Evidence browser

Phylogenetic and biological analysis of a laboratory-generated gammaretrovirus xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV).

Ma, Xiaochu, Zhou, Shiying, Wei, Meili et al.·Virus genes·2012

This study investigated whether XMRV, a virus previously thought to be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, could actually infect human cells. Researchers found that XMRV is a laboratory-made virus created accidentally during experiments with mouse tissues, not a naturally occurring pathogen. Testing showed that XMRV cannot infect human immune cells, suggesting it is unlikely to cause disease in people.

Role of Lactobacillus acidophilus loaded floating beads in chronic fatigue syndrome: behavioral and biochemical evidences.

Singh, P K, Chopra, K, Kuhad, A et al.·Neurogastroenterology and motility·2012

This study tested whether a beneficial bacteria called Lactobacillus acidophilus could help reduce fatigue symptoms in rats. Researchers created extreme fatigue in rats through repeated exhausting swimming, then gave some rats either the bacteria alone or the bacteria packaged in special beads designed to survive digestion. The bacteria treatment reduced fatigue-like behavior and improved markers of inflammation and immune system stress.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Genetics and Gene Expression Involving Stress and Distress Pathways in Fibromyalgia with and without Comorbid Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Light, Kathleen C, White, Andrea T, Tadler, Scott et al.·Pain research and treatment·2012

This study looked at genes and how they are expressed (turned on or off) in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers focused on three main biological systems: the stress response system, the hormone system that controls stress, and the serotonin system (which affects mood and pain). They found that certain genes, particularly those controlling stress hormones and pain sensing, may play a role in why some people develop or maintain these conditions.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Developing resources to support the diagnosis and management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME) in primary care: a qualitative study.

Hannon, Kerin, Peters, Sarah, Fisher, Louise et al.·BMC family practice·2012

This study asked patients, carers, and doctors in North West England what would help them better diagnose and manage ME/CFS in general practice. The researchers found that patients want to be believed and taken seriously, while doctors said they need better training and support. Based on everyone's feedback, the team created practical tools including a DVD for patients, information leaflets, and online training for doctors.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Fatigue and disrupted sleep-wake patterns in patients with cancer: a shared mechanism.

Wu, Horng-Shiuann, Davis, Jean E, Natavio, Teofanes·Clinical journal of oncology nursing·2012

Cancer patients often experience severe tiredness and sleep problems at the same time, suggesting they may share a common cause. This paper proposes that stress hormones—particularly those controlled by a system called the HPA axis—may be disrupted in ways that trigger both fatigue and poor sleep. Because ME/CFS patients have similar symptoms and similar HPA axis problems, studying cancer-related fatigue might help us understand ME/CFS better.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Improved chronic fatigue symptoms after removal of mercury in patient with increased mercury concentration in hair toxic mineral assay: a case.

Shin, Sae-Ron, Han, A-Lum·Korean journal of family medicine·2012

This case report describes one patient whose chronic fatigue symptoms improved after receiving treatment to remove mercury from their body. The patient had eaten large amounts of raw tuna, which can contain mercury, and testing showed mercury levels in their hair that were higher than normal but below what's considered poisoning. After mercury removal therapy, the patient's fatigue got better.

Live sequence charts to model medical information.

Aslakson, Eric, Szekely, Smadar, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Theoretical biology & medical modelling·2012

Researchers developed a new way to organize and understand patient medical records by translating written descriptions of illness into visual diagrams. They tested this approach using an actual patient interview with someone who was later diagnosed with ME/CFS. This method could help doctors and researchers better track how diseases develop over time and identify important patterns in patient histories.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Adult presentation of arterial tortuosity syndrome in a 51-year-old woman with a novel homozygous c.1411+1G>A mutation in the SLC2A10 gene.

Castori, Marco, Ritelli, Marco, Zoppi, Nicoletta et al.·American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2012

This case describes a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS), a rare genetic condition affecting blood vessel structure and strength. She presented with chronic pain, fatigue, joint problems, and heart valve issues. Genetic testing found a new mutation in the SLC2A10 gene responsible for this condition, which is usually diagnosed in children but was discovered here in an adult.

Postural neurocognitive and neuronal activated cerebral blood flow deficits in young chronic fatigue syndrome patients with postural tachycardia syndrome.

