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Chronic fatigue syndrome affects some, is ignored in those who have anything-at-all wrong, might be accepted with a shrug and a pat on the back for the otherwise healthy, and is otherwise unknown. Until now, no one has had anything to go on — but now, there's a way to show that seemingly healthy people are, in fact, affected by something. Well, it's a start.
Using a test to judge the stress of the immune system, researchers at Stanford have now identified those symptomatically diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome as having a condition that is not identified in a control group. While this is very little to go on, it is more than nothing to go on, and so could start a search for a treatment for an otherwise clueless grab at nothing. The simple fact that there is now a distinction is itself news, but also that the research uses a lab-on-a-chip to assess change in current of a sample of immune cells, giving them an indicator of the health (or stress) of the sample is an example of a technology that hasn't been considered until the last few years — and a hint at advances offered by even simple, routine advances of technology.
As a shameless plug, I consulted a trusted holistic health friend (note: whole-health/holistic, not homeopathic/pretend) about CFS, and she mentioned that she feels it's a general toxicity problem. The immune system does play a role in clearing various toxins from the body, so perhaps another clue for researchers to pursue. (Tip: up until 1990, lead-based solder was used in household plumbing. How much that matters, perhaps not a whole lot.)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by HiThere on Tuesday May 07 2019, @04:26PM (7 children)
Anemia is not "chronic fatigue syndrome". And there have been tests for that for a very long time.
Yes, anemia will make you chronically fatigued, but that's not sufficient to qualify for the syndrome. So will being very overweight, not exercising, and eating lots of sugar, and that doesn't qualify either.
Don't confuse the name with the thing. I'll admit that when they say it's a syndrome they clearly say that all they have is a collection of symptoms, but one of the symptoms, e.g., is normal levels of blood iron.
The questions are:
1) What's the false positive rate on the test, and
2) What's the false negative rate on the test.
Answering these questions probably requires much larger studies, which are difficult because without the test it's quite difficult to ensure that the patient you're examining actually has the syndrome. Which is why there are so many questionable diagnoses. So the test is really needed.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday May 07 2019, @04:34PM (2 children)
My uncle had "full blown" CFS about 20 years ago - they did the full battery of tests, in hospital sleep study, etc. and basically came away with the big shrug. Lots of M.D.s at the time thought it was a psych condition, which is pretty absurd for a recently retired fishing addict who's too tired to get on the boat.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 07 2019, @04:39PM (1 child)
I would tend to diagnose primary cryptogenic essential (iodpathic) chronic fatigue symptomology..
(Score: 3, Insightful) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday May 07 2019, @06:43PM
The iodpathic is the worst. The absolute worst. Fancy way of saying, Doctors have NO IDEA WHATSOEVER. I call it Noideapathic!!!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday May 07 2019, @04:41PM (3 children)
I'm not saying anything about the syndrome. Just pondering reasons one can feel fatigued most of the time.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 08 2019, @02:12AM (1 child)
Masturbation. Next question?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 08 2019, @01:47PM
It is unclear if you are proposing that as:
* a cause of being fatigued?
* a cure for being fatigued?
* a method of inducing sleep?
* a distraction from being fatigued?
* other?
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday May 08 2019, @04:14AM
There's lots of reasons. Starvation can do it, or perhaps that was vitamin or mineral deficiency. IIUC simple vitamin C deficiency sufficient to cause scurvy can cause lethargy, so probably other vitamin deficiencies could also. Untreated sleep apnea can definitely cause chronic fatigue. So can lack of sleep for other reasons. Anemia (ok, that's another mineral deficiency). Etc.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.