2016 – American ME and CFS Society

Comment by ME Research UK: Reduced cardiac volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with plasma volume but not length of disease: a cohort study

Reprinted with the kind permission of ME Research UK.

Authors

Newton JL, Finkelmeyer A, Petrides G, Frith J, Hodgson T, Maclachlan L, MacGowan G and Blamire AM

Institution

Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Published abstract

Objectives

To explore potential mechanisms that underpin the cardiac abnormalities seen in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using non-invasive cardiac impedance, red cell mass and plasma volume measurements.

Methods

Cardiac MR (MR) examinations were performed using 3 T Philips Intera Achieva scanner (Best, NL) in participants with CFS (Fukuda; n=47) and matched case-by-case controls. Total volume (TV), red cell volume (RCV) and plasma volume (PV) measurements were performed (41 CFS and 10 controls) using the indicator dilution technique using simultaneous 51-chromium labelling of red blood cells and 125-iodine labelling of serum albumin.

Results

The CFS group length of history (mean±SD) was 14±10 years. Patients with CFS had significantly reduced end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes together with reduced end-diastolic wall masses (all p<0.0001). Mean±SD RCV was 1565±443 mL with 26/41 (63%) having values below 95% of expected. PV was 2659±529 mL with 13/41 (32%) <95% expected. There were strong positive correlations between TV, RCV and PV and cardiac end-diastolic wall mass (all p<0.0001; r2=0.5). Increasing fatigue severity correlated negatively with lower PV (p=0.04; r2=0.2). There were no relationships between any MR or volume measurements and length of history, suggesting that deconditioning was unlikely to be the cause of these abnormalities.

Conclusions

This study confirms an association between reduced cardiac volumes and blood volume in CFS. Lack of relationship between length of disease, cardiac and plasma volumes suggests findings are not secondary to deconditioning. The relationship between plasma volume and severity of fatigue symptoms suggests a potential therapeutic target in CFS.

Publication

Newton et al, Open Heart, 2016 Jun 24; 3(1):e000381

Funding

Medical Research Council, ME Research UK

Comment by ME Research UK

Over the years, a number of reports in the scientific literature have pointed to the presence of abnormalities of heart (cardiac) function in ME/CFS. For example, a study in 2006 found that ME/CFS patients had relatively short QT intervals (measures of the heart’s electrical cycle) compared with healthy people (read more). Also, in 2009, Japanese researchers reported cardiac dysfunction with low cardiac output in some oriental patients (read more), and another investigation found that cardiac function was diminished (read more).

Alongside these reports, ME Research UK-funded investigations by Prof Julia Newton, Dr Kieren Hollingsworth and colleagues at Newcastle University have also throw up some intriguing findings concerning the function of the heart in ME/CFS. For example, they have shown that ‘bioenergetic abnormalities’ could be found both in heart muscle and in the muscles of the skeleton, with a correlation between the two suggesting the existence of linked underlying mechanisms (read more). In the same investigation, they found that the hearts of the ME/CFS patients had to work harder during prolonged standing than in healthy people. The research group has also looked at the function of the heart using cardiac MRI tagging to identify defects that are not yet clinically apparent. One of their main findings has been a dramatic increase in ‘residual torsion’ in patients compared with controls. This is a measure of the efficiency of the release of torsion and strain during the relaxation phase of the heartbeat, and ME/CFS patients had 200% more residual torsion than healthy people, indicating that their heart muscle was taking longer to relax. Also, the left ventricular mass (the thickness of the heart wall at the ventricle) was reduced compared with controls; and cardiac output (the output of blood by the heart per minute) was lower (read more).

The Newcastle researchers have been continuing their investigations, and their latest report has just been published in the journal Open Heart (read more). It describes work to confirm these previous findings in a larger group of new patients and controls, and extend them to include cardiac output and blood volume. In the experiments, cardiac magnetic resonance examinations were performed in 47 patients with ME/CFS who had been ill for 14 years on average and 47 case-matched controls, and blood volume measurements in 41 CFS and 10 controls. Patients with a diagnosis of depression were specifically excluded from the study so that depression could be ruled out as a potential, if unlikely, cause of the abnormalities.

