Journal of IiME Volume 1 Issue 1 Biomedical Research into ME/CFS (continued) General research findings from groups worldwide For the first time in many years, there is optimism about the potential for biomedical advances in ME research. A range of groups are beginning to report physiological abnormalities in many patients with ME/CFS, showing what can be achieved if scientific effort and funding are targeted towards biomedical research, leading to therapeutic intervention and treatment. The Table below (from ME Research UK’s report of the Royal Society of Edinburgh/Wellcome Trust workshop on ME - available on our website) lists some recent areas of progress that may prove to be important. The Future? All these results are very exciting, and they may well help us to explain some of the unusual symptoms that these ME/CFS patients experience. It is also important to recognize, however, that these tests are not diagnostic markers. We are currently formulating new hypotheses and designing new experiments in order to unravel the significance of acetylcholine sensitivity, increased oxidative stress, increased early death of neutrophils etc, in the ME/CFS patients. Experience has convinced us, however, that funding will be difficult to maintain, and that the funding strategy for ME must mirror that of cancer research which obtains 85-90% of its revenue from private sources and ground-level fundraising. It is a huge task, but much can be achieved by a determined and collaborative ME community. References A full list of the references mentioned can be obtained from Dr Neil Abbot, ME Research UK (Charity Number SC036942), The Gateway, North Methven St, Perth PH1 5PP; e-mail meruk@pkavs.org.uk; website www.meresearch.org.uk Table: Physiological and biochemical abnormalities found in groups of ME/CFS patients. BIOCHEMICAL Oxidative stress (Richards 2000 et al. ; Manuel 2001 et al.; review by Pall 2001; Kennedy et al. 2003; Vecchiet et al. 2003) Dysregulation of anti-viral pathways - i.e. abnormal activity of the anti-viral immune responses (Suhadolnik RJ et al. 1994; De Meirleir et al. 2000; Tiev et al 2003) VASCULAR – Endothelial dysregulation - i.e. abnormal responses of small blood vessels selectively to acetylcholine (Spence et al. 2000; Khan et al. 2003 and 2004) Altered brain perfusion i.e. areas of reduced blood flow in the brain (Ichise et al 1992; Costa et al. 1995; Tirelli et al. 1998) Orthostatic hypotension i.e. physiological changes to blood pressure/cardiovascular mechanisms on standing (Streeten et al. 2001; Naschitz et al. 2002; Stewart et al. 2003) BRAIN MUSCLE Metabolic abnormalities e.g. alterations of brain choline (important in brain function). (Tomoda et al. 2000; Puri et al. 2002; Chaudhuri et al. 2003) Altered metabolism - e.g. changes in muscle composition or use of fuel. (Fulle et al. 2000, Vecchiet et al. 2003, Fulle et al. 2003) Abnormal response to exercise (Lane et al. 1998; Paul et al. 1999; McCully et al. 2004). Enteroviral sequences in muscle - i.e. evidence of a persisting virus in some CFS patients (Lane et al. 2003; Douche-Aourik F et al. 2003) Invest in ME Charity Nr 1114035 www.investinme.org 20
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