Tag: Butt

Free radicals in chronic fatigue syndrome: cause or effect?

Abstract:

We have demonstrated that certain morphological and biochemical changes occur in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These changes in RA can be explained by the well-established inappropriate increase in free radical generation. The similar changes in CFS suggest a similar explanation and a possible role for free radicals in the aetiology of this condition.

 

Source: Richards RS, Roberts TK, Dunstan RH, McGregor NR, Butt HL. Free radicals in chronic fatigue syndrome: cause or effect? Redox Rep. 2000;5(2-3):146-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10939298

 

Blood parameters indicative of oxidative stress are associated with symptom expression in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Full blood counts, ESR, CRP, haematinics and markers for oxidative stress were measured for 33 patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 27 age and sex matched controls. All participants also completed symptom questionnaires. CFS patients had increases in malondialdehyde (P <0.006), methaemoglobin (P <0.02), mean erythrocyte volume (P <0.02) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (P <0.04) compared with controls.

Multiple regression analysis found methaemoglobin to be the principal component that differentiated between CFS patients and control subjects. Methaemoglobin was found to be the major component associated with variation in symptom expression in CFS patients (R(2) = 0.99, P <0.00001), which included fatigue, musculoskeletal symptoms, pain and sleep disturbance. Variation in levels of malondialdehyde and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate were associated with variations in cognitive symptoms and sleep disturbance (R(2) = 0.99, P <0.00001).

These data suggest that oxidative stress due to excess free radical formation is a contributor to the pathology of CFS and was associated with symptom presentation.

 

Source: Richards RS, Roberts TK, McGregor NR, Dunstan RH, Butt HL. Blood parameters indicative of oxidative stress are associated with symptom expression in chronic fatigue syndrome. Redox Rep. 2000;5(1):35-41. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10905542

 

Preliminary determination of the association between symptom expression and urinary metabolites in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients have a urinary metabolite labeled CFSUM1 with increased incidence (P < 0.004) and relative abundance (P < 0.00003). The relative abundances of urinary CFSUM1 and beta-alanine were associated with alterations in metabolite excretion and symptom incidence.

In 20 CFS patients and 45 non-CFS subjects, symptom/metabolite associations were investigated by assessing symptom sensitivity and specificity, and symptom indices of total symptom incidence, CFS core symptoms, cognitive, neurological, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, infection-related and genitourinary symptom indices, as well as a visual analogue pain scale of average pain intensity. Thirty-three symptoms had significant (P < 0.005) sensitivity and specificity in the CFS patients compared to that in the non-CFS controls.

Severe fatigue was the only symptom with 100% sensitivity and specificity and CFSUM1 excretion was the primary metabolite for expression of this symptom. All nine symptom indices had elevated responses in the CFS patients (all P < 0.0000001). Multiple regression analyses indicated that all the symptom indices had significant correlations (R) with changes in the urinary excretion of metabolites (P < 0.0001).

CFSUM1 and beta-alanine were the first and second metabolites correlated with the CFS core symptom index and CFSUM1 was primarily associated with infection-related and musculoskeletal indices whereas beta-alanine was primarily associated with gastrointestinal and genitourinary indices. The strong associations of CFSUM1 and beta-alanine with CFS symptom expression provide a molecular basis for developing an objective test for CFS.

 

Source: McGregor NR, Dunstan RH, Zerbes M, Butt HL, Roberts TK, Klineberg IJ. Preliminary determination of the association between symptom expression and urinary metabolites in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome. Biochem Mol Med. 1996 Jun;58(1):85-92. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809350

 

Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters

Abstract:

The potential relationships between chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in human serum and red/white blood cell profiles were investigated by multivariate techniques to assess the cellular response patterns to high and low organochlorine levels in the serum.

Twenty-three healthy control subjects and fourteen patients with unexplained and persistent fatigue were divided on the basis of (a) high or low total organochlorine content, (b) high or low DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethene) content, and (c) high or low HCB (hexachlorobenzene) content. Discriminant function analysis revealed that the groups with high organochlorine content had significantly different red/white blood cell profiles compared with the low organochlorine groups ((a) P < 0.017, (b) P < 0.015, and (c) P < 0.0002). As a variable, the percentage of neutrophils was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low total organochlorine groups.

Thirteen of the fourteen fatigued patients were characterized as “high total organocholorine content” (P < 0.04). The red cell distribution width was elevated in the high DDE group (P < 0.04) and was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low DDE groups. The percentage of eosinophils and the hemoglobin content were both reduced in the high HCB group (P < 0.009,P < 0.003, respectively) and the percentage of eosinophils was the most important discriminant parameter for differentiating between the high and low HCB groups. Those patients with unexplained and persistent fatigue had significantly higher levels of DDE compared with the controls and had different specific blood cell responses to organochlorines compared with control subjects.

 

Source: Dunstan RH, Roberts TK, Donohoe M, McGregor NR, Hope D, Taylor WG, Watkins JA, Murdoch RN, Butt HL. Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters. Biochem Mol Med. 1996 Jun;58(1):77-84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809349

 

Preliminary determination of a molecular basis of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) is a debilitating fatigue illness that has an unknown etiology. We studied 20 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, who complied with the Oxford and American CDC definitions, and 45 non-CFS subjects.

Participants completed questionnaires, were clinically examined, and had first morning urine specimens collected, which were screened by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for changes in metabolite excretion.

Multivariate analysis of the urinary metabolite profiles differed significantly in the CFS patients compared to the non-CFS patients (P < 0.004). The CFS patients had increases in aminohydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidine (P < 0.00003, referred to as chronic fatigue symptom urinary marker 1, or CFSUM1), tyrosine (P < 0.02), beta-alanine (P < 0.02), aconitic acid (P < 0.05), and succinic acid (P < 0.05) and reductions in an unidentified urinary metabolite, CFSUM2 (P < 0.0007), alanine (P < 0.005), and glutamic acid (P < 0.02). CFSUM1, beta-alanine, and CFSUM2 were found by discriminant function analysis to be the first, second, and third most important metabolites, respectively for discriminating between CFS and non-CFS subjects.

The abundances of CFSUM1 and beta-alanine were positively correlated with symptom incidence (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), symptom severity, core CFS symptoms, and SCL-90-R somatization (P < 0.00001), suggesting a molecular basis for CFS.

 

Source: McGregor NR, Dunstan RH, Zerbes M, Butt HL, Roberts TK, Klineberg IJ. Preliminary determination of a molecular basis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Biochem Mol Med. 1996 Apr;57(2):73-80. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8733884