Week beginning 3rd September 2018
News and action alert
USA - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
The US CFSAC operates under a charter which was up for renewal. The Secretary has decided not to renew the charter and CFSAC sunsetted as of September 5.
Thread here
#MEAction ''HHS Secretary Kills CFSAC''
Article here
#MEAction ''How to protest HHS with #MEAction''
Article here
Occupy ME blog by Jennie Spotila: ''Rest In Power, CFSAC''
Includes quotes from prominent members of the CFSAC.
Article here
Solve ME/CFS Initiative is calling on US people to call on their representatives to demand that Congress create a federal ME/CFS Advisory Committee.
Article here Video here
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Other news from around the world
Norway The thread 'News from Scandinavia' includes several recent items on activity in Norway including a petition.
Thread here from post #290.
USA #MEAction: ''NIH Update: Collins Will Meet With #MEAction Representatives!''
#MEAction has secured a meeting with Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to discuss demands sent to him in a letter in May. Date to be arranged.
Article here Thread here
UK NICE is seeking committee members for the ME/CFS guideline group including GP, physicians, nurse. Closing date 26th September. Some posts, including patient representatives, have already been advertised and interviewed.
Details here Thread here
Scotland The Liberal Democrat conference has passed a motion in support of removal of GET/CBT treatments and increasing biomedical research funding for ME/CFS.
#MEAction article here Thread here
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In the media
Holland A journalist, Bastiaan Hetebrij, has produced a series of articles about ME published in the online publication De Monitor. It includes support for Professor Michael Sharpe. Not a recommendation.
Articles here ...
Thread here ...
Sharpe Thread here
Criticism of the PACE trial by psychologist Daniël Lakens.
Thread here
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Trial by Error by David Tuller
''The Cochrane Controversy''
Cochrane produces respected systematic reviews of medical treatments, but places CFS in the mental disorders group and its reviews of exercise treatments rely on flawed trials including PACE and excludes objective outcome measures. A more recent review has not been published. Tuller explains the history, problems, influence of the reviews, and what should happen next.
Article here Thread here
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Articles and blogs
ME Advocates Ireland ''Complaint Report offers hope for those living with ME in Ireland'' A long and harrowing article by Christine Fenton who has very severe ME about the lack of medical and social care she has experienced for many years, and the outcome of an HSE investigation.
Article here Thread here
USA Ithica College ''Tireless Work on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome'' by Kerry Regan.
IC professor Betsy Keller is among the leaders of Cornell University's participation in and NIH funded 5 year study including pre and post exercise testing.
Article here Thread here
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Research - Diagnostics and definitions
Frontiers in Pediatrics ''Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Methodology for Assessing Exertion Intolerance in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome'' by Staci Stevens et al. (Workwell Foundation).
''Conclusions: Basic concepts of CPET are summarized, and special considerations for performing CPET on ME/CFS patients are detailed to ensure a valid outcome. The 2-day CPET methodology is outlined, and the utility of the procedure is discussed for assessment of functional capacity and exertion intolerance in ME/CFS.''
Article here PDF here Thread here
Diagostics ''Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or What? An Operational Definition'' by Frank Twisk.
Discusses the key features of ME and how they distinguish it from definitions of CFS.
Article here Thread here
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Psychosocial Research
Journal of Health Psychology ''Confirmatory factor analysis of an ME and CFS stigma scale'' by Termann, Jason et al.
From the abstract: ''This study adapted a chronic illness stigma scale and explored its psychometric properties. ...Participants endorsed high levels of stigma, estrangement, and disclosure.''
Paper here Thread here
BMJ Paediatrics Open ''Using the internet to cope with CFS/ME in adolescence: a qualitative study'' by Brigden, Crawley et al.
Very small study based on interviews. Young pwME found patient led sites and forums helpful socially and for information.
Paper here Thread here
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Simon Wessely speaks and continues to malign people with ME. He claims a third will recover with a bit of therapy and light exercise. Not a recommendation.
Royal Society of Medicine (UK)
Podcast here Thread here
The Sheffield Star (UK local paper)
Article here Thread here
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Edited to correct the item about Norway.