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Churchill NW, Roudaia E, Chen JJ, Sekuler A, Gao F, Masellis M, Lam B, Cheng I, Heyn C, Black SE, MacIntosh BJ, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Persistent fatigue in post-acute COVID syndrome is associated with altered T1 MRI texture in subcortical structures: a preliminary investigation. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115045. [PMID: 38734034 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) is a global health concern and is often associated with debilitating symptoms. Post-COVID fatigue is a particularly frequent and troubling issue, and its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. One potential contributor is micropathological injury of subcortical and brainstem structures, as has been identified in other patient populations. Texture-based analysis (TA) may be used to measure such changes in anatomical MRI data. The present study develops a methodology of voxel-wise TA mapping in subcortical and brainstem regions, which is then applied to T1-weighted MRI data from a cohort of 48 individuals who had PACS (32 with and 16 without ongoing fatigue symptoms) and 15 controls who had cold and flu-like symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19. Both groups were assessed an average of 4-5 months post-infection. There were no significant differences between PACS and control groups, but significant differences were observed within the PACS groups, between those with and without fatigue symptoms. This included reduced texture energy and increased entropy, along with reduced texture correlation, cluster shade and profile in the putamen, pallidum, thalamus and brainstem. These findings provide new insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie PACS, with altered tissue texture as a potential biomarker of this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- Brain Health and Wellness Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Canada; Physics Department, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada.
| | - Eugenie Roudaia
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Allison Sekuler
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fuqiang Gao
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Lam
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivy Cheng
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Integrated Community Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Heyn
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra E Black
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bradley J MacIntosh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Computational Radiology & Artificial Intelligence Unit, Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Simon J Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Brain Health and Wellness Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Canada
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Inderyas M, Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Barth M, Barnden L. Subcortical and default mode network connectivity is impaired in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1318094. [PMID: 38347875 PMCID: PMC10859529 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1318094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex chronic condition with core symptoms of fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, suggesting a key role for the central nervous system in the pathophysiology of this disease. Several studies have reported altered functional connectivity (FC) related to motor and cognitive deficits in ME/CFS patients. In this study, we compared functional connectivity differences between 31 ME/CFS and 15 healthy controls (HCs) using 7 Tesla MRI. Functional scans were acquired during a cognitive Stroop color-word task, and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) time series were computed for 27 regions of interest (ROIs) in the cerebellum, brainstem, and salience and default mode networks. A region-based comparison detected reduced FC between the pontine nucleus and cerebellum vermis IX (p = 0.027) for ME/CFS patients compared to HCs. Our ROI-to-voxel analysis found significant impairment of FC within the ponto-cerebellar regions in ME/CFS. Correlation analyses of connectivity with clinical scores in ME/CFS patients detected associations between FC and 'duration of illness' and 'memory scores' in salience network hubs and cerebellum vermis and between FC and 'respiratory rate' within the medulla and the default mode network FC. This novel investigation is the first to report the extensive involvement of aberrant ponto-cerebellar connections consistent with ME/CFS symptomatology. This highlights the involvement of the brainstem and the cerebellum in the pathomechanism of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maira Inderyas
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
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Lee JS, Kang JY, Park SY, Hwang SJ, Bae SJ, Son CG. Central 5-HTergic hyperactivity induces myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)-like pathophysiology. J Transl Med 2024; 22:34. [PMID: 38191373 PMCID: PMC10773012 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04808-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a significant medical challenge, with no indisputable pathophysiological mechanism identified to date. METHODS Based on clinical clues, we hypothesized that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) hyperactivation is implicated in the pathogenic causes of ME/CFS and the associated symptoms. We experimentally evaluated this hypothesis in a series of mouse models. RESULTS High-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment induced intra- and extracellular serotonin spillover in the dorsal raphe nuclei of mice. This condition resulted in severe fatigue (rota-rod, fatigue rotating wheel and home-cage activity tests) and ME/CFS-associated symptoms (nest building, plantar and open field test), along with dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to exercise challenge. These ME/CFS-like features induced by excess serotonin were additionally verified using both a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor and viral vector for Htr1a (5-HT1A receptor) gene knockdown. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the involvement of 5-HTergic hyperactivity in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS. This ME/CFS-mimicking animal model would be useful for understanding ME/CFS biology and its therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Seok Lee
- Research Center for CFS/ME, Daejeon Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yun Kang
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Samuel-Young Park
- Korean Medical College of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ju Hwang
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jin Bae
- College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Gue Son
- Research Center for CFS/ME, Daejeon Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Bioscience & Integrative Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Josev EK, Chen J, Seal M, Scheinberg A, Cole RC, Rowe K, Lubitz L, Knight SJ. What lies beneath: White matter microstructure in pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome using diffusion MRI. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1572-1585. [PMID: 37331007 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) suggest that changes in brain white matter microstructural organization may correlate with core ME/CFS symptoms, and represent a potential biomarker of disease. However, this has yet to be investigated in the pediatric ME/CFS population. We examined group differences in macrostructural and microstructural white matter properties, and their relationship with clinical measures, between adolescents recently diagnosed with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Forty-eight adolescents (25 ME/CFS, 23 controls, mean age 16 years) underwent brain diffusion MRI, and a robust multi-analytic approach was used to evaluate white and gray matter volume, regional brain volume, cortical thickness, fractional anisotropy, mean/axial/radial diffusivity, neurite dispersion and density, fiber density, and fiber cross section. From a clinical perspective, adolescents with ME/CFS showed greater fatigue and pain, poorer sleep quality, and poorer performance on cognitive measures of processing speed and sustained attention compared with controls. However, no significant group differences in white matter properties were observed, with the exception of greater white matter fiber cross section of the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus in the ME/CFS group compared with controls, which did not survive correction for intracranial volume. Overall, our findings suggest that white matter abnormalities may not be predominant in pediatric ME/CFS in the early stages following diagnosis. The discrepancy between our null findings and white matter abnormalities identified in the adult ME/CFS literature could suggest that older age and/or longer illness duration influence changes in brain structure and brain-behavior relationships that are not yet established in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisha K Josev
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marc Seal
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam Scheinberg
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca C Cole
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Rowe
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lionel Lubitz
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah J Knight
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Barnden L, Thapaliya K, Eaton-Fitch N, Barth M, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182607. [PMID: 37425014 PMCID: PMC10323677 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Debilitating Long-Covid symptoms occur frequently after SARS-COVID-19 infection. Methods Functional MRI was acquired in 10 Long Covid (LCov) and 13 healthy controls (HC) with a 7 Tesla scanner during a cognitive (Stroop color-word) task. BOLD time series were computed for 7 salience and 4 default-mode network hubs, 2 hippocampus and 7 brainstem regions (ROIs). Connectivity was characterized by the correlation coefficient between each pair of ROI BOLD time series. We tested for HC versus LCov differences in connectivity between each pair of the 20 regions (ROI-to-ROI) and between each ROI and the rest of the brain (ROI-to-voxel). For LCov, we also performed regressions of ROI-to-ROI connectivity with clinical scores. Results Two ROI-to-ROI connectivities differed between HC and LCov. Both involved the brainstem rostral medulla, one connection to the midbrain, another to a DM network hub. Both were stronger in LCov than HC. ROI-to-voxel analysis detected multiple other regions where LCov connectivity differed from HC located in all major lobes. Most, but not all connections, were weaker in LCov than HC. LCov, but not HC connectivity, was correlated with clinical scores for disability and autonomic function and involved brainstem ROI. Discussion Multiple connectivity differences and clinical correlations involved brainstem ROIs. Stronger connectivity in LCov between the medulla and midbrain may reflect a compensatory response. This brainstem circuit regulates cortical arousal, autonomic function and the sleep-wake cycle. In contrast, this circuit exhibited weaker connectivity in ME/CFS. LCov connectivity regressions with disability and autonomic scores were consistent with altered brainstem connectivity in LCov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
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Komaroff AL, Lipkin WI. ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1187163. [PMID: 37342500 PMCID: PMC10278546 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Some patients remain unwell for months after "recovering" from acute COVID-19. They develop persistent fatigue, cognitive problems, headaches, disrupted sleep, myalgias and arthralgias, post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance and other symptoms that greatly interfere with their ability to function and that can leave some people housebound and disabled. The illness (Long COVID) is similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as well as to persisting illnesses that can follow a wide variety of other infectious agents and following major traumatic injury. Together, these illnesses are projected to cost the U.S. trillions of dollars. In this review, we first compare the symptoms of ME/CFS and Long COVID, noting the considerable similarities and the few differences. We then compare in extensive detail the underlying pathophysiology of these two conditions, focusing on abnormalities of the central and autonomic nervous system, lungs, heart, vasculature, immune system, gut microbiome, energy metabolism and redox balance. This comparison highlights how strong the evidence is for each abnormality, in each illness, and helps to set priorities for future investigation. The review provides a current road map to the extensive literature on the underlying biology of both illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L. Komaroff
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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7
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Mohamed AZ, Andersen T, Radovic S, Del Fante P, Kwiatek R, Calhoun V, Bhuta S, Hermens DF, Lagopoulos J, Shan ZY. Objective sleep measures in chronic fatigue syndrome patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev 2023; 69:101771. [PMID: 36948138 PMCID: PMC10281648 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) often report disrupted and unrefreshing sleep in association with worsened fatigue symptoms. However, the nature and magnitude of sleep architecture alteration in ME/CFS is not known, with studies using objective sleep measures in ME/CFS generating contradictory results. The current manuscript aimed to review and meta-analyse of case-control studies with objective sleep measures in ME/CSF. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar, and Psychoinfo databases. After review, 24 studies were included in the meta-analysis, including 20 studies with 801 adults (ME/CFS = 426; controls = 375), and 4 studies with 477 adolescents (ME/CFS = 242; controls = 235), who underwent objective measurement of sleep. Adult ME/CFS patients spend longer time in bed, longer sleep onset latency, longer awake time after sleep onset, reduced sleep efficiency, decreased stage 2 sleep, more Stage 3, and longer rapid eye movement sleep latency. However, adolescent ME/CFS patients had longer time in bed, longer total sleep time, longer sleep onset latency, and reduced sleep efficiency. The meta-analysis results demonstrate that sleep is altered in ME/CFS, with changes seeming to differ between adolescent and adults, and suggesting sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system alterations in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdalla Z Mohamed
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia.
