Tag: Puri

The use of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

There is evidence that there is an association between chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition of unknown aetiology, and essential fatty acids. This evidence is based on the actions of essential fatty acids, the results of proton neurospectroscopy studies, and essential fatty acid trial data.

A series of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were treated solely with a high-eicosapentaenoic acid-containing essential fatty acid supplement. All showed improvement in their symptomatology within eight to 12 weeks. These results, which are consistent with a recent detailed report of cerebral and clinical changes associated with a high intake of eicosapentaenoic acid, suggest that this n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid may offer the hope of effective treatment for at least some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Puri BK. The use of eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2004 Apr;70(4):399-401. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15041033

 

Deficit in motor performance correlates with changed corticospinal excitability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by fatigue and musculosketetal pain, the severity of which is variable. Simple reaction times (SRTs) and movement times (SMTs) are slowed in CFS. Our objective is to correlate the day-to-day changes in symptomatology with any change in SRT, SMT or corticospinal excitability.

Ten CFS patients were tested on two occasions up to two years apart. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex were recorded from the thenar muscles. Threshold TMS strength to evoke MEPs was measured to index corticospinal excitability. SRTs and SMTs were measured.

The percentage change in both SRTs and SMTs between the two test sessions correlated with the percentage change in corticospinal excitability assessed according to threshold TMS intensity required to produce MEPs. This study provides evidence that changing motor deficits in CFS have a neurophysiological basis. The slowness of SRTs supports the notion of a deficit in motor preparatory areas of the brain.

 

Source: Davey NJ, Puri BK, Catley M, Main J, Nowicky AV, Zaman R. Deficit in motor performance correlates with changed corticospinal excitability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Int J Clin Pract. 2003 May;57(4):262-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12800454

 

Relative increase in choline in the occipital cortex in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with altered cerebral metabolites in the frontal and occipital cortices.

METHOD: Cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was carried out in eight CFS patients and eight age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Spectra were obtained from 20 x 20 x 20 mm3 voxels in the dominant motor and occipital cortices using a point-resolved spectroscopy pulse sequence.

RESULTS: The mean ratio of choline (Cho) to creatine (Cr) in the occipital cortex in CFS (0.97) was significantly higher than in the controls (0.76; P=0.008). No other metabolite ratios were significantly different between the two groups in either the frontal or occipital cortex. In addition, there was a loss of the normal spatial variation of Cho in CFS.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there may be an abnormality of phospholipid metabolism in the brain in CFS.

 

Source: Puri BK, Counsell SJ, Zaman R, Main J, Collins AG, Hajnal JV, Davey NJ. Relative increase in choline in the occipital cortex in chronic fatigue syndrome. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2002 Sep;106(3):224-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12197861