The results were fascinating. Compared with healthy controls, stroke volume(the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle in one contraction) was 23% lower in the ME/CFS patients; end-diastolic volumes were 25% lower; end-systolic volumes were 29% lower; and end-diastolic wall masses were 26% lower (all p<0.0001). In essence, these findings confirm, in a larger and different group of patients, the reductions in cardiac volume observed previously in ME/CFS patients in Newcastle.

The total volume of blood (plasma and red cells) was 4% lower in the ME/CFS group compared with controls, though this difference was not statistically significant. In 63% of the patients, however, the volume of red blood cells was below 95% of the expected levels for healthy people. Also, there were strong positive correlations between blood volume measurements and cardiac end-diastolic wall mass, and a weak relationship between plasma volume and fatigue severity. Importantly, the length of illness was not related to any cardiac magnetic resonance or volume measurements, suggesting that deconditioning (which would be greater the longer a person was ill) was unlikely to be the cause of these abnormalities.

The finding that red cell volume was low is intriguing, and it may be that blood volume plays at least a part in the symptoms experienced by ME/CFS patients. One intriguing possibility alluded to by the researchers is that the abnormalities detected in this study, particularly the reduction in end-diastolic blood volume, may be due to problems with venous compliance (see diagram above), as nearly two-thirds of the blood in the systemic circulation is stored in the venous system and compliance is controlled by the autonomic nervous system which is also affected in ME/CFS. In fact, low total blood volume has been proposed as part of the disease process in subgroups of ME/CFS patients before. One investigation in 2002 found a 9% lower blood volume in ME/CFS patients than in controls (read more). A further study in 2009 showed that the reductions in cardiac output and end-diastolic volume in ME/CFS could be entirely accounted for by a reduction in the total blood volume (read more), and an accompanying editorial pointed out that the results did not imply heart disease, but rather pointed to “circulatory impairment” (read more).

Overall, these findings using state-of-the art MRI confirm the presence of cardiac abnormalities in people with ME/CFS. It remains unknown, however, whether these are caused by ME/CFS and its consequences per se or whether, for instance, a (pre-existing) reduced cardiac volume may make people more vulnerable to the development of the illness. As regards low blood volume, there is anecdotal evidence that the symptoms of ME/CFS improve in some patients after treatment with intravenous fluid (although the procedure is not without drawbacks and risks), and the team in Newcastle intend to explore interventions to restore fluid volume in ME/CFS patients in further studies.

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ME Research UK commissions and funds high-quality scientific (biomedical) investigation into ME/CFS.

Cognition In Young People With ME/CFS

By Dr R. Vallings

One of the main reasons that young people with ME/CFS struggle with school is associated with cognition. Mental confusion, memory problems and difficulties with concentration are all described and may relate to abnormal neurological pathology, sluggish cerebral circulation and generalised fatigue.

Cognitive effort leads to fatigue in the same way that exercise will lead to muscle fatigue and post-exertional malaise. Headaches are frequently a prominent and persistent symptom, and they too will interfere with the student’s cognitive ability. There can be aggravation of symptoms associated with trying to focus and learn from a computer screen. Many will describe visual symptoms with blurring of text or eye fatigue.

A noisy classroom situation may not be conducive to mental effort, and students are often moving from room to room carrying heavy books, this all adding to the burden which the illness poses.

The young person may have problems with sleep, waking feeling unrefreshed, and again cognitive effort may thus be limited. He/she may arrive at school feeling already exhausted due to lack of restorative sleep and having to get up early, and then issues such as travelling, and the anxiety associated with what may lie ahead that day.

Too much exercise, standing for long periods, heat and poor nutrition can all compromise cognition. The student will be motivated to keep up with peers, and push him/herself mentally, physically and socially beyond the comfort zone, and suffer the consequences cognitively.

