What Long COVID investigators can learn from four decades of ME/CFS research

Jason, Leonard A.; Natelson, Benjamin H.; Bonilla, Hector; Sherif, Zaki A.; Vernon, Suzanne D.; Verduzco Gutierrez, Monica; O’Brien, Lisa; Taylor, Emily

doi:10.1016/j.bbii.2023.100022

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 106 publications

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“…Evidence to date has demonstrated the beneficial role of probiotics and their metabolites in modulating immunity and reducing inflammation and damage arising from oxidative stress. This can be especially important in reducing severe fatigue and exertion intolerance linked with ongoing chronic inflammation resulting from abnormal immunity and mitochondrial dysfunction [ 53 , 98 ]. Consequently, the use of probiotics in the treatment of ME/CFS and long COVID has been intensively studied, owing to their potential to reduce inflammation and restore immune homeostasis, while promoting immunity and recovery [ 66 ] might be beneficial for reducing their shared symptoms of post-infectious fatigue and leading to improved overall health.…”

Section: Use Of Probiotic In the Management Of Me/cfs And Long Covid ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Long COVID

Jurek,

Castro-Marrero

2024

Nutrients

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Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID are complex, multisystemic and long-term disabling conditions characterized by debilitating post-exertional malaise and other core symptoms related to immune dysregulation resultant from post-viral infection, including mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic neuroinflammation and gut dysbiosis. The reported associations between altered microbiota composition and cardinal symptoms of ME/CFS and long COVID suggest that the use of microbial preparations, such as probiotics, by restoring the homeostasis of the brain–immune–gut axis, may help in the management of symptoms in both conditions. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the implications of alerted gut microbiome and assess the evidence supporting use of microbial-based preparations, including probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics alone and/or in combination with other nutraceuticals in the management of fatigue, inflammation and neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with ME/CFS and long COVID.

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Section: Use Of Probiotic In the Management Of Me/cfs And Long Covid ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Long COVID

Jurek,

Castro-Marrero

2024

Nutrients

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Illness presentation and quality of life in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post COVID-19 condition: a pilot Australian cross-sectional study

Weigel,

Eaton-Fitch,

Thapaliya

et al. 2024

Qual Life Res

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Purpose Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC), being persistent COVID-19 symptoms, is reminiscent of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)—a chronic multi-systemic illness characterised by neurocognitive, autonomic, endocrinological and immunological disturbances. This novel cross-sectional investigation aims to: (1) compare symptoms among people with ME/CFS (pwME/CFS) and people with PCC (pwPCC) to inform developing PCC diagnostic criteria; and (2) compare health outcomes between patients and people without acute or chronic illness (controls) to highlight the illness burdens of ME/CFS and PCC. Methods Sociodemographic and health outcome data were collected from n = 61 pwME/CFS, n = 31 pwPCC and n = 54 controls via validated, self-administered questionnaires, including the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule version 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). PwME/CFS and pwPCC also provided self-reported severity and frequency of symptoms derived from the Canadian and International Consensus Criteria for ME/CFS and the World Health Organization case definition for PCC. Results Both illness cohorts similarly experienced key ME/CFS symptoms. Few differences in symptoms were observed, with memory disturbances, muscle weakness, lymphadenopathy and nausea more prevalent, light-headedness more severe, unrefreshed sleep more frequent, and heart palpitations less frequent among pwME/CFS (all p < 0.05). The ME/CFS and PCC participants’ SF-36v2 or WHODAS 2.0 scores were comparable (all p > 0.05); however, both cohorts returned significantly lower scores in all SF-36v2 and WHODAS 2.0 domains when compared with controls (all p < 0.001). Conclusion This Australian-first investigation demonstrates the congruent and debilitating nature of ME/CFS and PCC, thereby emphasising the need for multidisciplinary care to maximise patient health outcomes.

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Conceptual and Methodological Barriers to Understanding Long COVID

Jason,

Hansel

2024

COVID

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This article focuses on individuals with Long COVID after contracting SARS-CoV-2. Although some patients have complications such as diabetes mellitus or tissue damage to the heart or lungs as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection, our research focuses on individuals who have persistent symptoms that are not consistent with major organ dysfunction. The current article reviews methodological and conceptual issues that need to be considered in the development and use of a case definition for Long COVID and discusses the significance of appropriately phrasing questions assessing symptoms, specifying thresholds for when to count a symptom, determining how many symptoms should be required for a diagnosis, assessing symptoms over time, using multiple assessment modalities, and differentiating symptomatology from functionality. Dealing with these issues, particularly triangulating data from multiple sources, allows investigators to develop a more reliable and valid way to assess Long COVID.

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What Long COVID investigators can learn from four decades of ME/CFS research

Cited by 3 publications

References 106 publications

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Long COVID

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Long COVID

Illness presentation and quality of life in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post COVID-19 condition: a pilot Australian cross-sectional study

Conceptual and Methodological Barriers to Understanding Long COVID

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