NEWS UPDATES AS OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
by Roger Burns

The CFS-L / alt.med.cfs group is the oldest and largest online support group for CFS patients. Its operation was recently disrupted by the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The group is now operating normally, thanks to timely repairs of Internet data lines by New York's Verizon Telephone Company.

The group's messages, which are available both as an email list and as a Usenet newsgroup, are managed by the Maelstrom Listserv software which is sponsored by St. John's University in New York City. The University's Internet connection was disrupted when the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center were destroyed by a terrorist attack on Sept. 11. Hundreds of disability- and illness-related online groups were suspended when the University's Internet connection was cut.

Emergency worker at New York's "Ground Zero"

The moderators of the CFS-L group took the lead in requesting of the telephone company that a high priority be given to restoring service to the online support groups. Within 14 hours of placing the request, the Internet connection was restored for the Maelstrom Listserv and the support groups were then back online. Verizon Telephone Company is continuing to repair and re-route 3.5 million disrupted telephone circuits in New York.

Aerial view of the disaster area

The World Trade Center's twin 110-storey towers were destroyed by a bold terrorist attack involving hijacked passenger jets that were purposely crashed into the buildings, killing all aboard the aircraft including the terrorists themselves. Around the same time, a third plane was rammed into the Pentagon military headquarters in Washington, DC. The death toll in New York is currently counted as approximately 5,000 and in Washington it is about 200. Below are links to information related to these stories:

CFS-NEWS PUBLISHES REPORTS ON JANUARY'S AACFS CONFERENCE -- 2 MARCH

The most recent editions of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contain reports on the January AACFS medical conference. See the following links:

Also, the full text of Dr. Vallings' report has been combined into a single web page and can be seen at http://www.cfs-news.org/aacfs-01.htm

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON GENETIC LINK, U.S. STATE OF SCIENCE CONFERENCE, THE LATE DR. DAVID STREETEN -- 30 NOVEMBER

The November 30th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Genetic link to CFS is explored
2. Medical publications citations
3. U.S. State of the Science (SOS) Conference
4. The late Dr. David Streeten: His Life and Words

See the full text of the November 30th edition (click here).

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON OXIDATIVE STRESS, GROWTH HORMONE, LERNER'S HEART RESEARCH, OLYMPIC GOLD, KEITH JARRETT AND CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE -- 29 SEPTEMBER

The September 29th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Blood indicators of oxidative stress are associated with severity of CFS
2. Growth hormone secretions found lower in CFS
3. Heart research on CFS by Dr. A. Martin Lerner
4. CFS cerebral perfusion patterns may be similar to those in depression
5. Fatigued lupus patients are not strongly correlated to fibromyalgia
6. Abnormal neuropsychological findings are not necessarily a sign of cerebral impairment: comparison of CFS and MS
7. Medical literature citations
8. Olympic gold for Jonathan Edwards, CFS patient
9. Musician Keith Jarrett and chlamydia pneumoniae
10. NOTICE: French newsletter for CFS

See the full text of the September 29th edition (click here).

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON U.S. GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN OCTOBER: STATE OF THE SCIENCE CONFERENCE OCT. 23-24, CFS COORDINATING COMMITTEE OCT. 25, NAME CHANGE ISSUES, -- 26 SEPTEMBER

The September 26th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. U.S. government meetings in October
2. State of the Science conference, Oct. 23-24
3. CFS Coordinating Committee conducts business
4. Name change workgroup
5. EDITORIAL: Name change issues

See the full text of the September 26th edition (click here).

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON FIBROMYALGIA IN MEN, BELL'S ORTHOSTATIC RESEARCH, OLYMPIC CHAMPION MICHELLE AKERS RETIRES -- 31 AUGUST

The August 31st edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Fibromyalgia in men found more severe although less frequent
2. "No Other Illness Like This One": Dr. Bell Finds Dramatic
3. Abnormalities in CFIDS
4. Medical literature citations
5. Olympic soccer champion Michelle Akers ends career due to injury and CFS

See the full text of the August 31st edition (click here).