The teacher may have minimal understanding of the illness and its sequelae, and even the efforts of parents to explain can be brushed aside as “fussiness”. Attention span may be very short and the labels of laziness, attention deficit or learning disorders can be appended inappropriately.

Those with ME/CFS are usually highly motivated to achieve and will be disappointed by failures and lack of encouragement. Ridicule is often reported.

Parents and medical personnel need to communicate with the teachers to enhance their understanding of ME/CFS. To ensure that the student has the best possible opportunities to achieve appropriate education and a feeling of success. This will mean allowing the student to work at their own pace with adequate rest periods.

Management of the Cognitive Difficulties by the Primary Care Physician

Once a firm diagnosis has been made, the young person will feel relieved that there is an explanation for their problems, particularly those experienced by attempts to participate in regular schooling.

Parents need to be involved in this discussion, which should be addressed principally to the patient, so that he/she is also involved in decision making, and feels part of the team approach. Only the young person knows how they feel, and should be encouraged to verbalise their fears and needs. Teenagers will often need opportunity for discussion without a parent present.

Many young people fear getting behind their peers academically. There is a fear of never being able to catch up and consequently losing friends who move on. There needs to be encouragement to participate in ongoing education, however minimally, but without undue pressure.

This may mean limited attendance at school, or if available, correspondence education or home-schooling. The student can then work at their own pace. They should be encouraged to work for short periods with adequate rest periods, recognising when they are ready to rest. Some sort of structure for the days is helpful.

This may be difficult, if at home with parents needing to work. Particular difficulties need to be discussed, such as aggravation from computer screens, and difficulty focusing on written text (sometimes a ruler placed across the page can help with maintaining focus). Aggravating factors such as noise, bright lights, temperature and unpleasant odours may need to be adjusted. Snacks and drinks need to be available and allowed.

If well enough, some gentle outdoor exercise during breaks between cognitive effort should be suggested, and for younger children playing with siblings or friends after school or at weekends should be encouraged.

Focus on symptom control is important, and this may be achieved with attention to sleep difficulties and efficient pain management. Learning good relaxation strategies with the use of music, visualisation, and teaching self hypnosis all have a role. Having their own private space means that these things are more likely to be done, and rest will be undisturbed. Regular snacking with plenty of salt can help overcome symptoms associated with orthostatic intolerance.

Medication such as very low-dose tricyclics or melatonin to help with sleep may be useful. Some young people benefit from use of stimulants such as methylphenidate, but there is a risk of a false sense of wellbeing, leading to overdoing things. If the child is depressed or unduly anxious, this should be addressed and there should be opportunity to talk things through privately with a trusted professional, who has understanding of this illness.

The young person needs to understand the issues that can aggravate cognition, such as overdoing things mentally and physically, learning m to pace carefully, and avoiding situations which have proved detrimental. Planning time carefully and incorporating rewards can all help to ensure a better outcome.

Attention to achieving a regular body clock will mean that a good routine that fits in with family and school is possible. Standing for long periods, getting overheated or dehydrated and not eating adequately should all be avoided.

Above all there needs to be a sense of achievement, (however small), progress and normality if at all possible. Only the young person him/herself know how they really feel, and gaining a sense of control over this illness, rather than letting the illness control them entirely will achieve a growing sense of personal achievement and freedom from stress.

Reprinted with permission from Meeting Place – Autumn 2016 – Number 123: The official quarterly journal of ANZEMS Inc.

Characteristic chemical signature for chronic fatigue syndrome identified

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a mysterious and maddening condition, with no cure or known cause. But researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, using a variety of techniques to identify and assess targeted metabolites in blood plasma, have identified a characteristic chemical signature for the debilitating ailment and an unexpected underlying biology: It is similar to the state of dauer, and other hypometabolic syndromes like caloric restriction, diapause and hibernation.

Dauer is the German word for persistence or long-lived. It is a type of stasis in the development in some invertebrates that is prompted by harsh environmental conditions. The findings are published online in the August 29 issue of PNAS.