| | - Thu Andersen
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Sanja Radovic
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Peter Del Fante
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Richard Kwiatek
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Vince Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, 55 Park Pl NE, 18th Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Daniel F Hermens
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Jim Lagopoulos
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Zack Y Shan
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
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Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Barth M, Eaton-Fitch N, Barnden L. Brainstem volume changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID patients. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1125208. [PMID: 36937672 PMCID: PMC10017877 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1125208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID patients have overlapping neurological, autonomic, pain, and post-exertional symptoms. We compared volumes of brainstem regions for 10 ME/CFS (CCC or ICC criteria), 8 long COVID (WHO Delphi consensus), and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects on 3D, T1-weighted MRI images acquired using sub-millimeter isotropic resolution using an ultra-high field strength of 7 Tesla. Group comparisons with HC detected significantly larger volumes in ME/CFS for pons (p = 0.004) and whole brainstem (p = 0.01), and in long COVID for pons (p = 0.003), superior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.009), and whole brainstem (p = 0.005). No significant differences were found between ME/CFS and long COVID volumes. In ME/CFS, we detected positive correlations between the pons and whole brainstem volumes with "pain" and negative correlations between the midbrain and whole brainstem volumes with "breathing difficulty." In long COVID patients a strong negative relationship was detected between midbrain volume and "breathing difficulty." Our study demonstrated an abnormal brainstem volume in both ME/CFS and long COVID consistent with the overlapping symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kiran Thapaliya,
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121693. [PMID: 36552153 PMCID: PMC9776387 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential axonal myelination synchronises signalling over different axon lengths. The consequences of myelination processes described at the cellular level for the regulation of myelination at the macroscopic level are unknown. We analysed multiple cohorts of myelin-sensitive brain MRI. Our aim was to (i) confirm a previous report of anti-correlation between myelination in subcortical and sensorimotor areas in healthy subjects, (ii) and thereby test our hypothesis for a regulatory interaction between them. We analysed nine image-sets across three different human cohorts using six MRI modalities. Each image-set contained healthy controls (HC) and ME/CFS subjects. Subcortical and Sensorimotor regions of interest (ROI) were optimised for the detection of anti-correlations and the same ROIs were used to test the HC in all image-sets. For each cohort, median MRI values were computed in both regions for each subject and their correlation across the cohort was computed. We confirmed negative correlations in healthy controls between subcortical and sensorimotor regions in six image-sets: three T1wSE (p = 5 × 10-8, 5 × 10-7, 0.002), T2wSE (p =2 × 10-6), MTC (p = 0.01), and WM volume (p = 0.02). T1/T2 was the exception with a positive correlation (p = 0.01). This myelin regulation study is novel in several aspects: human subjects, cross-sectional design, ROI optimization, spin-echo MRI and reproducible across multiple independent image-sets. In multiple independent image-sets we confirmed an anti-correlation between subcortical and sensorimotor myelination which supports a previously unreported regulatory interaction. The subcortical region contained the brain's primary regulatory nuclei. We suggest a mechanism has evolved whereby relatively low subcortical myelination in an individual is compensated by upregulated sensorimotor myelination to maintain adequate sensorimotor performance.
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Porter N, Jason LA. Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:2599-2626. [PMID: 36387947 PMCID: PMC9653042 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s379653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Some individuals infected with SARS CoV-2 have developed Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC) or what has been referred to as Long COVID. Efforts are underway to find effective treatment strategies for those with Long COVID. One possible approach involves alternative medical interventions, which have been widely used to treat and manage symptoms of a variety of medical problems including post-viral infections. Meditation has been found to reduce fatigue and unrefreshing sleep, and for those with post-viral infections, it has enhanced immunity, and reduced inflammatory-driven pathogenesis. Our article summarizes the literature on what is known about mindfulness meditation interventions, and reviews evidence on how it may apply to those with Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Evidence is reviewed suggesting effective and sustainable outcomes may be achieved for symptomatology and underlying pathology of post-viral fatigue (PASC and ME/CFS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Porter
- Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Leonard A Jason
- Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
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11
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Shan ZY, Mohamed AZ, Andersen T, Rendall S, Kwiatek RA, Fante PD, Calhoun VD, Bhuta S, Lagopoulos J. Multimodal MRI of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional neuroimaging study toward its neuropathophysiology and diagnosis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:954142. [PMID: 36188362 PMCID: PMC9523103 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.954142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is a debilitating illness affecting up to 24 million people worldwide but concerningly there is no known mechanism for ME/CFS and no objective test for diagnosis. A series of our neuroimaging findings in ME/CFS, including functional MRI (fMRI) signal characteristics and structural changes in brain regions particularly sensitive to hypoxia, has informed the hypothesis that abnormal neurovascular coupling (NVC) may be the neurobiological origin of ME/CFS. NVC is a critical process for normal brain function, in which glutamate from an active neuron stimulates Ca2+ influx in adjacent neurons and astrocytes. In turn, increased Ca2+ concentrations in both astrocytes and neurons trigger the synthesis of vascular dilator factors to increase local blood flow assuring activated neurons are supplied with their energy needs. This study investigates NVC using multimodal MRIs: (1) hemodynamic response function (HRF) that represents regional brain blood flow changes in response to neural activities and will be modeled from a cognitive task fMRI; (2) respiration response function (RRF) represents autoregulation of regional blood flow due to carbon dioxide and will be modeled from breath-holding fMRI; (3) neural activity associated glutamate changes will be modeled from a cognitive task functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We also aim to develop a neuromarker for ME/CFS diagnosis by integrating the multimodal MRIs with a deep machine learning framework. Methods and analysis This cross-sectional study will recruit 288 participants (91 ME/CFS, 61 individuals with chronic fatigue, 91 healthy controls with sedentary lifestyles, 45 fibromyalgia). The ME/CFS will be diagnosed by consensus diagnosis made by two clinicians using the Canadian Consensus Criteria 2003. Symptoms, vital signs, and activity measures will be collected alongside multimodal MRI. The HRF, RRF, and glutamate changes will be compared among four groups using one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Equivalent non-parametric methods will be used for measures that do not exhibit a normal distribution. The activity measure, body mass index, sex, age, depression, and anxiety will be included as covariates for all statistical analyses with the false discovery rate used to correct for multiple comparisons. The data will be randomly divided into a training (N = 188) and a validation (N = 100) group. Each MRI measure will be entered as input for a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator—regularized principal components regression to generate a brain pattern of distributed clusters that predict disease severity. The identified brain pattern will be integrated using multimodal deep Boltzmann machines as a neuromarker for predicting ME/CFS fatigue conditions. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the identified neuromarker will be determined using data from the validation group. Ethics and study registry This study was reviewed and approved by University of the Sunshine Coast University Ethics committee (A191288) and has been registered with The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622001095752). Dissemination of results The results will be disseminated through peer reviewed scientific manuscripts and conferences and to patients through social media and active engagement with ME/CFS associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Y. Shan
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Zack Y. Shan
| | - Abdalla Z. Mohamed
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Thu Andersen
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Shae Rendall
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard A. Kwiatek
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Del Fante
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD, Australia
| | - Jim Lagopoulos
- Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
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Putra HA, Park K, Yamashita F, Nakagawa Y, Murai T. Cerebral gray matter volume correlates with fatigue and varies between desk workers and non-desk workers. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:951754. [PMID: 36187379 PMCID: PMC9520909 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.951754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a clinical entity of chronic fatigue, has been associated with a decrease in regional gray matter volume (rGMV). In this study targeting a large number of healthy middle-aged individuals without CFS, the relationship between fatigue perception and rGMV was investigated. Considering that the work setting is an environmental factor that influences fatigue perception among healthy individuals, the differences between desk workers and non-desk workers were investigated. Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) scores were used for perceptional evaluation of fatigue, and rGMV of 110 brain regions was adapted with Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) 8 on 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results for the volumetric calculation of gray matter. The CFQ scores were negatively correlated with the right supplementary motor area (SMC) and positively correlated with the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) and left basal forebrain in all participants (n = 1,618). In desk workers and non-desk workers, the CFQ scores correlated with different regions and yielded different mechanisms of fatigue perception in the brain. Identifying the gray matter regions correlated with fatigue perception in healthy individuals may help understand the early stage of fatigue progression and establish future preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handityo A. Putra
- Department of Engineering, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea
- Traffic-Medicine Laboratory, Kochi University of Technology, Kami, Japan
- *Correspondence: Handityo A. Putra,
| | - Kaechang Park
- Traffic-Medicine Laboratory, Kochi University of Technology, Kami, Japan
| | - Fumio Yamashita
- Division of Ultrahigh Field MRI, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | | | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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13
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Tate W, Walker M, Sweetman E, Helliwell A, Peppercorn K, Edgar C, Blair A, Chatterjee A. Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation in ME/CFS and Long COVID to Sustain Disease and Promote Relapses. Front Neurol 2022; 13:877772. [PMID: 35693009 PMCID: PMC9174654 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.877772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disease now well-documented as having arisen commonly from a viral infection, but also from other external stressors, like exposure to agricultural chemicals, other types of infection, surgery, or other severe stress events. Research has shown these events produce a systemic molecular inflammatory response and chronic immune activation and dysregulation. What has been more difficult to establish is the hierarchy of the physiological responses that give rise to the myriad of symptoms that ME/CFS patients experience, and why they do not resolve and are generally life-long. The severity of the symptoms frequently fluctuates through relapse recovery periods, with brain-centered symptoms of neuroinflammation, loss of homeostatic control, "brain fog" affecting cognitive ability, lack of refreshing sleep, and poor response to even small stresses. How these brain effects develop with ME/CFS from the initiating external effector, whether virus or other cause, is poorly understood and that is what our paper aims to address. We propose the hypothesis that following the initial stressor event, the subsequent systemic pathology moves to the brain via neurovascular pathways or through a dysfunctional blood-brain barrier (BBB), resulting in chronic neuroinflammation and leading to a sustained illness with chronic relapse recovery cycles. Signaling through recognized pathways from the brain back to body physiology is likely part of the process by which the illness cycle in the peripheral system is sustained and why healing does not occur. By contrast, Long COVID (Post-COVID-19 condition) is a very recent ME/CFS-like illness arising from the single pandemic virus, SARS-CoV-2. We believe the ME/CFS-like ongoing effects of Long COVID are arising by very similar mechanisms involving neuroinflammation, but likely with some unique signaling, resulting from the pathology of the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. The fact that there are very similar symptoms in both ongoing diseases, despite the diversity in the nature of the initial stressors, supports the concept of a similar dysfunctional CNS component common to both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren Tate
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Max Walker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Eiren Sweetman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Amber Helliwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Katie Peppercorn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Christina Edgar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Anna Blair
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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14
