Bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and to preliminarily explore its action mechanism.@*METHODS@#Sixty-four patients with CFS were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (32 cases, 1 case dropped off, 1 case excluded) and an acupuncture group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the moxibustion group were treated with bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion, while the patients in the acupuncture group were treated with routine acupuncture. Both groups were treated once a day, 6 days as a course of treatment with 1 day interval, for a total of 2 courses of treatment. Before treatment, 1 and 2 courses into treatment and in the follow-up of 14 days after treatment, the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) and somatic and psychological health report (SPHERE) scores were observed in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the contents of CD+3, CD+4, CD+8 of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were measured and CD+4/CD+8 ratio was calculated; the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the FS-14 and SPHERE scores in the two groups were decreased 1 and 2 courses into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.01), and the FS-14 and SPHERE scores in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the contents of CD+3, CD+4 and CD+4/CD+8 ratio in the moxibustion group were increased after treatment (P<0.01). There was no significant difference of CD+3, CD+4, CD+8 and CD+4/CD+8 ratio between before and after treatment in the acupuncture group (P>0.05). After treatment, the contents of CD+3 and CD+4 in the moxibustion group were higher than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the moxibustion group, which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion could improve the physical and mental fatigue symptoms and psychological status in patients with CFS. Its effect may be related to regulating the contents of CD+3, CD+4 of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and CD+4/CD+8 ratio.

Antagonistic activity and application of Bacillus velezensis strain Bv-303 against rice bacterial-blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae / 生物工程学报

In this study, a new Bacillus velezensis strain Bv-303 was identified and its biocontrol effect against rice bacterial-blight (BB) disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) was investigated. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) of strain Bv-303 under different growth conditions were prepared to test the antagonistic activity and stability against Xoo by the Oxford-cup method in vitro. The antibacterial effect of strain Bv-303 to BB disease in rice were further analyzed in vivo by spraying the cell-culture broth (CCB), CFS and cell-suspension water (CSW), respectively, on the rice leaves inoculated with Xoo. Additionally, rice seeds germination rate and seedling growth under the strain Bv-303 CCB treatment were tested. The results showed that the strain Bv-303 CFS significantly inhibited Xoo growth by 85.7%‒88.0% in vitro, which was also stable under extreme environment conditions such as heat, acid, alkali and ultraviolet light. As tested in vivo, spraying the CCB, CFS or CSW of strain Bv-303 on the Xoo-infected leaves enhanced rice plant resistance to BB disease, with CCB showing the highest increase (62.7%) in disease-resistance. Notably, CCB does not have negative effects on rice seed germination and seedling growth. Therefore, strain Bv-303 has great potential for biocontrol of the rice BB disease.

Frailty prevalence and its associations in a subacute geriatric ward in Singapore

INTRODUCTION@#Our aim was to study the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in a subacute geriatric ward.@*METHODS@#This was a cross-sectional study of 167 participants between June 2018 and June 2019. Baseline demographics and participants' Mini Nutritional Assessment, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Mental State Examination, Charlson's Comorbidity Index and LACE index scores were obtained. Functional measurements such as modified Barthel's Index scores and hand grip strength (HGS) were taken. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the FRAIL scale. Data on history of healthcare utilisation, medications, length of stay, selected blood investigations and presence of geriatric syndromes were also collected.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of pre-frailty (CFS 4) and frailty (CFS ≥ 5) was 16.2% and 63.4%, respectively. There were significant associations between CFS and age (pre-frail vs. non-frail: odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.25, P = 0.006; frail vs. non-frail: OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, P = 0.021), HGS at discharge (frail vs. non-frail: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.99, P = 0.025), serum albumin (frail vs. non-frail: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.99, P = 0.035) and the presence of urinary incontinence (frail vs. non-frail: OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.19-7.77, P = 0.021).@*CONCLUSION@#Frailty is highly prevalent in the subacute geriatric setting and has many associated factors. In this study, independent factors associated with frailty were age, HGS at discharge, serum albumin and urinary incontinence. This has implications for future resource allocation for frail older inpatients and may help direct further research to study the effectiveness of frailty-targeted interventions.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome from yangming meridian / 中国针灸

