Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica Maya, Sabrina M. Leddy, C. Gunnar Gottschalk, Daniel L. Peterson, Maureen R. Hanson
Summary: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling multisystem illness characterized by fatigue, inflammatory symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and post-exertional malaise. This study found that ME/CFS patients have altered fatty acid metabolism in immune cells, specifically Natural Killer cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. These metabolic shifts may impact T and NK cell effector function and shed light on the mechanism of action of the illness.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bindu D. Paul, Marian D. Lemle, Anthony L. Komaroff, Solomon H. Snyder
Summary: The review summarizes evidence of biological abnormalities in patients with acute COVID-19 and ME/CFS, including redox imbalance, systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation, impaired ATP generation, and general hypometabolism. Although these phenomena have not been extensively studied in individuals with long COVID-19, understanding these abnormalities may lead to the development of novel therapeutics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebekah Maksoud, Chandi Magawa, Natalie Eaton-Fitch, Kiran Thapaliya, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Summary: This systematic review aimed to evaluate potential biomarkers that could effectively differentiate ME/CFS patients from healthy controls. A total of 101 studies were included, and potential biomarkers ranged from genetic/epigenetic, immunological, metabolomics/mitochondrial/microbiome, endovascular/circulatory, neurological, ion channel, to physical dysfunction biomarkers. The findings indicated evidence of immune dysfunction in ME/CFS and the use of lymphocytes as a model to investigate the pathomechanism of the illness.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Iain S. Forrest, Kumardeep Chaudhary, Ha My T. Vy, Ben O. Petrazzini, Shantanu Bafna, Daniel M. Jordan, Ghislain Rocheleau, Ruth J. F. Loos, Girish N. Nadkarni, Judy H. Cho, Ron Do
Summary: This study evaluated the population-based disease risk of clinical variants in known disease predisposition genes. The study found that the penetrance of pathogenic/loss-of-function variants was variable but generally low.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Soffritti, Sabine Gravelsina, Maria D'Accolti, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Anda Vilmane, Santa Rasa-Dzelzkaleja, Zaiga Nora-Krukle, Angelika Krumina, Modra Murovska, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease without diagnostic biomarkers, but there is evidence supporting a role of herpesviruses and microRNAs in its development. This study found that six out of eight selected microRNAs were differently expressed in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. The levels of these microRNAs correlated with disease severity but not with pro-inflammatory cytokines or HHV-6A/6B genome levels. These results suggest that microRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers and provide insights into ME/CFS pathogenic mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rebekah Maksoud, Cassandra Balinas, Sean Holden, Helene Cabanas, Donald Staines, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Summary: There is currently insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of mitochondrial-targeting nutraceuticals in treating ME/CFS patients. Future well-designed studies are needed to clarify the involvement of mitochondria in the pathomechanism of ME/CFS and the impact of mitochondrial-modifying agents on illness severity.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Varvara A. A. Ryabkova, Natalia Y. Y. Gavrilova, Alina A. A. Poletaeva, Alexander I. I. Pukhalenko, Irina A. A. Koshkina, Leonid P. P. Churilov, Yehuda Shoenfeld
Summary: Recent studies suggest that antibody-mediated autoimmune mechanisms may play a role in fibromyalgia (FM) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), specifically in relation to G protein-coupled receptors. However, the full extent of the natural antibody network and its implications in these disorders has not been fully explored.