“CFS is a very challenging disease,” said first author Robert K. Naviaux, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, pediatrics and pathology and director of the Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “It affects multiple systems of the body. Symptoms vary and are common to many other diseases. There is no diagnostic laboratory test. Patients may spend tens of thousands of dollars and years trying to get a correct diagnosis.”

As many as 2.5 million Americans are believed to have CFS. It most often afflicts women in their 30s to 50s, though both genders and all ages can be affected. The primary symptom is severe fatigue lasting at least six months, with corollary symptoms ranging from muscle pain and headaches to sleep and memory problems.

Naviaux and colleagues studied 84 subjects: 45 men and women who met the diagnostic criteria for CFS and 39 matched controls. The researchers targeted 612 metabolites (substances produced by the processes of metabolism) from 63 biochemical pathways in blood plasma. They found that individuals with CFS showed abnormalities in 20 metabolic pathways. Eighty percent of the diagnostic metabolites measured were decreased, consistent with hypometabolic syndrome or reduced metabolism. The diagnostic accuracy rate exceeded 90 percent.

“Despite the heterogeneity of CFS, the diversity of factors that lead to this condition, our findings show that the cellular metabolic response is the same in patients,” said Naviaux. “And interestingly, it’s chemically similar to the dauer state you see in some organisms, which kicks in when environmental stresses trigger a slow-down in metabolism to permit survival under conditions that might otherwise cause cell death. In CFS, this slow-down comes at the cost of long-term pain and disability.”

Naviaux said the findings show that CFS possesses an objectively identifiable chemical signature in both men and women and that targeted metabolomics, which provide direct small molecule information, can provide actionable treatment information. Only 25 percent of the metabolite disturbances found in each person were needed for the diagnosis of CFS. Roughly 75 percent of abnormalities were unique to each individual, which Naviaux said is useful in guiding personalized treatment.

“This work opens a fresh path to both understanding the biology of CFS and, more importantly to patients, a robust, rational way to develop new therapeutics for a disease sorely in need of them.”

The study authors noted additional research using larger groups of participants from diverse geographical areas is needed to validate both the universality and specificity of the findings.

Journal Reference: Robert K. Naviaux, Jane C. Naviaux, Kefeng Li, A. Taylor Bright, William A. Alaynick, Lin Wang, Asha Baxter, Neil Nathan, Wayne Anderson, Eric Gordon. Metabolic features of chronic fatigue syndrome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2016; 201607571 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607571113

Source: University of California – San Diego. “Characteristic chemical signature for chronic fatigue syndrome identified: Discovery, along with revealed underlying biology, could lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses and more effective, personalized therapies.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 August 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160829163253.htm

Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head

Physicians have been mystified by chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn’t alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert.

Now, for the first time, Cornell University researchers report they have identified biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood.

In a study published June 23 in the journal Microbiome, the team describes how they correctly diagnosed myalgic encephalomyeletis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in 83 percent of patients through stool samples and blood work, offering a noninvasive diagnosis and a step toward understanding the cause of the disease.

“Our work demonstrates that the gut bacterial microbiome in chronic fatigue syndrome patients isn’t normal, perhaps leading to gastrointestinal and inflammatory symptoms in victims of the disease,” said Maureen Hanson, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell and the paper’s senior author. “Furthermore, our detection of a biological abnormality provides further evidence against the ridiculous concept that the disease is psychological in origin.”

“In the future, we could see this technique as a complement to other noninvasive diagnoses, but if we have a better idea of what is going on with these gut microbes and patients, maybe clinicians could consider changing diets, using prebiotics such as dietary fibers or probiotics to help treat the disease,” said Ludovic Giloteaux, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the study.

In the study, Ithaca campus researchers collaborated with Dr. Susan Levine, an ME/CFS specialist in New York City, who recruited 48 people diagnosed with ME/CFS and 39 healthy controls to provide stool and blood samples.

The researchers sequenced regions of microbial DNA from the stool samples to identify different types of bacteria. Overall, the diversity of types of bacteria was greatly reduced and there were fewer bacterial species known to be anti-inflammatory in ME/CFS patients compared with healthy people, an observation also seen in people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

At the same time, the researchers discovered specific markers of inflammation in the blood, likely due to a leaky gut from intestinal problems that allow bacteria to enter the blood, Giloteaux said.

