Archive for the ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ Category

Neuroendocrine and immune network re-modeling in chronic fatigue syndrome: An exploratory analysis.

Monday, February 9th, 2009

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18775774?dopt=AbstractPlus

Genomics. 2008 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Neuroendocrine and immune network re-modeling in chronic fatigue syndrome: An exploratory analysis.

Fuite J, Vernon SD, Broderick G.
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 2E4.41 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

This work investigates the significance of changes in association patterns linking indicators of neuroendocrine and immune activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Gene sets preferentially expressed in specific immune cell isolates were integrated with neuroendocrine data from a large population-based study. Co-expression patterns linking immune cell activity with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), thyroidal (HPT) and gonadal (HPG) axis status were computed using mutual information criteria. Networks in control and CFS subjects were compared globally in terms of a weighted graph edit distance. Local re-modeling of node connectivity was quantified by node degree and eigenvector centrality measures. Results indicate statistically significant differences between CFS and control networks determined mainly by re-modeling around pituitary and thyroid nodes as well as an emergent immune sub-network. Findings align with known mechanisms of chronic inflammation and support possible immune-mediated loss of thyroid function in CFS exacerbated by blunted HPA axis responsiveness.

PMID: 18775774 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is an under-recognized condition in chronic fatigue syndrome

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is an under-recognized condition in chronic fatigue syndrome

Hoad A, Spickett G, Elliott J, Newton J.

From the Northern CFS/ME Clinical Network, Equinox House, Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne ME NorthEast, Bullion Hall, County Durham and Falls and Syncope Service, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.

QJM. 2008 Sep 19.

BACKGROUND:
It has been suggested that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) be considered in the differential diagnosis of those with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).
Currently, measurement of haemodynamic response to standing is not recommended in the UK NICE CFS/ME guidelines.

Objectives:
To determine prevalence of POTS in patients with CFS/ME.

Design: Observational cohort study.

METHODS:
Fifty-nine patients with CFS/ME (Fukuda criteria) and 52 age- and sex-matched controls underwent formal autonomic assessment in the cardiovascular laboratory with continuous heart rate and beat-to-beat blood pressure measurement (Task Force, CNSystems, Graz Austria). Haemodynamic responses to standing over 2 min were measured. POTS was defined as symptoms of orthostatic intolerance associated with an increase in heart rate from the supine to upright position of >30 beats per minute or to a heart rate of >120 beats per minute on standing.

RESULTS:
Maximum heart rate on standing was significantly higher in the CFS/ME group compared with controls (106 +/- 20 vs. 98 +/- 13; P = 0.02). Of the CFS/ME group, 27% (16/59) had POTS compared with 9% (5) in the control population (P = 0.006). This difference was predominantly related to the increased proportion of those in the CFS/ME group whose heart rate increased to >120 beats per minute on standing (P = 0.0002). Increasing fatigue was associated with increase in heart
rate (P = 0.04; r(2) = 0.1).

CONCLUSION:
POTS is a frequent finding in patients with CFS/ME. We suggest that clinical evaluation of patients with CFS/ME should include response to standing. Studies are needed to determine the optimum intervention strategy to manage POTS in those with CFS/ME.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18805903?dopt=AbstractPlus

PMID: 18805903 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Increased oxidative stress suggested by low serum vitamin E concentrations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Int J Cardiol. 2008 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Increased oxidative stress suggested by low serum vitamin E concentrations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Miwa K, Fujita M.

Department of Internal Medicine, Nanto Home and Regional Medical Center, 577 Matsubara, Nanto, Toyama 939-1518, Japan.

Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were determined in 50 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 40 control subjects (Control). Prevalence of each or any coronary risk factor was not significantly different between CFS and Control. CFS had significantly lower alpha-tocopherol concentrations than Control. The concentrations were significantly lower in the subjects with any coronary risk factors than those without in CFS as well as Control. Even among the subjects with any coronary risk factors and also among those without, CFS had significantly lower alpha-tocopherol concentrations than Control. In conclusion, CFS had significantly lower alpha-tocopherol concentrations irrespective of coronary risk factors than Control, suggesting the presence of increased oxidative stress in CFS.

PMID: 18684522 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684522?dopt=AbstractPlus

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Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Post-radiation syndrome as a NO/ONOO(-) cycle, chronic fatigue syndrome-like disease

Pall ML.

School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4234, USA.

Med Hypotheses. 2008 Jul 28.

Post-radiation syndrome is proposed to be chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or a chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, initiated by exposure to ionizing radiation. This view is supported by the nitric
oxide/peroxynitrite (NO/ONOO(-)) cycle mechanism, the putative etiologic mechanism for CFS and related illnesses. Ionizing radiation may initiate illness by increasing nitric oxide levels via increased
activity of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and consequent increased synthesis of the inducible nitric oxide synthase. Two types of components of the nitric oxide/peroxynitrite cycle have been
studied in post-radiation syndrome patients and shown to be elevated. The symptoms and signs of post-radiation syndrome and its chronicity are similar or identical to those of chronic fatigue syndrome and can be explained as being a consequence of nitric oxide/peroxynitrite cycle etiology. While the data available to test this view are limited, it provides for the first time a comprehensive explanation
for post-radiation syndrome.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18667279?dopt=AbstractPlus

PMID: 18667279 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Attenuated Morning Salivary Cortisol Concentrations in a Population-based Study of Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Well Controls.

Monday, January 26th, 2009

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Dec 26 [Epub ahead of print]

Attenuated Morning Salivary Cortisol Concentrations in a Population-based Study of Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Well Controls.

Nater UM, Maloney E, Boneva RS, Gurbaxani BM, Lin JM, Jones JF, Reeves WC, Heim C.

Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.

Context A substantial body of research on the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has focused on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. The cortisol awakening response has received particular attention as a marker of HPA axis dysregulation. Objective The objective of the current study was to evaluate morning salivary cortisol profiles in persons with CFS and well controls identified from the general population. Design Case-control study. Setting This study was conducted at an outpatient research clinic. Cases and Other Participants We screened a sample of 19,381 residents of Georgia and identified those with CFS and a matched sample of well controls. Seventy-five medication-free CFS cases and 110 medication-free well controls provided complete sets of saliva samples. Main Outcome Measures Free cortisol concentrations in saliva collected on a regular workday, immediately upon awakening, 30 minutes and 60 minutes after awakening. Results There was a significant interaction effect, indicating different profiles of cortisol concentrations over time between groups, with the CFS group showing an attenuated morning cortisol profile. Notably, we observed a sex difference in this effect. Women with CFS exhibited significantly attenuated morning cortisol profiles compared with well women. In contrast, cortisol profiles were similar in men with CFS and male controls. Conclusions CFS was associated with an attenuated morning cortisol response but the effect was limited to women. Our results suggest that a sex difference in hypocortisolism may contribute to increased risk of CFS in women.

PMID: 18160468 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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