Tag: Jones

Medication use by persons with chronic fatigue syndrome: results of a randomized telephone survey in Wichita, Kansas

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by profound fatigue, which substantially interferes with daily activities, and a characteristic symptom complex. Patients use a variety of prescribed and self-administered medications, vitamins, and supplements for relief of their symptoms. The objective of this study was to describe utilization of medications and supplements by persons with CFS and non-fatigued individuals representative of the general population of Wichita, Kansas.

METHODS: We used a random-digit dialing telephone survey to identify persons with CFS in the general population of Wichita, Kansas. Subjects who on the basis of telephone interview met the CFS case definition, and randomly selected non-fatigued controls, were invited for a clinic evaluation that included self-reported use of medications and supplements. Sex-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were estimated to measure the association between CFS and use of various drug categories.

RESULTS: We clinically evaluated and classified 90 subjects as CFS during the study and also collected clinical data on 63 who never described fatigue. Subjects with CFS reported using 316 different drugs compared to 157 reported by non-fatigued controls. CFS subjects were more likely to use any drug category than controls (p = 0.0009). Pain relievers and vitamins/supplements were the two most common agents listed by both groups. In addition CFS persons were more likely to use pain relievers, hormones, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, gastro-intestinal, and central nervous system medications (Sex-adjusted odds ratios range = 2.97 – 12.78).

CONCLUSION: Although the reasons for increased use of these agents were not elucidated, the data indicated the CFS patients’ need for symptom relief.

 

Source: Jones JF, Nisenbaum R, Reeves WC. Medication use by persons with chronic fatigue syndrome: results of a randomized telephone survey in Wichita, Kansas. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2003 Dec 2;1:74. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC293479/ (Full article)

 

Complement activation in a model of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A need exists to identify biological markers in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

OBJECTIVE: To use an exercise and/or allergen challenge to induce the symptoms of CFS and to identify a biological marker that correlates with these symptoms.

METHODS: Patients with CFS (n = 32) and age-matched, normal control patients (n = 29) exercised for 20 minutes on a stationary bike at 70% of their predicted max work load (Watts). Patients from each group with positive skin test results were also challenged with intranasally administered relevant allergens. Symptoms were recorded for 2 weeks before and 1 week after each challenge, using 3 different instruments. Blood samples were taken before, and 0, 1, 6, and 24 hours after challenges. Levels of complement split products, cell-associated cytokines, and eosinophilic cationic protein were measured. Mean preexercise and postexercise symptom scores were evaluated for each group.

RESULTS: Exercise challenge induced significant increases of the complement split product C4a, but not C3a or C5a, at 6 hours after exercise only in the CFS group (P <.01), regardless of allergy status. Mean symptom scores were significantly increased after exercise through the use of a daily diary (P <.03) and a weekly diary (P <.01) for the CFS group only. Mean scores for the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory categories “reduced activity” and “mental fatigue” were significantly increased in the CFS group only (P <.04 and P <.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise challenge may be a valuable tool in the development of diagnostic criteria and tests for CFS. Establishment of a role for complement activation products as markers or participants in production of illness require further study.

 

Source: Sorensen B, Streib JE, Strand M, Make B, Giclas PC, Fleshner M, Jones JF. Complement activation in a model of chronic fatigue syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Aug;112(2):397-403. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12897748

 

Information processing in chronic fatigue syndrome: a preliminary investigation of suggestibility

Abstract:

This study examines the effects of certain types of information processing on the subjective experience of cognitive deficits in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Two groups of participants, persons with CFS and a group of healthy controls, were administered a symptom inventory and measures of intellectual functioning, memory, automatic processing, and suggestibility. The groups differed significantly on number and severity of reported symptoms and on measures of global suggestibility and automatic processing, but not on measures of intellectual functioning and memory.

Suggestibility was related to number and severity of reported symptoms, as well as the inability to inhibit the automatic processing of information. Implications of these findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research and treatment of symptoms associated with CFS.

 

Source: DiClementi JD, Schmaling KB, Jones JF. Information processing in chronic fatigue syndrome: a preliminary investigation of suggestibility. J Psychosom Res. 2001 Nov;51(5):679-86. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11728509

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome: I. Epstein-Barr virus immune response and molecular epidemiology

Abstract:

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were compared to healthy seropositive control subjects in an open study and a case-control study analyzing spontaneous transformation rates of peripheral blood lymphocytes, EBV viral genome characteristics as determined by DNA restriction fragment polymorphisms, and antibody production by Western blot analysis.

Thirty percent of patients versus 8% of control subjects underwent spontaneous transformation in the two studies. Viral genome patterns were overall similar to one another, with polymorphisms frequently present in BamHI B’, K, H, and Y fragments. Only one line was found with the EBNA-2B genotype.

Nineteen lines were found to contain viral DNA in the linear form suggesting active lytic replication. Western blot studies suggested that ill subjects made antibodies to lytic proteins more frequently than did healthy control subjects. Lack of control of EBV outgrowth in vitro is correlated with antibody evidence of active infection in vivo in some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Jones JF, Streib J, Baker S, Herberger M. Chronic fatigue syndrome: I. Epstein-Barr virus immune response and molecular epidemiology. J Med Virol. 1991 Mar;33(3):151-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1679118

 

Serologic and immunologic responses in chronic fatigue syndrome with emphasis on the Epstein-Barr virus

Abstract:

Although patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can be diagnosed by clinical criteria, the lack of specific laboratory criteria delays or prevents the diagnosis and contributes to the quasi-disease status of the syndrome.

A resurgence of interest in the syndrome has followed reports suggesting that CFS may be associated with chronic active infection due to the Epstein-Barr virus. Analysis of reports to date shows that the mean titers of antibodies to viral capsid antigen and to early antigen are greater for patients with CFS than for healthy individuals; this is particularly evident in cases for which serial samples were tested.

However, these differences do not prove the cause of CFS. Cell-mediated immune responses in patients with CFS vary from study to study, and the number and function of natural killer cells in those patients are the most variable factors. Rates of isolation of virus from saliva do not differ, but in one comparison study with a large number of subjects, more lymphocytes that contained virus were isolated from patients than from controls.

Other viruses, such as the Coxsackie B virus, have been implicated as causes of CFS in studies from Great Britain. The use of a working definition of CFS and standardized tests to address abnormalities revealed by laboratory tests among homogeneous populations should allow determination of useful tests for the diagnosis of CFS and studies of its mechanisms.

 

Source:  Jones JF. Serologic and immunologic responses in chronic fatigue syndrome with emphasis on the Epstein-Barr virus. Rev Infect Dis. 1991 Jan-Feb;13 Suppl 1:S26-31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1850541

 

Epstein-Barr virus and the chronic fatigue syndrome: a short review

Abstract:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), previously known as neuroasthenia is often considered to be due to psychiatric causes. Evidence for a possible role for the Epstein-Barr virus in CFS is summarized. A plea is made for physicians to accept CFS as a non-psychiatric chronic illness to encourage further research into a clear definition of the syndrome.

 

Source: Jones JF. Epstein-Barr virus and the chronic fatigue syndrome: a short review. Microbiol Sci. 1988 Dec;5(12):366-9.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2856301