CFS-NEWS NEWS ARCHIVE

This is the News Archive for the CFS-NEWS page. See the following related links:


Archive of News Stories

Review paper: Human Herpesvirus 6: An Emerging Pathogen, by Campadelli-Fiume G, Mirandola P, Menotti L -- 28 Mar 2000

Research paper: A 37 kDa 2-5A binding protein as a potential biochemical marker for CFS, by de Meirleir K, et al. -- 27 Mar 2000

David Berg, PhD. discusses on anti-coagulation therapy (transcript) -- 27 Mar 2000
    For further info, see the Hemex Lab web page on CFS

USA: Washington lobby days moved to June 21-22 for this year -- 27 Mar 2000

USA: Fibromyalgia patient wins $2.37 million in court case, from the National Law Journal -- 27 Mar 2000

Research paper: Effects of staphylococcus toxoid vaccine on pain and fatigue in patients with FMS/CFS, by Andersson M, et al. -- 24 Mar 2000

Notice: Possible source of fibromyalgia research grants -- 24 Mar 2000

New popular book "The Virus Within" discusses HHV-6 as possible causal factor in CFS, MS, and AIDS -- 21 Mar 2000
    Description of book from publisher
    Author Nicholas Regush discusses HHV-6 and CFS
    Book reviewed by S.A. Jefferies
    Transcript of previous chat on March 8

Research paper: 1988 definition of CFS shows more acute onset, is more suggestive of an infectious process, compared to 1994 definition , by Arpino C, et al. -- 20 Mar 2000

Research paper: Co-existence of CFS with fibromyalgia syndrome in the general population: a controlled study, by White KP, et al. -- 18 Mar 2000

Research paper: Autonomic dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia: application of power spectral analysis of heart rate variability, by Cohen H, et al. -- 18 Mar 2000

NIH-supported scientists decipher genetic code for "Chlamydia" species, by Read TD, Fraser CM, et al. -- 17 Mar 2000

USA: ABC News reports on spinal surgery for CFS -- 14 Mar 2000

Summary report
Online transcript of program is not available now. See also the recent well-balanced story in the Wall Street Journal

Review paper: Trauma and fibromyalgia: is there an association and what does it mean?, by White KP, et al. -- 13 Mar 2000

Research paper: Connective tissue massage in the treatment of fibromyalgia, by Brattberg G -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Elevated plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in female fibromyalgia patients, by Anderberg UM, et al. -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Preference for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs over acetaminophen by rheumatic disease patients: a survey of 1,799 patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia, by Wolfe F, Zhao S, Lane N -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Pain and allodynia/hyperalgesia induced by intramuscular injection of serotonin in patients with fibromyalgia and healthy individuals, by Ernberg M, Lundeberg T, Kopp S -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Functional anatomy of hypnotic analgesia: a PET study of patients with fibromyalgia, by Wik G, et al. -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: CFS in patients with Lyme Borreliosis, by Treib J, et al. -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Neurally mediated hypotension in fatigued Gulf War veterans: a preliminary report, by Davis SD, et al. -- 8 Mar 2000

Research paper: Determinants of health status in fibromyalgia: a comparative study with systemic lupus erythematosus, by Da Costa et al. -- 7 Mar 2000

Research paper: Orthostatic Intolerance and Tachycardia Associated with Norepinephrine-Transporter Deficiency, by Shannon JR et al. (published in New England Journal of Medicine) -- 7 Mar 2000
    Press release     Abstract of paper

Research paper: Multiple mycoplasmal infections detected in blood of patients with CFS and/or fibromyalgia syndrome, by Nasralla M, Haier J, Nicolson GL -- 6 Mar 2000

Research paper: Disturbed neuroendocrine-immune interactions in CFS, by Kavelaars A, et al. -- 5 Mar 2000

USA: Large jury award for post-traumatic fibromyalgia -- 4 Mar 2000

BBC report: Study says onset of CFS in children begins in autumn -- 1 Mar 2000

ME and CFS Medical Update, March '00 (professionals version) -- 1 Mar 2000


CDC Scandal:
Lively exchange at Senate hearing

by Roger Burns

In contrast to a U.S. House of Representatives hearing held on Feb. 10, 2000, a Feb. 29 hearing before a U.S. Senate committee was lively, and was difficult for the official being questioned, Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, Director of the CDC.