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON ORTHOSTATIC FINDINGS, ENDOCRINE ABNORMALITIES, REVIEW PAPERS, CONFERENCE NEWS, CFSCC ON GAO REPORT -- 31 JULY

The July 31st edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Orthostatic abnormalities in CFS
2. NIH study sees endocrine abnormalities in fibromyalgia
3. Endocrine abnormalities not found in women with CFS or FMS
4. Israeli review paper on fibromyalgia, CFS, and myofascial pain syndrome
5. German review paper on psychosomatics and pain in disability cases
6. News updates on conferences
7. Medical publications citations
8. U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee addresses GAO criticisms

See the full text of the July 31st edition (click here).

Research paper: Blood parameters indicative of oxidative stress are associated with symptom expression in CFS, by Richards RS, Roberts TK, McGregor NR, Dunstan RH, Butt HL -- 31 Jul

Research paper: Lupus patients with fatigue-is there a link with fibromyalgia syndrome?, by Taylor J, et al. -- 31 Jul

Research paper: Findings indicate that fibromyalgia is one of the causes of TMD, by Hedenberg-Magnusson B, Ernberg M, Kopp S -- 31 Jul

Research paper: Joint hypermobility and primary fibromyalgia: a clinical enigma, by Karaaslan Y, et al. -- 31 Jul

Research paper from the CDC: Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study, by Reeves WC, et al. -- 29 Jul

Research paper: CFS Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis of a Behaviorally-Activated Neuromodulator of Fatigue , by Hurwitz BE, Brownley KA, Fletcher MA, Klimas NG -- 29 Jul

Research paper: Abnormal neuropsychological findings are not necessarily a sign of cerebral impairment: a matched comparison between CFS and multiple sclerosis , by van der Werf SP, et al. -- 28 Jul

Research paper: Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder in clinical evaluation of CFS , by Deale A, Wessely S -- 28 Jul

Research paper: Effects of sleep deprivation on neural circulatory control, by Kato M, et al. -- 27 Jul

Research paper: NIH reports study on pain , by Ruda MA, et al. -- 27 Jul

Research paper: Diagnostic Criteria of Myofascial Pain Caused by Trigger Points, by Simons DG -- 26 Jul

Research paper: Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue , by Stough C, Withers G -- 26 Jul

News: Dr. Bell Finds Dramatic Abnormalities in CFIDS -- 26 Jul

Research paper: Patients with Fibromyalgia Benefit from Aerobic Endurance Exercise, by Meiworm L -- 25 Jul

Research paper: Comparative Study of Antidepressants and Herbal Psychotropic Drugs in a Mouse Model of Chronic Fatigue , by Kaur G, Kulkarni SK -- 24 Jul

Research paper: Circulation Problem May Contribute To Chronic Fatigue In Gulf War Veterans , by Peckerman A, et al. -- 23 Jul

Special edition of Occupational Medicine: Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity -- 23 Jul

Research paper: Four Cases of Pesticide Poisoning, Presenting as “ME,” Treated with a Choline and Ascorbic Acid Mixture, by Richardson J -- 22 Jul

Research paper: Measuring Outcomes of Treatment in CFS: A Comparison of Simple Questioning vs. Use of a Validated Outcome Instrument (Short Form 36), by Schwartz SN, Jones R -- 20 Jul

U.S. CFSCC: New nominees sought (file by Sept. 11) -- 20 Jul

Ampligen manufacturer warned by FDA -- 19 Jul

AFSA 2000 now open seminar: Saturday, August 5 -- 19 Jul

Research paper: Salivary gland changes in chronic fatigue syndrome: A case-controlled preliminary histologic study, by Woo SB, Schacterle RS, Komaroff AL, Gallagher GT -- 18 Jul

New CFIDS Book in August: "Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" -- 18 Jul

Research paper: Sleep disorder self-treatment with herbs examined in University of Illinois study, by Gyllenhaal C, et al. -- 17 Jul

Name Change and Victorian Government Taxi Directorate Criteria (Australia) -- 17 Jul

Congressman Criticizes U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee -- 14 Jul

Research paper: Cytomegalovirus link to heart disease seen in NIH study , by Sorlie PD, et al. -- 14 Jul

U.S. CFSCC discusses GAO report -- 13 Jul

Research paper: Russian article on mechanisms of CFS found in people in ecologically unfavorable conditions -- 9 Jul

