Latest news with #ME
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Gut bacteria could help diagnose long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome, researchers find
Bacteria in the gut could help diagnose long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome, researchers have found. The debilitating condition, which can cause extreme tiredness, sleep problems, dizziness and brain fog, is often overlooked as there is no specific test to diagnose it. This means doctors have to simply rule out other illnesses. But research published in the journal Nature Medicine has looked at gut bacteria, immune responses and metabolism to find a way of diagnosing the condition. The findings, potentially relevant to long Covid due to its similarity with chronic fatigue syndrome, come from data on 249 individuals analysed using a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform that identifies disease biomarkers from stool, blood, and other routine lab tests. 'Our study achieved 90 per cent accuracy in distinguishing individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome, which is significant because doctors currently lack reliable biomarkers for diagnosis,' said study author Dr Derya Unutmaz, professor in immunology at the Jackson Laboratory in the US. 'Some physicians doubt it as a real disease due to the absence of clear laboratory markers, sometimes attributing it to psychological factors.' It is estimated that 404,000 people in the UK have chronic fatigue syndrome or ME, according to Action for ME. About half of the 1.9 million people in the UK with long Covid are also thought to have symptoms that are similar to ME. Although it is not yet known what causes chronic fatigue syndrome, there is evidence that certain infections, including but not limited to viruses, can trigger the illness. This new research, led by Dr Julia Oh, formerly at the Jackson Laboratory and now a microbiologist and professor at Duke University in North Carolina, investigates how the gut microbiome – the bacteria in your gut – and immune system interact in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome. To conduct the study, researchers used data collected from the Bateman Horne Center, a leading ME/CFS, long Covid and fibromyalgia research centre in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr Ruoyun Xiong, also a lead author on the study, developed a research tool called BioMapAI. This tool helped to compare gut bacteria, immune cells, blood test data, and clinical symptoms from 153 patients and 96 healthy participants over four years. Researchers found analysing immune cells proved the most accurate in predicting how severe the participants' symptoms were, but found data from gut bacteria helped predict participants' emotional symptoms and sleep disturbances. They found those with chronic fatigue had lower levels of butyrate, a beneficial fatty acid produced in the gut, along with other nutrients essential for metabolism, inflammation control, and energy. 'Despite diverse data collection methods, common disease signatures emerged in fatty acids, immune markers, and metabolites,' Dr Oh said. 'That tells us this is not random. This is real biological dysregulation. 'Our goal is to build a detailed map of how the immune system interacts with gut bacteria and the chemicals they produce. By connecting these dots, we can start to understand what's driving the disease and pave the way for genuinely precise medicine that has long been out of reach.'
Time of India
18 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Fishing vessels blocking ship route at Vizhinjam port causes concern
Thiruvananthapuram: Vizhinjam international seaport faces a new challenge as fishing vessels are reportedly obstructing the path of large ships. Shipping companies claimed that the unregulated movement of fishing vessels was delaying their anchoring. Several shipping companies have expressed their dissatisfaction over the issue, as ships are forced to anchor at sea for hours until the fishing vessels clear the channel. Port authorities also claimed that this resulted in significant financial losses. On Tuesday, a mother vessel named MSC Istanbul remained at sea for four hours as hundreds of fishing vessels blocked its path. According to port authorities, the fishermen ignored requests from them to avoid the ship's route. Eventually, officials from marine enforcement (ME) and Vizhinjam coastal police had to reach the spot to convince the fishermen. Coastal police registered a case against several identifiable fishermen for blocking the ship route and for abusing and threatening officials under BNS Section 296 (b) and Section 117 (e) of the Kerala Police Act. "This is the first time a case was registered against the fishermen for coming in the way of mother ships. It is not easy to shift the fishing boats from the channel immediately. The govt must form some guidelines in this regard and make the fishermen aware of the consequences. A slight negligence can lead to a collision, potential damage to both ships and fishing vessels and a threat to the life of fishermen," said a top official of ME. Sources at Adani Port claimed that the govt, by an order, restricted fishing activities in the ship channel and the route was clearly marked using buoys. However, seeking a good catch, the fishermen enter the restricted area. "The route near the port is just 150m wide and the fishermen can conduct their activities while avoiding this area. On average, 50 vessels arrive at the port every month and one lakh twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) goods are handled. For this to happen, there