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Renz-Polster H, Tremblay ME, Bienzle D, Fischer JE. The Pathobiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Case for Neuroglial Failure. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:888232. [PMID: 35614970 PMCID: PMC9124899 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.888232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has a specific and distinctive profile of clinical features, the disease remains an enigma because causal explanation of the pathobiological matrix is lacking. Several potential disease mechanisms have been identified, including immune abnormalities, inflammatory activation, mitochondrial alterations, endothelial and muscular disturbances, cardiovascular anomalies, and dysfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how these pathways may be related and orchestrated. Here we explore the hypothesis that a common denominator of the pathobiological processes in ME/CFS may be central nervous system dysfunction due to impaired or pathologically reactive neuroglia (astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes). We will test this hypothesis by reviewing, in reference to the current literature, the two most salient and widely accepted features of ME/CFS, and by investigating how these might be linked to dysfunctional neuroglia. From this review we conclude that the multifaceted pathobiology of ME/CFS may be attributable in a unifying manner to neuroglial dysfunction. Because the two key features - post exertional malaise and decreased cerebral blood flow - are also recognized in a subset of patients with post-acute sequelae COVID, we suggest that our findings may also be pertinent to this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Renz-Polster
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marie-Eve Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Joachim E. Fischer
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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15
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Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Staines D, Su J, Barnden L. Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:848730. [PMID: 35527811 PMCID: PMC9072664 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.848730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients suffer from neurocognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated cortical volumetric and thickness changes in ME/CFS patients and healthy controls (HC). We estimated mean surface-based cortical volume and thickness from 18 ME/CFS patients who met International Consensus Criteria (ICC) and 26 HC using FreeSurfer. Vertex-wise analysis showed significant reductions in the caudal middle frontal gyrus (p = 0.0016) and precuneus (p = 0.013) thickness in ME/CFS patients compared with HC. Region based analysis of sub-cortical volumes found that amygdala volume (p = 0.002) was significantly higher in ME/CFS patients compared with HC. We also performed interaction-with-group regressions with clinical measures to test for cortical volume and thickness correlations in ME/CFS with opposite slopes to HC (abnormal). ME/CFS cortical volume and thickness regressions with fatigue, heart-rate variability, heart rate, sleep disturbance score, respiratory rate, and cognitive performance were abnormal. Our study demonstrated different cortical volume and thickness in ME/CFS patients and showed abnormal cortical volume and thickness regressions with key symptoms of ME/CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kiran Thapaliya,
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Jiasheng Su
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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16
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Thapaliya K, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Su J, Barnden L. Volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields and associations with clinical measures in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1476-1486. [PMID: 35355311 PMCID: PMC9321967 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients suffer from a cognitive and memory dysfunction. Because the hippocampus plays a key role in both cognition and memory, we tested for volumetric differences in the subfields of the hippocampus in ME/CFS. We estimated hippocampal subfield volumes for 25 ME/CFS patients who met Fukuda criteria only (ME/CFSFukuda), 18 ME/CFS patients who met the stricter ICC criteria (ME/CFSICC), and 25 healthy controls (HC). Group comparisons with HC detected extensive differences in subfield volumes in ME/CFSICC but not in ME/CFSFukuda. ME/CFSICC patients had significantly larger volume in the left subiculum head (p < 0.001), left presubiculum head (p = 0.0020), and left fimbria (p = 0.004). Correlations of hippocampus subfield volumes with clinical measures were stronger in ME/CFSICC than in ME/CFSFukuda patients. In ME/CFSFukuda patients, we detected positive correlations between fatigue and hippocampus subfield volumes and a negative correlation between sleep disturbance score and the right CA1 body volume. In ME/CFSICC patients, we detected a strong negative relationship between fatigue and left hippocampus tail volume. Strong negative relationships were also detected between pain and SF36 physical scores and two hippocampal subfield volumes (left: GC‐ML‐DG head and CA4 head). Our study demonstrated that volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields have strong statistical inference for patients meeting the ME/CFSICC case definition and confirms hippocampal involvement in the cognitive and memory problems of ME/CFSICC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Jiasheng Su
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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17
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Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM). Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020132. [PMID: 35203896 PMCID: PMC8870178 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness (GWI) share features of post-exertional malaise (PEM), exertional exhaustion, or postexertional symptom exacerbation. In a two-day model of PEM, submaximal exercise induced significant changes in activation of the dorsal midbrain during a high cognitive load working memory task (Washington 2020) (Baraniuk this issue). Controls had no net change. However, ME/CFS had increased activity after exercise, while GWI had significantly reduced activity indicating differential responses to exercise and pathological mechanisms. These data plus findings of the midbrain and brainstem atrophy in GWI inspired a review of the anatomy and physiology of the dorsal midbrain and isthmus nuclei in order to infer dysfunctional mechanisms that may contribute to disease pathogenesis and postexertional malaise. The nuclei of the ascending arousal network were addressed. Midbrain and isthmus nuclei participate in threat assessment, awareness, attention, mood, cognition, pain, tenderness, sleep, thermoregulation, light and sound sensitivity, orthostatic symptoms, and autonomic dysfunction and are likely to contribute to the symptoms of postexertional malaise in ME/CFS and GWI.
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18
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Baraniuk JN, Amar A, Pepermitwala H, Washington SD. Differential Effects of Exercise on fMRI of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI) in a Model of Postexertional Malaise (PEM). Brain Sci 2022; 12:78. [PMID: 35053821 PMCID: PMC8774249 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and control subjects underwent fMRI during difficult cognitive tests performed before and after submaximal exercise provocation (Washington 2020). Exercise caused increased activation in ME/CFS but decreased activation for GWI in the dorsal midbrain, left Rolandic operculum and right middle insula. Midbrain and isthmus nuclei participate in threat assessment, attention, cognition, mood, pain, sleep, and autonomic dysfunction. METHODS Activated midbrain nuclei were inferred by a re-analysis of data from 31 control, 36 ME/CFS and 78 GWI subjects using a seed region approach and the Harvard Ascending Arousal Network. RESULTS Before exercise, control and GWI subjects showed greater activation during cognition than ME/CFS in the left pedunculotegmental nucleus. Post exercise, ME/CFS subjects showed greater activation than GWI ones for midline periaqueductal gray, dorsal and median raphe, and right midbrain reticular formation, parabrachial complex and locus coeruleus. The change between days (delta) was positive for ME/CFS but negative for GWI, indicating reciprocal patterns of activation. The controls had no changes. CONCLUSIONS Exercise caused the opposite effects with increased activation in ME/CFS but decreased activation in GWI, indicating different pathophysiological responses to exertion and mechanisms of disease. Midbrain and isthmus nuclei contribute to postexertional malaise in ME/CFS and GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N. Baraniuk
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA; (A.A.); (H.P.); (S.D.W.)
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19
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James LM, Georgopoulos AP. At the Root of 3 “Long” Diseases: Persistent Antigens Inflicting Chronic Damage on the Brain and Other Organs in Gulf War Illness, Long-COVID-19, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Neurosci Insights 2022; 17:26331055221114817. [PMID: 35910083 PMCID: PMC9335483 DOI: 10.1177/26331055221114817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several foreign antigens such as those derived from viruses and bacteria have been linked to long-term deleterious effects on the brain and other organs; yet, health outcomes subsequent to foreign antigen exposure vary depending in large part on the host’s immune system, in general, and on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) composition, in particular. Here we first provide a brief description of 3 conditions characterized by persistent long-term symptoms, namely long-COVID-19, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and Gulf War Illness (GWI), followed by a brief overview of the role of HLA in the immune response to foreign antigens. We then discuss our Persistent Antigen (PA) hypothesis and highlight associations between antigen persistence due to HLA-antigen incongruence and chronic health conditions in general and the 3 “long” diseases above in particular. This review is not intended to cover the breadth and depth of symptomatology of those diseases but is specifically focused on the hypothesis that the presence of persistent antigens underlies their pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M James
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Brain Sciences Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Cognitive Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Apostolos P Georgopoulos
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Brain Sciences Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Cognitive Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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20
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Nelson T, Zhang LX, Guo H, Nacul L, Song X. Brainstem Abnormalities in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Scoping Review and Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings. Front Neurol 2021; 12:769511. [PMID: 34975729 PMCID: PMC8718708 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.769511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multisystem medical condition with heterogeneous symptom expression. Currently, there is no effective cure or treatment for the standard care of patients. A variety of ME/CFS symptoms can be linked to the vital life functions of the brainstem, the lower extension of the brain best known as the hub relaying information back and forth between the cerebral cortex and various parts of the body. Objective/Methods: Over the past decade, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have emerged to understand ME/CFS with interesting findings, but there has lacked a synthesized evaluation of what has been found thus far regarding the involvement of the brainstem. We conducted this study to review and evaluate the recent MRI findings via a literature search of the MEDLINE database, from which 11 studies met the eligibility criteria. Findings: Data showed that MRI studies frequently reported structural changes in the white and gray matter. Abnormalities of the functional connectivity within the brainstem and with other brain regions have also been found. The studies have suggested possible mechanisms including astrocyte dysfunction, cerebral perfusion impairment, impaired nerve conduction, and neuroinflammation involving the brainstem, which may at least partially explain a substantial portion of the ME/CFS symptoms and their heterogeneous presentations in individual patients. Conclusions: This review draws research attention to the role of the brainstem in ME/CFS, helping enlighten future work to uncover the pathologies and mechanisms of this complex medical condition, for improved management and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Nelson
- Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lan-Xin Zhang
- Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada
- Department of Human Biology, Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hui Guo
- Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Luis Nacul
- Complex Chronic Diseases Program, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaowei Song
- Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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21
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Zinn MA, Jason LA. Cortical autonomic network connectivity predicts symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 170:89-101. [PMID: 34662673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) represents a significant public health challenge given the presence of many unexplained patient symptoms. Research has shown that many features in ME/CFS may result from a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (ANS). We explored the role of the cortical autonomic network (CAN) involved in higher-order control of ANS functioning in 34 patients with ME/CFS and 34 healthy controls under task-free conditions. All participants underwent resting-state quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) scalp recordings during an eyes-closed condition. Source analysis was performed using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA), and lagged coherence was used to estimate intrinsic functional connectivity between each node across 7 frequency bands: delta (1-3 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), alpha-1 (8-10 Hz), alpha-2 (10-12 Hz), beta-1 (13-18 Hz), beta-2 (19-21 Hz), and beta-3 (22-30 Hz). Symptom ratings were measured using the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire and the Short Form (SF-36) health survey. Graph theoretical analysis of weighted, undirected connections revealed significant group differences in baseline CAN organization. Regression results showed that cognitive, affective, and somatomotor symptom cluster ratings were associated with alteration to CAN topology in patients, depending on the frequency band. These findings provide evidence for reduced higher-order homeostatic regulation and adaptability in ME/CFS. If confirmed, these findings address the CAN as a potential therapeutic target for managing patient symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Zinn
- DePaul University, Center for Community Research, 990 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, United States of America.
