2021

"The Commons Work and Pensions Committee is investigating the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market. This evidence session is expected to cover issues around...

The Guardian: Long Covid is very far from 'all in the mind' - but psychology can still help us treat it by Carmine M Pariante - Carmine M Pariante is professor of biological psychiatry at King’s College London and editor of the blog platform Inspire the Mind Quote: This point is particularly...

Abstract Neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, are collectively a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Whilst the underlying disease mechanisms remain elusive, altered mitochondrial function has been clearly implicated and is a key area of study in these...

Abstract Objective: Psychosocial trauma was associated with developing conversion disorder (also known as functional neurological disorder) before Freud, though why a particular symptom should arise is unknown. We aimed to determine if there was a relationship between trauma type and symptom...

Abstract Background High sodium intake is recommended for the treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) to counteract the hypovolemia and elevated plasma norepinephrine that contribute to excessive orthostatic tachycardia, but evidence of its efficacy is not available. Objectives This...

What is the Conference on the Future of Europe? The Conference on the Future of Europe is a unique and timely opportunity for European citizens to debate on Europe’s challenges and priorities. No matter where you are from or what you do, this is the place to think about what future you want for...

Now published, see https://www.s4me.info/threads/qualitative-study-of-the-acceptability-and-feasibility-of-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-for-adolescents-with-cfs-2021-crawley-et-al.20297/page-2#post-382771 preprint Is it time to ACT? A qualitative study of the acceptability and feasibility...

Ashok Gupta is citing this study as 'proof' that his programme is a cure for ME/CFS. Given that he is now actively targeting Covid LongHaulers, I thought it best to bring this to the attention of S4ME's resident experts. According to the comments on this youtube video, there are allegedly "3...

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection which can cause a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vascular symptoms. The acute illness phase generally lasts no more than 2–3 weeks. However, there is increasing evidence that a proportion of COVID-19 patients...

Randomised clinical trial: high-dose oral thiamine versus placebo for chronic fatigue in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel diseas, Bager et al https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33210299/ Health Rising had a guest blog feauturing this study...

I've just come across a patent from Fluge and Mella which looks like it was updated/published in March 2021 entitled 'Method for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome using an inhibitory or cytotoxic agent against plasma cells'. The description of the patent is a long read...

Highlights • Prevalence of diagnoses were lower in the diagnostic interview than in self-reported questionnaires. • Discrepancies constituted the clinical evaluation of symptom attribution and impairment. • Symptom questionnaires are an important screening tool. • Diagnostic interviews are...

This looks sympathetic, though I haven't read it through. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2021.1901900 Psychology & Health. 2021 Apr 19;1-17. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1901900. Online ahead of print. What is it like to live with medically unexplained physical symptoms...

Abstract The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) describe “post COVID-19 syndrome” or “Long COVID” as a set of persistent physical, cognitive and/or psychological symptoms that continue for more than 12 weeks after illness and which are not explained by an alternative...

Column (paywalled) by James Marriott in The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lets-end-the-stigma-of-psychosomatic-illness-whfdlwhph Anyone know whether that 'a third of outpatients...' is right? Or where it's from? @dave30th perhaps? I think the article shows what we're up against...

" Abstract Hemodialysis is associated with numerous symptoms and side effects that, in part, may be due to subclinical hypoxia. However, acute cardiopulmonary and metabolic physiology during hemodialysis is not well defined. Intradialytic and interdialytic exercise appear to be beneficial and...

Abstract Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and debilitating disease accompanied by muscular fatigue and pain. A functional measure to assess muscle fatigability of ME/CFS patients is, however, not established in clinical routine. The aim of this...

"Highlights • Adolescents with CFS, asthma and healthy controls undertook an exercise task. • Those with CFS took longer to complete a laboratory-based exercise task than controls. • They (and their parents) expected to perform worse. • They were more anxious pre-task and rated their performance...

ABSTRACT Background We followed college students before, during, and after infectious mononucleosis (IM) for the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Aim We used network analysis to study relationships between pre-illness cytokine data amongst three...

Abstract Background and Objectives: The aetiology and pathomechanism of fibromyalgia syndrome 12 (FMS) as one of chronic pain syndromes still need to be further elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been proposed as a novel approach in pain management. Since the major...