Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) nociceptive, somatosensory interneurons that convey the pain messages to the thalamus and higher centers; (iv) microglial cell activation that potentiates these effects; (v) modification of inhibitory dorsal horn regulatory interneuron signals with the loss of protective, antinociceptive effects; (vi) development of new synaptic connections by light touch, proprioceptive, and other myelinated neurons onto the nociceptive secondary interneurons so that normally innocent sensations now stimulate pain (allodynia). We propose that similar mechanisms account for increased perception of interoceptive messages to the brain. Dr. Øystein Fluge and Professor Olav Mella Institute of Medicine, Section of Oncology, University of Bergen, Norway Dr. Øystein Fluge received medical degree in 1988 at the University of Bergen, and is a specialist in oncology since 2004. He has worked as a Research Fellow with support from the Norwegian Cancer Society and is now chief physician at the Cancer Department, Haukeland University Hospital. Doctoral work emanates from the Surgical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen. Professor Olav Mella and researcher Dr Oystein Fluge from University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, department of oncology are currently conducting a clinical trial on Blymphocyte Depletion Using the Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody Rituximab in Severely Affected Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. This study is based on pilot patient observations, and experience from the prior study KTS-1-2008. The investigators anticipate that severely affected chronic fatigue syndrome patients may benefit Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) from B-cell depletion therapy using Rituximab induction with maintenance treatment. The hypothesis is that at least a subset of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients have an activated immune system involving B-lymphocytes, and that prolonged B-cell depletion may alleviate symptoms. Professor Indre Bileviciute Ljungar One year experience of a standardised team-based assessment of suspected ME/CFS in a New ME/CFS-project Dr. Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar is an associate professor in rehabilitation medicine at Karolinska Institutet and working as a specialist in rehabilitation medicine at ME/CFS-project at Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The aim of the team-based ME/CFS-project is to improve the diagnosis of ME/CFS patients, to transfer clinical knowledge to the primary care structures, to establish rehabilitation methods for ME/CFS-patients, and to conduct multidisciplinary research in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. Dr. Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar is particularly interested in complicated clinical pain problems such as patients with chronic fatigue. Her past research concerns mechanisms of pain physiology and neuro-immune communications in experimental pain models. Nowadays she conducts research on neuro-immune communication in patients with fibromyalgia in collaboration with immunologists at Stockholm University, Sweden. Together with multidisciplinary team lead by Dr. Per Julin she is also conducting research on ME/CFS-patients. Abstract: ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) is a complex disease characterised by chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, sleep disturbances, cognitive failure, pain symptoms, autonomic, endocrine and immune manifestations. The clinical picture of ME/CFS patient is quite complicated and requires a detailed examination as well as exclusion of other diseases or syndromes. Since one year ago a www.investinme.org Page 103 of 108
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