Several questions were posed to Director Koplan about the CDC's diversion of research funds and the adequacy of that agency's CFS program, but Koplan's routine answers were not accepted by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and subcommittee chairman Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). Sen. Reid expressed astonishment that a CDC employee had told the Inspector-General that "It's a 'bigger crime' to follow Congress's direction rather than spend money where science dictates", as reported in the Washington Post and in other newspapers around the U.S. Reid said that that was virtually spitting in the eye of Congress, and asked how could the CDC keep such a person on its payroll. Director Koplan said he wasn't familiar with that employee and was unaware that such a statement had been made, so he couldn't respond specifically, but the quote given was antithetical to Koplan's own beliefs. Sen. Reid also said there were new reports that research funds for Lyme disease had also been diverted.

Sen. Arlen Specter bore in to Dr. Koplan during his own question period. Specter asked Koplan three times whether he had gotten more information from the Inspector-General's office than just the official report. The Senator further asked whether there were other diseases in addition to hantavirus and CFS that were involved in the diversion of funds, to which Koplan replied no. Specter also asked what disciplinary actions the CDC had taken. At first Koplan responded that there had been a re-assignment of one administrator. But under further questioning by Specter, Koplan later said that the re-assignment had nothing to do with a disciplinary action but was done only because that individual's talents were more useful elsewhere.

At the end of the hearing, Specter asked Koplan whether he had determined that false statements had ever been made about the CFS program. At that point, HHS Secretary Shalala intervened and said that the privacy laws which protect government employees prevent Director Koplan from answering that question. After consulting with Secy. Shalala in private, an apparently frustrated Senator Specter said he would defer his question for the moment, but that it would ultimately be answered in public, and if need be there would be an additional Senate hearing.

During the hearing, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) said that he felt this entire issue was likely due to a misunderstanding and that no misstatements were made intentionally by CDC staff. Sen. Harkin outlined the need for improved coordination between the CDC and Congress.

---------------------------------------------

Roger Burns publishes the CFS-NEWS newsletter. For a free subscription, mailto:cfs-news-subscribe-request@maelstrom.stjohns.edu

CDC response to CFS patient leaders -- 27 Feb 2000

BMJ special edition on managing chronic illnesses -- 26 Feb 2000

Canadian medical conference on ME/FM/MCS, Nov. 17-19 in Ottawa , will include creating a clinical definition of M.E./FM -- posted 25 Feb 2000

Research paper: Fibromyalgia in men: comparison of clinical features with women. Authors: Yunus MB -- 24 Feb 2000

CFS in Japan: report in the New York Times -- 21 Feb 2000

Research paper: Patterns of waking EEG spectral power in chemically intolerant individuals during repeated chemical exposures. , by Bell IR et al. -- 20 Feb 2000

BMJ: Letters on Pawlikowska et al's paper on "Population based study of fatigue and psychological distress" -- 19 Feb 2000
    Text of original article

Survey of Australian doctors' beliefs, attitudes and reported actions regarding CFS -- 17 Feb 2000

Australian Journal of Medicine: editorial on CFS -- 17 Feb 2000

M.E. & CFS Medical Update for Laymen, Feb. '00 -- 16 Feb 2000

Research paper: CFS beginning suddenly occurs seasonally over the year, by Zhang, Natelson et al. -- 15 Feb 2000

Correspondence on Barsky et. al's "Functional Somatic Syndromes", Annals of Internal Medicine -- 15 Feb 2000
    Text of original article