Research paper: The search for legitimacy and the "expertization" of the lay person: the case of CFS, by Clarke JN -- 8 Jul

Research paper: Odor perception -- multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue, and asthma, by Caccappolo E, Kipen H, et al. -- 8 Jul

Review paper: Traumatic stress disorders -- a classification with implications for prevention and management, by Pearn J -- 6 Jul

Science essay: CFS -- a matter of enzyme deficiencies? by van der Steen WJ -- 4 Jul
    Description    Full text

Research paper: Is systemic lupus erythematosus, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or fibromyalgia associated with Persian Gulf War service? An examination of Department of Defense hospitalization data, by Smith TC, et al. -- 3 Jul

Research paper: Prevalence and impact of posttraumatic stress disorder-like symptoms on patients with fibromyalgia syndrome, by Sherman JJ, et al. -- 3 Jul

Research paper: Disturbed Neuroendocrine-Immune Interactions in CFS, by Kavelaars A, et al. -- 1 Jul

New book: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible Illnesses : A Complete and Compassionate Guide, by Katrina Berne, Daniel L. Peterson -- 1 Jul

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON KETAMINE, GULF WAR STUDIES, ENDOCRINE STUDY, AMPLIGEN BATTLE, CDC SCANDAL, NAME-CHANGE, SCIENCE FICTION -- 30 JUNE

The June 30th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Ketamine reduces pain in fibromyalgia
2. Gulf War veterans show brain cell decline
3. Large survey finds no unique Gulf War syndrome, but ailing veterans nonetheless need treatment
4. Belgian PhD. thesis: endocrine and metabolic aspects of CFS
5. Ampligen vs. Asensio: report in the Wall Street Journal
6. GAO report on CDC and NIH
7. USA Name Change group is appointed by government committee
8. EDITORIAL: The Mystery Ailment from Planet Sci-Fi

See the full text of the June 30th edition (click here).

Media: Wall Street Journal reports on Ampligen manufacturer's battle with short-seller Asensio (full text of article plus summary) -- 26 Jun

Media: Reuters on GAO report -- 24 Jun

GAO Report is released on CDC scandal, full text now online:
Report confirms gov't negligence and decreased research
    Full text -- web page (178 Kb)     Adobe document (PDF)
    Summary from CFIDS Asaoc.
    Background: CDC scandal info page

U.S. CFSCC will meet to discuss GAO report on CDC scandal, meeting on July 12; agenda is published -- 22 Jun

State of Science conference tentative agenda for Oct. 23-24 meeting -- 22 Jun

Research paper: Gulf War study in Iowa finds evidence of multiple symptoms, but no unique syndrome -- 22 Jun

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for bi-annual conference of American Association for CFS (AACFS) -- 19 Jun

Pain news updates -- 19 Jun

Discussion paper: The symptoms of CFS are related to abnormal ion channel function, by Chaudhuri A, Watson WS, Pearn J, Behan PO -- 19 Jun

Review paper: Multiple chemical sensitivity: potential role for neural sensitization , by Sorg BA -- 19 Jun

Ph.D. Thesis: Endocrine and Metabolic Aspects of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , by Greta Moorkens, Antwerp University, Belgium, March 2000 -- 17 Jun
CAUTION: this is a large file -- 247 Kb

Discussion: CFS in the American Journal of Medicine , by Richard N. Podell and Peter Manu -- 17 Jun

Research paper: CFS: gender differences in the search for legitimacy, by Clarke JN -- 16 Jun

Research paper: Significant other responses are associated with fatigue and functional status among patients with CFS , by Schmaling KB, Smith WR, Buchwald DS -- 16 Jun

Research paper: Cerebral perfusion in chronic fatigue syndrome and depression, by MacHale SM, Lawrie SM , et al. -- 14 Jun
    Description    Full text

Research paper: Symptom patterns in long-duration CFS , by Friedberg F, et al. -- 14 Jun

News: U.S. Name Change Workgroup is chosen -- 13 Jun

New book: CFIDS, Fibromyalgia, and the Virus-Allergy Link, by R. Bruce Duncan -- 12 Jun

