ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

741–760 of 6,209 studies

[Acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome based on "interaction of brain and kidney" in TCM: a randomized controlled trial].

Xu, Yu-Xin, Luo, Hua-Song, Sun, Dong et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2019

This study tested whether acupuncture could help people with ME/CFS feel less tired and sleep better. Sixty-eight patients were divided into two groups: one received acupuncture twice a week for four weeks along with standard care (rest and vitamins), while the other received only standard care. The acupuncture group showed greater improvements in fatigue, overall wellbeing, and sleep quality compared to the control group.

Immune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

The Efficacy and Safety of Myelophil, an Ethanol Extract Mixture of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Joung, Jin-Yong, Lee, Jin-Seok, Cho, Jung-Hyo et al.·Frontiers in pharmacology·2019

Researchers tested a herbal supplement called Myelophil (made from two plant extracts) in 97 people with ME/CFS over 12 weeks. Overall, the supplement didn't significantly reduce fatigue compared to placebo. However, in people with severe fatigue symptoms at the start, Myelophil did show meaningful improvement in fatigue levels and quality of life. The treatment was safe with no serious side effects reported.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Stepped Care for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Randomized Noninferiority Trial.

Worm-Smeitink, Margreet, Janse, Anthonie, van Dam, Arno et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2019

This study tested whether ME/CFS patients could be treated effectively with online cognitive behavioral therapy (a talk therapy done through a computer), with face-to-face therapy available if needed, compared to standard face-to-face therapy alone. The online therapy worked about as well as in-person therapy for reducing fatigue and disability, but used significantly less therapist time, making it potentially more efficient.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Clinical research of auricular gold-needle therapy in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution].

Xu, Yi-Yan, Liu, Ji-Hong, Ding, Hui et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2019

This study tested whether auricular gold-needle therapy (inserting gold needles in specific points on the ear) could help patients with chronic fatigue syndrome caused by qi deficiency, a concept from traditional Chinese medicine. Compared to seed pressure therapy and herbal medicine, the gold-needle treatment resulted in better symptom improvement and stronger immune markers after three months of treatment.

Immune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Influence of Morphine and Naloxone on Pain Modulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia, and Controls: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study.

Hermans, Linda, Nijs, Jo, Calders, Patrick et al.·Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain·2018

This study tested whether morphine and naloxone (a drug that blocks opioid effects) change how pain is processed in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy controls. Researchers measured pain sensitivity and pain relief in response to these medications using pressure tests and ischemic pain. They found that morphine slightly reduced pain sensitivity in patient groups similarly to placebo, but neither morphine nor naloxone significantly changed how the body's natural pain-relief system worked.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cerebral Blood Flow and Heart Rate Variability in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

Malfliet, Anneleen, Pas, Roselien, Brouns, Raf et al.·Pain physician·2018

Researchers tested whether heart and blood vessel problems in ME/CFS patients explain their pain, fatigue, and concentration difficulties. They measured blood flow in the brain and heart rate patterns in 20 ME/CFS patients and 20 healthy people during mild exercise and stress. While both groups showed changes in these measurements during exercise, the ME/CFS patients did not show the normal pain relief response that healthy people had, suggesting their pain modulation system works differently—but this difference was not explained by the heart or blood flow measurements.

E1 ReplicatedCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Rethinking the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome-a reanalysis and evaluation of findings from a recent major trial of graded exercise and CBT.

Wilshire, Carolyn E, Kindlon, Tom, Courtney, Robert et al.·BMC psychology·2018

This study re-examined a large, well-known trial called PACE that tested whether exercise therapy and talking therapy could help people with ME/CFS. When researchers checked the original study data using the methods that were promised before the trial started, they found much weaker benefits than originally reported. The treatments did not clearly work better than standard care, recovery rates were very low, and improvements seemed to fade after two years.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Efficacy of web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: randomised controlled trial.