Based on the theory of "brain-gut communication" and "heart-stomach disease simultaneously", the thinking and method of treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) from yangming meridian were discussed. CFS is related to brain and heart. Based on the analysis of meridian circulation, zang-fu function and the indication characteristics of yangming meridian, the indications of yangming meridian are closely related to brain and heart, so it is proposed to start from yangming meridian and use Chinese herbs combined with acupuncture to treat CFS, including the four methods of clearing away heat and moisturizing dryness, cooling blood and removing blood stasis, promoting qi to clear the organs, and strengthening and replenishing deficiency. It has certain guiding and reference significance for clinical treatment of CFS.

Síndrome Pos-COVID y Síndrome de Fatiga Crónica: ¿Dos caras de la misma moneda? / POST-COVID SYNDROME AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

El síndrome de fatiga crónica es una enfermedad caracterizada, principalmente, por la manifestación de la fatiga, el dolor muscular difuso, y alteraciones en el sueño, en un periodo de no menos de 6 meses y que no son explicables por alguna causa. Es llamativo que, luego de un periodo de tiempo de padecer la COVID-19, los pacientes presenten síntomas similares a los hallados en el síndrome de fatiga crónica. A esta afección se la denomino síndrome pos-COVID. Los virus son los principales sospechosos en la aparición de ambos síndromes, estos podrían ocasionar la generación de daño mitocondrial, una neuroinflamación, alteración en el sistema glinfático o la disfunción en el eje hipotálamo-pituitario-adrenal entre otros. Dichos mecanismos serían los implicados en la aparición de los síntomas que padecen los pacientes con estos síndromes. El objetivo de esta revisión literaria es analizar y describir los posibles mecanismos que explicarían la manifestación de los síntomas del síndrome de fatiga crónica en los pacientes que hayan sufrido la COVID-19. Hasta el momento no existen tratamientos totalmente efectivos para erradicar los síntomas en ambos síndromes. Dado el abanico de síntomas que padecen estos pacientes, el enfoque terapéutico debe ser interdisciplinario para tratar de mejorar su calidad de vida.

Infección por Herpes virus Humano tipo 6 relacionado con manifestaciones dermatológicas y fatiga crónica: serie de casos / Human Herpesvirus type 6 infection related to dermatological manifestations and chronic fatigue: case series

Resumen Introducción: Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes causadas por el Herpes Virus Humano Tipo 6 (HHV-6) ocurren en niños menores de 2 años, presentan lesiones en piel tipo roséola o exantema súbito. En adultos, las manifestaciones clínicas relacionadas a HHV-6 son muy variables, y pueden sobreponerse con otras afecciones. Objetivo: Presentar una serie de casos de pacientes diagnosticados con infección activa por HHV-6, quienes mostraban manifestaciones neurológicas, dermatológicas y de fatiga crónica. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó análisis de historias clínicas de 6 pacientes que fueron diagnosticados con infección activa por HHV-6, a través de métodos moleculares. Resultados: Se reportan 6 pacientes que fueron diagnosticados con infección activa por HHV-6 mediante métodos moleculares, quienes presentaron manifestaciones clínicas comunes tales como: fiebre, cefalea, depresión, decaimiento, pérdida de memoria y concentración, dolor fibromuscular, dolor poliarticular, sueño no reparador, exantema, nevus rubí, liquen plano y parestesias. Conclusiones: A través de esta serie de casos se espera resaltar la importancia de identificar la infección activa por HHV-6 a través de métodos moleculares, y sensibilizar a la comunidad médica sobre el papel que juega el virus en la evolución de diversas patologías.

Abstract Introduction: The most frequent clinical manifestations of Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in children under 2 years of age are roseola-like skin lesions and sudden rash. In adults, the clinical manifestations associated with HHV-6 are highly variable and can overlap with other conditions. Objective: To present a case series of patients diagnosed with active HHV-6 infection, who showed neurological, dermatological and chronic fatigue manifestations. Materials and methods: An analysis of medical records of 6 patients who were diagnosed with active HHV-6 infection through molecular methods was performed. Results: 6 patients were diagnosed with active HHV-6 infection using molecular methods, who had common clinical manifestations such as fever, headache, depression, tiredness, loss of memory and concentration, fibromuscular pain, polyarticular pain, nonrestorative sleep, rash, ruby nevus, lichen planus and paresthesia. Conclusions: This case series highlights the importance of identifying active HHV-6 infection through molecular methods and creating awareness in the medical community of the role that the virus plays on the development of diverse pathologies.

