ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5121–5140 of 6,188 studies

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mikovits, Judy A, Lombardi, Vincent C, Pfost, Max A et al.·Virulence·2010

This 2010 study reported finding a virus called XMRV in blood samples from over 75% of people with ME/CFS using multiple detection methods. The researchers emphasized that different laboratory techniques found the virus at different rates, with some methods being much more sensitive than others. The findings were controversial because other research groups had difficulty reproducing these results.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reduced pressure pain thresholds in response to exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome but not in chronic low back pain: an experimental study.

Meeus, Mira, Roussel, Nathalie A, Truijen, Steven et al.·Journal of rehabilitation medicine·2010

This study compared how people with ME/CFS, chronic back pain, and healthy people respond to exercise. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have more sensitive pain responses than others, and importantly, their pain sensitivity got worse after light exercise—opposite to what happened in the other groups. This suggests ME/CFS involves different pain processing in the nervous system.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Understanding chronic fatigue syndrome].

Rivera Redondo, Javier·Reumatologia clinica·2010

This article provides an overview of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), explaining what the condition is and how it affects patients. The author discusses the main features of ME/CFS, including persistent exhaustion that doesn't improve with rest and other symptoms that can develop after infection or stress. The goal is to help readers understand this complex illness better.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Frequency and content analysis of chronic fatigue syndrome in medical text books.

Jason, Leonard A, Paavola, Erin, Porter, Nicole et al.·Australian journal of primary health·2010

This study looked at how much information about ME/CFS appears in medical textbooks that doctors and medical students use for training. Researchers found that while about 4 out of 10 textbooks mentioned ME/CFS at all, the information took up less than 0.1% of the total pages. Compared to other diseases like multiple sclerosis that are actually rarer, ME/CFS received much less coverage in these important educational materials.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A discourse analytic study of ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) sufferers' experiences of interactions with doctors.

Guise, Jennie, McVittie, Chris, McKinlay, Andy·Journal of health psychology·2010

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients describe their experiences when talking to doctors. Researchers analyzed conversations from an online support group and found that patients often feel their doctors don't listen to them or take their condition seriously. Interestingly, patients were careful about how they complained, trying to focus on practical issues rather than seeming like they were just complaining.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Validation of ECG-derived sleep architecture and ventilation in sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Decker, Michael J, Eyal, Shulamit, Shinar, Zvika et al.·Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung·2010

Researchers tested a new computer method that analyzes heart rate patterns to measure sleep quality and breathing problems during sleep, comparing it to the traditional gold-standard method of manually reviewing sleep recordings. The new method worked very well for measuring overall sleep time, wake time, and most sleep stages, though it was less accurate at distinguishing between deep and light sleep. This could eventually allow easier and cheaper sleep testing for patients with ME/CFS who often have sleep problems.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Short QT interval in clinical practice.

Bjerregaard, Preben, Nallapaneni, Hari, Gussak, Ihor·Journal of electrocardiology·2010

This review article discusses a heart rhythm pattern called a 'short QT interval' that doctors can see on heart electrical recordings (EKGs). The authors note that while this pattern is rare, it can sometimes be dangerous and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. They found that short QT intervals have been reported in patients with ME/CFS, along with several other medical conditions, though we still don't fully understand what it means or how to best manage patients who have it.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Gut inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lakhan, Shaheen E, Kirchgessner, Annette·Nutrition & metabolism·2010

Many ME/CFS patients experience gut problems similar to irritable bowel syndrome. This review discusses how three interconnected gut issues—changes in the bacteria that live in your intestines, a weakened intestinal lining, and an altered immune response in the gut—may contribute to ME/CFS. The authors suggest that treatments like probiotics (beneficial bacteria) might help by restoring healthy gut bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Endometriosis-associated Lyme disease.

Matalliotakis, I M, Cakmak, H, Ziogos, M D E et al.·Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·2010

This study looked at whether Lyme disease (an infection from tick bites) appears more often in women with endometriosis (a painful condition affecting the uterus). Researchers reviewed medical records from 605 women over 6 years and found that 3 women had both endometriosis and Lyme disease. The study suggests that women with endometriosis may be more likely to develop autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including Lyme disease.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[The cerebralization of fatigue: an analysis of the cerebral hypothesis in the case of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Ortega, Francisco, Zorzanelli, Rafaela·Historia, ciencias, saude--Manguinhos·2010

This article examines how ME/CFS came to be understood as a brain-based illness rather than purely a physical one. The authors explore the history of how brain imaging and neuroscience research influenced medical thinking about ME/CFS, and how this shift reflected broader changes in how society views illness in general—increasingly looking to the brain as the primary source of disease.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Contamination of human DNA samples with mouse DNA can lead to false detection of XMRV-like sequences.