Article
Immunology
Leonard A. Jason, Joseph Cotler, Mohammed F. Islam, Madison Sunnquist, Ben Z. Katz
Summary: This study investigated potential predictors of developing chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in university students six months after developing infectious mononucleosis (IM). The research found that ME/CFS patients had more physical symptoms and immune irregularities before onset, but no significant differences in psychological symptoms compared to those who recovered.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle P. Harwood, Isabel Alves, Hilary Edgington, Mawusse Agbessi, Vanessa Bruat, David Soave, Fabien C. Lamaze, Marie-Julie Fave, Philip Awadalla
Summary: Understanding how the genetic composition of a population changes through processes like genetic drift and selection is crucial for understanding phenotypic variation in time and space. This study shows how evolutionary forces, including recombination and effective population size, affect genomic patterns of allele-specific expression (ASE). The research integrates tissue-specific genetic and transcriptomic data from two cohorts and demonstrates that ASE is influenced by recombination rates and can be used to underexpress harmful mutations. Genetic ancestry and local environment also have an impact on ASE variability.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ludovic Giloteaux, Jiayin Li, Mady Hornig, W. Ian Lipkin, David Ruppert, Maureen R. R. Hanson
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease characterized by unexplained fatigue and other symptoms. This study found increased levels of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and IL2 cytokine in plasma of ME/CFS patients. The correlations between specific proteins and clinical data suggest immune response and hemostasis dysfunctions in ME/CFS.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Thomas Briese, Rafal Tokarz, Lucinda Bateman, Xiaoyu Che, Cheng Guo, Komal Jain, Vishal Kapoor, Susan Levine, Mady Hornig, Alexandra Oleynik, Phenix-Lan Quan, Wai H. Wong, Brent L. Williams, Suzanne D. Vernon, Nancy G. Klimas, Daniel L. Peterson, Jose G. Montoya, Walter Ian Lipkin
Summary: This multicenter study found no consistent group-specific differences in viral nucleic acid presence in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls, except for a lower prevalence of anelloviruses. Future investigations into viral infections in ME/CFS should focus on adaptive immune responses rather than surveillance for viral gene products.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Inigo Murga, Larraitz Aranburu, Pascual A. Gargiulo, Juan-Carlos Gomez-Esteban, Jose-Vicente Lafuente
Summary: The study reveals that patients with CFS/ME have low maintained attention and significant cognitive fatigue, with deficits in sustained attention and perception of fatigue serving as sensitive and reliable indicators for confirming or ruling out CFS/ME.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Rahel S. Konig, Werner C. Albrich, Christian R. Kahlert, Lina Samira Bahr, Ulrike Lober, Pietro Vernazza, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Sofia K. Forslund
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a neglected, debilitating disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. The gut microbiome may play a role in CFS and further research is needed to explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Brett A. Lidbury
Summary: Ross River virus (RRV) is an endemic Australian arbovirus belonging to the Alphavirus family, with strong immune evasion capabilities that may be related to the pathogenesis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME).
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lena Lutz, Johanna Rohrhofer, Sonja Zehetmayer, Michael Stingl, Eva Untersmayr
Summary: ME/CFS patients commonly exhibit abnormalities in immune parameters, including deficiencies or reduction as well as immune activation or inflammation. Common abnormalities include antibody deficiencies and low MBL levels.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jessica Tarn, Dennis Lendrem, Peter McMeekin, Clare Lendrem, Ben Hargreaves, Wan-Fai Ng
Summary: In patients with pSS, symptom burden and NSST subgroup, rather than systemic disease activity, are significantly associated with HRQoL longitudinally. Improvements in symptom burden have the potential to produce significant impacts on long-term HRQoL in pSS.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Gracjan Rozanski, Derek Pheby, Julia L. Newton, Modra Murovska, Pawel Zalewski, Joanna Slomko
Summary: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a common chronic liver disease worldwide. Currently, there is no effective pharmacological therapy for this disease. Intermittent fasting shows potential as a non-pharmacological alternative, but further studies are needed to determine its effectiveness for MAFLD.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lukasz Rzepinski, Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska, Julia L. Newton, Pawel Zalewski, Joanna Slomko
Summary: This study evaluates cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in multiple sclerosis and explores its relationship with disease variant, disability level, fatigue severity, and patients' demographics.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Agnieszka Kujawska, Slawomir Kujawski, Mariusz Kozakiewicz, Weronika Hajec, Malgorzata Kwiatkowska, Natalia Skierkowska, Jakub Husejko, Julia L. Newton, Pawel Zalewski, Kornelia Kedziora-Kornatowska
Summary: This study explored the network relationship between cognitive function, depressive symptom intensity, body composition, proxies of cognitive reserve, trophic factor, adipokines and myokines, physical performance and blood pressure in a group of older individuals with poorly managed hypertension. The results showed that there was dysregulation in the network of individuals with poorly managed hypertension compared to normotensive individuals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Slawomir Kujawski, Joanna Slomko, Beata R. Godlewska, Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska, Modra Murovska, Julia L. Newton, Lukasz Sokolowski, Pawel Zalewski
Summary: This study examined the effects of static stretching and whole body cryotherapy on individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The results showed that the combination of static stretching and whole body cryotherapy reduced fatigue in CFS patients and improved cognitive functioning. The study also demonstrated that whole body cryotherapy was well tolerated and led to symptomatic improvements associated with cardiovascular and autonomic function.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claire M. Owen, Julia L. Newton, James Frith
Summary: Orthostatic hypotension is a common condition characterized by a drop in blood pressure when standing upright. Non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure measurement provides an opportunity to explore the underlying pathological deficits in this condition. Treatment options include conservative management, fludrocortisone, and midodrine, which can be targeted based on the type of blood pressure drop.