Ginger-separated moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome and its effect on intestinal flora / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of ginger-separated moxibustion on fatigue state and intestinal flora in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).@*METHODS@#A total of 62 patients with CFS were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with normal diet and moderate exercise; on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-separated moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 30 min each time, once every other day, three times a week. Both groups were intervened for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) was used to observe the improvement of fatigue state, and 16S rRNA detection technology was used to detect the distribution of intestinal flora.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the FS-14 score was reduced after treatment in the observation group (@*CONCLUSION@#The ginger-separated moxibustion could significantly improve the fatigue state in CFS patients, which may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora structure and the repair of intestinal barrier.

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Overview of Systematic Reviews / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the quality of the existing studies and summarize evidence of important outcomes of meta-analyses/systematic reviews (MAs/SRs) of CFS.@*METHODS@#Potentially eligible studies were searched in the following electronic databases from inception to 1 September, 2019: Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Database (WF), Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library. Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. The methodological quality of the literature was evaluated by A Measure Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) and the quality of the report was assessed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). The intra-class correlation coefficient was used to assess the consistency of the reviewers, with an overall intraclass correlation coefficient score of 0.967.@*RESULTS@#Ten MAs/SRs were included. The overall conclusions were that acupuncture had good safety and efficacy in the treatment of CFS, but some of these results were contradictory. The GRADE indicated that out of the 17 outcomes, high-quality evidence was provided in 0 (0%), moderate in 3 (17.65%), low in 10 (58.82%), and very low in 4 (23.53%). The results of AMSTAR-2 showed that the methodological quality of all included studies was critically low. The PRISMA statement revealed that 8 articles (80%) were in line with 20 of the 27-item checklist, and 2 articles (20%) matched with 10-19 of the 27 items.@*CONCLUSION@#We found that acupuncture on treating CFS has the advantage for efficacy and safety, but the quality of SRs/MAs of acupuncture for CFS need to be improved.

El síndrome de fatiga crónica en el curso de la hepatitis C. Presentación de un caso / Chronic fatigue syndrome in the course of Hepatitis C

RESUMEN Se supone que aproximadamente 80 millones de personas a nivel mundial están infectadas con el virus de la hepatitis C. Un aproximado del 60 % de dichos pacientes aqueja síndrome de fatiga crónica. Se presentó un paciente portador de hepatitis crónica de tipo C, con manifestaciones clínicas de síndrome de fatiga crónica por más de dos años. Se han reportado estudios internacionales que han demostrado la relación existente entre el desarrollo de la respuesta inmune y el daño que ocasiona en el tejido cerebral la infección por virus de hepatitis C. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la presentación del primer caso que se tiene referencia (AU).

ABSTRACT It is believed that almost 80 million persons are infected with the Hepatitis C virus around the world, and 60 % of them suffer the chronic fatigue syndrome. For that reason we present the case of a patient who is a carrier of the chronic fatigue syndrome for more than two years. Reports of international research have showed the relation between the immune answer and the damage caused by the infection of the hepatitis C virus in the brain tissues. The aim of this work is presenting the first case reported in Cuba (AU).

La depresión: un desafío en la práctica médica general / La depresión: un desafío en la práctica médica general

Asociada o no a una enfermedad orgánica, la depresión tiene gran prevalencia en la práctica médica pero es subdiagnosticada. El trastorno del ánimo suele coexistir con variadas quejas somáticas y dolores crónicos, configurando síndromes mixtos con un diagnóstico diferencial complejo. En este artículo se describen distintas presentaciones clínicas de la depresión en medicina general, con énfasis en los estados depresivos atípicos, depresiones enmascaradas muy relevantes por su frecuencia y consecuencias: depresión posquirúrgica, cuadros dolorosos crónicos como cefaleas o lumbago, la fatiga crónica y la fibromialgia. Solo el reconocimiento y diagnóstico de la depresión subyacente posibilitará la implementación de las adecuadas intervenciones terapéuticas. Se revisan también algunas recomendaciones para el uso de antidepresivos en atención primaria y la eventual consulta psiquiátrica. (AU)

