View clinical trials related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Filter by:This study explores whether it is feasible to use a newly developed activity pacing framework to standardise how activity pacing is instructed by healthcare professionals in rehabilitation programmes for patients with chronic pain/fatigue.
The main aim of the study is to examine the effect of oral CoQ10 plus NADH (Reconnect®) supplementation twice daily for 8-weeks on the changes in fatigue perception, sleep disturbances, autonomic dysfunction and HRQoL assessed by patient-reported outcome measures in CFS/ME.
The objective of this study is to measure sympathetic nervous system function and stress responses in patients with clinically documented and self-reported chronic fatigue that is worsened by stress, compared to healthy controls. Baseline norepinephrine (NE) levels and stress-induced NE levels in patients who fulfill criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and who self-identify with stress induced worsening fatigue, will be compared to data from normal individuals pre and post-stress.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) perform worse on day 2 in a 2-day consecutive cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). The aim of this study is to examine if CPET can distinguish between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls.
To evaluate the efficacy of Nutrilite® ginkgo biloba cistanche tablets in relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS), the investigators randomly recruit189 subjects with CFS, aged 35-60 yrs. The relief of fatigue and improvement of sexual function are evaluated by World Health Organization Quality Of Life Brief (WHOQoL-Bref), Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (SLQQ), chronic fatigue syndrome, symptoms of self-assessment at the baseline and the end of intervention. Subjects also underwent a blood test measuring the concentration of biochemical indicators. Cistanche is mainly used to strengthen the renal function, nourish essence and blood in the treatment of lumbar debility, impotence, infertility and muscles weakness, constipation. etc. The study is to test the hypothesis that consecutive 60-day intake of the study tablets can relieve the symptoms of CFS; according to the change of blood biology indicators, the investigators will also evaluate the association between the change of plasma outcome measures and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Background: Post-Infectious Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (PI-ME/CFS) refers to long-lasting and disabling fatigue or malaise, inability to recover after exercise, and physical and emotional discomfort that may occur after a person has an infection. Researchers want to learn more about its causes. Objective: To learn more about PI-ME/CFS. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-60 years who have finished at least 7th grade education and either: have ME/CFS that started after an infection OR had Lyme disease, were treated, and returned to normal health OR are healthy volunteers Design: Participants will initially have a 2-5 day inpatient visit at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda. During the visit, participants will have: Medical history Physical exam Intravenous (IV) line. A thin plastic tube is inserted into a vein. Blood and urine collected Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants will lie in a machine that takes pictures of their brain. They may get a dye through their IV. Grip strength tested Saliva, cheek swab, and stool collected Tilt table test with measures of body functions such as sweating and breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate and blood and urine sample collection Collection of blood cells. Participants can choose to have the blood drawn through the IV or through a machine that filters blood cells and returns the liquid blood back into the participant s vein. Lumbar puncture. Fluid will be removed by placement of a needle between the back bones. Heart monitoring Sleep study for participants with PI ME/CFS Questions about the participant s life and how they are feeling Questions from a neuropsychologist Questions from an occupational therapist for participants with PI ME/CFS Questinos from a nutritionist After the initial visit participants will return home. Participants evaluated for PI-ME/CFS during the first visit will have their information reviewed by an adjudication panel of experts in the diagnosis and care of ME/CFS to determine if they are eligible to participate in the second study visit. Eligible participants will be invited back for a second study visit. If a participant was taking certain medications during the first visit, they may be asked to taper off of them prior to the second visit and report any problems. They will also receive an activity monitor, fatigue diary, and nutrition log to use for at least one week prior to their second visit. Participants who are eligible will return for a 5-10 day inpatient hospital visit at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. During the visit, participants will undergo measurements before and up to 96 hours after performing a stationary bike exercise test. The purpose of the exercise test is to provoke ME/CFS symptoms (post-exertional malaise). Tests will be performed before and after exercise testing. These include: Sleeping in a room that measures how the body uses energy with EEG monitoring Eating a controlled diet Performing vigorous exercise for 10-15 minutes Questions about how participants are feeling Questions about what participants usually eat Samples of saliva, blood, urine and stool Wearing an activity monitor Having an Xray that measures body composition Thinking and memory tests Heart monitoring Transcranial magnetic stimulation. A brief electrical current to the scalp creates a magnetic pulse that affects brain activity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants will lie in a machine that takes pictures of their brain. They will do thinking and exercise tasks during the MRI. Lumbar puncture. Fluid will be removed by placement of a needle between the back bones.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition of unknown etiology. Recent studies have shown that CFS is associated with impaired cellular energetics and low levels of phosphocreatine. Since guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) acts as a highly bioavailable precursor of creatine it may provide an ideal dietary supplement to facilitate treatment and perhaps prevention of CFS. The overall hypothesis to be evaluated is that medium-term supplementation with GAA will improve clinical outcomes in well-defined adult CFS patients via augmented provision of creatine. Specific aims: (1) To determine the effects of GAA on CFS symptomatology using a fatigue severity inventory, soreness of locomotive apparatus scales, and a health-related quality of life survey; (2) To determine the effect of GAA on creatine metabolism using laboratory studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy; (3) To characterize the physiological effects of GAA on work capacity via actigraphy and exercise performance tests; and (4); To determine the prevalence of subjectively reported side-effects and biochemical adverse events associated with GAA intervention.