Letter in response to Goldenberg's review of fibromyalgia, Archives of Internal Medicine -- 15 Feb 2000
    Text of original article

Research paper: Examination of Cloninger's basic dimensions of personality in fatiguing illness: CFS and MS, by Christodoulou, Deluca et al. -- 12 Feb 2000


CDC scandal expands:
Concern in Washington increases

In early February 2000 it was revealed that CDC funds from another research area (hantavirus) had also been diverted, and by the same person who had diverted the CFS funds in the past (Dr. Brian Mahy). That prompted the following events:

* A Congressional Commerce subcommittee declared that it would be launching its own investigation of these matters

* The U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, announced that she would be ordering her own reforms.

* At a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, CDC Director Koplan announced that there would be an additional outside audit of the CDC's accounts, and that Dr. Brian Mahy had been re-assigned away from the CDC division he had been running. The Congressmen expressed faith in the integrity of the CDC Director and his agency, but wanted to know that the problems would be resolved.

Links to the latest news stories appear below. For a complete background on the CDC scandal, see http://www.cfs-news.org/scandal.htm

Reports on Congressional hearing of Feb. 10, 2000:
  • CFIDS Association: Dr. Mahy is re-assigned -- 10 Feb 2000
  • Washington Post: Misleading Reports to Hill Blamed on Agency 'Culture' -- 11 Feb 2000
  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: CDC chief's removal of division head lauded -- 11 Feb 2000
  • U.S. HHS Secretary calls for better bookkeeping at CDC (Associated Press) -- 8 Feb 2000

    New investigation by an additional Congress committee (Washington Post) -- 9 Feb 2000

    The journal Science reports on the CDC scandal -- 6 Feb 2000

    CDC scandal expands to hantavirus research -- 2 Feb 2000

  • Washington Post front page article about new diversion of research funds
  • Another apology from CDC Director
    (Associated Press)
  • CFIDS Assoc. press release
  • Background on CDC scandal
  • Again, for a complete background on the CDC scandal, see the CDC Scandal information web page at http://www.cfs-news.org/scandal.htm


    NIH "State of the Science" conference

    The U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee (CFSCC) has been developing a plan over the past year to hold a "State of the Science" conference on CFS. Over time the plan was modified, and it evolved into an "NIH internal consultation". The means by which the plan changed in its concept and management remains a matter of controversy. Patient leaders, including representatives on the U.S. CFSCC, expressed deep concern that the announced design of the NIH conference placed an over-emphasis on psychiatric viewpoints. The conference was modified in minor ways to accomodate some concerns from the patient community.

    The "NIH internal consultation" occurred on Feb. 6-7, 2000. The NIH staff who planned the meeting were mostly satisfied with its outcome. Patient leaders had mixed responses about the results.

    The CFSCC is now proceeding to develop a "state of the science" conference in accordance with its original plan. This conference may take place in November.

    Below are links to news stories about these events.

    NIH conference and CFSCC business meeting are completed: a preliminary report by the CFIDS Assoc. -- 10 Feb 2000

    First day of NIH "State of Science" meeting -- 7 Feb 2000

    NIH "State of Science" conference becomes controversial:

  • First report on controversy -- 24 Jan 2000
  • Conference is modified -- 28 Jan 2000
  • Further update -- 31 Jan 2000
  • CFIDS Association reports -- 31 Jan 2000
  • -- 19 Feb 2000

  • Research paper: Muscle performance in fibromyalgia syndrome, by Borman, Celiker, Hascelik -- 11 Feb 2000

    Awareness: May 12 "Message in a Bottle" project -- 11 Feb 2000

    Research paper: Sjogren's-like symptom not found in fibromyalgia, by Gunaydin I et al -- 9 Feb 2000

    Letters in JAMA: discussion of book review of "Chronic Fatigue: Syndrome or Disease?" -- 8 Feb 2000

