ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5081–5100 of 6,211 studies

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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 unclearReview-Narrative

Depression's multiple comorbidities explained by (neuro)inflammatory and oxidative & nitrosative stress pathways.

Maes, Michael, Kubera, Marta, Obuchowiczwa, Ewa et al.·Neuro endocrinology letters·2011

This review explains why depression often occurs alongside many other diseases, including ME/CFS, autoimmune conditions, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. The common link appears to be activation of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in both the brain and body. These pathways may act like a 'warning system' that produces depression symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, and physical discomfort when the body detects a threat.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Identification of Phosphoglycerate Kinase 1 (PGK1) as a reference gene for quantitative gene expression measurements in human blood RNA.

Falkenberg, Virginia R, Whistler, Toni, Murray, Janna' R et al.·BMC research notes·2011

Researchers studying ME/CFS need reliable ways to measure gene activity in blood samples. This study found that a gene called PGK1 is a stable and reliable 'reference point' for comparing gene measurements across different blood collection methods and sample types. Using a single stable reference gene like PGK1 makes it easier for scientists to get accurate, comparable results when searching for blood-based biomarkers of ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

DNA extraction columns contaminated with murine sequences.

Erlwein, Otto, Robinson, Mark J, Dustan, Simon et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers discovered that the plastic columns used to extract and purify DNA in laboratory tests were contaminated with mouse DNA sequences. When they used these contaminated columns and ran sensitive DNA detection tests, they got false positive results that looked like they had found viral sequences (XMRV) when they actually hadn't. This is important because some earlier studies claimed to find XMRV in ME/CFS patients, but this contamination problem means those results may have been unreliable.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Sympathetic neural hyperalgesia edema syndrome, a frequent cause of pelvic pain in women, mistaken for Lyme disease with chronic fatigue.

Check, J H, Cohen, R·Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology·2011

This study describes a woman who was diagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with antibiotics for chronic fatigue, but her symptoms didn't improve. Doctors then tested her ability to excrete water from her body and found it was impaired, suggesting a problem with her sympathetic nervous system (the part that controls automatic body functions). When she was treated with a stimulant medication instead, she improved significantly.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Sleep and fatigue in mice infected with murine gammaherpesvirus 68.

Olivadoti, Melissa D, Weinberg, Jason B, Toth, Linda A et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2011

Researchers infected mice with a virus similar to one that has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome in humans. They found that infected mice showed fatigue-like symptoms (reduced activity, altered sleep and body temperature) during the first 1-2 weeks of infection. Notably, when these mice were given a bacterial toxin challenge a month later, they had much stronger and longer-lasting reactions than uninfected mice, suggesting that latent viral infection may make the body oversensitive to future immune challenges.

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 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Multi-source synthesis of data to inform health policy.

Pedersen, Vibe Hjelholt, Dagenais, Pierre, Lehoux, Pascale·International journal of technology assessment in health care·2011

This study developed a new way to combine information from published research with direct interviews from ME/CFS patients in Quebec. Researchers reviewed 31 published studies about the emotional and social challenges of ME/CFS, then interviewed 17 patients to see if their experiences matched the research and to identify needs that hadn't been studied before. The study found that patients felt their condition wasn't recognized by doctors and doctors, and suggested policy changes to better support ME/CFS patients.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

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

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?

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

Sleep disorders, medical conditions, and road accident risk.

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

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

Systemic nickel hypersensitivity and diet: myth or reality?

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

PCR master mixes harbour murine DNA sequences. Caveat emptor!

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

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

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

Depression's multiple comorbidities explained by (neuro)inflammatory and oxidative & nitrosative stress pathways.

Identification of Phosphoglycerate Kinase 1 (PGK1) as a reference gene for quantitative gene expression measurements in human blood RNA.

DNA extraction columns contaminated with murine sequences.

Sympathetic neural hyperalgesia edema syndrome, a frequent cause of pelvic pain in women, mistaken for Lyme disease with chronic fatigue.

Sleep and fatigue in mice infected with murine gammaherpesvirus 68.

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

Multi-source synthesis of data to inform health policy.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

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