ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5041–5060 of 6,164 studies

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

How to care for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

McGough, Amanda·Nursing times·2011

This article provides practical guidance for nurses and healthcare professionals on how to care for patients with ME/CFS. It focuses on managing symptoms, supporting patients through their illness, and improving the quality of care these patients receive in clinical settings.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Treatment of central sensitization in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: what options do we have?

Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica et al.·Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·2011

This review examines how the nervous system can become overly sensitive to pain signals, a condition called central sensitization that occurs in many chronic pain disorders including ME/CFS. The authors summarize different treatment approaches—including medications, physical therapy, brain stimulation, and stress management—that may help calm down an overactive pain processing system in the brain and spinal cord.

Pain and Sensitization

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Structural integration, an alternative method of manual therapy and sensorimotor education.

Jacobson, Eric·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2011

Structural Integration (SI) is a hands-on therapy that focuses on improving how your body moves and holds itself, rather than treating specific symptoms. This review looked at what we know about how SI might work—such as making muscles and connective tissues more flexible and improving how your nervous system processes movement and stress—and found that small studies have reported improvements in pain, movement, balance, and well-being in some conditions including chronic fatigue.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Severe restriction of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus replication and spread in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Chaipan, Chawaree, Dilley, Kari A, Paprotka, Tobias et al.·Journal of virology·2011

This study investigated how XMRV, a virus found in some CFS patients, behaves when it infects human immune cells called PBMCs. Researchers discovered that human immune cells have natural defenses (proteins called APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F) that can damage the virus's genetic material and prevent it from spreading effectively. Although the virus could technically survive in these cells, it could not replicate well—suggesting the body has built-in brakes that limit XMRV's ability to cause ongoing infection.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Sleep disorders, medical conditions, and road accident risk.

Smolensky, Michael H, Di Milia, Lee, Ohayon, Maurice M et al.·Accident; analysis and prevention·2011

This review examined how sleep disorders and medical conditions—including ME/CFS, sleep apnea, insomnia, and others—may increase the risk of car accidents caused by drowsiness and fatigue. The authors found that while these conditions clearly cause tiredness and poor sleep, very few studies have actually looked at whether they make people more likely to have driving accidents. They call for better research to understand this connection and test whether treating these conditions reduces crash risk.

Sleep

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 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The sick building syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants.

Israeli, Eitan, Pardo, Asher·Modern rheumatology·2011

This review paper proposes that sick building syndrome—a collection of unexplained symptoms people develop from spending time in certain buildings—may be part of a larger group of related conditions. The authors suggest that sick building syndrome shares many symptoms with other post-exposure illnesses like Gulf War syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome, and may all stem from similar immune system problems triggered by specific substances.

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 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

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

NF-kappaB activation stimulates transcription and replication of retrovirus XMRV in human B-lineage and prostate carcinoma cells.

Sakakibara, Shuhei, Sakakibara, Kaori, Tosato, Giovanna·Journal of virology·2011

This study examined how inflammation in the body can affect a virus called XMRV. Researchers found that when inflammatory signals (like TNF-α) are activated in cells, they can turn up the volume on XMRV production. This suggests that conditions causing inflammation or certain viral infections might help XMRV spread in the body.

Immune System

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 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 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 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 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

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Evidence browser

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

Systemic nickel hypersensitivity and diet: myth or reality?

How to care for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

Treatment of central sensitization in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: what options do we have?

PCR master mixes harbour murine DNA sequences. Caveat emptor!

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

Structural integration, an alternative method of manual therapy and sensorimotor education.

Severe restriction of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus replication and spread in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Sleep disorders, medical conditions, and road accident risk.

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

The sick building syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants.

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

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

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

NF-kappaB activation stimulates transcription and replication of retrovirus XMRV in human B-lineage and prostate carcinoma cells.

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

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

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

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.

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

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