Oakes, Brendan, Tai, Albert K, Cingöz, Oya et al.·Retrovirology·2010

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people for a virus called XMRV. They discovered that when using very sensitive testing methods, they were getting false positive results because mouse DNA was contaminating the samples, not because patients actually had the virus. This study shows why careful testing procedures are essential when looking for viruses in patient samples.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Readability of patient and health care professional targeted dietary supplement leaflets used for diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clauson, Kevin A, Zeng-Treitler, Qing, Kandula, Sasikiran·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2010

This study examined whether instruction sheets about dietary supplements for diabetes and ME/CFS are written in a way that patients can easily understand. Researchers found that most of these leaflets are written at a college level (13th grade), far harder than the recommended 6th-grade level. This difficulty may make it harder for patients to understand important information and follow recommendations.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Pain inhibition and postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study.

Van Oosterwijck, J, Nijs, J, Meeus, M et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2010

This study compared how the body's pain-relief systems work in people with ME/CFS versus healthy people during exercise. Researchers found that after exercise, people with ME/CFS became more sensitive to pain (their pain thresholds decreased), while healthy people became less sensitive to pain. The ME/CFS group also experienced worsening symptoms after both types of exercise they tried.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The human retrovirus XMRV in prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Silverman, Robert H, Nguyen, Carvell, Weight, Christopher J et al.·Nature reviews. Urology·2010

This review examines XMRV, a newly discovered virus that has been found in some people with prostate cancer and some with ME/CFS. Researchers have found the virus at very different rates in different studies (0-27% in prostate cancer, 0-67% in ME/CFS patients). While some antiviral drugs appear to block this virus, scientists still do not know whether XMRV actually causes either disease.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

EEG findings in burnout patients.

van Luijtelaar, Gilles, Verbraak, Marc, van den Bunt, Martijn et al.·The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2010

This study used brain wave recordings (EEG) to look for physical markers that could help identify burnout as a distinct condition. Researchers found that people with burnout showed different brain wave patterns compared to healthy people, including reduced activity in certain frequency bands. The findings suggest burnout may have measurable brain differences that set it apart from depression and chronic fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neuroendocrine and immune contributors to fatigue.

Silverman, Marni N, Heim, Christine M, Nater, Urs M et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2010

This review explores how three body systems—the stress response system, the nervous system, and the immune system—may work together to cause the overwhelming tiredness experienced in ME/CFS. The researchers found that people with chronic fatigue often have an underactive stress-response system, an overactive fight-or-flight response, and immune system imbalances. Understanding how these systems interact may help explain why rest alone doesn't always resolve the fatigue.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an update.

Capelli, E, Zola, R, Lorusso, L et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2010

ME/CFS is a serious illness of unknown cause that affects about 1 in every 100 people worldwide, with women affected six times more often than men. Most people develop it between ages 20-40, and symptoms typically last several years. While doctors don't yet have a cure, treatment focuses on managing individual symptoms to help patients improve their quality of life.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Harvey and Wessely's (bio)psychosocial model versus a bio(psychosocial) model based on inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways.

Maes, Michael, Twisk, Frank N M·BMC medicine·2010

This study compares two different ways of understanding ME/CFS. One model suggests the illness is mainly caused by how the mind and behavior interact with the body, and proposes treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise. The other model focuses on biological problems like inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. The authors argue that the biological model better explains ME/CFS and that exercise-based treatments could actually make some patients worse.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in adults: a qualitative study of perspectives from professional practice.

Horton, Simon M C, Poland, Fiona, Kale, Swati et al.·BMC family practice·2010

This study spoke with six healthcare providers who were praised by ME/CFS patients for being helpful and understanding. The researchers asked these doctors and specialists what they thought worked best when treating ME/CFS. The key finding was that patients benefit most from doctors who truly listen, show respect, build trust, and recognize how serious and complex the condition is—rather than those who dismiss or minimize ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A qualitative exploration of adolescents' experiences of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jelbert, Rebecca, Stedmon, Jacqui, Stephens, Alison·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2010

This study talked to five teenagers who had recovered from ME/CFS about what the illness was like for them. Through interviews and careful analysis of their stories, researchers found that teens experienced five common themes: trying to understand their illness, feeling a sense of loss, noticing things that seemed to make it better or worse, dealing with difficult emotions, and eventually recovering. The teens' own voices highlight that there is still much we need to learn about how this illness affects young people.

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Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reduced pressure pain thresholds in response to exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome but not in chronic low back pain: an experimental study.

[Understanding chronic fatigue syndrome].

Frequency and content analysis of chronic fatigue syndrome in medical text books.

A discourse analytic study of ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) sufferers' experiences of interactions with doctors.

Validation of ECG-derived sleep architecture and ventilation in sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Short QT interval in clinical practice.

Gut inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Endometriosis-associated Lyme disease.

[The cerebralization of fatigue: an analysis of the cerebral hypothesis in the case of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Contamination of human DNA samples with mouse DNA can lead to false detection of XMRV-like sequences.

Readability of patient and health care professional targeted dietary supplement leaflets used for diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pain inhibition and postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study.

The human retrovirus XMRV in prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

EEG findings in burnout patients.

Neuroendocrine and immune contributors to fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an update.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Harvey and Wessely's (bio)psychosocial model versus a bio(psychosocial) model based on inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways.

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in adults: a qualitative study of perspectives from professional practice.

A qualitative exploration of adolescents' experiences of chronic fatigue syndrome.

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