Associated or not with an organic disease, depression has a high prevalence in medical practice but is underdiagnosed. The mood disorder usually coexists with varied somatic complaints and chronic pain, forming mixed syndromes with a complex differential diagnosis. This article describes different clinical presentations of depression in general medicine, with emphasis on atypical depressive states, masked depressions very relevant for their frequency and consequences: post-surgical depression, chronic painful conditions such as headaches or lumbago, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Only the recognition and diagnosis of the underlying depression will enable the implementation of appropriate therapeutic interventions. Some recommendations for the use of antidepressant drugs in primary care and the eventual psychiatric consultation are also reviewed. (AU)

Síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos hipermóvel: um relato de caso / Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a case report

A síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos é estabelecida por distúrbios hereditários do tecido conjuntivo que tem como manifestações principais a hipermobilidade articular, a hiperextensibilidade da pele e a fragilidade de tecidos, como articulações, ligamentos, pele, vasos sanguíneos e órgãos internos. São reconhecidos 13 subtipos, de acordo com Classificação Internacional de 2017. Dentre estes, abordamos o hipermóvel, cujo diagnóstico é eminentemente clínico, com manifestações sistêmicas distintas. Esse artigo refere-se ao caso de uma paciente diagnosticada com síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos hipermóvel, tendo como intuito a atualização acerca dos novos critérios diagnósticos, assim como o diagnóstico precoce de tal raropatia.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is established through hereditary disorders of connective tissue, and has as its manifestations: joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and fragility of tissues such as joints, ligaments, skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. Thirteen subtypes have been recognized according to the 2017 International Classification. Among these, the hypermobile type, the diagnosis of which is eminently clinical, with distinct systemic manifestations, will be addressed. This article refers to the case of a patient diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, with the objective of updating the new diagnostic criteria, as well as the early diagnosis of such a rare disease.

O metabolismo energético mitocondrial e a síndrome da fadiga crônica: uma scoping review / The mitochondrial energy metabolism and chronic fatigue syndrome: a scoping review

Nessa dissertação foi realizada uma scoping review com objetivo de buscar na literatura o que existe, até o presente momento, para explicar a relação entre o metabolismo mitocondrial com a síndrome da fadiga crônica (SFC). A SFC se apresenta de forma diferente para cada indivíduo, o que torna complexo seu entendimento, uma vez que não foram identificados biomarcadores específicos para auxiliar em um diagnóstico definitivo que favoreça uma intervenção adequada e tratamentos mais eficazes. Diferentes mecanismos biológicos são estudados, sendo que alterações no metabolismo mitocondrial têm sido foco de pesquisas recentes. Tais alterações podem ser a causa de fadiga severa e estudos sobre SFC mostraram que entre os principais indicadores da disfunção mitocondrial, envolvidos com a menor produção de ATP, está o comprometimento das vias de fosforilação oxidativa. O método utilizado nessa revisão, scoping review, é utilizado para investigar conceitos-chave subjacentes a uma nova área de pesquisa, bem como esclarecer definições de trabalhos, analisando o título e resumo de artigos para seleciona-los. Como critérios de inclusão ficaram determinados: (1) estudos clínicos que registram pacientes adultos (>= 18 anos de idade); (2) mostram uma relação entre questões do metabolismo e bioenergética mitocondrial com síndrome da fadiga crônica; (3) são escritos em português, inglês ou espanhol; (4) artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos. E de exclusão: (1) utilizaram modelos animai; (2) relatos de casos, editoriais, cartas, revisões de literatura, resumos e dissertações de reuniões; (3) literatura cinzenta. Entre os descritores comuns, utilizados para realizar a busca nas bases de dados estão: mitochondria OR mitochondrial, fatigue, bioenergy OR bioenergetic OR energy metabolism. O estudo foi guiado pela seguinte questão: ""Alterações no metabolismo energético mitocondrial estão relacionados com a origem e prevalência da síndrome da fadiga crônica?". Após utilizar a estratégia de busca, específica para cada uma das quatro bases de dados (PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS e Web of Science), foram encontrados 228 artigos, os quais foram exportados para o software Rayyan QCRI e removidos aqueles que se encontravam em duplicata. Este software permitiu que dois revisores executassem, de forma independente, a leitura dos títulos e resumos de 150 artigos e 27 foram selecionados para a leitura na íntegra, por atenderem aos critérios supracitados. Dentre esses últimos, apenas 10 relatavam alterações no metabolismo mitocondrial relacionadas à SFC. As alterações compreendem modificações nas vias de transporte mitocondrial e na cadeia respiratória; mutações no DNA mitocondrial e, até mesmo, disfunções energéticas em células do sistema imune, como as natural-killer. Foram encontrados dados de pesquisas em diversas áreas clínicas, tais como: cardiologia, oncologia e distúrbios musculares, os quais podem colaborar para trazer luz às causas biológicas dessa síndrome. Desta forma, tornou-se ainda mais evidente a conexão entre distúrbios na bioenergética mitocondrial, como uma menor capacidade de transporte de oxigênio por meio das vias de transporte, ou até mesmo, a insuficiência mitocondrial para produção de ATP, com a SFC. De acordo com os estudos que compuseram a amostra final desta revisão (n=10), o metabolismo mitocondrial e suas principais atividades, como a produção e transporte de ATP, são um alvo potencial para auxiliar na compreensão de incógnitas existentes sobre a SFC. Esses resultados são promissores para a enfermagem, sobretudo na área da ciência dos sintomas, com impacto na qualidade de vida e no manejo personalizado de sintomas em diferentes condições crônicas, especialmente na SFC