    Canadian law proposed to protect patients with MCS, CFS, FMS -- 8 Feb 2000
       News story    Text of bill

    Research paper: Suhadolnik marker for CFS tested in Belgium study, by de Meirleir et al -- 7 Feb 2000

    News report: Japan Health Ministry reports one third of nation suffers from chronic fatigue -- 6 Feb 2000

    Research paper: Stress can induce neuroendocrine disorders and pain. [Article in Swedish], by Anderberg UM -- 6 Feb 2000

    CFS in two studies of Gulf War Illness -- 5 Feb 2000

    News report: Mycoplasma associated with CFS and other ills (New York Times Syndicate) -- 4 Feb 2000

    M.E. patient to help pass Olympic torch -- 3 Feb 2000

    Review article: Hepatitis C as a factor in fibromyalgia, by Ferri and Zignego -- 2 Feb 2000

    Radiation and chemical exposures associated with CFS and other ills, says union representative, report in New York Times -- 31 Jan 2000

    Fibromyalgia syndrome: a comprehensive approach to identification and management in Clin Excell Nurse Pract, by Leslie M -- 31 Jan 2000

    Response to BMJ paper on "Functional Somatic Syndrome" -- 30 Jan 2000

    AACFS challenges "Functional Somatic Syndromes", in Annals of Internal Medicine -- 29 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Autonomic function in patients with CFS, by Soetekouw et al.-- 28 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Evaluation of the relationship between depression and fibromyalgia syndrome: why aren't all patients depressed?, by Okifuji et al. -- 28 Jan 2000

    Review article: "CFS", in British Medical Journal, by Reid, Chalder, Cleare, Hotopf, and Wessely -- 28 Jan 2000

    News report: New, simple test for vasovagal syncope may replace tilt table -- 27 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Overlapping Conditions Among Patients With CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Temporomandibular Disorder, by Aaron, Burke, Buchwald -- 25 Jan 2000

    New book on M.E. in children, by Jane Colby, Action for M.E. children's officer -- 24 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Psychiatric diagnoses in Gulf War veterans with fatiguing illness, by Lange, Tiersky, DeLuca et al. -- 23 Jan 2000

    Research paper: EMG-biofeedback helps with fibromyalgia (paper in German), by Mur et al. -- 23 Jan 2000

    Research paper: CFS and fibromyalgia as recognized by doctors in The Netherlands -- 21 Jan 2000
        Summary report   Full text

    Research paper: The role of the monopolar electromyographic pin in myofascial pain therapy, by J Chu -- 20 Jan 2000

    Encyclopedia Britannica health web page features CFS -- 19 Jan 2000

    Paper: Strong electro-magnetic fields associated with immune system stressor in CFS-like illness -- 19 Jan 2000

    Interview with researcher Larry Kaplow: new parasite found in some CFS patients -- 18 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Acute phase responses and cytokine secretion in CFS, by Cannon JG et al.-- 17 Jan 2000

    Review article -- CFS: new insights and old ignorance (Journal of Internal Medicine), by Evengård, Schacterle, Komaroff -- 17 Jan 2000

    News article: Childhood polio infection may cause CFS in baby-boomers (published research by Dr. Richard L. Bruno) -- 13 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Fibromyalgia: a risk factor for osteoporosis , by Swezey and Adams -- 8 Jan 2000

    Research paper: The development of the CFS Attitudes Test: a psychometric analysis, by Shlaes, Jason et al. -- 8 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Fibromyalgia in the irritable bowel syndrome: studies of prevalence and clinical implications , by Sperber et al. -- 2 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Competition for glutathione precursors between the immune system and the skeletal muscle: pathogenesis of CFS , by Bounous and Molson -- 2 Jan 2000

    Research paper: Melatonin levels in women with fibromyalgia and CFS , by Korszun et al. -- 23 Dec 1999

    Researchers Pinpoint Chronic Fatigue Sufferers Who Are More Likely to Recover, by Hartz et al. -- 23 Dec 1999