Bacteria in the blood will trigger an immune response, which could worsen symptoms.

The researchers have no evidence to distinguish whether the altered gut microbiome is a cause or a whether it is a consequence of disease, Giloteaux added.

In the future, the research team will look for evidence of viruses and fungi in the gut, to see whether one of these or an association of these along with bacteria may be causing or contributing to the illness.

Journal Reference: Ludovic Giloteaux, Julia K. Goodrich, William A. Walters, Susan M. Levine, Ruth E. Ley, Maureen R. Hanson. Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Microbiome, 2016; 4 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s40168-016-0171-4

Source: Cornell University. “Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 June 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627160939.htm

Chronic fatigue syndrome flare-ups caused by straining muscles and nerves

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine published in PLOS ONE shows that symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, a complex and disabling multisystem disorder, can be provoked by imposing a mild to moderate strain to the muscles and nerves.

Eighty individuals, 60 with CFS and 20 without CFS, reported their levels of fatigue, body pain, lightheadedness, concentration difficulties and headache every five minutes while undergoing 15 minutes of either a passive supine straight leg raise — the raising and holding up of one of an individual’s legs while they lie on their back on an exam table — or a sham leg raise that did not cause strain.

Participants were contacted 24 hours later and again reported their symptoms. Compared to those with CFS who underwent the sham leg raise, individuals with CFS who underwent the passive leg raise that actually strained their muscles and nerves reported significantly increased body pain and concentration difficulties during the procedure. After 24 hours, these same individuals who underwent the true strain also reported greater symptom intensity for lightheadedness and the overall combined score for symptoms. The individuals with CFS who underwent the true strain also reported more symptoms during, and 24 hours after, the true strain compared to individuals without CFS.

“These findings have practical implications for understanding why exercise and the activities of daily living might be capable of provoking CFS symptoms,” said Kevin Fontaine, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UAB School of Public Health Department of Health Behavior and a co-author of the paper. “If simply holding up the leg of someone with CFS to a degree that produces a mild to moderate strain is capable of provoking their symptoms, prolonged or excessive muscle strain beyond the usual range of motion that occurs during daily activities might also produce symptom flares.”

As Peter Rowe, M.D., lead author and director of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Chronic Fatigue Clinic, noted in the article, “The lengthwise strain applied to the nerves and muscles of the lower limb is capable of increasing symptom intensity in individuals with CFS for up to 24 hours, indicating that increased mechanical sensitivity may be a contributor to the provocation of symptoms in this disorder.”

Rowe and Fontaine, and their physical therapist collaborator Rick Violand, intend to extend this work to further understand the effects that strains to the muscles and nerves have on CFS, as well as whether specific physical therapy methods could be used to improve neuromuscular function to reduce symptoms.

Journal Reference: Peter C. Rowe, Kevin R. Fontaine, Megan Lauver, Samantha E. Jasion, Colleen L. Marden, Malini Moni, Carol B. Thompson, Richard L. Violand. Neuromuscular Strain Increases Symptom Intensity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. PLOS ONE, 2016; 11 (7): e0159386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159386

Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Chronic fatigue syndrome flare-ups caused by straining muscles and nerves.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 July 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160718194125.htm

Further clues in the fight against chronic fatigue syndrome

New findings regarding the pathology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are bringing Griffith University researchers closer to identifying the cause of this disabling illness.

This is the news from a team at the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at the Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

Professors Marshall-Gradisnik and Don Staines and their research team have identified significant impairments in cellular function of people with CFS.

CFS — sometimes known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) — is a complex illness characterized by impaired memory and concentration, metabolic, cardiac, gut and immune dysfunction and debilitating muscle pain and fatigue on exertion (also known as neuroimmune exhaustion).

It is estimated that the prevalence rate of CFS/ME worldwide is between 1 and 2 per cent.