In this dissertation a scoping review was carried out with the objective of searching in the literature what exists to date to explain the relationship between mitochondrial metabolism and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). SFC presents itself differently for each individual, which makes complex their understanding, since no specific biomarkers were identified to aid in a definitive diagnosis that favors an appropriate intervention and more effective treatments. Different biological mechanisms are studied, and changes in mitochondrial metabolism have been the focus of recent research. Such alterations may be the cause of severe fatigue and studies on CFS have shown that among the main indicators of mitochondrial dysfunction, involved in the lower production of ATP, is the involvement of oxidative phosphorylation pathways. The method used in this review, scoping review, is used to investigate key concepts underlying a new research area, as well as clarifying definitions of papers, analyzing the title and abstract articles to select them. As inclusion criteria were determined: (1) clinical studies that register adult patients (>= 18 years of age); (2) show a relationship between metabolism and bioenergetic mitochondrial issues with chronic fatigue syndrome; (3) written in Portuguese, English or Spanish; (4) articles published in the last 10 years. The exclusion criteria: (1) used animal models; (2) case reports, editorials, letters, literature reviews, abstracts and dissertations; (3) gray literature. Among the common descriptors used to perform the search in the databases are: mitochondria OR mitochondrial, fatigue, bioenergy OR bioenergetic OR energy metabolism. The study was guided by the following question: "" Changes in mitochondrial energy metabolism are related to the origin and prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome? ". After using the search strategy, specific to each of the four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Web of Science), 228 articles were found, which were exported to the Rayyan QCRI software and removed from those that were in duplicate. This software allowed two reviewers to independently perform the reading of the titles and abstracts of 150 articles and 27 were selected for reading in full, because they meet the aforementioned criteria. Among the latter, only 10 reported changes in mitochondrial metabolism related to CFS. The changes comprise modifications in mitochondrial transport pathways and respiratory chain; mutations in mitochondrial DNA, and even energy dysfunctions in cells of the immune system, such as natural killer. Research data have been found in several clinical areas, such as: cardiology, oncology and muscular disorders, which can collaborate to bring light to the biological causes of this syndrome. Thus, the connection between disturbances in mitochondrial bioenergetics, such as reduced oxygen transport capacity, or even mitochondrial insufficiency for ATP production, with CFS became even more evident. According to the studies that compose the final sample of this review (n = 10), mitochondrial metabolism and its main activities, such as the production and transport of ATP, are a potential target to aid in the understanding of existing unknowns about CFS. These results are promising for nursing, especially in the area of symptom science, with an impact on quality of life and personalized management of symptoms in different chronic conditions, especially CFS

Acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome based on "interaction of brain and kidney" in TCM: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of acupuncture on the fatigue symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, the potential symptoms and cytokines on the base of the theory as "interaction of brain and kidney" and explore its clinical therapeutic effects and the potential mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 68 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. In the control group, oryzanol and vitamin B1 were prescribed for oral administration and the patients were required to have a proper rest and physical exercise. In the observation group, on the base of the theory as "interaction of brain and kidney", acupuncture was added to Baihui (BL 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3). The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week, with 2 days break. The consecutive treatment for 4 weeks was required. Before and after treatment, the score of the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), the score of the somatic and psychological health report (SPHERE) and the score of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were observed in the patients of the two groups separately. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) before and after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, FS-14 scores, SPHERE scores and PSQI scores were all reduced as compared with the scores before treatment in the two groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the levels of IL-6 and INF-γ in the serum in the observation group were reduced as compared with the levels before treatment (both <0.01). After treatment, the scores of FS-14, SPHERE and PSQI as well as the levels of serum IL-6 and INF-γ in the observation group were all lower than the results in the control group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#On the base of the theory as "interaction of brain and kidney", acupuncture therapy relieves the fatigue symptoms and the potential symptoms and improves the sleep quality in the patients of chronic fatigue syndrome. The effect mechanism is probably related to the decrease of the levels of IL-6 and INF-γ in serum.

Clinical research of auricular gold-needle therapy in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of deficiency constitution / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of auricular gold-needle therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome of deficiency constitution and explore its potential mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients were randomized into an auricular gold-needle therapy group, an auricular point pressure therapy group and a Chinese herb group, 40 cases in each one. Additionally, a health control group (40 cases) was set up, without any intervention. In the auricular gold-needle therapy group, the gold needle was used to stimulate the auricular points on one side and the cowherb seed pressure therapy on the other side. In the auricular point pressure therapy group, the cowherb seed pressure therapy was adopted only on one side. The auricular points were shen (CO), xin (CO), fei (CO), pizhixia (AT), etc. in the two groups. The auricular points on both sides were used alternatively. The treatment was given once a week, 4 treatments as one course and the consecutive 3 courses of treatment were required. In the Chinese herb group, was prescribed for oral administration, 6 g, twice a day, the medication for 1 month was as one session and the consecutive 3 sessions of medication were required. Before and after treatment, separately, the clinical symptom score, the levels of the serum immunoglobulins, i.e. IgA, IgG and IgM were observed in the patients of the three groups. The therapeutic effects were evaluated in the three groups.@*RESULTS@#The total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in the auricular gold-needle therapy group, better than 80.0% (32/40) in the auricular point pressure therapy group and 82.5% (33/40) in the Chinese herb group (both <0.05). Before treatment, the clinical symptom scores of the patients in the three groups were obviously higher than the health control group (all <0.001). After treatment, the symptom scores were all reduced as compared the scores before treatment in the three groups (all <0.001) and the symptom scores in the auricular gold-needle therapy group were better than the auricular point pressure therapy group and the Chinese herb group (both <0.01). Before treatment, the levels of serum IgA, IgG and IgM of the patients in the three groups were lower than the health control group (all <0.001). The levels were all improved after treatment in the three groups (all <0.01), and the levels in the auricular gold-needle therapy group was better than the auricular point pressure therapy group and the Chinese herb group (all <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The auricular gold-needle therapy achieves the significant therapeutic effects on chronic fatigue syndrome of deficiency constitution and its mechanism is probably related to the regulation of immune function.

