ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5021–5040 of 6,164 studies

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Blood pressure variability and closed-loop baroreflex assessment in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome during supine rest and orthostatic stress.

Wyller, Vegard Bruun, Barbieri, Riccardo, Saul, J Philip·European journal of applied physiology·2011

This study looked at how the nervous system controls heart rate and blood pressure in teenagers with ME/CFS compared to healthy peers. Researchers found that teenagers with ME/CFS had less flexible blood pressure responses and their bodies shifted more toward 'fight or flight' nervous system activation when standing or experiencing mild stress, suggesting their autonomic nervous system (which controls these functions automatically) may not work as efficiently.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Two sides of the same coin? On the history and phenomenology of chronic fatigue and burnout.

Leone, Stephanie S, Wessely, Simon, Huibers, Marcus J H et al.·Psychology & health·2011

This study compares burnout (exhaustion from work stress) and ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) by reviewing existing research and historical records. Though these conditions developed separately—burnout in psychology and CFS in medicine—they share many similar symptoms and appear to involve energy depletion. The authors found that while both conditions involve overload, need for rest, and affect similar types of people, they are often described differently depending on whether they're viewed through a psychological or medical lens.

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Increased HDAC in association with decreased plasma cortisol in older adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jason, Leonard, Sorenson, Matthew, Sebally, Kebba et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2011

This study examined stress hormone systems in older adults with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) but higher levels of an enzyme called HDAC and lower antioxidant protection. These findings suggest that the body's stress response system isn't working properly in ME/CFS, possibly due to increased cellular stress.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Nucleic Acid, Antibody, and Virus Culture Methods to Detect Xenotropic MLV-Related Virus in Human Blood Samples.

Kearney, M F, Lee, K, Bagni, R K et al.·Advances in virology·2011

Researchers developed sensitive tests to detect a virus called XMRV in blood samples. They used their tests on blood and tissue samples from patients with prostate cancer, but did not find the virus in any of the blood samples they tested. This study shows that while their detection methods work well, XMRV was not present in the patients' blood.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Fatigue Scales and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Issues of Sensitivity and Specificity.

Jason, Leonard A, Evans, Meredyth, Brown, Molly et al.·Disability studies quarterly·2011

This study tested different questionnaires and scales designed to measure fatigue in ME/CFS patients to see how well they could identify people with the disease. Researchers found that most common fatigue measurement tools didn't work very well—some were good at spotting sick people but missed others, or vice versa. The most promising tool was a specific question about fatigue that gets worse after physical activity, which is a key feature of ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Polysaccharide of radix pseudostellariae improves chronic fatigue syndrome induced by poly I:C in mice.

Sheng, Rong, Xu, Xianxiang, Tang, Qin et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2011

Researchers tested whether a natural plant compound called polysaccharide from Radix Pseudostellariae (PRP) could help mice recover from fatigue-like symptoms. They found that mice given PRP before being exposed to a virus-like trigger showed less fatigue and better recovery of normal immune and stress hormone function compared to untreated mice.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia: how and why.

Hayhoe, Simon·Pain management·2011

Fibromyalgia is a condition causing widespread muscle pain, tiredness, and sleep problems that doctors still debate about. It shares some features with ME/CFS and may involve both physical changes in how the nervous system processes pain and psychological factors. Treatment typically includes certain antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, and talking therapy with gentle exercise, though most patients only get partial improvement.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Challenges of nurse delivery of psychological interventions for long-term conditions in primary care: a qualitative exploration of the case of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis.

Peters, Sarah, Wearden, Alison, Morriss, Richard et al.·Implementation science : IS·2011

This study looked at what happens when nurses without specialist psychology training deliver talking therapies to ME/CFS patients in regular doctor's offices. Researchers interviewed nurses, their supervisors, and 46 patients to understand the challenges that came up. They found four main problems: nurses were new to doing therapy work, patients were sometimes reluctant to engage with the treatment approach, nurses struggled with managing emotional conversations, and the primary care setting itself created complications.

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.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Finding the right balance of physical activity: a focus group study about experiences among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Larun, Lillebeth, Malterud, Kirsti·Patient education and counseling·2011

This study asked ME/CFS patients about their experiences with physical activity to understand when exercise helped and when it caused problems. The researchers found that patients weren't against activity itself, but what mattered most was having a choice in the type and intensity of exercise, being able to adjust it to their own needs, and having support from healthcare providers. When activity was forced or not personalized, it often led to setbacks and made patients feel they had lost control of their bodies.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Heterologous immunity: immunopathology, autoimmunity and protection during viral infections.

