retrovirus is present in an endogenous retrovirus of NIH/3T3 Swiss mouse cells.

Mendoza, Ramon, Vaughan, Andrew E, Miller, A Dusty·Journal of virology·2011

Scientists searched for where XMRV (a virus once suspected in ME/CFS) might have originally come from by looking in mouse cells. They found a piece of XMRV in mouse DNA but not a complete virus. This discovery suggests XMRV has mouse origins and warns that lab contamination from mouse cells could create false positive results when testing for this virus.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Beyond the serotonin hypothesis: mitochondria, inflammation and neurodegeneration in major depression and affective spectrum disorders.

Gardner, Ann, Boles, Richard G·Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2011

For decades, doctors believed depression was caused by low serotonin levels in the brain, but research hasn't proven this is true. This review proposes that depression and related conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS may actually stem from problems with how cells produce energy (mitochondrial dysfunction) combined with inflammation in the body. The authors suggest that common depression medications work through multiple pathways—not just serotonin—and that targeting mitochondrial health might help treat these overlapping conditions.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Şimşek, Ilkay·Journal of clinical gastroenterology·2011

This review examines irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and related digestive disorders that cause symptoms like abnormal gut movement and pain sensitivity. The authors found that many people with these conditions also have other illnesses, including ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, suggesting shared underlying causes. Changes in gut bacteria and immune system activity may play an important role in these overlapping conditions.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

No evidence of murine leukemia virus-related viruses in live attenuated human vaccines.

Switzer, William M, Zheng, Haoqiang, Simmons, Graham et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers tested 8 common vaccines to see if they contained XMRV or related viruses that had been previously linked to ME/CFS. They used sensitive tests including genetic sequencing to look for these viruses. None of the vaccines contained XMRV or the related viruses they were looking for, suggesting vaccines are not a source of these viruses in people.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Testing strategies for detection of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection.

Tang, Shixing, Hewlett, Indira K·Advances in virology·2011

Researchers examined different laboratory methods to detect XMRV, a virus that was suspected to be linked to both prostate cancer and ME/CFS. Since this virus was discovered in 2006, scientists developed various tests to find it in patient samples, but these tests had not been properly validated or compared. The study highlights that careful testing is needed to avoid false results caused by mouse DNA contamination in samples.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patients' hopes and expectations of a specialist chronic fatigue syndrome/ME service: a qualitative study.

McDermott, C, Lynch, J, Leydon, G M·Family practice·2011

This study asked 20 newly referred ME/CFS patients what they hoped to gain from visiting a specialist service. Patients most wanted a clear diagnosis, better understanding of their illness, practical guidance on managing it, and hope for the future. Most patients felt uncertain about ME/CFS and wanted more information earlier in their illness journey, rather than waiting to see a specialist.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCase-Control

Adolescents with severe chronic fatigue syndrome can make a full recovery.

Burgess, Mary, Chalder, Trudie·BMJ case reports·2011

This case report describes a severely ill adolescent with ME/CFS who recovered with help from a rehabilitation program combined with strong family support. The study highlights that young people with severe ME/CFS, who are often confined to bed or home, can improve significantly with the right treatment approach and family involvement. The authors emphasize that many severely affected young people in the UK are not receiving adequate care for this serious illness.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Evidence and controversies on the role of XMRV in prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Menéndez-Arias, Luis·Reviews in medical virology·2011

Researchers discovered a virus called XMRV in some people with prostate cancer and ME/CFS, which generated significant interest. However, other studies have not been able to confirm this finding, leaving uncertainty about whether XMRV actually causes disease in humans. This review examines what we know and don't know about XMRV's role in these conditions.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Recombinant origin of the retrovirus XMRV.

Paprotka, Tobias, Delviks-Frankenberry, Krista A, Cingöz, Oya et al.·Science (New York, N.Y.)·2011

Scientists studied a virus called XMRV that had been reported in some ME/CFS patients. They traced where this virus actually came from by examining cancer cell lines and tumors that had been grown in mice. They found that XMRV didn't exist in the original tumor but was created when two similar mouse viruses accidentally combined during laboratory handling. This suggests that when XMRV appeared in patient samples, it likely came from contamination during testing rather than being a real cause of ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fatigue and chronic fatigue in the elderly: definitions, diagnoses, and treatments.