Multidimensional Comparison of Cancer-Related Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Role of Psychophysiological Markers

OBJECTIVE: The present study compared cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using multidimensional measurements with the aim of better understanding characteristics and exploring markers of two similar fatigue syndromes. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with CRF and twenty patients with CFS completed questionnaires, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Additionally, levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), heart rate variability (HRV), and electroencephalography (EEG) were obtained. Neurocognitive functioning was also evaluated. RESULTS: Both groups showed comparable levels of psychological variables, including fatigue. Compared to CFS subjects, CRF patients had significantly higher hs-CRP levels and a reduced HRV-index. The within-group analyses revealed that the FSS score of the CRF group was significantly related to scores on the HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and PSQI scales. In the CFS group, FSS scores were significantly associated with scores on the PSS and the absolute delta, theta, and alpha powers in frontal EEG. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that different pathophysiological mechanisms underlie CFS and CRF. Inflammatory marker and HRV may be potential biomarkers for distinguishing two fatigue syndromes and frontal EEG parameters may be quantitative biomarkers for CFS.

Comparison of differential metabolites in urine of the middle school students with chronic fatigue syndrome before and after exercise / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the differential metabolites in urine and the characteristics of metabolic pathway of middle school students with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) before and after exercise, and then explain the metabolic mechanism of CFS.@*METHODS@#Eight male middle school students (age:17-19) with CFS were selectedas the CFS group according to CFS screening criteria of the U.S. centers.At the same time, 8 male health students of the same age from the same school were selected as the control group. They were administrated to do one-time exercise on the improved Harvard step (up and down steps 30 times/min for 3minutes). Their urinewascollected before and after exercise, and the differential metabolitesin urine were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The multidimensional statistical methods were used to analyze the metabolites by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Finally, MetPA database was used to analyze the metabolites and to construct the correlativemetabolic pathways.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the creatine, indoleacetaldehyde, phytosphingosine and pyroglutamic acid were selected as differential metabolites and the contents of those were decreased significantly (<0.05 or <0.01) in CFS groupbefore the step movement. However, 11 differential metabolitesin CFS group were selected out after exercise, which were nonanedioic acid, methyladenosine, acetylcarnitine, capric acid, corticosterone, creatine, levonorgestrel, pantothenic acid, pyroglutamic acid, xanthosine and xanthurenic acid in sequence, the contents of methyladenosine and creatinewere significantly increased (<0.05) and the contents of the other 9 differentialmetabolites were significantly decreased (<0.05 or <0.01)compared with the control group.The 15 differential metabolites mentioned above were input MetPA database in order to analyze the metabolic pathways weighted score.The results showed that the arginine-proline metabolism pathway disordersweredetected in theCFS group before exercise, the marker metabolite wascreatine. And 3 metabolic pathwaysdisorder weredetectedin the CFS groupafter exercise, which were arginine-proline metabolism, biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and CoA, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and the marker metabolites, in turn, werecreatine, pantothenic acid and corticosterone.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The disorder of arginine-proline metabolic pathway is detected in CFS middle school students before exercise intervention. After exercise, it can be detected that the steroid hormone biosynthetic metabolic pathway, pantothenic acid and CoA metabolic pathways also have metabolic disorders.

Challenges in fibromyalgia diagnosis: from meaning of symptoms to fibromyalgia labeling

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a contested illness with ill-defined boundaries. There is no clearly defined cut-point that separates FM from non-FM. Diagnosis of FM has been faced with several challenges that occur, including patients' health care-seeking behavior, symptoms recognition, and FM labeling by physicians. This review focuses on important but less visible factors that have a profound influence on under- or over-diagnosis of FM. FM shows different phenotypes and disease expression in patients and even in one patient over time. Psychosocial and cultural factors seem to be a contemporary ferment in FM which play a major role in physician diagnosis even more than having severe symptom levels in FM patients. Although the FM criteria are the only current methods which can be used for classification of FM patients in surveys, research, and clinical settings, there are several key pieces missing in the fibromyalgia diagnostic puzzle, such as invalidation, psychosocial factors, and heterogeneous disease expression. Regarding the complex nature of FM, as well as the arbitrary and illusory constructs of the existing FM criteria, FM diagnosis frequently fails to provide a clinical diagnosis fit to reality. A physicians' judgment, obtained in real communicative environments with patients, beyond the existing constructional scores, seems the only reliable way for more valid diagnoses. It plays a pivotal role in the meaning and conceptualization of symptoms and psychosocial factors, making diagnoses and labeling of FM. It is better to see FM as a whole, not as a medical specialty or constructional scores.

