ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

5521–5540 of 6,211 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Altered central nervous system signal during motor performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Siemionow, Vlodek, Fang, Yin, Calabrese, Leonard et al.·Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2004

This study measured brain electrical activity in ME/CFS patients and healthy people while they performed repeated hand-squeezing exercises. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients showed different brain activity patterns—particularly increased slower brain waves and larger electrical signals related to movement control—especially when the exercises became tiring. These brain activity differences might help doctors develop better ways to diagnose ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Learning and memorization impairment in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome manifesting as school phobia in Japan.

Miike, Teruhisa, Tomoda, Akemi, Jhodoi, Takako et al.·Brain & development·2004

This study followed children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Japan over 15 years to understand why they experience severe tiredness and difficulty learning and remembering information. The researchers found that these children had problems with their autonomic nervous system (the automatic system controlling heart rate, temperature, and digestion), disrupted sleep-wake cycles similar to jet lag, and reduced blood flow to certain brain areas. Understanding these patterns may help explain why learning becomes so difficult for children with CFS.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Manual-based cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: therapists' adherence and perceptions.

Bazelmans, Ellen, Prins, Judith B, Hoogveld, Sigrid et al.·Cognitive behaviour therapy·2004

This study looked at how well therapists followed a standardized treatment manual when using cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to treat ME/CFS patients. Researchers recorded therapy sessions and asked therapists about their experiences. They found that therapists generally stuck to the treatment plan, but many found ME/CFS patients harder to treat than patients with other conditions, mostly because of difficulty building patient confidence and motivation.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Developing and evaluating community-based services through participatory action research: two case examples.

Taylor, Renée R, Braveman, Brent, Hammel, Joy·The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association·2004

This study shows how occupational therapists can work together with ME/CFS patients and their communities to design better support services. Instead of experts telling people what they need, this approach lets patients and community members have a real voice in deciding what services should be created and how they should work. The researchers used two real-world examples—one with ME/CFS patients and one with AIDS patients—to show how this partnership approach can lead to more helpful and empowering services.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Exercise lowers pain threshold in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Whiteside, Alan, Hansen, Stig, Chaudhuri, Abhijit·Pain·2004

This study looked at how exercise affects pain sensitivity in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. When healthy volunteers exercised, their pain threshold (the point at which they felt pain) went up, making them less sensitive to pain. However, in ME/CFS patients, the pain threshold actually decreased after exercise, meaning they became more sensitive to pain. This suggests that the body's natural pain-blocking system may not work properly in ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chaudhuri, A, Behan, P O·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2004

This study used a special type of MRI scan called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to look at how cells work in ME/CFS patients. The scans showed that muscle cells may become too acidic during exercise, and brain cells may have signs of stress. These findings suggest that ME/CFS involves problems with how cells produce and use energy.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A case with chronic fatigue syndrome with positive antinuclear antibody followed by postpartum thyroiditis.

Itoh, Yasuhiko, Hamada, Hisamitsu, Igarashi, Tohru et al.·Modern rheumatology·2004

This case study describes a patient who had ME/CFS along with a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA)—a blood marker sometimes seen in autoimmune conditions. Five years after developing ME/CFS, the patient developed postpartum thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid condition that occurs after pregnancy. The doctors discussed how autoimmune conditions affecting the immune system might be connected to both ME/CFS and thyroid problems.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Physiology and pathophysiology of the 5-HT3 receptor.

Färber, L, Haus, U, Späth, M et al.·Scandinavian journal of rheumatology. Supplement·2004

This review examines how a specific brain chemical receptor called 5-HT3 works in the body and what happens when it malfunctions. The researchers found that blocking this receptor with certain medications may help treat several conditions, including ME/CFS, by reducing symptoms like nausea, pain, and anxiety. However, scientists still don't fully understand exactly how this receptor causes problems in these different illnesses.

Pain and SensitizationAutonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Acute parvovirus B19 infection mimicking chronic fatigue syndrome.

Matano, Sadaya, Kinoshita, Hiroya, Tanigawa, Kiyoaki et al.·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2003

This case study describes a woman in Japan who developed severe fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and other symptoms lasting two months that resembled ME/CFS. Blood tests showed she had a parvovirus B19 infection (a common virus), and she was also diagnosed with depression. Her symptoms improved after taking antidepressant medication and herbal treatments, even though the virus remained detectable in her blood for months. This case suggests that parvovirus B19 infection can sometimes produce symptoms similar to ME/CFS, especially in people who have experienced significant stress.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Type I interferons induce proteins susceptible to act as thyroid receptor (TR) corepressors and to signal the TR for destruction by the proteasome: possible etiology for unexplained chronic fatigue.

Englebienne, P, Verhas, M, Herst, C V et al.·Medical hypotheses·2003

This study proposes a potential explanation for why some ME/CFS patients experience severe fatigue despite having normal thyroid blood tests. The researchers suggest that certain immune proteins called interferons may trigger the production of other proteins that interfere with thyroid hormone function at the cellular level, making the body behave as if it has low thyroid activity even though standard thyroid tests appear normal.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Case reports and review of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Carothers, Becky, Schmidt, Lori, Puri, Vinay·The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association·2003

POTS is a condition where your heart rate increases too much when you stand up, and less blood flows to your brain, causing dizziness and fainting. This paper describes two patients with POTS who needed different levels of treatment—one managed at home and one needing hospital care. The authors point out that POTS is probably more common than doctors realize and is sometimes mistaken for chronic fatigue syndrome or other conditions.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Efficacy of a half dose of oral pyridostigmine in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: three case reports.