| | - Leonard A Jason
- DePaul University, Center for Community Research, 990 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, United States of America
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Kujawski S, Słomko J, Newton JL, Eaton-Fitch N, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Zalewski P. Network Analysis of Symptoms Co-Occurrence in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010736. [PMID: 34682478 PMCID: PMC8535251 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a heterogenous disorder of multiple disabling symptoms with complex manifestations. Network analysis is a statistical and interrogative methodology to investigate the prevalence of symptoms (nodes) and their inter-dependent (inter-nodal) relationships. In the present study, we explored the co-occurrence of symptoms in a cohort of Polish CFS patients using network analysis. A total of 110 patients with CFS were examined (75 females). The mean age of the total sample was 37.93 (8.5) years old while the mean duration of symptoms in years was 4.4 (4). Post-exertional malaise (PEM) was present in 75.45% of patients, unrefreshing sleep was noted in 89.09% and impaired memory or concentration was observed in 87.27% of patients. The least prevalent symptom was tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes, noted in 34.55% of the total sample. Three of the most densely connected nodes were the total number of symptoms, sore throat and PEM. PEM was positively related with impairment in memory or concentration. Both PEM and impairment in memory or concentration presence are related to more severe fatigue measured by CFQ and FIS. PEM presence was positively related with the presence of multi-joint pain and negatively with tender lymph nodes and muscle pain. Sore throat was related with objective and subjective autonomic nervous system impairment. This study helps define symptom presentation of CFS with the pathophysiology of specific systems and links with multidisciplinary contemporary molecular pathology, including comparative MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sławomir Kujawski
- Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (J.S.); (P.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Joanna Słomko
- Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (J.S.); (P.Z.)
| | - Julia L. Newton
- Population Health Sciences Institute, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4HH, UK;
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (N.E.-F.); (D.R.S.); (S.M.-G.)
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Donald R. Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (N.E.-F.); (D.R.S.); (S.M.-G.)
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (N.E.-F.); (D.R.S.); (S.M.-G.)
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Paweł Zalewski
- Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (J.S.); (P.Z.)
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (N.E.-F.); (D.R.S.); (S.M.-G.)
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
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23
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Mackay A. A Paradigm for Post-Covid-19 Fatigue Syndrome Analogous to ME/CFS. Front Neurol 2021; 12:701419. [PMID: 34408721 PMCID: PMC8365156 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.701419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant proportion of COVID-19 patients are suffering from prolonged Post-COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome, with characteristics typically found in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). However, no clear pathophysiological explanation, as yet, has been provided. A novel paradigm for a Post-COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome is developed here from a recent unifying model for ME/CFS. Central to its rationale, SARS-CoV-2, in common with the triggers (viral and non-viral) of ME/CFS, is proposed to be a physiologically severe stressor, which could be targeting a stress-integrator, within the brain: the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). It is proposed that inflammatory mediators, released at the site of COVID-19 infection, would be transmitted as stress-signals, via humoral and neural pathways, which overwhelm this stress-center. In genetically susceptible people, an intrinsic stress-threshold is suggested to be exceeded causing ongoing dysfunction to the hypothalamic PVN's complex neurological circuitry. In this compromised state, the hypothalamic PVN might then be hyper-sensitive to a wide range of life's ongoing physiological stressors. This could result in the reported post-exertional malaise episodes and more severe relapses, in common with ME/CFS, that perpetuate an ongoing disease state. When a certain stress-tolerance-level is exceeded, the hypothalamic PVN can become an epicenter for microglia-induced activation and neuroinflammation, affecting the hypothalamus and its proximal limbic system, which would account for the range of reported ME/CFS-like symptoms. A model for Post-COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome is provided to stimulate discussion and critical evaluation. Brain-scanning studies, incorporating increasingly sophisticated imaging technology should enable chronic neuroinflammation to be detected, even at a low level, in the finite detail required, thus helping to test this model, while advancing our understanding of Post-COVID-19 Fatigue Syndrome pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus Mackay
- The Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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24
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Addiego FM, Zajur K, Knack S, Jamieson J, Rayhan RU, Baraniuk JN. Subcortical brain segment volumes in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Life Sci 2021; 282:119749. [PMID: 34214570 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS There is controversy about brain volumes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI). Subcortical regions were assessed because of significant differences in blood oxygenation level dependent signals in the midbrain between these diseases. MATERIALS AND METHOD Magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo (MPRAGE) images from 3 Tesla structural magnetic resonance imaging scans from sedentary control (n = 34), CFS (n = 38) and GWI (n = 90) subjects were segmented in FreeSurfer. Segmented subcortical volumes were regressed against intracranial volume and age, then iteratively analyzed by multivariate general linear modeling with disease status, gender and demographics as independent co-variates. KEY FINDINGS The optimal model for all subjects used disease status and gender as fixed factors with independent variables eliminated after iteration. Volumes of anterior and midanterior corpus callosum were significantly larger in GWI than CFS. Gender was a significant variable for many segment volumes, and so female and male subjects were analyzed separately. CFS females had smaller left putamen, right caudate and left cerebellum white matter than control women. CFS males had larger left hippocampus than GWI males. Orthostatic status and posttraumatic distress syndrome were not significant covariates. SIGNIFICANCE CFS and GWI were appropriate "illness controls" for each other. The different patterns of adjusted segment volumes suggested that sexual dimorphisms contributed to pathological changes. Previous volumetric studies may need to be reevaluated to account for gender differences. The findings are framed by comparison to the spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging outcomes in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristina Zajur
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Sarah Knack
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Jessie Jamieson
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Rakib U Rayhan
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - James N Baraniuk
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA.