Comparison of Fatigue Severity and Quality of Life between Unexplained Fatigue Patients and Explained Fatigue Patients / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Recently, despite the high prevalence of fatigue in patients, there is a lack of research on the quality of life (QoL) in unexplained fatigue patients, indicating that they are not properly diagnosed and treated. The aim of this study was to compare fatigue severity and QoL between patients with explained and unexplained fatigue. METHODS: The study consisted of 200 Korean adults who complained of fatigue without underlying disease. Fatigue Severity Scale, Short Form Health Survey-36 version 2 (SF-36v2), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) self-questionnaires were administered. Participants were dichotomized to two groups, namely, patients with unexplained or explained fatigue, sorted according to laboratory examination results. The chi-square test, t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used, and analysis of covariance was calculated after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and physical component summary (PCS) of SF-36v2 or BDI-II. RESULTS: PCS of SF-36v2 between the two groups showed significant difference. Compared to patients with explained fatigue, those with unexplained fatigue showed lower physical component scores of QoL. CONCLUSION: QoL of patients with unexplained fatigue could largely diminish than those with explained fatigue. The primary clinician should be aware of poor QoL in patients with unexplained fatigue to identify who is in need of more attention and intervention.

Síndrome de fatiga / Fatigue syndrome

ResumenEl síndrome de fatiga crónica es una patología que se caracteriza por fatiga intensa de como mínimo seis meses de duración, que se acompaña de otros síntomas y que en ocasiones podría ser tan intenso que causa la disminución de las actividades cotidianas del individuo que lo padece. El comienzo de los síntomas puede ser repentino o también de forma paulatina, muchas veces las personas recuerdan el momento en que comenzó y el principio de estos puede ser un cuadro similar a una gripe. A continuación, se hará una revisión bibliográfica sobre los principales aspectos de esta enfermedad, causa, criterios diagnósticos y tratamiento.

AbstractChronic fatigue syndrome is a pathology characterized by intense fatigue of at least six months duration, which is accompanied by other symptoms and which at times could be so intense that it causes the daily activities of the individual suffering from it to diminish. The onset of symptoms may be sudden or also gradually, many times people remember the time they started and the beginning of these can be a flu-like four. Next, a bibliographic review will be done on the main aspects of this disease, cause, diagnostic criteria and treatment.

Diversos nomes para o cansaço: categorias emergentes e sua relação com o mundo do trabalho / Several names for tiredness: emergent categories and their relationship with the world of work / Diversos nombres para el cansancio: categorías emergentes y su relación con el mundo del trabajo

Este artigo tem como objetivo explorar, do ponto de vista sociocultural, a emergência de duas entidades clínicas entre 1970 e 1980 que, no campo da clínica geral e dos saberes psi, nomeiam quadros centrados no sintoma da fadiga: a síndrome da fadiga crônica (CID-10 G93.3) e o burnout (CID-10 Z73.0). Pretendemos, após uma breve apresentação de ambas, analisar o surgimento dessas categorias, para indicar o cansaço e a exaustão como sintomas a serem tratados medicamente e explorar os pontos de aproximação e afastamento entre elas...

The objective of this article was, from a sociocultural perspective, to explore the emergence of two clinical entities between 1970 and 1980, which, in the fields of general clinical medicine and psycho-knowledge, give names to conditions centered on the symptom of fatigue: chronic fatigue syndrome (ICD-10 G93.3) and burnout (ICD-10 Z73.0). We intend, after a brief presentation of both of these, to analyze the emergence of these two categories, to acknowledge fatigue and exhaustion as symptoms to be medically treated, and to explore similarities and differences between them...

El objetivo de este artículo es explorar, desde el punto de vista sociocultural, la emergencia de dos entidades clínicas entre 1970 y 1980 que, en el campo de la clínica general y de los saberes psi, dan nombre a cuadros centrados en el síntoma de la fatiga: el síndrome de la fatiga crónica (CID-10 G93.3) y el burnout (CID-10 Z73.0). Pretendemos, después de una breve presentación de ambas, analizar el surgimiento de esas categorías, para indicar el cansancio y el agotamiento como síntomas que hay que tratar médicamente y explorar los puntos de aproximación y de separación entre ellas...