Janse, A, Worm-Smeitink, M, Bleijenberg, G et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2018

This study tested whether online cognitive-behavioural therapy (a type of talk therapy focused on thoughts and behaviours) could reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients. 240 people with ME/CFS were randomly assigned to receive online therapy with regular therapist check-ins, online therapy with check-ins only when needed, or a waiting list. Both online therapy groups showed significant improvements in fatigue compared to those who waited, and both worked equally well.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM unclearRCT

A randomised controlled trial of the monoaminergic stabiliser (-)-OSU6162 in treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nilsson, Marie Karin Lena, Zachrisson, Olof, Gottfries, Carl-Gerhard et al.·Acta neuropsychiatrica·2018

Researchers tested a drug called (-)-OSU6162 to see if it could help people with ME/CFS feel less mentally tired. Sixty-two patients received either the drug or a placebo (dummy pill) for 2 weeks. While both groups felt somewhat better during treatment, the drug did not work significantly better than placebo overall. Interestingly, the drug appeared to help more in patients who were also taking antidepressants.

Interventions

E1 ReplicatedCohortPEM requiredObservational

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS: A retrospective analysis

Staci R. Stevens, Christopher R. Snell, Jared N. Stevens et al.·Journal of Translational Medicine·2018·n=51

ME/CFS patients underwent two consecutive days of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). On the second day, patients showed significantly reduced VO2 max and anaerobic threshold compared to the first day — and compared to healthy and disease controls who recovered normally. This objective impairment matches the subjective PEM experience.

DiagnosticsPost-Exertional Malaise

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM unclearCase-Control

Cytokine signatures in chronic fatigue syndrome patients: a Case Control Study and the effect of anakinra treatment.

Roerink, Megan E, Knoop, Hans, Bronkhorst, Ewald M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2017

Researchers compared immune signaling molecules (cytokines) in the blood of 50 women with ME/CFS to 48 healthy women and found two markers were elevated in the ME/CFS group: IL-12p40 and CSF-1. They also tested whether a drug called anakinra (which blocks inflammation) could help reduce these markers, but found it did not significantly change cytokine levels after 4 weeks of treatment.

BiomarkersImmune System

E1 ReplicatedCohortPEM unclearObservational

Cytokine signature associated with disease severity in chronic fatigue syndrome patients

Jose G. Montoya, Tyson H. Holmes, Jill N. Anderson et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)·2017·n=192

Stanford researchers measured 51 cytokines in 192 ME/CFS patients and 392 healthy controls. Seventeen cytokines were significantly elevated in ME/CFS, with TGF-beta most strongly associated with disease severity. More severe patients had higher cytokine levels, suggesting immune activation scales with illness burden.

Severe MEBiomarkersImmune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredObservational

Kinesiophobia and maladaptive coping strategies prevent improvements in pain catastrophizing following pain neuroscience education in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: An explorative study.

Malfliet, Anneleen, Van Oosterwijck, Jessica, Meeus, Mira et al.·Physiotherapy theory and practice·2017

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia benefit more from a type of pain education (called pain neuroscience education) than others. The researchers found that patients who were very afraid of movement or who tended to worry a lot about their pain showed less improvement in their catastrophic thinking about pain after receiving this education. This suggests that for some patients, education alone may not be enough—they might need additional support to address their fears and worries.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cost-Utility of Home-Based Fatigue Self-Management versus Usual Care for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Meng, Hongdao, Friedberg, Fred·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2017

This study compared a low-cost, home-based self-management program for fatigue (based on cognitive behavioral therapy) with standard medical care for people with severe ME/CFS. Over one year, the self-management program was found to be more cost-effective than usual care—meaning it helped people feel better while costing less overall. The program was popular with participants and had very few people drop out.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Pharmacological treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Glazachev, O S, Dudnik, Е N, Zagaynaya, E E·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2017

This study tested whether laennec, a human placenta extract given as intravenous infusions, could help patients with ME/CFS. Twenty-four patients received 10 infusions over 5 weeks, while 14 control patients received no treatment. The treated group showed significant improvements in fatigue levels, mood, quality of life, and physical exercise capacity, with no serious side effects reported.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points for chronic fatigue syndrome].