Morelli, Vincent·Clinics in geriatric medicine·2011

This review article helps doctors understand fatigue in older adults by explaining three types: fatigue that comes on recently, fatigue that lasts a long time, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The article discusses how doctors can evaluate fatigue and offers both medication and non-medication treatments like exercise, vitamins, diet changes, and behavioral strategies.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Kynurenine pathway Hypothesis: The nature of the chronic Fatigue syndrome (cFs) Revisited.

Blankfield, Adele·International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR·2011

This study examines a theory that ME/CFS might be related to problems with how the body processes an amino acid called tryptophan. The body normally breaks down tryptophan through a pathway called the kynurenine pathway, and the researchers suggest that abnormalities in this process could contribute to the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Resveratrol improves hippocampal atrophy in chronic fatigue mice by enhancing neurogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis of granular cells.

Moriya, Junji, Chen, Rui, Yamakawa, Jun-ichi et al.·Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin·2011

Researchers created mice with chronic fatigue by repeatedly exposing them to a bacterial antigen, which caused them to move less and their brains to shrink in a region called the hippocampus. When they gave these mice resveratrol (a compound found in red grapes), the mice became more active and their hippocampus enlarged. The treatment appeared to work by reducing brain cell death and promoting the growth of new brain cells.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Infection, viral dissemination, and antibody responses of rhesus macaques exposed to the human gammaretrovirus XMRV.

Onlamoon, Nattawat, Das Gupta, Jaydip, Sharma, Prachi et al.·Journal of virology·2011

This study examined whether XMRV, a virus that had been proposed as a potential cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, could establish persistent infection in primates similar to humans. Researchers injected five macaques with XMRV and tracked the virus over 9 months, finding that it created a long-lasting infection that spread to multiple organs and tissues, even when it disappeared from the blood. The virus affected different cell types in different organs and triggered some immune responses, but these responses were weak and didn't effectively clear the infection.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[What's about overactive lifestyle in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome].

Masquelier, E, Scaillet, N, Luminet, O et al.·Revue medicale suisse·2011

This study explores how being very active and 'driven' in lifestyle might contribute to both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). While these are different conditions, they share similar root causes and can be made worse by pushing too hard. The authors suggest that doctors need to take a whole-person approach—considering physical, mental, and social factors together—to help patients find better balance and cope with ongoing pain and activity.

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Evidence browser

Role of infection and neurologic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Presence of murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus gene sequences in a commercial RT-PCR reagent.

Systemic nickel hypersensitivity and diet: myth or reality?

Functional genomics of serotonin receptor 2A (HTR2A): interaction of polymorphism, methylation, expression and disease association.

Polymorphisms of adrenergic cardiovascular control genes are associated with adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

XMRV: usage of receptors and potential co-receptors.

The left half of the XMRV retrovirus is present in an endogenous retrovirus of NIH/3T3 Swiss mouse cells.

Beyond the serotonin hypothesis: mitochondria, inflammation and neurodegeneration in major depression and affective spectrum disorders.

Irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders.

No evidence of murine leukemia virus-related viruses in live attenuated human vaccines.

Testing strategies for detection of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection.

Patients' hopes and expectations of a specialist chronic fatigue syndrome/ME service: a qualitative study.

Adolescents with severe chronic fatigue syndrome can make a full recovery.

Evidence and controversies on the role of XMRV in prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Recombinant origin of the retrovirus XMRV.

Fatigue and chronic fatigue in the elderly: definitions, diagnoses, and treatments.

Kynurenine pathway Hypothesis: The nature of the chronic Fatigue syndrome (cFs) Revisited.

Resveratrol improves hippocampal atrophy in chronic fatigue mice by enhancing neurogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis of granular cells.

Infection, viral dissemination, and antibody responses of rhesus macaques exposed to the human gammaretrovirus XMRV.

[What's about overactive lifestyle in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome].

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