Kawamura, Yasuo, Kihara, Mikihiro, Nishimoto, Kazuhiro et al.·Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology·2003

This small study looked at three ME/CFS patients who had problems with both nerve-muscle communication and autonomic nervous system dysfunction (how the body regulates heart rate, sweating, and other automatic functions). All three patients improved significantly when given low doses of a medication called pyridostigmine, which helps acetylcholine (a chemical messenger in the nervous system) work better. The authors suggest that some ME/CFS fatigue might be caused by a combination of these two problems working together.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Chronic fatigue syndrome: new evidence for a central fatigue disorder.

Georgiades, Evelina, Behan, Wilhelmina M H, Kilduff, Liam P et al.·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2003

This study investigated whether ME/CFS involves problems with how the brain regulates energy and effort perception. Researchers compared 12 ME/CFS patients and 11 healthy controls during exercise, measuring chemicals in the blood that help the brain function. ME/CFS patients felt more exhausted at every stage and had different levels of brain chemicals, particularly those related to serotonin and dopamine—systems that regulate mood, motivation, and perception of effort.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptors: mediators of fatigue?

Cleare, A J·Acta neuropsychiatrica·2003

This study looks at whether a hormone system called the HPA axis—which controls stress responses and cortisol production—might explain why people with ME/CFS experience severe fatigue. Researchers found that some patients have lower cortisol levels and changes in how their bodies respond to stress, and that giving cortisol replacement therapy in some cases improved fatigue. However, the changes weren't the same in all patients, suggesting multiple different factors may be contributing to fatigue rather than one single problem.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic phase lipids in sera of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), hepatitis B, and cancer with antigenic epitope resembling ciguatoxin, as assessed with MAb-CTX.

Hokama, Y, Uto, G A, Palafox, N A et al.·Journal of clinical laboratory analysis·2003

Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have unusual lipids (fatty substances) in their blood that react similarly to toxins found in certain poisoned fish. The study tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people and patients with other diseases. About 96% of ME/CFS patients showed high levels of these lipids, suggesting they may be a distinctive feature of the condition.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cytokines in parvovirus B19 infection as an aid to understanding chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kerr, Jonathan R, Tyrrell, David A J·Current pain and headache reports·2003

This study examined how parvovirus B19 (a common virus) can trigger ME/CFS in some people. The researchers found that patients who developed ME/CFS after B19 infection had abnormal levels of immune signaling chemicals in their blood (specifically TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma, and MCP-1). Importantly, some patients improved when treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, suggesting B19-triggered ME/CFS may be treatable.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredEditorial

An approach to chronic fatigue syndrome in adults.

Sabin, Thomas D·The neurologist·2003

This paper helps doctors, especially neurologists, understand how to properly evaluate patients who are experiencing severe fatigue. The author emphasizes that while ME/CFS is a real condition, it's important to rule out other medical problems that can cause similar symptoms before confirming an ME/CFS diagnosis. Since there is no blood test or scan that can definitively diagnose ME/CFS, careful evaluation and questioning of patients is essential.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Q fever as a biological weapon.

Kagawa, Frank T, Wehner, John H, Mohindra, Vibha·Seminars in respiratory infections·2003

Q fever is a rare bacterial infection that can be caught from animals and is highly contagious. Most people who catch it have no symptoms or mild flu-like illness, but some develop serious complications like pneumonia or inflammation of the heart. Importantly, a small number of people develop chronic Q fever, which can cause long-term fatigue similar to ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chaudhuri, A, Condon, B R, Gow, J W et al.·Neuroreport·2003

This study used a specialized brain imaging technique called MR spectroscopy to look at a part of the brain called the basal ganglia in people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS had significantly higher levels of choline (a compound involved in cell membranes) in this brain region compared to healthy people. This suggests that the fatigue in ME/CFS may involve changes in how brain cells are functioning and communicating.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Single-photon emission computerized tomography and neurocognitive function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schmaling, Karen B, Lewis, David H, Fiedelak, Jessica I et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2003

Researchers used brain imaging scans to compare how the brains of people with ME/CFS and healthy people work during a challenging listening and memory task. People with ME/CFS performed just as well on the task as healthy people, but reported feeling like they had to work much harder mentally. The brain scans showed that people with ME/CFS had a different pattern of brain activity—more spread out rather than focused in specific areas—suggesting their brains may be working less efficiently.

Cognitive Impairment

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Altered central nervous system signal during motor performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Learning and memorization impairment in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome manifesting as school phobia in Japan.

Manual-based cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: therapists' adherence and perceptions.

Developing and evaluating community-based services through participatory action research: two case examples.

Exercise lowers pain threshold in chronic fatigue syndrome.

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy in chronic fatigue syndrome.

A case with chronic fatigue syndrome with positive antinuclear antibody followed by postpartum thyroiditis.

Physiology and pathophysiology of the 5-HT3 receptor.

Acute parvovirus B19 infection mimicking chronic fatigue syndrome.

Type I interferons induce proteins susceptible to act as thyroid receptor (TR) corepressors and to signal the TR for destruction by the proteasome: possible etiology for unexplained chronic fatigue.

Case reports and review of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Efficacy of a half dose of oral pyridostigmine in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: three case reports.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: new evidence for a central fatigue disorder.

Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptors: mediators of fatigue?

Chronic phase lipids in sera of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), hepatitis B, and cancer with antigenic epitope resembling ciguatoxin, as assessed with MAb-CTX.

Cytokines in parvovirus B19 infection as an aid to understanding chronic fatigue syndrome.

An approach to chronic fatigue syndrome in adults.

Q fever as a biological weapon.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Single-photon emission computerized tomography and neurocognitive function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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