Stewart, Julian M, Medow, Marvin S, Messer, Zachary R et al.·American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology·2012

When people with ME/CFS try to stand upright or tilt backward, their brain doesn't get enough blood flow to think clearly, and their thinking problems get worse as their body position changes. In healthy people, brain blood flow increases during hard thinking tasks, but in ME/CFS patients, this normal response is broken—their brains don't increase blood flow when doing difficult mental tasks.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Intrinsic DNA synthesis fidelity of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus reverse transcriptase.

Barrioluengo, Verónica, Wang, Yi, Le Grice, Stuart F J et al.·The FEBS journal·2012

This study examined how accurately a virus called XMRV copies its genetic material when it infects human cells. Researchers compared XMRV's copying accuracy to two other viruses (HIV and another mouse virus) by measuring how often mistakes happen during the copying process. The study found that XMRV makes copies with reasonable accuracy, though with a different pattern of errors than HIV.

Antibody to Epstein-Barr virus deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase and deoxyribonucleotide polymerase in a chronic fatigue syndrome subset.

Lerner, A Martin, Ariza, Maria E, Williams, Marshall et al.·PloS one·2012

This study looked at a small group of ME/CFS patients to see if they had a specific pattern of antibodies (immune proteins) related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that causes mono. The researchers found that most of these patients had high levels of antibodies against EBV proteins, and when they treated these patients with an antiviral medication for over a year, the patients improved. This suggests that EBV might be involved in ME/CFS for some patients, and a blood test might help identify them.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF): two "fatigue" syndromes with overlapping symptoms and possibly related aetiologies.

Rovigatti, Ugo·Neuromuscular disorders : NMD·2012

This article compares two types of unexplained fatigue: ME/CFS and cancer-related fatigue. The author reviews evidence suggesting that both conditions may be triggered or worsened by viral infections. While a virus once thought to be connected to ME/CFS turned out to be a laboratory error, the author argues that finding the actual infectious agent responsible remains an important research goal.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Lack of the detection of XMRV or polytropic MLV-related sequences in blood cells from HIV-1-infected patients in Spain.

Luczkowiak, Joanna, Martínez-Prats, Lorena, Sierra, Olalla et al.·Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)·2012

Researchers tested blood samples from 40 HIV-infected patients in Spain to see if they carried XMRV or related viruses, which had been proposed as possible causes of ME/CFS. They found no evidence of these viruses in any patient. Some positive results turned out to be contamination from mouse DNA in the laboratory, suggesting that earlier positive findings in other studies may have been false positives caused by contamination rather than real infections.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Biomarkers of stress and fatigue].

Tanaka, Yoshihide·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2012

This paper reviews different ways to measure stress and fatigue in the body. Instead of just asking patients how stressed they feel, researchers are looking for physical markers—like stress hormones in saliva or hair—that show whether someone is experiencing chronic stress. The authors explain how chronic stress affects the nervous system, hormones, and immune system, and discuss which biological markers might be useful for understanding chronic fatigue syndrome.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Minimum data elements for research reports on CFS.

Jason, Leonard A, Unger, Elizabeth R, Dimitrakoff, Jordan D et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2012

Researchers noticed that different ME/CFS studies were collecting and reporting information in very different ways, making it hard to compare results across laboratories. This paper outlines the essential information that all ME/CFS research studies should include—like how patients were selected, what their characteristics are, and how they were tested—so that future studies can be compared fairly and findings can be better understood.

Diagnostics

[Effect of acupuncture on serum malonaldehyde content, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in chronic fatigue syndrome rats].

Liu, Chang-Zheng, Lei, Bo·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2012

This study tested whether acupuncture could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome by reducing harmful molecules in the blood called free radicals. Researchers created a rat model of CFS using stress and cold water swimming, then treated some rats with acupuncture at specific points. The results showed that acupuncture reduced damaging molecules and restored the body's natural antioxidant defenses in the treated rats.

Aluminium overload after 5 years in skin biopsy following post-vaccination with subcutaneous pseudolymphoma.

Guillard, Olivier, Fauconneau, Bernard, Pineau, Alain et al.·Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)·2012

This case report describes a woman who developed a small lump under her skin at a vaccine injection site years after vaccination. Researchers tested the tissue and found very high levels of aluminum compared to control samples. The study suggests that aluminum from vaccine adjuvants might accumulate in the body and potentially cause long-term problems like chronic fatigue syndrome.