Rationale: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a medically unexplained syndrome for which no somatic or pharmacological treatment has been proven effective. Dysfunction of the cytokine network has been suspected to play a role in the pathophysiology of CFS. Although derangements of the cytokine network in CFS are controversial, a major problem is that many studies did not use adequate controls. In addition, all studies have been performed on peripheral venous blood of the patients. As cytokines mainly act in the tissues, e.g., the brain, the information that can be derived from peripheral blood cells is limited. The only information regarding the possible role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of CFS could come from intervention studies in which pathogenetically important cytokines are inhibited. A potentially relevant cytokine which can be blocked in humans without severe side effects is IL-1. Although it is plausible that these cytokines play a role in CFS, there is limited evidence for this. Objective: To investigate the effect on symptomatology of interference with IL-1 in CFS patients. Study design: A randomized placebo controlled study will be performed to determine whether interference with IL-1 is able to reduce fatigue and disabilities in CFS patients. Study population: Female CFS patients without psychiatric co-morbidity will be included in this study. Patients of the outpatient clinic of the Department of General internal medicine and the Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue (ECCF) will be asked to participate in the study. Patients will be asked to bring a healthy neighbourhood control to their first study visit. Intervention: After inclusion patients will be randomized to receive one of the following treatments: - interleukin-1 inhibitor Anakinra (IL-1Ra) for 4 weeks (N=25); - placebo for 4 weeks (N=25). Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome measure will be fatigue severity measured with the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) at 4 weeks, measurement will be repeated up to 26 weeks. Secondary outcome measures will be: - level of functional impairment measured with the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP8) total score; - physical and social functioning assessed with the subscale physical functioning and social functioning of the SF-36; - level of psychological distress assessed with the total score on the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90); - pain severity assessed with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS); - cytokine measurement in blood (plasma and blood in Pax-gene tubes) and saliva (at protein and mRNA level); - cortisol measurement in saliva and hair; - microbiome determination in faeces; - body temperature and pulse rate.
Objectives: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a medically unexplained condition characterized by severe and disabling fatigue. To date much research has focused on finding out whether CFS is caused by mainly physical or psychological factors. Perhaps as a result of this, few studies have examined the relationship between CFS and quality of life, in particular, more positive aspects of mental health, such as an individual's sense of purpose, autonomy and close relationships. This study will address these limitations by examining Ryff's (1989) six domains of psychological well-being (PWB), and other aspects of well-being including positive emotions, in CFS. It will also examine the relationship between measures of symptomology, emotional distress and PWB. Method: This is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study with a clinical sample of adults with CFS. Participants will complete valid measures of well-being and symptomology. Results: We expect to find that compared to general population norms, individuals with CFS score lower on measures of PWB. Secondly, we expect PWB dimensions will be related to symptom measures. There are however, no grounds for making strong predictions. Implications: This study will advance our understanding of quality of life in CFS. Clinically, it has the potential to enrich and inform therapeutic interventions.
This study aims to improve on the delivery of treatment for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). People with CFS/ME have low energy. This interferes with doing everyday activities and has a major impact on quality of life. Energy management is a key aspect of treatment and involves patients building up their energy levels gradually. Their health professional finds out how much energy the patient uses daily so they can prescribe how much activity and rest is right for the patient. The prescription is adjusted throughout treatment. Over time, the patient learns the best way to "spend" and "preserve" energy. To begin treatment, patients record their activity levels on paper over a few weeks. Records need to be accurate, but this is often difficult because of problems with memory, concentration or low energy and pain. We have recently developed a new technology called ASARM ("Advanced Sleep Rest Activity and Rest Management") that records activity levels electronically and checks whether they match the activity prescription. The ASARM device is worn on the patient's wrist. It measures sleep, activity and rest, and has an electronic diary (a smartphone app) for recording daily activities. The health professional has remote access to the information and uses the app to change the prescription. This study will investigate if ASARM is (i) acceptable to patients; (ii) a good way to deliver Cognitive Behavioural therapy CBT treatment; (iii) able to improve their symptoms. Patients and clinicians will gain experience of ASARM for a short time, and we will analyse their data. Our findings will help us develop ASARM so that it can be used in routine care of CFS/ME patients.