“While the patho-mechanism of CFS/ME is unknown, these recent findings by NCNED researchers provide further evidence for the pathology of this illness,” says Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, who speaks as we approach International CFS Awareness Day on Thursday May 12.

Published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, the results report significant differences in intracellular signalling of cells with CFS patients.

“In this group, we see that dysfunctional signalling may contribute to impaired cell activity. These findings are consistent with our previous findings and align with the presentation of symptoms in patients,” says Professor Staines.

The current research findings build upon recent discoveries including novel identification of key genetic changes in cells of the immune system.

The NCNED — internationally recognised for research into CFS/ME — will present a seminar on current research findings on this disease on International CFS/ME Awareness Day, Thursday May 12 at Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, commencing 1pm, location G17, Lecture theatre 3.

Griffith University will also be illuminating the Griffith Health Centre in blue to further help raise awareness for CFS/ME.

Journal Reference: Teilah Kathryn Huth, Donald Staines, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik. ERK1/2, MEK1/2 and p38 downstream signalling molecules impaired in CD56dimCD16 and CD56brightCD16dim/− natural killer cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients. Journal of Translational Medicine, 2016; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12967-016-0859-z

Source: Griffith University. “Further clues in the fight against chronic fatigue syndrome.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 May 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160510093906.htm

Do anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigues share a common cause?

Irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and anorexia nervosa may all have a common origin according to researchers.

They speculate that all three disorders may be caused by antibodies to the body’s own nerve cells because of a mistake by the immune system following infection.

At the moment, the ultimate cause of these illnesses remains a mystery.

Writing in Medical Hypotheses, Dr Jim Morris from the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Dr Sue Broughton and Dr Quenton Wessels from Lancaster University say current explanations are unsatisfactory.

“Psychological factors might be important, but are unconvincing as the primary or major cause.

“There might, for instance, be an increased incidence of physical and sexual abuse in childhood in those who go on to manifest functional disorders. It is easy to see how this could influence symptoms in adults but it stretches credulity to imagine abuse as the sole and sufficient cause of the functional disorder.”

It is already well known that women are more at increased risk of autoimmune disease especially ones in which antibodies to the body’s own cells are thought to play a role, like thyroid disease, pernicious anemia and myasthenia gravis.

The researchers said: “The female to male ratio in these conditions is of the order of 10. The female excess in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Anorexia Nervosa is equally extreme and therefore this fits with the idea that auto-antibodies to nerve cells could be part of the pathogenesis of these conditions.”

The formation of auto-antibodies is found mostly among women and increases with age, which could be why these disorders are more common in midlife. Even with anorexia, which reaches a peak at the age of 30, auto-antibodies have been found in the bodies of patients.

There are also links with infection in that the onset of IBS commonly follows an episode of infectious diarrhea while chronic fatigue syndrome can be triggered by infectious mononucleosis and viral hepatitis.

Even anorexia could be influenced by secretions from bacteria affecting the brain, triggering the production of antibodies which affect mood and motivation.

“Auto-antibodies acting on the (brain’s) limbic system could induce extremes of emotion including disgust and fear. These then become linked, in the minds of adolescent girls, to culturally determined ideas of what is, and what is not, the ideal body shape and size. It is then a small step for disgust and fear to be directed to food and obesity which the fashion industry currently demonizes.”

If their idea is proven, the researchers suggest that these disorders may be amenable to treatment using pooled immunoglobulin from the blood of healthy people, especially in severe cases of anorexia where life is threatened. It should also be possible to identify and eliminate from the gut the bacteria which are triggering auto-antibodies.

Journal Reference: J.A. Morris, S.J. Broughton, Q. Wessels. Microbes, molecular mimicry and molecules of mood and motivation. Medical Hypotheses, 2016; 87: 40 DOI:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.12.011

Source: Lancaster University. “Do anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigues share a common cause?.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 April 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160425100204.htm

Assessing current functioning as a measure of significant reduction in activity level

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have case definitions with varying criteria, but almost all criteria require an individual to have a substantial reduction in activity level. Unfortunately, a consensus has not been reached regarding what constitutes substantial reductions. One measure that has been used to measure substantial reduction is the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36).[1].