Selin, Liisa K, Wlodarczyk, Myriam F, Kraft, Anke R et al.·Autoimmunity·2011

When your body fights off infections, your immune system sometimes creates responses that can cross-react with other pathogens or even your own tissues. Most of the time this is helpful and protects you, but in some people it can trigger harmful immune reactions. This review explores how repeated infections with different viruses and bacteria might cause the immune system to become dysregulated, potentially contributing to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

An Etiological Model for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Jason, Leonard A, Sorenson, Matthew, Porter, Nicole et al.·Neuroscience and medicine·2011

This study proposes that ME/CFS may develop through a process called 'kindling,' where the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to stress after repeated infections or injuries. Think of it like a fire alarm that has been triggered so many times it stays in an oversensitive state. Once this happens, the brain's stress system stays highly activated even without new triggers, which could explain why ME/CFS patients have such persistent symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antibody responses against xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus envelope in a murine model.

Makarova, Natalia, Zhao, Chunxia, Zhang, Yuanyuan et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers created a vaccine to test whether the body can develop antibodies (immune proteins) against XMRV, a virus that was proposed to be associated with ME/CFS. Mice given the vaccine did produce antibodies against the virus, but these antibodies disappeared quickly—within three weeks. This short-lived immune response might help explain why different studies have found different rates of XMRV in ME/CFS patients.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

PCR master mixes harbour murine DNA sequences. Caveat emptor!

Tuke, Philip W, Tettmar, Kate I, Tamuri, Asif et al.·PloS one·2011

This study found that the laboratory chemicals used to detect viruses in blood samples may themselves contain mouse virus DNA, which can contaminate test results. When researchers tested water samples (with no actual virus present) using common laboratory kits, they still found mouse virus sequences—the same sequences that had been previously reported in ME/CFS patients. This suggests that previous findings of these viruses in ME/CFS patients may have been false positives caused by contaminated testing materials rather than actual infections.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

A Chinese herbal decoction, Danggui Buxue Tang, improves chronic fatigue syndrome induced by food restriction and forced swimming in rats.

Liu, Ya, Zhang, Hai-Gang, Li, Xiao-Hui·Phytotherapy research : PTR·2011

Researchers tested a traditional Chinese herbal mixture called Danggui Buxue Tang on rats engineered to have chronic fatigue-like symptoms. Rats treated with the herb showed improvements in body weight, physical endurance, and markers of immune function, suggesting the herbal mixture might help reduce fatigue by calming overactive immune responses.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The search for reliable biomarkers of disease in multiple chemical sensitivity and other environmental intolerances.

De Luca, Chiara, Raskovic, Desanka, Pacifico, Valeria et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2011

This review examines why some people develop severe reactions to chemicals, foods, and environmental exposures at levels that shouldn't cause harm. The authors argue these conditions—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity—are real biological disorders, not just psychological problems. They explore evidence that problems with how the body detoxifies and handles harmful substances, along with imbalances in antioxidant protection, may be key to understanding these diseases.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome.

Rosenblum, Hemda, Shoenfeld, Yehuda, Amital, Howard·Infectious disease clinics of North America·2011

ME/CFS is a long-lasting illness of extreme fatigue and other symptoms that often starts suddenly like a flu. This review examines several theories about what might cause ME/CFS, including infections, genetic factors, hormone problems, immune system dysfunction, and psychological stress. The authors discuss a newer condition called ASIA syndrome, which involves autoimmune reactions that may be triggered by vaccine adjuvants (ingredients added to vaccines to boost immune response).

Immune System

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Evidence browser

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

Blood pressure variability and closed-loop baroreflex assessment in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome during supine rest and orthostatic stress.

Two sides of the same coin? On the history and phenomenology of chronic fatigue and burnout.

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

Increased HDAC in association with decreased plasma cortisol in older adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nucleic Acid, Antibody, and Virus Culture Methods to Detect Xenotropic MLV-Related Virus in Human Blood Samples.

Fatigue Scales and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Issues of Sensitivity and Specificity.

Polysaccharide of radix pseudostellariae improves chronic fatigue syndrome induced by poly I:C in mice.

Diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia: how and why.

Challenges of nurse delivery of psychological interventions for long-term conditions in primary care: a qualitative exploration of the case of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis.

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].

Finding the right balance of physical activity: a focus group study about experiences among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heterologous immunity: immunopathology, autoimmunity and protection during viral infections.

An Etiological Model for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Antibody responses against xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus envelope in a murine model.

PCR master mixes harbour murine DNA sequences. Caveat emptor!

A Chinese herbal decoction, Danggui Buxue Tang, improves chronic fatigue syndrome induced by food restriction and forced swimming in rats.

The search for reliable biomarkers of disease in multiple chemical sensitivity and other environmental intolerances.

The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome.

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