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Amica Corda Muller-Nedebock, Surita Meldau, Carl Lombard, Shameemah Abrahams, Francois Hendrikus van der Westhuizen, Soraya Bardien
Summary: This study investigated whether blood mtDNA-CN levels of African ancestry PD cases would be altered compared to controls. The results showed significantly higher mtDNA-CN in the blood of PD cases.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu Fu, Eugene Yh Tang, Sarah Sowden, Julia L. Newton, Paula Whitty
Summary: Hyperlipidaemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and disproportionately affects disadvantaged socioeconomic communities. This study aims to develop a tailored intervention to optimize lipid management in primary care settings for deprived populations, with the goal of reducing CVD risks and improving outcomes.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Amica C. Muller-Nedebock, Abigail L. Pfaff, Ilse S. Pienaar, Sulev Koks, Francois H. van der Westhuizen, Joanna L. Elson, Soraya Bardien
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation and Parkinson's disease (PD), focusing on out-of-place variation in African ancestry PD cases. The results show a significant association between out-of-place mtDNA variants and PD risk in African ancestry PD cases.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Afreen Rehman, Roshani Kumari, Arunika Kamthan, Rajnarayan Tiwari, Rupesh Kumar Srivastava, Francois H. van der Westhuizen, Pradyumna Kumar Mishra
Summary: The exposure to airborne particulate matter is associated with the deterioration of cardiovascular function, which is driven by the impairment of mitochondrial-nuclear crosstalk due to aberrant redox signaling. The methylation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays a role in the alteration of mitochondrial bioenergetics and transcriptional regulatory processes, particularly in highly metabolic active tissues like the heart. Previous studies have shown that mtDNA methylation has contradictory effects on cardiovascular pathologies related to air pollution, contributing to systemic inflammation and various co-morbidities.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Belinda Fouche, Stephanie Turner, Rebecca Gorham, Eloise J. Stephenson, Simon Gutbier, Joanna L. Elson, Olimpo Garcia-Beltran, Francois H. van der Westhuizen, Ilse S. Pienaar
Summary: This study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of a new polyhydroxyl coumarin, CT51, against the mitochondrial toxin MPP+. CT51 preserves neural function and circuitry against PD-related damage by targeting cell bodies and axons, restoring somatic cell viability and neurite processes. Additionally, CT51 acts as an antioxidant agent and downregulates the expression of HIF-1 alpha, providing further protection against oxidative stress.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu Fu, Christopher Price, Shona Haining, Bob Gaffney, David Julien, Paula Whitty, Julia L. Newton
Summary: This study aimed to compare cardiovascular disease-related conditions and risk factors in deprived communities in the North East of England with other areas, and analyze the changes during COVID-19. The results showed higher cardiovascular disease risk factors and conditions in deprived communities, but a higher optimal prescribing rate for lipid-lowering medications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Slawomir Kujawski, Agnieszka Kujawska, Mariusz Kozakiewicz, Djordje G. Jakovljevic, Blazej Stankiewicz, Julia L. Newton, Kornelia Kedziora-Kornatowska, Pawel Zalewski
Summary: This study examined the effects of three-month programs of sitting callisthenic balance (SCB) and resistance training (RT), and the mediating role of neurotrophic factors and strength in cognitive functioning of older, healthy participants. The results showed that RT significantly improved global cognitive functioning, decision making, visual attention, and reaction time. SCB improved set-shifting, short-term memory, and processing speed of simple visual stimuli. Resistance exercise training programs could prevent cognitive decline in healthy older subjects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Sharika V. Raga, Jo Madeleine Wilmshurst, Izelle Smuts, Surita Meldau, Soraya Bardien, Maryke Schoonen, Francois Hendrikus van der Westhuizen
Summary: Pediatric neuromuscular diseases are often overlooked and misdiagnosed in Africa, mainly due to socioeconomic barriers, a high burden of diseases, lack of expertise and genetic testing facilities. It is crucial to accurately diagnose these genetic diseases in order for affected children to be eligible for potential treatments. The introduction of a multi-centered research platform aims to address the limited knowledge and improve genetic diagnostic capacities in African populations.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Wilby Williamson, Adam James Lewandowski, Odaro John Huckstep, Winok Lapidaire, Alexander Ooms, Cheryl Tan, Afifah Mohamed, Maryam Alsharqi, Mariane Bertagnolli, William Woodward, Cameron Dockerill, Annabelle McCourt, Yvonne Kenworthy, Holger Burchert, Aiden Doherty, Julia Newton, Henner Hanssen, John Kennedy Cruickshank, Richard McManus, Jane Holmes, Chen Ji, Sharon Love, Elena Frangou, Colin Everett, Melvyn Hillsdon, Helen Dawes, Charlie Foster, Paul Leeson
Summary: This study investigated the effects of aerobic exercise, self-monitoring, and motivational coaching on blood pressure in young adults. The results showed that moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise training did not effectively reduce blood pressure in this group.