PURPOSE: The current study examined the relationship between the SF-36, a measure of current functioning, and a self-report measure of the percent reduction in hours spent on activities.

RESULTS: Findings indicated that select subscales of the SF-36 accurately measure significant reductions in functioning. Further, this measure significantly differentiates patients from controls.

CONCLUSION: Determining what constitutes a significant reduction in activity is difficult because it is subjective to the individual. However, certain subscales of the SF-36 could provide a uniform way to accurately measure and define substantial reductions in functioning.

Source: Thorpe T, McManimen S, Gleason K, Stoothoff J, Newton JL, Strand EB, Jason LA. Assessing current functioning as a measure of significant reduction in activity level. Fatigue. 2016;4(3):175-188. doi: 10.1080/21641846.2016.1206176. Epub 2016 Jul 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28217427

Validation of the Flinders Fatigue Scale as a measure of daytime fatigue

Abstract:

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To clinically validate the Flinders Fatigue Scale (FFS) as a brief measure of daytime fatigue, and to derive cut-off scores to classify fatigue severity.

METHOD: The FFS was administered to 439 adult volunteers from the general population, 292 adults with insomnia, 132 adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and 66 adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), together with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

RESULTS: A factor analysis revealed a single factor solution for the seven-item scale (67% of total variance), although a better fit was obtained for a modified six-item version (75% of total variance). Group FFS scores varied in accordance with theorised fatigue levels, with CFS/ME and insomnia samples reporting significantly higher fatigue than OSA and volunteer samples. Good convergent validity was established with the FSS for volunteer (r = 0.67) and CFS/ME samples (r = 0.61). Excellent discriminant validity with the ESS was observed for the insomnia (r = -0.08) and CFS/ME groups (r = 0.03), while a small-to-moderate correlation was found within the volunteer sample (r = 0.29). Cut-off scores were identified to categorise borderline (13-15), moderate (16-20) and severe (≥21) fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS: The FFS is a reliable and valid instrument to quantify subjective daytime fatigue. Sensitivity and specificity analyses indicate scores that best discriminate insomniacs and CFS/ME populations from a non-clinical population. However, it is proposed that the data can also be used to indicate the severity of fatigue by reference to these first two groups.

Source: Cameron K, Williamson P, Short MA, Gradisar M. Validation of the Flinders Fatigue Scale as a measure of daytime fatigue. Sleep Med. 2017 Feb;30:105-112. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2016.11.016. Epub 2016 Dec 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28215232

Mortality in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of research examining mortality in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Some studies suggest there is an elevated risk of suicide and earlier mortality compared to national norms. However, findings are inconsistent as other researchers have not found significant increases in all-cause mortality for patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine if patients with ME or CFS are reportedly dying earlier than the overall population from the same cause.

METHODS: Family, friends, and caregivers of deceased individuals with ME or CFS were recruited through social media, patient newsletters, emails, and advocate websites. This study analyzed data including cause and age of death for 56 individuals identified as having ME or CFS.

RESULTS: The findings suggest patients in this sample are at a significantly increased risk of earlier all-cause (M = 55.9 years) and cardiovascular-related (M = 58.8 years) mortality, and they had a directionally lower mean age of death for suicide (M = 41.3 years) and cancer (M =66.3 years) compared to the overall U.S. population [M = 73.5 (all-cause), 77.7 (cardiovascular), 47.4 (suicide), and 71.1 (cancer) years of age].

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest there is an increase in risk for earlier mortality in patients with ME and CFS. Due to the small sample size and over-representation of severely ill patients, the findings should be replicated to determine if the directional differences for suicide and cancer mortality are significantly different from the overall U.S. population.

Source: McManimen SL, Devendorf AR, Brown AA, Moore BC, Moore JH, Jason LA. Mortality in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Fatigue. 2016;4(4):195-207. doi: 10.1080/21641846.2016.1236588. Epub 2016 Oct 12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28070451