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25
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O'Neal AJ, Hanson MR. The Enterovirus Theory of Disease Etiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Critical Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:688486. [PMID: 34222292 PMCID: PMC8253308 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.688486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multi-system disease whose etiological basis has not been established. Enteroviruses (EVs) as a cause of ME/CFS have sometimes been proposed, as they are known agents of acute respiratory and gastrointestinal infections that may persist in secondary infection sites, including the central nervous system, muscle, and heart. To date, the body of research that has investigated enterovirus infections in relation to ME/CFS supports an increased prevalence of chronic or persistent enteroviral infections in ME/CFS patient cohorts than in healthy individuals. Nevertheless, inconsistent results have fueled a decline in related studies over the past two decades. This review covers the aspects of ME/CFS pathophysiology that are consistent with a chronic enterovirus infection and critically reviews methodologies and approaches used in past EV-related ME/CFS studies. We describe the prior sample types that were interrogated, the methods used and the limitations to the approaches that were chosen. We conclude that there is considerable evidence that prior outbreaks of ME/CFS were caused by one or more enterovirus groups. Furthermore, we find that the methods used in prior studies were inadequate to rule out the presence of chronic enteroviral infections in individuals with ME/CFS. Given the possibility that such infections could be contributing to morbidity and preventing recovery, further studies of appropriate biological samples with the latest molecular methods are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J O'Neal
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Maureen R Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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26
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Blitshteyn S. Is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) a central nervous system disorder? J Neurol 2021; 269:725-732. [PMID: 33677650 PMCID: PMC7936931 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10502-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by a rise in heart rate of at least 30 bpm from supine to standing position, has been traditionally viewed as a dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system. However, recent studies and evidence from overlapping conditions suggest that in addition to being considered a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, POTS should be viewed also as a central nervous system (CNS) disorder given (1) significant CNS symptom burden in patients with POTS; (2) structural and functional differences found on neuroimaging in patients with POTS and other forms of orthostatic intolerance; (3) evidence of cerebral hypoperfusion and possible alteration in cerebrospinal fluid volume, and (4) positive response to medications targeting the CNS and non-pharmacologic CNS therapies. This review outlines existing evidence of POTS as a CNS disorder and proposes a hypothetical model combining key mechanisms in the pathophysiology of POTS. Redefining POTS as a CNS disorder can lead to new possibilities in pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacologic therapeutic interventions in patents affected by this disabling syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Blitshteyn
- Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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27
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Yong SJ. Persistent Brainstem Dysfunction in Long-COVID: A Hypothesis. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:573-580. [PMID: 33538586 PMCID: PMC7874499 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-COVID is a postviral illness that can affect survivors of COVID-19, regardless of initial disease severity or age. Symptoms of long-COVID include fatigue, dyspnea, gastrointestinal and cardiac problems, cognitive impairments, myalgia, and others. While the possible causes of long-COVID include long-term tissue damage, viral persistence, and chronic inflammation, the review proposes, perhaps for the first time, that persistent brainstem dysfunction may also be involved. This hypothesis can be split into two parts. The first is the brainstem tropism and damage in COVID-19. As the brainstem has a relatively high expression of ACE2 receptor compared with other brain regions, SARS-CoV-2 may exhibit tropism therein. Evidence also exists that neuropilin-1, a co-receptor of SARS-CoV-2, may be expressed in the brainstem. Indeed, autopsy studies have found SARS-CoV-2 RNA and proteins in the brainstem. The brainstem is also highly prone to damage from pathological immune or vascular activation, which has also been observed in autopsy of COVID-19 cases. The second part concerns functions of the brainstem that overlap with symptoms of long-COVID. The brainstem contains numerous distinct nuclei and subparts that regulate the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological processes, which can be linked to long-COVID. As neurons do not readily regenerate, brainstem dysfunction may be long-lasting and, thus, is long-COVID. Indeed, brainstem dysfunction has been implicated in other similar disorders, such as chronic pain and migraine and myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Jie Yong
- Department of Biological
Sciences, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
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28
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Shan ZY, Barnden LR, Kwiatek RA, Bhuta S, Hermens DF, Lagopoulos J. Neuroimaging characteristics of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review. J Transl Med 2020; 18:335. [PMID: 32873297 PMCID: PMC7466519 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the 1990s, neuroimaging has been utilised to study Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a debilitating illness with unknown aetiology. While brain abnormalities in ME/CFS have been identified, relatively little is known regarding which specific abnormalities are consistently observed across research groups and to what extent the observed abnormalities are reproducible. METHOD To identify consistent and inconsistent neuroimaging observations in ME/CFS, this retrospective and systematic review searched for studies in which neuroimaging was used to investigate brain abnormalities in ME/CFS in Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed (NCBI), and Scopus from January 1988 to July 2018. A qualitative synthesis of observations was performed to identify brain abnormalities that were consistently and inconsistently reported. RESULTS 63 full-text articles were included in the synthesis of results from 291 identified papers. Additional brain area recruitment for cognitive tasks and abnormalities in the brain stem are frequent observations in 11 and 9 studies using different modalities from different research teams respectively. Also, sluggish blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal responses to tasks, reduced serotonin transporters, and regional hypometabolism are consistent observations by more than two research teams. Single observations include abnormal brain tissue properties, regional metabolic abnormalities, and association of brain measures with ME/CFS symptoms. Reduced resting cerebral blood flow and volumetric brain changes are inconsistent observations across different studies. CONCLUSION Neuroimaging studies of ME/CFS have frequently observed additional brain area recruitment during cognitive tasks and abnormalities in the brain stem. The frequent observation of additional brain area recruitment and consistent observation of sluggish fMRI signal response suggest abnormal neurovascular coupling in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Y Shan
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia.
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Leighton R Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Richard A Kwiatek
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Daniel F Hermens
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
| | - Jim Lagopoulos
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, 4575, Australia
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29
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Almutairi B, Langley C, Crawley E, Thai NJ. Using structural and functional MRI as a neuroimaging technique to investigate chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e031672. [PMID: 32868345 PMCID: PMC7462162 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to synthesise and evaluate structural MRI (sMRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) studies in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). METHODS We systematically searched Medline and Ovid and included articles from 1991 (date of Oxford diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME) to first April 2019. Studies were selected by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently reviewed the titles and abstracts to determine articles for inclusion, full text and quality assessment for risk of bias. RESULTS sMRI studies report differences in CFS/ME brain anatomy in grey and white matter volume, ventricular enlargement and hyperintensities. Three studies report no neuroanatomical differences between CFS/ME and healthy controls. Task-based fMRI investigated working memory, attention, reward and motivation, sensory information processing and emotional conflict. The most consistent finding was CFS/ME exhibited increased activations and recruited additional brain regions. Tasks with increasing load or complexity produced decreased activation in task-specific brain regions. CONCLUSIONS There were insufficient data to define a unique neural profile or biomarker of CFS/ME. This may be due to inconsistencies in finding neuroanatomical differences in CFS/ME and the variety of different tasks employed by fMRI studies. But there are also limitations with neuroimaging. All brain region specific volumetric differences in CFS/ME were derived from voxel-based statistics that are biased towards group differences that are highly localised in space. fMRI studies demonstrated both increases and decreases in activation patterns in CFS/ME, this may be related to task demand. However, fMRI signal cannot differentiate between neural excitation and inhibition or function-specific neural processing. Many studies have small sample sizes and did not control for the heterogeneity of this clinical population. We suggest that with robust study design, subgrouping and larger sample sizes, future neuroimaging studies could potentially lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basim Almutairi
- Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Radiology & Imaging Centre, King Saud Medical City, Saudi Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christelle Langley
- The Herchel Smith Building for Brain and Mind Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Esther Crawley
- Centre of Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ngoc Jade Thai
- Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, UK
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30
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Washington SD, Rayhan RU, Garner R, Provenzano D, Zajur K, Addiego FM, VanMeter JW, Baraniuk JN. Exercise alters brain activation in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa070. [PMID: 32954325 PMCID: PMC7425336 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness affects 25-30% of American veterans deployed to the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and is characterized by cognitive post-exertional malaise following physical effort. Gulf War Illness remains controversial since cognitive post-exertional malaise is also present in the more common Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An objective dissociation between neural substrates for cognitive post-exertional malaise in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome would represent a biological basis for diagnostically distinguishing these two illnesses. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure neural activity in healthy controls and patients with Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during an N-back working memory task both before and after exercise. Whole brain activation during working memory (2-Back > 0-Back) was equal between groups prior to exercise. Exercise had no effect on neural activity in healthy controls yet caused deactivation within dorsal midbrain and cerebellar vermis in Gulf War Illness relative to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. Further, exercise caused increased activation among Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients within the dorsal midbrain, left operculo-insular cortex (Rolandic operculum) and right middle insula. These regions-of-interest underlie threat assessment, pain, interoception, negative emotion and vigilant attention. As they only emerge post-exercise, these regional differences likely represent neural substrates of cognitive post-exertional malaise useful for developing distinct diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D Washington
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Rakib U Rayhan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Adams Building Rm 2420, 520 W Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Richard Garner
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Destie Provenzano
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Kristina Zajur
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Florencia Martinez Addiego
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - John W VanMeter
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Adams Building Rm 2420, 520 W Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA.,Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - James N Baraniuk
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20057, USA
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31
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Maksoud R, du Preez S, Eaton-Fitch N, Thapaliya K, Barnden L, Cabanas H, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. A systematic review of neurological impairments in myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome using neuroimaging techniques. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232475. [PMID: 32353033 PMCID: PMC7192498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-system illness characterised by a diverse range of debilitating symptoms including autonomic and cognitive dysfunction. The pathomechanism remains elusive, however, neurological and cognitive aberrations are consistently described. This systematic review is the first to collect and appraise the literature related to the structural and functional neurological changes in ME/CFS patients as measured by neuroimaging techniques and to investigate how these changes may influence onset, symptom presentation and severity of the illness. METHODS A systematic search of databases Pubmed, Embase, MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost) and Web of Science (via Clarivate Analytics) was performed for articles dating between December 1994 and August 2019. Included publications report on neurological differences in ME/CFS patients compared with healthy controls identified using neuroimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and electroencephalography. Article selection was further refined based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. A quality assessment of included publications was completed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. RESULTS A total of 55 studies were included in this review. All papers assessed neurological or cognitive differences in adult ME/CFS patients compared with healthy controls using neuroimaging techniques. The outcomes from the articles include changes in gray and white matter volumes, cerebral blood flow, brain structure, sleep, EEG activity, functional connectivity and cognitive function. Secondary measures including symptom severity were also reported in most studies. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest widespread disruption of the autonomic nervous system network including morphological changes, white matter abnormalities and aberrations in functional connectivity. However, these findings are not consistent across studies and the origins of these anomalies remain unknown. Future studies are required confirm the potential neurological contribution to the pathology of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Maksoud
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Stanley du Preez
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Hélène Cabanas
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Clarke T, Jamieson JD, Malone P, Rayhan RU, Washington S, VanMeter JW, Baraniuk JN. Connectivity differences between Gulf War Illness (GWI) phenotypes during a test of attention. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226481. [PMID: 31891592 PMCID: PMC6938369 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One quarter of veterans returning from the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War have developed Gulf War Illness (GWI) with chronic pain, fatigue, cognitive and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Exertion leads to characteristic, delayed onset exacerbations that are not relieved by sleep. We have modeled exertional exhaustion by comparing magnetic resonance images from before and after submaximal exercise. One third of the 27 GWI participants had brain stem atrophy and developed postural tachycardia after exercise (START: Stress Test Activated Reversible Tachycardia). The remainder activated basal ganglia and anterior insulae during a cognitive task (STOPP: Stress Test Originated Phantom Perception). Here, the role of attention in cognitive dysfunction was assessed by seed region correlations during a simple 0-back stimulus matching task (“see a letter, push a button”) performed before exercise. Analysis was analogous to resting state, but different from psychophysiological interactions (PPI). The patterns of correlations between nodes in task and default networks were significantly different for START (n = 9), STOPP (n = 18) and control (n = 8) subjects. Edges shared by the 3 groups may represent co-activation caused by the 0-back task. Controls had a task network of right dorsolateral and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, posterior insulae and frontal eye fields (dorsal attention network). START had a large task module centered on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex with direct links to basal ganglia, anterior insulae, and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex nodes, and through dorsal attention network (intraparietal sulci and frontal eye fields) nodes to a default module. STOPP had 2 task submodules of basal ganglia–anterior insulae, and dorsolateral prefrontal executive control regions. Dorsal attention and posterior insulae nodes were embedded in the default module and were distant from the task networks. These three unique connectivity patterns during an attention task support the concept of Gulf War Disease with recognizable, objective patterns of cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Clarke
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jessie D. Jamieson
- Department of Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Patrick Malone
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rakib U. Rayhan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Stuart Washington
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - John W. VanMeter
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - James N. Baraniuk
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Barnden LR, Shan ZY, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Finegan K, Ireland T, Bhuta S. Intra brainstem connectivity is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 24:102045. [PMID: 31671321 PMCID: PMC6835065 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RAS connectivity was detected in HC and CFS groups both during rest and task. Strong connections were active for CFS from hippocampus to midbrain and medulla. RAS connectivity was diminished in CFS in the brainstem and to the hippocampus. RAS nuclei generate oscillatory signals which facilitate thalamocortical signal coherence. Impaired RAS affects cortical coherence necessary for attention, memory and problem solving.
In myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), abnormal MRI correlations with symptom severity and autonomic measures have suggested impaired nerve signal conduction within the brainstem. Here we analyse fMRI correlations to directly test connectivity within and from the brainstem. Resting and task functional MRI (fMRI) were acquired for 45 ME/CFS (Fukuda criteria) and 27 healthy controls (HC). We selected limited brainstem reticular activation system (RAS) regions-of-interest (ROIs) based on previous structural MRI findings in a different ME/CFS cohort (bilateral rostral medulla and midbrain cuneiform nucleus), the dorsal Raphe nucleus, and two subcortical ROIs (hippocampus subiculum and thalamus intralaminar nucleus) reported to have rich brainstem connections. When HC and ME/CFS were analysed separately, significant correlations were detected for both groups during both rest and task, with stronger correlations during task than rest. In ME/CFS, connections were absent between medulla and midbrain nuclei, although hippocampal connections with these nuclei were enhanced. When corresponding correlations from HC and ME/CFS were compared, ME/CFS connectivity deficits were detected within the brainstem between the medulla and cuneiform nucleus and between the brainstem and hippocampus and intralaminar thalamus, but only during task. In CFS/ME, weaker connectivity between some RAS nuclei was associated with increased symptom severity. RAS neuron oscillatory signals facilitate coherence in thalamo-cortical oscillations. Brainstem RAS connectivity deficits can explain autonomic changes and diminish cortical oscillatory coherence which can impair attention, memory, cognitive function, sleep quality and muscle tone, all symptoms of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leighton R Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Zack Y Shan
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD 4575, Australia.
| | - Donald R Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Kevin Finegan
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia.
| | - Timothy Ireland
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia.
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia
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Missailidis D, Annesley SJ, Fisher PR. Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Diagnostics (Basel) 2019; 9:E80. [PMID: 31330791 PMCID: PMC6787592 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics9030080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The underlying molecular basis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is not well understood. Characterized by chronic, unexplained fatigue, a disabling payback following exertion ("post-exertional malaise"), and variably presenting multi-system symptoms, ME/CFS is a complex disease, which demands a concerted biomedical investigation from disparate fields of expertise. ME/CFS research and patient treatment have been challenged by the lack of diagnostic biomarkers and finding these is a prominent direction of current work. Despite these challenges, modern research demonstrates a tangible biomedical basis for the disorder across many body systems. This evidence is mostly comprised of disturbances to immunological and inflammatory pathways, autonomic and neurological dysfunction, abnormalities in muscle and mitochondrial function, shifts in metabolism, and gut physiology or gut microbiota disturbances. It is possible that these threads are together entangled as parts of an underlying molecular pathology reflecting a far-reaching homeostatic shift. Due to the variability of non-overlapping symptom presentation or precipitating events, such as infection or other bodily stresses, the initiation of body-wide pathological cascades with similar outcomes stemming from different causes may be implicated in the condition. Patient stratification to account for this heterogeneity is therefore one important consideration during exploration of potential diagnostic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Missailidis
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah J Annesley
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Paul R Fisher
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia.
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Cabanas H, Muraki K, Balinas C, Eaton-Fitch N, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Validation of impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel activity in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients. Mol Med 2019; 25:14. [PMID: 31014226 PMCID: PMC6480905 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-019-0083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a complex multifactorial disorder of unknown cause having multi-system manifestations. Although the aetiology of CFS/ME remains elusive, immunological dysfunction and more particularly reduced cytotoxic activity in natural killer (NK) cells is the most consistent laboratory finding. The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of immune diseases and are therefore potential therapeutic targets. We have previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in TRP genes in peripheral NK cells from CFS/ME patients. We have also described biochemical pathway changes and calcium signaling perturbations in NK cells from CFS/ME patients. Notably, we have previously reported a decrease of TRP cation channel subfamily melastatin member 3 (TRPM3) function in NK cells isolated from CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls after modulation with pregnenolone sulfate and ononetin using a patch-clamp technique. In the present study, we aim to confirm the previous results describing an impaired TRPM3 activity in a new cohort of CFS/ME patients using a whole cell patch-clamp technique after modulation with reversible TRPM3 agonists, pregnenolone sulfate and nifedipine, and an effective TRPM3 antagonist, ononetin. Indeed, no formal research has commented on using pregnenolone sulfate or nifedipine to treat CFS/ME patients while there is evidence that clinicians prescribe calcium channel blockers to improve different symptoms. Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to measure TRPM3 activity in isolated NK cells from twelve age- and sex-matched healthy controls and CFS/ME patients, after activation with pregnenolone sulfate and nifedipine and inhibition with ononetin. Results We confirmed a significant reduction in amplitude of TRPM3 currents after pregnenolone sulfate stimulation in isolated NK cells from another cohort of CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls. The pregnenolone sulfate-evoked ionic currents through TRPM3 channels were again significantly modulated by ononetin in isolated NK cells from healthy controls compared with CFS/ME patients. In addition, we used nifedipine, another reversible TRPM3 agonist to support the previous findings and found similar results confirming a significant loss of the TRPM3 channel activity in CFS/ME patients. Conclusions Impaired TRPM3 activity was validated in NK cells isolated from CFS/ME patients using different pharmacological tools and whole-cell patch-clamp technique as the gold standard for ion channel research. This investigation further helps to establish TRPM3 channels as a prognostic marker and/ or a potential therapeutic target for CFS/ME.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Cabanas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. .,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia. .,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - K Muraki
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aichi-Gakuin University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - C Balinas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - N Eaton-Fitch
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - D Staines
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - S Marshall-Gradisnik
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Clark JE, Ng WF, Rushton S, Watson S, Newton JL. Network structure underpinning (dys)homeostasis in chronic fatigue syndrome; Preliminary findings. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213724. [PMID: 30908516 PMCID: PMC6433252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction A large body of evidence has established a pattern of altered functioning in the immune system, autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the relationship between components within and between these systems is unclear. In this paper we investigated the underlying network structure of the autonomic system in patients and controls, and a larger network comprising all three systems in patients alone. Methods In a sample of patients and controls we took several measures of autonomic nervous system output during 10 minutes of supine rest covering tests of blood pressure variability, heart rate variability and cardiac output. Awakening salivary cortisol was measured on each of two days with participants receiving 0.5mg dexamethasone during the afternoon of the first day. Basal plasma cytokine levels and the in vitro cytokine response to dexamethasone were also measured. Symptom outcome measures used were the fatigue impact scale and cognitive failures questionnaire. Mutual information criteria were used to construct networks describing the dependency amongst variables. Data from 42 patients and 9 controls were used in constructing autonomic networks, and 15 patients in constructing the combined network. Results The autonomic network in patients showed a more uneven distribution of information, with two distinct modules emerging dominated by systolic blood pressure during active stand and end diastolic volume and stroke volume respectively. The combined network revealed strong links between elements of each of the three regulatory systems, characterised by three higher modules the centres of which were systolic blood pressure during active stand, stroke volume and ejection fraction respectively. Conclusions CFS is a complex condition affecting physiological systems. It is important that novel analytical techniques are used to understand the abnormalities that lead to CFS. The underlying network structure of the autonomic system is significantly different to that of controls, with a small number of individual nodes being highly influential. The combined network suggests links across regulatory systems which shows how alterations in single nodes might spread throughout the network to produce alterations in other, even distant, nodes. Replication in a larger cohort is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Clark
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Wan-Fai Ng
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Rushton
- BCES-Modelling, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Watson
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Julia L Newton
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.,Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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Abstract
PURPOSE Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disease characterized by fatigue, postexertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and widespread pain. A pilot, online survey was used to determine the common presentations of CFS patients in the emergency department (ED) and attitudes about their encounters. METHODS The anonymous survey was created to score the severity of core CFS symptoms, reasons for going to the ED, and Likert scales to grade attitudes and impressions of care. Open text fields were qualitatively categorized to determine common themes about encounters. RESULTS Fifty-nine percent of respondents with physician-diagnosed CFS (total n=282) had gone to an ED. One-third of ED presentations were consistent with orthostatic intolerance; 42% of participants were dismissed as having psychosomatic complaints. ED staff were not knowledgeable about CFS. Encounters were unfavorable (3.6 on 10-point scale). The remaining 41% of subjects did not go to ED, stating nothing could be done or they would not be taken seriously. CFS subjects can be identified by a CFS questionnaire and the prolonged presence (>6 months) of unremitting fatigue, cognitive, sleep, and postexertional malaise problems. CONCLUSION This is the first investigation of the presentation of CFS in the ED and indicates the importance of orthostatic intolerance as the most frequent acute cause for a visit. The self-report CFS questionnaire may be useful as a screening instrument in the ED. Education of ED staff about modern concepts of CFS is necessary to improve patient and staff satisfaction. Guidance is provided for the diagnosis and treatment of CFS in these challenging encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Timbol
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA,
| | - James N Baraniuk
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA,
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VanElzakker MB, Brumfield SA, Lara Mejia PS. Neuroinflammation and Cytokines in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Critical Review of Research Methods. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1033. [PMID: 30687207 PMCID: PMC6335565 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is the label given to a syndrome that can include long-term flu-like symptoms, profound fatigue, trouble concentrating, and autonomic problems, all of which worsen after exertion. It is unclear how many individuals with this diagnosis are suffering from the same condition or have the same underlying pathophysiology, and the discovery of biomarkers would be clarifying. The name "myalgic encephalomyelitis" essentially means "muscle pain related to central nervous system inflammation" and many efforts to find diagnostic biomarkers have focused on one or more aspects of neuroinflammation, from periphery to brain. As the field uncovers the relationship between the symptoms of this condition and neuroinflammation, attention must be paid to the biological mechanisms of neuroinflammation and issues with its potential measurement. The current review focuses on three methods used to study putative neuroinflammation in ME/CFS: (1) positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging using translocator protein (TSPO) binding radioligand (2) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) neuroimaging and (3) assays of cytokines circulating in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. PET scanning using TSPO-binding radioligand is a promising option for studies of neuroinflammation. However, methodological difficulties that exist both in this particular technique and across the ME/CFS neuroimaging literature must be addressed for any results to be interpretable. We argue that the vast majority of ME/CFS neuroimaging has failed to use optimal techniques for studying brainstem, despite its probable centrality to any neuroinflammatory causes or autonomic effects. MRS is discussed as a less informative but more widely available, less invasive, and less expensive option for imaging neuroinflammation, and existing studies using MRS neuroimaging are reviewed. Studies seeking to find a peripheral circulating cytokine "profile" for ME/CFS are reviewed, with attention paid to the biological and methodological reasons for lack of replication among these studies. We argue that both the biological mechanisms of cytokines and the innumerable sources of potential variance in their measurement make it unlikely that a consistent and replicable diagnostic cytokine profile will ever be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. VanElzakker