  • News summary
  • Full text

    Children in danger: controversy on removing children from parents because of perceived Munchausen's By Proxy: letters in response discuss CFS/M.E. cases -- 22 Dec 1999

    BMJ editorial by Harvey Marcovitch (which does not specifically mention CFS/M.E.) BMJ 1999;319:1376 ( 20 November )

    Letters in response, which do refer to CFS/M.E. cases:

    Letter by Simon Wessely, MD
    Letter by Ellen Goudsmit, PhD
    Letter by Derek Pheby, MD

    Fibromyalgia: Letters in Archives of Internal Medicine comment on April review article -- 22 Dec 1999

    Original article by Don L. Goldenberg, MD: Fibromyalgia Syndrome a Decade Later -- What Have We Learned? Ann Int Med, April 26, 1999; 159(8)

    Letters in response that appeared in Ann Int Med, November 8, 1999; 159(20):
    Letter by Riccardo Baschetti
    Letter by Thomas J. Romano

    Interview: author Donald Scott discusses West Nile Virus, and how mycoplasma relates to cancer -- 20 Dec 1999

    Research paper: Personality and social attitudes in CFS , by Wood and Wessely -- 17 Dec 1999

    Research paper: Instantaneous orthostatic hypotension in children and adolescents: a new entity of orthostatic intolerance, by Tanaka et al. -- 14 Dec 1999

    Research paper: Can we predict recovery in CFS? , by Pheley et al. -- 10 Dec 1999

    Research paper: Monitoring and assessing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome: use of time series regression , by Jason et al. -- 9 Dec 1999

    Paper: CFS Twin Registry, interim report , by Buchwald et al. -- 9 Dec 1999

    Dr. Paul Cheney suggests "voyager RNA" could be marker for CFS -- 8 Dec 1999

    NIH grant offer on alternative therapies -- 6 Dec 1999

    Interview: Dr. Howard B. Urnovitz on chronic illnesses and DNA activity -- 5 Dec 1999

    Paper: Chronic Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infection: A Treatable Cause of CFS , by John K. S. Chia -- 5 Dec 1999

    Editorial from the journal CLINICAL SCIENCE -- CFS: the physiology of people on the low end of the spectrum of physical activity? -- 3 Dec 1999

    Research paper: Premovement and Cognitive Brain Potentials in CFS , by Gordon et al. -- 3 Dec 1999

    Media: Musician Keith Jarett discusses his CFS illness (Associated Press) -- 1 Dec 1999

    M.E. & CFS Update for Doctors, Dec. '99 -- 1 Dec 1999

    News reports: Study says Gulf War vets show brain damage, may be due to chemical exposures -- 30 Nov 1999

  • Associated Press
  • Reuters
  • CNN

    USA fibromyalgia patient wins disability lawsuit -- 30 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Corticomotor excitability and perception of effort during sustained exercise in the chronic fatigue syndrome , by Sacco, et al. -- 28 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Brain MRI abnormalities exist in a subset of patients with CFS , by Lange, DeLuce, et al. -- 28 Nov 1999

    Paper in Journal of CFS: A Subgroup Analysis of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Studies , by Fred Friedberg -- 27 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Absence of evidence of Borna disease virus infection in Swedish patients with CFS , by Evengård et al.-- 27 Nov 1999

    Review paper in Journal of CFS: An Overview of Psychometric Assessment , by Fred Friedberg -- 27 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Attention and Information Processing Efficiency in Patients with CFS , by Michiels et al. -- 26 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Prognostic factors for the development of fibromyalgia in women with self-reported musculoskeletal pain. A prospective study. , by Forseth et al. -- 24 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Multiplex PCR for the Detection of Mycoplasmas in CFS and related illnesses , by Vojdani and Franco -- 24 Nov 1999

    Interview: Prof. Garth Nicolson discusses mycoplasma -- 22 Nov 1999

    Research papers on fibromyalgia published in Baillieres Clinical Rheumatology -- 21 Nov 1999

