Journal of IiME Volume 2 Issue 1 www.investinme.org Possible application of visible and near-infrared spectral patterns in serum to provide emerging clue to biomarkers for chronic fatigue syndrome (continued) biomarkers is to use Vis-NIR spectra of the molecules listed in Table 1 to compare sera from CFS patients and healthy donors. Although it is possible, this strategy may not be the best choice, because the peak signals of VisNIR spectra are broad and weak, so it is difficult to identify differences between two groups. Another barrier preventing identification of CFS biomolecules by Vis- NIR spectroscopy is the limited information about Vis-NIR spectra of biomolecules. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is also vibrational spectroscopy, similar to Vis-NIR spectroscopy (Stuart, 1997). Moreover, the absorption observed in the IR region is dependent on hydrogen-containing bonds. The mechanism of IR spectroscopy is similar to Vis-NIR spectroscopy but there are differences: the absorption observed in IR is due to fewer overtones than Vis-NIR, resulting in a sharp and high intensity band in IR. Furthermore, there is abundant information on IR spectra. IR spectra databases can be obtained commercially from several companies, such as KnowItAll Informatics System (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA), which contains 0.22 million IR spectra, including biomolecules. By combining chemometrics analysis of IR spectra from CFS blood with IR spectra database, we can identify potential candidates for CFS biomarkers. From this knowledge, we propose that IR spectroscopy may provide a better choice for identification of CFS biomarkers related to Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Acknowledgments We thank Dr. Hirohiko Kuratsune (Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health Science for Welfare, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Osaka, Japan) for discussions. References Allain, T.J., Bearn, J.A., Coskeran, P., Jones, J., Checkley, A., Butler, J., Wessely, S., Miell, J.P. 1997. Changes in growth hormone, insulin, insulinlike growth factors (IGFs), and IGF-binding protein-1 in chronic fatigue syndrome. Biol Psychiatry, 41:567-573. Cleare, A.J. 2003. The neuroendocrinology of chronic fatigue syndrome. Endocr Rev, 24:236-252. Fukuda, K., Straus, S.E., Hickie, I., Sharpe, M.C., Dobbins, J.G., Komaroff, A. 1994. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group. Ann Intern Med, 121:953-959. Jacobson, W., Saich, T., Borysiewicz, L.K., Behan, W.M., Behan, P.O., Wreghitt, T.G. 1993. Serum folate and chronic fatigue syndrome. Neurology, 43:2645-2647. Jason, L.A., Richman, J.A., Rademaker, A.W., Jordan, K.M., Plioplys, A.V., Taylor, R.R., McCready, W., Huang, C.F., Plioplys, S. 1999. A community-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med, 159:21292137. Kuratsune, H. 2007. Overview of chronic fatigue syndrome focusing on prevalence and diagnostic criteria. Nippon Rinsho, 65:983-990. Kuratsune, H., Yamaguti, K., Takahashi, M., Misaki, H., Tagawa, S., Kitani, T. 1994. Acylcarnitine deficiency in (continued on page 7) Sakudo et al., Fig. 1. CFS common factors have hydrogen-containing functional groups? Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Page 6/34
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