- Division of Neurotherapeutics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Cabanas H, Muraki K, Eaton N, Balinas C, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Loss of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel function in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients. Mol Med 2018; 24:44. [PMID: 30134818 PMCID: PMC6092868 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-018-0046-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating disorder that is accompanied by reduced cytotoxic activity in natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are an essential innate immune cell, responsible for recognising and inducing apoptosis of tumour and virus infected cells. Calcium is an essential component in mediating this cellular function. Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 (TRPM3) cation channels have an important regulatory role in mediating calcium influx to help maintain cellular homeostasis. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been reported in TRPM3 genes from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, NK and B cells in patients with CFS/ME and have been proposed to correlate with illness presentation. Moreover, a significant reduction in both TRPM3 surface expression and intracellular calcium mobilisation in NK cells has been found in CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls. Despite the functional importance of TRPM3, little is known about the ion channel function in NK cells and the epiphenomenon of CFS/ME. The objective of the present study was to characterise the TRPM3 ion channel function in NK cells from CFS/ME patients in comparison with healthy controls using whole cell patch-clamp techniques. Methods NK cells were isolated from 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and CFS patients. Whole cell electrophysiology recording has been used to assess TRPM3 ion channel activity after modulation with pregnenolone sulfate and ononetin. Results We report a significant reduction in amplitude of TRPM3 current after pregnenolone sulfate stimulation in isolated NK cells from CFS/ME patients compared with healthy controls. In addition, we found pregnenolone sulfate-evoked ionic currents through TRPM3 channels were significantly modulated by ononetin in isolated NK cells from healthy controls compared with CFS/ME patients. Conclusions TRPM3 activity is impaired in CFS/ME patients suggesting changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which may impact NK cellular functions. This investigation further helps to understand the intracellular-mediated roles in NK cells and confirm the potential role of TRPM3 ion channels in the aetiology and pathomechanism of CFS/ME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Cabanas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. .,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - Katsuhiko Muraki
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aichi-Gakuin University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Natalie Eaton
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Cassandra Balinas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Hyperintense sensorimotor T1 spin echo MRI is associated with brainstem abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:102-109. [PMID: 30497131 PMCID: PMC6309570 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We recruited 43 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) subjects who met Fukuda criteria and 27 healthy controls and performed 3T MRI T1 and T2 weighted spin-echo (T1wSE and T2wSE) scans. T1wSE signal follows T1 relaxation rate (1/T1 relaxation time) and responds to myelin and iron (ferritin) concentrations. We performed MRI signal level group comparisons with SPM12. Spatial normalization after segmentation was performed using T2wSE scans and applied to the coregistered T1wSE scans. After global signal-level normalization of individual scans, the T1wSE group comparison detected decreased signal-levels in CFS in a brainstem region (cluster-based inference controlled for family wise error rate, PFWE= 0.002), and increased signal-levels in large bilateral clusters in sensorimotor cortex white matter (cluster PFWE < 0.0001). Moreover, the brainstem T1wSE values were negatively correlated with the sensorimotor values for both CFS (R2 = 0.31, P = 0.00007) and healthy controls (R2 = 0.34, P = 0.0009), and the regressions were co-linear. This relationship, previously unreported in either healthy controls or CFS, in view of known thalamic projection-fibre plasticity, suggests brainstem conduction deficits in CFS may stimulate the upregulation of myelin in the sensorimotor cortex to maintain brainstem - sensorimotor connectivity. VBM did not find group differences in regional grey matter or white matter volumes. We argued that increased T1wSE observed in sensorimotor WM in CFS indicates increased myelination which is a regulatory response to deficits in the brainstem although the causality cannot be tested in this study. Altered brainstem myelin may have broad consequences for cerebral function and should be a focus of future research.
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Shan ZY, Finegan K, Bhuta S, Ireland T, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik SM, Barnden LR. Brain function characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome: A task fMRI study. Neuroimage Clin 2018; 19:279-286. [PMID: 30035022 PMCID: PMC6051500 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism underlying neurological dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is yet to be established. This study investigated the temporal complexity of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) changes in response to the Stroop task in CFS patients. 43 CFS patients (47.4 ± 11.8 yrs) and 26 normal controls (NCs, 43.4 ± 13.9 yrs) were included in this study. Their mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) from the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire were recorded. Their Stroop colour-word task performance was measured by accuracy and response time (RT). The BOLD changes associated with the Stroop task were evaluated using a 2-level general linear model approach. The temporal complexity of the BOLD responses, a measure of information capacity and thus adaptability to a challenging environment, in each activated region was measured by sample entropy (SampEn). The CFS patients showed significantly longer RTs than the NCs (P < 0.05) but no significant difference in accuracy. One sample t-tests for the two groups (Family wise error adjusted PFWE < 0.05) showed more BOLD activation regions in the CFS, although a two sample group comparison did not show significant difference. BOLD SampEns in ten regions were significantly lower (FDR-q < 0.05) in CFS patients. BOLD SampEns in 15 regions were significantly associated with PCS (FDR-q < 0.05) and in 9 regions were associated with MCS (FDR-q < 0.05) across all subjects. SampEn of the BOLD signal in the medioventral occipital cortex could explain 40% and 31% of the variance in the SF-36 PCS and MCS scores, and those in the precentral gyrus could explain an additional 16% and 7% across all subjects. This is the first study to investigate BOLD signal SampEn in response to tasks in CFS. The results suggest the brain responds differently to a cognitive challenge in patients with CFS, with recruitment of wider regions to compensate for lower information capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Y Shan
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Kevin Finegan
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia
| | - Timothy Ireland
- Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Parklands, QLD 4215, Australia
| | - Donald R Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Leighton R Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
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Orjatsalo M, Alakuijala A, Partinen M. Autonomic Nervous System Functioning Related to Nocturnal Sleep in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Compared to Tired Controls. J Clin Sleep Med 2018; 14:163-171. [PMID: 29246267 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.6924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is common in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). One of the main complaints in CFS is unrefreshing sleep. We aimed to study the nocturnal cardiac ANS in different sleep stages in patients filling the 2015 Institute of Medicine CFS diagnostic criteria. METHODS In this case series study, the nocturnal heart rate variability and blood pressure (BP) variables in polysomnography were studied in groups of patients with CFS (n = 8) and tired controls (n = 8) aged 16-49 years. Five of the patients with CFS and controls were female. The heart rate variability and BP parameters and heart rate were studied in all sleep stages and wake. RESULTS The amount of low-frequency oscillations of the electrocardiography R-R-intervals spectra (LF; predominantly reflects sympathetic activity) was higher for patients with CFS in all sleep stages compared to controls (P < .001). During wake, the amount of LF was lower for the patients with CFS (P < .05). The amount of high-frequency oscillations (HF; reflects parasympathetic activity) was lower in stage N3 sleep in the patients with CFS than for the controls (P < .0001), but, in total, HF was higher in patients with CFS (P < .001). Patients with CFS had higher overall nocturnal systolic and mean BP (P < .0001) and lower heart rate (P < .0001) than controls. No significant differences were found in sleep stage distributions. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest a nocturnal dysfunction of the cardiac ANS in CFS, presenting as lower parasympathetic tone in deep sleep and higher sympathetic tone asleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija Orjatsalo
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anniina Alakuijala
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Partinen
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Vitalmed Helsinki Sleep Clinic, Helsinki, Finland
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Shan ZY, Finegan K, Bhuta S, Ireland T, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik SM, Barnden LR. Decreased Connectivity and Increased Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent Complexity in the Default Mode Network in Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Brain Connect 2018; 8:33-39. [PMID: 29152994 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2017.0549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis is a debilitating disease with unknown pathophysiology and no diagnostic test. This study investigated the default mode network (DMN) to understand the pathophysiology of CFS and to identify potential biomarkers. Using functional MRI (fMRI) collected from 72 subjects (45 CFS and 27 controls) with a temporal resolution of 0.798 sec, we evaluated the DMN using static functional connectivity (FC), dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) and DFC complexity, blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation maps, and complexity of activity. General linear model univariate analysis was used for intergroup comparison to account for age and gender differences. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test whether fMRI measures could be used to explain variances of health scores. BOLD signals in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), the driving hub in the DMN, were more complex in CFS in both resting state and task (p < 0.05). The FCs between medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and both inferior parietal lobules (IPLs) were weaker (p < 0.05) during resting state, whereas during task mPFC-left IPL and mPFC-PCC were weaker (p < 0.05). The DFCs between the DMN hubs were more complex in CFS (p < 0.05) during task. Each of these differences accounted for 7-11% variability of health scores. This study showed that DMN activity is more complex and less coordinated in CFS, suggesting brain network analysis could be potentially used as a diagnostic biomarker for CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Y Shan
- 1 National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University , Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kevin Finegan
- 2 Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital , Southport, Australia
| | - Sandeep Bhuta
- 2 Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital , Southport, Australia
| | - Timothy Ireland
- 2 Medical Imaging Department, Gold Coast University Hospital , Southport, Australia
| | - Donald R Staines
- 1 National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University , Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik
- 1 National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University , Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Leighton R Barnden
- 1 National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University , Gold Coast, Australia
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44
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Voluntary modulation of mental effort investment: an fMRI study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17191. [PMID: 29222423 PMCID: PMC5722925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mental effort is a common phenomenological construct deeply linked to volition and self-control. While it is often assumed that the amount of exertion invested in a task can be voluntarily regulated, the neural bases of such faculty and its behavioural effects are yet insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated how the instructions to execute a demanding cognitive task either “with maximum exertion” or “as relaxed as possible” affected performance and brain activity. The maximum exertion condition, compared to relaxed execution, was associated with speeded motor responses without an accuracy trade-off, and an amplification of both task-related activations in dorsal frontoparietal and cerebellar regions, and task-related deactivations in default mode network (DMN) areas. Furthermore, the visual cue to engage maximum effort triggered an anticipatory widespread increase of activity in attentional, sensory and executive regions, with its peak in the brain stem reticular activating system. Across individuals, this surge of activity in the brain stem, but also in medial wall cortical regions projecting to the adrenal medulla, positively correlated with increases in heart rate, suggesting that the intention to willfully modulate invested effort involves mechanisms related to catecholaminergic transmission and a suppression of DMN activity in favor of externally-directed attentional processes.
