MEDICAL JOURNAL SUMMARIES

Higher mean concentrations of several markers was found, including C-reactive protein, B2-microglobulin and neopterin in PWCs. Those PWCs with a fever had higher IL-6 (interleukin -6). 

2. J. Nervous and Mental Disease, 1997, 185, 1, 55-58, Beh, et al, "Effect of Noise Stress on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients."

PWCs and controls were tested for the effect of quiet and noise. PWCs made more errors with the noise and also had higher resting heart rate values. The noise made the PWCs less able to cope. 

3. J. Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 1997, 62, 151-155, "Cognitive Functioning is Impaired in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Devoid of Psychiatric Disease."

PWCs were compared to sedentary controls and the significant findings compelled the authors to conclude "impaired cognition in chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be explained solely by the presence of a psychiatric condition." 

4. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice, 1994, 6, 2, 110-117, Lerner, et al, "New Cardiomyopathy: Pilot Study of Intravenous Gancilclovir in a Subset of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

The subset included PWCs with abnormal aberrant T-waves found through a 24-hour EKG done with a Holter monitor. All were given ganciclovir intravenously (5 mg/kg q12h for 30 days). Health returned to 72% while those non-responders had lower levels of HCMV. No adverse effects were seen. This suggests that these PWCs had a "persistent HCMV infection." 

5. J. Clin Invest, 1996 Oct.; 98:1888-96, Konstantinov K et al, "Autoantibodies to Nuclear Envelope Antigens in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

6. Arthritis Rheum, 1997 Feb. 40:295-305, Van Mikecz et al, "High Frequency of Autoantibodies to Insoluble Cellular Antigens in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

These two studies add further evidence of chronic activation of the PWC's immune system. When PWCs were compared to healthy controls for several autoantibodies, the comparisons were striking: 
 

Test for Autoantibodies	PWC	Healthy Controls
nuclear rim staining	52%	3%
nucleoplasmic staining	47%	10%
cytoplasmic staining	33%	7%

The titers of PWCs were lower than other autoimmune disorders. This points to an infectious cause and adds to proof that CFIDS is a biological disease process. This is not a marker since half of the PWCs showed no antibodies. 

7. J. Rheumatology, 1995;22(3): 525-528, Buskila et al, "Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Children; An Outcome Study." A follow-up study on the prevalence of FMS in schoolchildren (28 found) that found the tender points had decreased. Thirty months later only 4 of the 15 participants still met the FMS criteria. "We suggest that the outcome of fibromyalgia in children is more favorable than in adults." 

8. J. Rheumatology, 1996, 23, 4, 739-742, Buchwald et al, "Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (Somatomedin C) Levels in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia."

The insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein (igfbp-3), which is an important mediator of growth factor hormone activity that is essential for normal muscle function, was found in PWCs with just CFS, in both CFS/FMS, and in those with just FMS. 

9. Lancet, 1996, 347, 1561, Critchley, EMR, (letter), "Botulism and Gulf War Syndrome." A response to a study on GWS Veterans. The author notes the symptoms are similar to CFIDS as well as to a botulism outbreak that took place in Wales and England in 1989. None of the testing that followed could account for why these patients complained well after the acute phase. The author questions the toxicity of the preventative medication given to these veterans. 

10. J. Rheumatology, 1996;23 (12) 2017-2019, Buskilar, "Fibromyalgia in Children--Lessons for Assessing Non-articular Tenderness."

This editorial highlights the disparate results on FMS in children. A Mexican study's prevalence was 1.3% while an Israeli study found 6.2%. The Israeli author, who directs a rheumatology unit,said that more studies were needed for prevalence as well as treatment of children with FMS. 

11. Sports Med. Training and Rehab, 1996; 6:269-278, Parker et al, "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Athlete."

This Australian study, done with controls, found 78% had an acute onset. Only 3% recovered completely, but an encouraging 79% reported progressive improvement. Few could return to a competitive sport, however. 

12. J. Musculoskeletal Pain, 1997, 5(1), 71-79, Norregarrd et al, "Exercise Training in Treatment of Fibromyalgia."

The controversy of exercise being helpful or not is addressed in this Danish study where one group had a slowly increasing aerobic dance program and another a steady exercise program, some with hot packs as an intervention. Those who did not complete the program were "slightly worse" with the affliction, but "there were no significant improvements in any of the parameters..."! 

13. J. Musculoskeletal Pain, 1997, 5(1), 81-90, Lee et al, "The Effectiveness of Simultaneous Thermotherapy with Ultrasound and Electrotherapy with Combined AC and DC Current on the Immediate Pain Relief of Myofascial Trigger Points."

The title is self-explanatory. The result was "no significant improvement." 

14. Arth. Care and Research, 1996, 9, 13-17, Esdaile &: Fitcharles, "Alternative Medicine Use in Fibromyalgia Syndrome."

The therapy impact was not addressed, but this study showed a huge 91% of FMS patients used alternative medicine compared to just 63% of the controls. Most alternative practitioners used were chiropractors and massage therapists. 

Other articles just out as we went to press: 

15. American J. Of Medicine, June 1997 (Vol. 102, #6). Another tilt table paper by a neurologist at the Deaconess Hospital in Boston along with Dr. Anthony Komaroff. The findings are not as high as those of Johns Hopkins. 

16. J. Pathobiology, (Probably will be out by the time this reaches you). This peer-reviewed Swiss medical journal has two articles by W. John Martin, Ph.D. The first is "Detection of RNA Sequences in Cultures of a Stealth virus Isolated from Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Health Care with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report." The virus was found to correlate with those from the African Green Monkey-derived stealth virus. 

The second paper was by Donovan Anderson, M.D. and Dr. Martin about the Mojave Valley Outbreak that occurred last year. They, along, with Dr. Jay Goldstein from California and Dr. Kundargi went to Needles to see 10 PWCs. Their mitochondria, normally cigar cigar shaped, were plump, swollen, and severely misshapen. Dr. Goldstein managed to make all but one feel much better by treating them symptomatically.