should not be any delay in ship movements. Affecting the journey of one ship can affect the journey of all the remaining ships as well, impacting the smooth functioning of the port," said sources at the port. Currently, port authorities alert fishermen on WhatsApp groups about the arrival of ships. This system has proven ineffective and it was high time for an alternative mechanism to be put in place, said officials. Vizhinjam port: Latin archdiocese vicar general demands proper alarm system for fishermen The frequent movement of ships to and from the port was creating risks to the lives of fishermen and it was also damaging their fishing nets, said Fr Eugine Pereira, vicar general of Latin archdiocese. He also criticised state govt for commissioning the port without properly implementing a system to address the concerns of the fishermen. "There should be an effective warning system to alert the fishermen about the arrival of ships, as they cannot abruptly move away while casting fishing nets. A siren system must be in place, announcing the expected arrival time of ships so that they can manage their work ahead of the ship's arrival. Registering cases against the fishermen will irk them sentimentally, as they are at sea not for entertainment but to find livelihood means. They go to sea by risking their lives and the apathy of officials concerned and state govt towards such grave issues adds to their miseries," said Fr Pereira. Not all fishermen have WhatsApp accounts and they may not be able to check messages while fishing at sea, he added. "Sending messages on WhatsApp about the arrival of ships is not an ideal way of alerting them. After all, the ship channel is not properly marked using buoys. When the govt properly addresses these issues, everything will go smoothly," added Fr Pereira.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
What is ME and the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome explained
ME can cause debilitating symptoms 🏥 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An estimated 390,000 people living in the UK have ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A new plan for care reforms have been announced by the government. ME can cause debilitating symptoms. A new plan for care reforms for ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has been revealed by the government. ME affects an estimated 390,000 people living in the UK, it can cause debilitating symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and difficulties with thinking, concentration and memory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The impact varies between cases, but severe ME/CFS, which is thought to affect a quarter of those diagnosed, leaves patients unable to leave their home or work. Many of those living with ME/CFS currently struggle to access appropriate care. An estimated 390,000 people living in the UK have ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. | Pexels, Tima Miroshnichenko The plan will introduce new training for NHS healthcare professionals, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understanding to ensure signs are not missed. It will help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stems from a lack of awareness about the condition, as well as increase funding for research, awarded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and will address the specific needs of children and young people, ensuring they receive appropriate support in education settings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: 'ME/CFS is a debilitating illness that can severely limit patients' ability to participate in everyday activities, maintain employment, or enjoy family and social life. 'Today's plan will help tackle the stigma and lack of awareness of this condition through improved training for NHS staff. And through our neighbourhood health services, we will ensure patients suffering from the effects of ME/CFS can access quality care, closer to home, as pledged in our 10 Year Health Plan.' Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME, said: 'This is an important step for the ME community, long overlooked and under-served. The plan must not be a token gesture - it requires a sustained, strategic commitment to care, funding, and research. Without it, meaningful outcomes for people with ME will not be achieved.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What is ME/CFS? Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a long-term condition that can cause debilitating symptoms that affect different parts of the body. It is characterised by extreme tiredness, debilitating pain and additional symptoms related to post-exertional malaise. What are the symptoms of ME? The NHS explain that symptoms of ME can include extreme tiredness, problems sleeping, problems with memory or concentration, post-exertional malaise. Other symptoms can include: muscle or joint pain headaches a sore throat or sore glands that are not swollen flu-like symptoms feeling dizzy or sick fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations) muscle twitches or spasms intolerance to alcohol or certain foods or chemicals being very sensitive to light, sound, touch, taste and smell having hot flushes or cold chills if the temperature changes feeling dizzy, sick or fainting when standing up from a sitting or lying position There is no specific test for ME and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. It is defined as mild, moderate, severe and very severe and can have a significant impact on a person's day to day life. You can find out more about ME/CFS and what support is available at Action for ME.