Review paper: Response to Warfarin and Other Oral Anticoagulants: Effects of Disease States , by Demirkan K, et al. -- 12 Jun

Law: UNUM lawsuit, call for witnesses -- 11 Jun

News: New theory of allergic diseases -- link to Nerve Growth Factor seen in Johns Hopkins research -- 10 Jun

News: Stephen Straus's Impossible Job , Science magazine -- 9 Jun

News: Subrouping within disease -- MS may be four diseases , Reuters wire service report -- 9 Jun

Research paper: Citalopram in patients with fibromyalgia, by , et al. -- 7 Jun

Media: M.E. in the London Daily Mail -- 7 Jun

News: "New Scientist" recommends CBT for CFS -- 6 Jun

Research paper: The difference in patterns of motor and cognitive function in CFS and severe depressive illness, by Lawrie SM, et al. -- 6 Jun

Research paper: Responses of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to interleukin-6: a pilot study in fibromyalgia, by Torpy DJ, et al. -- 6 Jun

European Conference on Psychosomatic Research will include CFS issues , to be held 17-21 June 2000 in Oslo, Norway -- 5 Jun

Essay: The Physical Basis of CFS, by Prof. Anthony L. Komaroff, Harvard Medical School -- 4 Jun

Research paper: Gulf War vets show brain cell loss, by Haley RW et al. -- 1 Jun
    Abstract from Medline
    News reports:    Fedbuzz.com    London Times

Interview with Prof. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, says chemical cocktail made Gulf War troops ill, from the BBC -- 1 Jun

Research paper: Fibromyalgia study shows motor cortical dysfunction disclosed by single and double magnetic stimulation, by Salerno A, et al. -- 1 Jun

Medical Update (Professional's version) for June 2000 -- 1 Jun

Research paper: Fibromyalgia study finds nutritional supplementation with chlorella pyrenoidosa is helpful, by Merchant RE, et al. -- 1 Jun

NIH report on its State-of-the-Science Consultation of Feb. 6-7 -- 1 Jun

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON VACCINATIONS AND GULF WAR, BORNA VIRUS, CFS DEFINITION, AND CONFERENCES -- 31 MAY

The May 31st edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Vaccinations linked to Gulf War Syndrome
2. Discussion of Borna virus disease and CFS
3. CDC workshop on CFS definition
4. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for AACFS Conference
5. Conferences and meetings
6. Medical publication citations
7. EDITORIAL: Illness or disease? The case of CFS
   by Doctors Lloyd, Hickie and Loblay

See the full text of the May 31st edition (click here).

Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Moss about chronic illness and the role of Th1 and Th2 -- 30 May

U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee to meet on July 12, will discuss GAO report on CDC scandal -- 28 May

Fibromyalgia medical conference for doctors, August 4-6, Tucson, Arizona -- 23 May

Remarks of Prof. Tim Roberts on CFS -- 23 May

CDC holds workshop on definition of CFS, -- 22 May

Two fibromyalgia studies in the Journal of Rheumatology, on disability, and muscles, -- 22 May

Research paper: Premovement and Cognitive Brain Potentials in CFS, by Gordon R, et al. -- 21 May

Science editorial: Illness or disease? The case of CFS, by Lloyd AR, Hickie IB, Loblay RH -- 20 May

Research paper in BMJ:
Vaccines linked to Gulf War Syndrome,
by Hotopf M, et al. -- 18 May
    Paper's full text
    Science editorial critical of the study
    News reports on the study:    BBC    Reuters

Medical Update (Laymen's version) for May 2000 -- 15 May

Research paper: An Empirical Verification of the Fennell Phases of the CFS Illness, by Jason LA, Fennell PA, et al. -- 15 May

Dr. Anne Macintyre speaks before UK M.E. Association -- 13 May

MAY 12 REPORTS:

• British Columbia proclamation on M.E. awareness - 15 May
• USA: report on Letters Project - 15 May
• North Carolina governor's proclamation for fibromyalgia awareness - 14 May
• UK The Comet news article on M.E. - 12 May
• Australia: ABC Radio National's "Life Matters" program on CFS - 12 May
• San Francisco Chronicle news article - 12 May
• New Hampshire mayor proclaims MCS week - 12 May
• BBC web page for M.E. awareness - 12 May
• Irish Times news articles - 8 May
      Just tired, or is it ME?    No energy to be positive
• Australia: rally at Parliament House, Canberra - 10 May
• Manchester Guardian news article - 9 May
• BBC Radio 4 program on CFS, children in danger - 9 May
• CFS awareness in Belgium - 9 May
• North Carolina mayor's proclamation for fibromyalgia awareness - 9 May
• Las Vegas Sun news article - 9 May
• USA: Lifetime Live (cable TV) - 24 Apr

News report: Intestinal protein linked to autoimmune disorders -- 10 May

Research paper: Elevated, sustained peroxynitrite levels as the cause of CFS, by Pall ML -- 10 May

USA: disability attorney Scott Davis is interviewed -- 9 May

Research paper: Is there any relationship between eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)? An analysis of clinical and immunological data, by Barth H, Berg PA, Klein R -- 9 May

U.S. "State of Science" conference to be held Oct. 23-24, CFS Coordinating Committee business meeting on Oct. 25 -- 8 May

Research paper: CFS in Horses: Diagnosis and Treatment of 4 Cases , by Walter Tarello, veterinary surgeon -- 7 May

Research paper: Erythrocyte Morphology in Rheumatoid Arthritis and CFS: A Preliminary Study, by Richards RS, Roberts TK, et al. -- 7 May

Research paper: Prevalence of Fatigue and CFS-Like Illness in Children and Adolescents, by Jordan KM, et al. -- 3 May

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON HHV-6, ATTRIBUTIONS, LONG-TERM PATTERNS, AND NAME CHANGE -- 30 APR

The April 30th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. Frequent HHV-6 reactivation in MS and CFS
2. Attributions of illness for CFS and FM
3. Symptom patterns in long duration CFS
4. Prognosis of CFS in children
5. Melatonin treatment may help fibromyalgia
6. Co-existence of CFS with FM in the general population
7. Growth hormone deficiency found unrelated to CFS
8. Medical publications citations
9. EDITORIAL: No name change in sight

See the full text of the April 30th edition (click here).

Media: Financial Times of London reports "M.E. hits ethnic minorities" -- 29 Apr

Research paper: Comorbid fibromyalgia accounts for reduced fecundity in women with myofascial face pain, by Raphael KG, Marbach JJ -- 20 Apr

Research paper: The effect of melatonin in patients with fibromyalgia: a pilot study, by Citera G, et al. -- 18 Apr

Gulf war illness associated with military vaccination, says Tulane research -- 16 Apr
    Media article     Research abstract

Research paper: Treatment of fibromyalgia with tropisetron, a 5HT3 serotonin antagonist: a pilot study by Papadopoulos IA, et al.-- 11 Apr

U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee reports on planning for State of Science meeting -- 9 Apr

Research paper: The course of severe chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood, by Rangel L, et al. -- 2 Apr

Research paper: Immune Activity in Fibromyalgia Patients Is Associated with Regions of the Brain, by Lekander M, et al. -- 1 Apr

Research paper: Frequent HHV-6 reactivation in multiple sclerosis and CFS patients, by Ablashi DV, et al. -- 30 Mar

CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON HHV-6 BOOK, SPINAL SURGERY, NEWS UPDATES -- 30 MAR

This edition of CFS-NEWS catches up on news since the previous edition issued on October 29. This March 30th edition of the CFS-NEWS Newsletter contains the following articles:

1. New popular book "The Virus Within" discusses HHV-6 as possible causal factor in CFS, MS, and AIDS
2. Science news
3. Spinal surgery prompts serious controversies
4. News on Politics, Media, etc.
5. GAO petition
6. New web site for CFS-NEWS

The science news article reports on: a scientific review paper on HHV-6; a comparison of the '88 and '94 definitions; a TNF-alpha study; research showing that CFS affects more people than previously thought; and a list of upcoming medical conferences. The political news article reports on: the European Alliance; the Belgium government recognizing CFS; the Nevada "Think Tank"; the NIH "State of the Science" conference; the U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee (CFSCC); and a CDC Scandal update.

See the full text of the March 30th edition (click here).