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45
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Baraniuk JN, Shivapurkar N. Exercise - induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid miRNAs in Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sedentary control subjects. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15338. [PMID: 29127316 PMCID: PMC5681566 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have similar profiles of pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and exertional exhaustion. Post-exertional malaise suggests exercise alters central nervous system functions. Lumbar punctures were performed in GWI, CFS and control subjects after (i) overnight rest (nonexercise) or (ii) submaximal bicycle exercise. Exercise induced postural tachycardia in one third of GWI subjects (Stress Test Activated Reversible Tachycardia, START). The remainder were Stress Test Originated Phantom Perception (STOPP) subjects. MicroRNAs (miRNA) in cerebrospinal fluid were amplified by quantitative PCR. Levels were equivalent between nonexercise GWI (n = 22), CFS (n = 43) and control (n = 22) groups. After exercise, START (n = 22) had significantly lower miR-22-3p than control (n = 15) and STOPP (n = 42), but higher miR-9-3p than STOPP. All post-exercise groups had significantly reduced miR-328 and miR-608 compared to nonexercise groups; these may be markers of exercise effects on the brain. Six miRNAs were significantly elevated and 12 diminished in post-exercise START, STOPP and control compared to nonexercise groups. CFS had 12 diminished miRNAs after exercise. Despite symptom overlap of CFS, GWI and other illnesses in their differential diagnosis, exercise-induced miRNA patterns in cerebrospinal fluid indicated distinct mechanisms for post-exertional malaise in CFS and START and STOPP phenotypes of GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N Baraniuk
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
| | - Narayan Shivapurkar
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
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Finkelmeyer A, He J, Maclachlan L, Watson S, Gallagher P, Newton JL, Blamire AM. Grey and white matter differences in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - A voxel-based morphometry study. Neuroimage Clin 2017; 17:24-30. [PMID: 29021956 PMCID: PMC5633338 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate global and regional grey and white matter volumes in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and recent voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods. METHODS Forty-two patients with CFS and thirty healthy volunteers were scanned on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. Anatomical MRI scans were segmented, normalized and submitted to a VBM analysis using randomisation methods. Group differences were identified in overall segment volumes and voxel-wise in spatially normalized grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) segments. RESULTS Accounting for total intracranial volume, patients had larger GM volume and lower WM volume. The voxel-wise analysis showed increased GM volume in several structures including the amygdala and insula in the patient group. Reductions in WM volume in the patient group were seen primarily in the midbrain, pons and right temporal lobe. CONCLUSION Elevated GM volume in CFS is seen in areas related to processing of interoceptive signals and stress. Reduced WM volume in the patient group partially supports earlier findings of WM abnormalities in regions of the midbrain and brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Finkelmeyer
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK.
| | - Jiabao He
- Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Laura Maclachlan
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Göteborgs Universitet, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Stuart Watson
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Peter Gallagher
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Julia L Newton
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Andrew M Blamire
- Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
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Wortinger LA, Glenne Øie M, Endestad T, Bruun Wyller V. Altered right anterior insular connectivity and loss of associated functions in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184325. [PMID: 28880891 PMCID: PMC5589232 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in cognition, pain intolerance, and physical inactivity characterize adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), yet little is known about its neurobiology. The right dorsal anterior insular (dAI) connectivity of the salience network provides a motivational context to stimuli. In this study, we examined regional functional connectivity (FC) patterns of the right dAI in adolescent CFS patients and healthy participants. Eighteen adolescent patients with CFS and 18 aged-matched healthy adolescent control participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The right dAI region of interest was examined in a seed-to-voxel resting-state FC analysis using SPM and CONN toolbox. Relative to healthy adolescents, CFS patients demonstrated reduced FC of the right dAI to the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) node of the central executive network. The decreased FC of the right dAI–PPC might indicate impaired cognitive control development in adolescent CFS. Immature FC of the right dAI–PPC in patients also lacked associations with three known functional domains: cognition, pain and physical activity, which were observed in the healthy group. These results suggest a distinct biological signature of adolescent CFS and might represent a fundamental role of the dAI in motivated behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Anne Wortinger
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Tor Endestad
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vegard Bruun Wyller
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway
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Laudisio A, Margiotta DP, Zuccalà G, Afeltra A, Antonelli Incalzi R. Methotrexate-induced dysautonomia in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017; 56:1428-1430. [DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kex144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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Giloteaux L, Hanson MR, Keller BA. A Pair of Identical Twins Discordant for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Differ in Physiological Parameters and Gut Microbiome Composition. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CASE REPORTS 2016; 17:720-729. [PMID: 27721367 PMCID: PMC5058431 DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.900314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) present with profound fatigue, flu-like symptoms, pain, cognitive impairment, orthostatic intolerance, and post-exertional malaise (PEM), and exacerbation of some or all of the baseline symptoms. CASE REPORT We report on a pair of 34-year-old monozygotic twins discordant for ME/CFS, with WELL, the non-affected twin, and ILL, the affected twin. Both twins performed a two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), pre- and post-exercise blood samples were drawn, and both provided stool samples for biochemical and molecular analysis. At peak exertion for both CPETs, ILL presented lower VO2peak and peak workload compared to WELL. WELL demonstrated normal reproducibility of VO2@ventilatory/anaerobic threshold (VAT) during CPET2, whereas ILL experienced an abnormal reduction of 13% in VAT during CPET2. A normal rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, creatinine, and ferritin content was observed following exercise for both WELL and ILL at each CPET. ILL showed higher increases of resistin, soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) after exercise compared to WELL. The gut bacterial microbiome and virome were examined and revealed a lower microbial diversity in ILL compared to WELL, with fewer beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Bifidobacterium, and an expansion of bacteriophages belonging to the tailed dsDNA Caudovirales order. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest dysfunctional immune activation in ILL following exercise and that prokaryotic viruses may contribute to mucosal inflammation and bacterial dysbiosis. Therefore, a two-day CPET and molecular analysis of blood and microbiomes could provide valuable information about ME/CFS, particularly if applied to a larger cohort of monozygotic twins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Giloteaux
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A
| | - Maureen R. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A
| | - Betsy A. Keller
- Department of Exercise & Sport Sciences, Ithaca College, School of Health Sciences & Human Performance, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A
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Shan ZY, Kwiatek R, Burnet R, Del Fante P, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik SM, Barnden LR. Progressive brain changes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A longitudinal MRI study. J Magn Reson Imaging 2016; 44:1301-1311. [PMID: 27123773 PMCID: PMC5111735 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To examine progressive brain changes associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Materials and Methods We investigated progressive brain changes with longitudinal MRI in 15 CFS and 10 normal controls (NCs) scanned twice 6 years apart on the same 1.5 Tesla (T) scanner. MR images yielded gray matter (GM) volumes, white matter (WM) volumes, and T1‐ and T2‐weighted signal intensities (T1w and T2w). Each participant was characterized with Bell disability scores, and somatic and neurological symptom scores. We tested for differences in longitudinal changes between CFS and NC groups, inter group differences between pooled CFS and pooled NC populations, and correlations between MRI and symptom scores using voxel based morphometry. The analysis methodologies were first optimized using simulated atrophy. Results We found a significant decrease in WM volumes in the left inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (IFOF) in CFS while in NCs it was unchanged (family wise error adjusted cluster level P value, PFWE < 0.05). This longitudinal finding was consolidated by the group comparisons which detected significantly decreased regional WM volumes in adjacent regions (PFWE < 0.05) and decreased GM and blood volumes in contralateral regions (PFWE < 0.05). Moreover, the regional GM and WM volumes and T2w in those areas showed significant correlations with CFS symptom scores (PFWE < 0.05). Conclusion The results suggested that CFS is associated with IFOF WM deficits which continue to deteriorate at an abnormal rate. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:1301–1311.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Y Shan
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.
| | - Richard Kwiatek
- Division of Medical Subspecialities, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA, Australia
| | - Richard Burnet
- Endocrinology department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Donald R Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
| | - Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
| | - Leighton R Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
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