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Health
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal researchers link protein to chronic fatigue
By A Université de Montréal professor and his team believe they have made a breakthrough discovery about a poorly understood illness that affects thousands of Quebecers and has significant ties to long COVID. In a recently published study, Dr. Alain Moreau identifies a potential new biomarker and therapeutic target for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), once known as chronic fatigue syndrome. It's an advancement he says could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of the illness. 'It is very, very encouraging,' Moreau said in an interview, explaining the findings were 10 years in the making. 'We believe it can bring a lot of hope to patients.' ME/CFS is a complex disorder often triggered by viral infection. It can strike a person's muscular, nervous and immune systems and can become disabling, with many patients unable to work or confined to bed as a result. Though it can attack the body in different ways, its cardinal symptom is what's known as 'post-exertional malaise' — a worsening of symptoms, or appearance of new ones, after minimal physical or mental exertion. Moreau's study focused on a protein known as SMPDL3B. Though usually found attached to cell membranes, where it plays a role in controlling the immune system's response, it can also become detached and found in blood plasma. The study identified that people with ME/CFS have elevated levels of the soluble form of the protein in their plasma. The higher the levels, the more severe their symptoms. Those elevated levels could be caused by a specific enzyme, PI-PLC, that detaches the protein from the cell membrane and disrupts immune regulation. Critically, Moreau said, there are known diabetes drugs that can inhibit PI-PLC's activity. 'In other words,' Moreau said, 'this discovery shows that two medications currently in use — two molecules that are now even produced in generic formats — may be of interest for the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis.' The study also identified that the levels of SMPDL3B found in people's plasma is influenced by estrogen, which could explain why women are so disproportionately affected by ME/CFS and why some experience an improvement in symptoms with age. The study included a cohort of 249 ME/CFS patients from Quebec, all recruited before the COVID-19 pandemic, and was tested against a cohort of 141 Norwegian patients. 'We reached exactly the same conclusion in both: that elevated levels of soluble form was associated with symptom severity and also that women had much higher levels,' Moreau said. The study was first published in the Journal of Translational Medicine earlier this month. Moreau stressed that randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm and apply the findings moving forward. Potential for long COVID patients While promising for ME/CFS patients, Moreau believes the findings could also have important implications for long COVID patients, who often experience similar symptoms. The link between the two illnesses first started emerging after the early waves of the pandemic. As people shared stories of persistent COVID symptoms that worsened after exertion, ME/CFS patients recognized what they were going through. Today, it's believed that nearly half of the people suffering from long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. In both cases, women are disproportionately affected. While the number of ME/CFS patients in Quebec used to be estimated at 70,000, Moreau believes that post-pandemic, it is now likely more than 100,000 people. He hopes the findings can be encouraging to people suffering from both conditions. 'We are trying to contribute to the research and make a difference,' he said.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
What is ME and the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome explained
ME can cause debilitating symptoms 🏥 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An estimated 390,000 people living in the UK have ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A new plan for care reforms have been announced by the government. ME can cause debilitating symptoms. A new plan for care reforms for ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has been revealed by the government. ME affects an estimated 390,000 people living in the UK, it can cause debilitating symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and difficulties with thinking, concentration and memory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The impact varies between cases, but severe ME/CFS, which is thought to affect a quarter of those diagnosed, leaves patients unable to leave their home or work. Many of those living with ME/CFS currently struggle to access appropriate care. An estimated 390,000 people living in the UK have ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. | Pexels, Tima Miroshnichenko The plan will introduce new training for NHS healthcare professionals, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understanding to ensure signs are not missed. It will help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stems from a lack of awareness about the condition, as well as increase funding for research, awarded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and will address the specific needs of children and young people, ensuring they receive appropriate support in education settings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: 'ME/CFS is a debilitating illness that can severely limit patients' ability to participate in everyday activities, maintain employment, or enjoy family and social life. 'Today's plan will help tackle the stigma and lack of awareness of this condition through improved training for NHS staff. And through our neighbourhood health services, we will ensure patients suffering from the effects of ME/CFS can access quality care, closer to home, as pledged in our 10 Year Health Plan.' Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME, said: 'This is an important step for the ME community, long overlooked and under-served. The plan must not be a token gesture - it requires a sustained, strategic commitment to care, funding, and research. Without it, meaningful outcomes for people with ME will not be achieved.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What is ME/CFS? Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a long-term condition that can cause debilitating symptoms that affect different parts of the body. It is characterised by extreme tiredness, debilitating pain and additional symptoms related to post-exertional malaise. What are the symptoms of ME? The NHS explain that symptoms of ME can include extreme tiredness, problems sleeping, problems with memory or concentration, post-exertional malaise. Other symptoms can include: muscle or joint pain headaches a sore throat or sore glands that are not swollen flu-like symptoms feeling dizzy or sick fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations) muscle twitches or spasms intolerance to alcohol or certain foods or chemicals being very sensitive to light, sound, touch, taste and smell having hot flushes or cold chills if the temperature changes feeling dizzy, sick or fainting when standing up from a sitting or lying position There is no specific test for ME and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. It is defined as mild, moderate, severe and very severe and can have a significant impact on a person's day to day life.
