Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0015674 (chronic fatigue syndrome)
 2,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have sought evidence of enteroviral persistence in humans. Eight individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were positive for enteroviral sequences, detected by PCR in two serum samples taken at least 5 months apart. The nucleotide sequence of the 5' non-translated region (bases 174-423) was determined for each amplicon. Four individuals had virtually identical nucleotide sequences ( > 97%) in both samples. The sequence pairs also each had a unique shared pattern indicating that the virus had persisted. In one individual (HO), it was clear that there had been infection with two different enteroviruses. In the remaining three individuals, the lack of unique shared features suggested that re-infection had occurred, rather than persistence. With the exception of HO, the sequences fell into a subgroup that is related to the Coxsackie B-like viruses.
J Gen Virol 1997 Feb
PMID:Evidence for enteroviral persistence in humans. 901 51

This study used phylogenetic analysis based on a region of the 5' non-translated region (5'NTR) of a variety of enteroviral sequences to compare sequences associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and those from enteroviruses causing acute infections. Direct sequencing of PCR products was used to obtain the nucleic acid sequences from CFS patients. The inferred phylogenetic tree identified three groupings, one correlating with the diagnosis of CFS. The analysis identified a close relationship between the chronic fatigue enteroviral sequences, and showed that 19/20 were distinct from previously described enteroviruses. These results suggest there is persistence of enterovirus infection in some CFS patients and indicate the presence of distinct novel enterovirus sequences.
J Gen Virol 1995 Jul
PMID:Phylogenetic analysis of short enteroviral sequences from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. 904 75

Chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have become increasingly recognized as a common clinical problem, yet one that physicians often find difficult to manage. In this review we suggest a practical, pragmatic, evidence-based approach to the assessment and initial management of the patient whose presentation suggests this diagnosis. The basic principles are simple and for each aspect of management we point out both potential pitfalls and strategies to overcome them. The first, and most important task is to develop mutual trust and collaboration. The second is to complete an adequate assessment, the aim of which is either to make a diagnosis of CFS or to identify an alternative cause for the patient's symptoms. The history is most important and should include a detailed account of the symptoms, the associated disability, the choice of coping strategies, and importantly, the patient's own understanding of his/her illness. The assessment of possible comorbid psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety is mandatory. When the physician is satisfied that no alternative physical or psychiatric disorder can be found to explain symptoms, we suggest that a firm and positive diagnosis of CFS be made. The treatment of CFS requires that the patient is given a positive explanation of the cause of his symptoms, emphasizing the distinction among factors that may have predisposed them to develop the illness (lifestyle, work stress, personality), triggered the illness (viral infection, life events) and perpetuated the illness (cerebral dysfunction, sleep disorder, depression, inconsistent activity, and misunderstanding of the illness and fear of making it worse). Interventions are then aimed to overcoming these illness-perpetuating factors. The role of antidepressants remains uncertain but may be tried on a pragmatic basis. Other medications should be avoided. The only treatment strategies of proven efficacy are cognitive behavioral ones. The most important starting point is to promote a consistent pattern of activity, rest, and sleep, followed by a gradual return to normal activity; ongoing review of any 'catastrophic' misinterpretation of symptoms and the problem solving of current life difficulties. We regard chronic fatigue syndrome as important not only because it represents potentially treatable disability and suffering but also because it provides an example for the positive management of medically unexplained illness in general.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1997 May
PMID:Chronic fatigue syndrome. A practical guide to assessment and management. 921 87

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a controversial illness without clear etiology, causes profound debilitation in its sufferers. This study explored subjects' perceptions of the variables that mediated the course of their illness and identified coping strategies in 15 women with CFS referred from the practice of a primary care physician. Exploratory semistructured interviews were adapted from Kleinman's Illness Narratives. Four instruments were used: the Beck Depression Inventory, the Sickness Impact Profile, a modified Karnofsky scale, and the Defense Mechanism Rating Scale. Of the 15 women, 60% reported improvement and/or recovery at the time of the interview. Improvement was associated with social support and lower levels of depressive symptoms. Health status was influenced by how subjects perceived their illness, their future, and the doctor's prognosis; and by the physician's early diagnosis, validation of the CFS, and intensive medical follow-up. Obsessional and healthy neurotic defense levels predominated, which differs from historical comparison groups with dysthymia and panic disorder. Psychological adaptation to CFS is similar to adaptive coping in other chronic illnesses: subjective perceptions of health status can predict functional status. Physician validation is particularly important given the controversial status of CFS. Maintaining relationships with others--doctor, work, family, and group/spiritual activities reflected healthy coping strategies that promoted hope and attitudinal shifts. The finding of a mixture of neurotic and healthy defenses and a low proportion of defenses associated with personality disorders has not been previously reported in the CFS literature and warrants further investigation.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1998 Sep
PMID:A naturalistic study of the chronic fatigue syndrome among women in primary care. 978 31