    Media: The Economist covers CFS in a news article -- 21 Nov 1999

    Review article in Annals of Behavioral Medicine: CFS Not Fully Understood , by Susan Johnson, et al. -- 21 Nov 1999

    News article: Scientists Make Pain Relief Strides -- 19 Nov 1999

    Review article: Chronic fatigue syndrome - mapping the interior , by Hotopf and Wessely -- 18 Nov 1999

    Mycoplasma info web page available -- 18 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Possible association of fibromyalgia with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region. , by Offenbaecher et al. -- 17 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Borna Disease Virus Proteins in Patients with CFS , by Susan Levine -- 17 Nov 1999

    Research paper: The Relationship Between CFS and Chemical Exposure , by Vojdani and Lapp -- 15 Nov 1999

    Media: Chiari surgery for chronic fatigue reported in Baltimore Sun -- 14 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Biochemical Dysregulation of the 2-5A Synthetase/RNase L Antiviral Defense Pathway in CFS , by Suhadolnik et al. -- 12 Nov 1999

    Press release: Possible urine marker for CFS found in NADH-related research -- 12 Nov 1999

    Wall Street Journal reports on chiari surgery for chronic fatigue -- 11 Nov 1999

    Medical conference on orthostatic intolerance to be held July 28-30 -- 11 Nov 1999

    CDC scandal: Senator calls for criminal investigation -- 10 Nov 1999
        News article from the CFIDS Assoc.
        Washington Post article

    CNN story on CBT for CFS -- 10 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Concentration and Memory Deficits in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome , by Grace GM et al. -- 9 Nov 1999

    BBC TV program -- transcript -- 8 Nov 1999

    Mycoplasma Registry Newsletter: Part I Part II -- 8 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Impaired oxygen delivery to muscle in chronic fatigue syndrome , by McCully KK, Natelson BH -- 8 Nov 1999

    Letters published in Archives of Internal Medicine in reponse to "Fibromyalgia Syndrome a Decade Later: What Have We Learned?" -- 7 Nov 1999

    CFS Definition slide slow presentation by Leonard Jason, Ph.D. -- 7 Nov 1999

    NIH grant offerings -- 5 Nov 1999

    International Fibromyalgia Conference, May 19-21, 2000, Los Angeles -- 5 Nov 1999

    PHOTOS of CFS-related events -- 5 Nov 1999

    U.S. CFS Coordinating Committee Meeting -- evidence-based medicine survey, name-change questions -- 4 Nov 1999

    Research paper: Five-Year Follow-Up of Young People with CFS Following the Double Blind Randomised Controlled Intravenous Gammaglobulin Trial , by Katherine S. Rowe -- 3 Nov 1999

    Article: Vaccine Contamination May Expose Children to Stealth Virus Infection , by Dr. John Martin -- 3 Nov 1999

    Research paper: TNF-alpha found elevated in CFS patients , by Moss RB et al. -- 2 Nov 1999

    Interview with Leonard Jason, CFS epidemiologist -- 31 Oct 1999

    CFS-NEWS REPORTS ON BRUSSELS CONFERENCE, REVISING CFS DEFINITION, CDC MEETING WITH ACTIVISTS, BBC ON M.E. -- 31 Oct 1999

    CFS-NEWS editions #88 and #89 contain a report on the Brussels medical conference (Sept. 9-12) as written by Dr. Rosamund Vallings, M.D. The two-part report has been combined into one online file and can be seen at the CO-CURE website at http://www.co-cure.org/infocon1.htm.

    In addition, CFS-NEWS #89 contains articles on:

    - the announcement that the CFS definition will be revised

    - a report of the CDC meeting with activists on Oct. 13

    - a notice of a BBC TV program on M.E. to be broadcast on Nov. 8

    To see CFS-NEWS edition #89, click here.


    More stories can be seen at the

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