Qi, Yuangang, Song, Shoujiang, Dou, Zhiqiang et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2017

This study tested whether combining a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction) with acupuncture works better than the herb alone for chronic fatigue syndrome. Sixty patients received either the herbal treatment for one month, or the same herbs plus 30-minute acupuncture sessions at specific back points over three treatment courses. Both groups improved, but the combination of herbs and acupuncture produced greater reductions in fatigue and anxiety than the herb alone.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

[Efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome and its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell].

Xia, Depeng, Chen, Peifang, Du, Peixue et al.·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2017

This study tested whether a traditional Chinese medicine treatment combining acupuncture with catgut embedding and ginger-based moxibustion could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The treatment group showed greater improvements in fatigue symptoms and immune system markers compared to people receiving standard acupuncture alone, with 96.7% reporting benefit.

Immune System

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Muscle injections with lidocaine improve resting fatigue and pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Staud, Roland, Kizer, Taylor, Robinson, Michael E·Journal of pain research·2017

Researchers tested whether injecting a numbing medication (lidocaine) into muscles could help ME/CFS patients with fatigue and pain. Compared to a placebo injection, lidocaine injections did reduce fatigue more effectively, and both types of injections reduced pain, depression, and anxiety. This suggests that signals from muscles themselves may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Effectiveness of a group-based self-management program for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Pinxsterhuis, Irma, Sandvik, Leiv, Strand, Elin Bolle et al.·Clinical rehabilitation·2017

This study tested whether a group self-management program (eight meetings over four months) could help people with ME/CFS feel better compared to standard care. At six months, the program group reported less fatigue severity and felt more confident in managing their condition, but these improvements didn't last until the one-year follow-up. Overall, the program did not provide lasting benefits compared to usual care alone.

E1 ReplicatedTrialPEM not requiredRCT

Cytokine Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

Roerink, Megan E, Bredie, Sebastian J H, Heijnen, Michael et al.·Annals of internal medicine·2017

Researchers tested whether a drug called anakinra, which reduces inflammation in the body, could help reduce fatigue in women with ME/CFS. Over 4 weeks, patients received either anakinra injections or placebo (dummy injections), and both groups were followed for an additional 20 weeks. The drug did not significantly improve fatigue or other symptoms compared to placebo, though some patients experienced injection site reactions.

Immune System

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[Acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome based on "interaction of brain and kidney" in TCM: a randomized controlled trial].

The Efficacy and Safety of Myelophil, an Ethanol Extract Mixture of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Stepped Care for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Randomized Noninferiority Trial.

[Clinical research of auricular gold-needle therapy in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution].

Influence of Morphine and Naloxone on Pain Modulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia, and Controls: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study.

Cerebral Blood Flow and Heart Rate Variability in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

Rethinking the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome-a reanalysis and evaluation of findings from a recent major trial of graded exercise and CBT.

Efficacy of web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: randomised controlled trial.

A randomised controlled trial of the monoaminergic stabiliser (-)-OSU6162 in treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS: A retrospective analysis

Cytokine signatures in chronic fatigue syndrome patients: a Case Control Study and the effect of anakinra treatment.

Cytokine signature associated with disease severity in chronic fatigue syndrome patients

Kinesiophobia and maladaptive coping strategies prevent improvements in pain catastrophizing following pain neuroscience education in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome: An explorative study.

Cost-Utility of Home-Based Fatigue Self-Management versus Usual Care for the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[Pharmacological treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

[Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points for chronic fatigue syndrome].

[Efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome and its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell].

Muscle injections with lidocaine improve resting fatigue and pain in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effectiveness of a group-based self-management program for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Cytokine Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

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