The purpose of this study was to examine several conceptual and cross-cultural issues in neurasthenia, particularly in terms of their relationship to chronic fatigue syndrome. A review of this relationship led to the conclusion that these conditions are much more alike in Western countries than in countries such as China, where neurasthenia could almost be regarded as a "culture-bound syndrome." This may be a consequence of factors such as the heterogeneous nature of neurasthenia and different diagnostic practices in different countries, despite the ICD-10 definition of neurasthenia, intended for worldwide use. Likewise, there is no consensus on what the "core" characteristics of neurasthenia are, because its clinical presentation and key features in different countries are very different. Despite the finding of relatively low comorbidity rates between neurasthenia and other mental disorders, clinical experience suggests that features of neurasthenia frequently overlap with those of depression, chronic anxiety, and somatoform disorders. There is no convincing evidence that in cases of overlap or comorbidity, other diagnoses should automatically have "primacy" over neurasthenia nor should the diagnosis of neurasthenia thereby be excluded. Although some aspects of its validity have improved recently, especially its descriptive validity, the overall validity of the diagnosis of neurasthenia is still not satisfactory. Suggestions for further research, aimed at improving the diagnostic validity of neurasthenia, are offered in this paper.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry
PMID:Neurasthenia: cross-cultural and conceptual issues in relation to chronic fatigue syndrome. 1051 48

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in recent randomized controlled trials for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We examined the effectiveness of CBT in a general hospital setting in a retrospective questionnaire follow-up study of 94 patients offered CBT by liaison psychiatry services. The questionnaire response rate was 61%. Eighteen percent had returned to normal functioning at follow-up. For the group as a whole, there was a significant improvement in the functional and social impairment and the number of frequently experienced symptoms. Those in work or study at follow-up was 53% (29% pretreatment), and 65% of patients mentioned occupational stress as a contributory factor in their illness. There was a significant reduction in the frequency of attendance at primary care in the year after the end of CBT. We conclude that cognitive behavioral therapy is an acceptable treatment for most patients and can be used in a general hospital outpatient setting by a variety of trained therapists. However, a proportion of patients do not benefit and remain significantly disabled by the condition.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry
PMID:Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in a general hospital--feasible and effective. 1160 Jan 66

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a neuro-immune disease of uncertain pathogenesis. Human parvovirus B19 infection has been shown to occur just prior to development of the onset of CFS/ME in several cases, although B19 seroprevalence studies do not show any significant differences between CFS/ME and controls. In this study, we analysed parvovirus B19 markers in CFS/ME patients (n=200), diagnosed according to Fukuda CDC criteria, and normal blood donors (n=200). Serum from each subject was tested for anti-B19 VP2 IgM and IgG (by Biotrin ELISA), anti-B19 NS1 IgM and IgG (by immunofluorescence), and B19 DNA (by real-time PCR). CFS/ME patients and normal blood donors had a similar B19 seroprevalence (75 % versus 78 %, respectively). Eighty-three CFS patients (41.5 %) as compared with fourteen (7 %) normal blood donors tested positive for anti-B19 NS1 IgG (chi(2)=64.8; P<0.0001; odds ratio=9.42, CI 5.11-17.38). Of these 83 patients, 61 complained of chronic joint pain, while 22 did not. Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in serum of 11 CFS patients and none of the controls by Taqman real-time PCR (chi(2)=9.35, P<0.002). Positivity for anti-B19 NS1 IgG was associated with higher expression levels of the human CFS-associated genes NHLH1 and GABPA. As NS1 antibodies are thought to indicate chronic or severe courses of B19 infection, these findings suggest that although the seroprevalence of B19 in CFS patients is similar to controls, the immune control of the virus in these patients may not be efficient.
J Gen Virol 2010 Apr
PMID:Antibody to parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein is associated with chronic arthralgia in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. 2000 55

In 2006, a new retrovirus was isolated from prostate cancer patient tissue. Named xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), this was potentially the third class of retrovirus to be pathogenic in humans. XMRV made a more dramatic impact on the wider scientific community, and indeed the media, in 2009 when it was reported to be present in a remarkably high proportion of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome as well as a significant, albeit smaller, proportion of healthy controls. The apparent strong link to disease and the fear of a previously unknown retrovirus circulating in the general population lead to a surge in XMRV research. Subsequent studies failed to find an association of XMRV with disease and, in most cases, failed to find the virus in human samples. In 2011, the case against XMRV and human disease strengthened, ending with several decisive publications revealing the origin of the virus and demonstrating contamination of samples. In this review, we outline the passage of research on XMRV and its potential association with disease from its isolation to the present day, where we find ourselves at the end of a turbulent story.
J Gen Virol 2012 May
PMID:The tale of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus. 2235 51

Visual stimuli with social-emotional relevance have been claimed to gain preferential access to awareness. For example, recent studies used the breaking continuous flash suppression paradigm (b-CFS) to show that faces that are perceived as less dominant and more trustworthy are prioritized for awareness. Here we asked whether these effects truly reflect differences in social-emotional meaning or whether they can be equally explained by differences in low-level stimulus properties. In Experiment 1, we successfully replicated dominance- and untrustworthiness-related slowing for upright faces. However, these effects were equally strong for inverted faces, even though it was more difficult to perceive social characteristics in inverted faces. The previously reported correlation between dominance- and untrustworthiness-related slowing in b-CFS and self-reported propensity to trust did not replicate. Experiment 2 showed that dominance-related slowing in b-CFS can also be observed when only presenting the eye region of faces, and even when the eye region was presented inverted and/or with reversed contrast polarity, in which case personality traits were no longer discernible. These results were replicated in Experiment 3 following a preregistration protocol. Altogether, our findings link dominance-related slowing in b-CFS to physical differences in the eye region that are-when presented in isolation-unrelated to the perception of dominance. We conclude that low-level physical stimulus differences provide a parsimonious explanation for the effect of social facial characteristics on access to awareness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
J Exp Psychol Gen 2018 Nov
PMID:Unconscious processing of facial dominance: The role of low-level factors in access to awareness. 3037 10


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