scholarly journals The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Back to the Future?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Robert J. Unwin
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Encephalitis Lethargica ◽  
Medical Expertise ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
1918 Influenza ◽  
Research Facilities

<b><i>Background:</i></b> It is just over a century since the 1918 flu pandemic, sometimes referred to as the “mother” of pandemics. This brief retrospective of the 1918 pandemic is taken from the viewpoint of the current SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic and is based on a short lecture given during the 2021 Virtual Congress of the ERA-EDTA. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> This review summarizes and highlights some of the earlier pandemic’s salient features, some parallels with today, and some potential learnings, bearing in mind that the flu pandemic occurred over 100 years ago at a time of major turmoil during the climax to WWl, and with limited medical expertise and knowledge, research facilities, or well-structured and resourced healthcare services. While there is little or no information on renal complications at the time, or an effective treatment, some observations in relation to COVID-19 and vaccination are included. <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> Lessons are difficult to draw from 1918 other than the importance and value of non-pharmaceutical measures to limit viral transmission. While the economic impact of the 1918 pandemic was significant, as it is now with COVID-19, subsequent economic analysis has shown that protecting public health and preserving economic activity are not mutually exclusive. Both H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 viruses are neurotropic and may cause chronically debilitating neurological diseases, including conditions such as encephalitis lethargica (still debated) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome), respectively. Although coronavirus and influenza viral infections have some similarities, they are certainly not the same, as we are realising, and future infectious pandemics may still surprise us, but being “forewarned is forearmed.”

scholarly journals HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas S. Rodrigues ◽  
Luiz H. da Silva Nali ◽  
Cibele O. D. Leal ◽  
Ester C. Sabino ◽  
Eliana M. Lacerda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Human Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Increased Activity

Abstract Background Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/MS) is an incapacitating chronic disease that dramatically compromise the life quality. The CFS/ME pathogenesis is multifactorial, and it is believed that immunological, metabolic and environmental factors play a role. It is well documented an increased activity of Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) from different families in autoimmune and neurological diseases, making these elements good candidates for biomarkers or even triggers for such diseases. Methods Here the expression of Endogenous retroviruses K and W (HERV-K and HERV-W) was determined in blood from moderately and severely affected ME/CFS patients through real time PCR. Results HERV-K was overexpressed only in moderately affected individuals but HERV-W showed no difference. Conclusions This is the first report about HERV-K differential expression in moderate ME/CFS. Although the relationship between HERVs and ME/CFS has yet to be proven, the observation of this phenomenon deserves further attention.

scholarly journals Redox imbalance links COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (34) ◽  
pp. e2024358118
Author(s):  
Bindu D. Paul ◽  
Marian D. Lemle ◽  
Anthony L. Komaroff ◽  
Solomon H. Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Orthostatic Intolerance ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Redox Imbalance ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Unrefreshing Sleep ◽  
Hypometabolic State

Although most patients recover from acute COVID-19, some experience postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC). One subgroup of PASC is a syndrome called “long COVID-19,” reminiscent of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is a debilitating condition, often triggered by viral and bacterial infections, leading to years-long debilitating symptoms including profound fatigue, postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive deficits, and orthostatic intolerance. Some are skeptical that either ME/CFS or long COVID-19 involves underlying biological abnormalities. However, in this review, we summarize the evidence that people with acute COVID-19 and with ME/CFS have biological abnormalities including redox imbalance, systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, an impaired ability to generate adenosine triphosphate, and a general hypometabolic state. These phenomena have not yet been well studied in people with long COVID-19, and each of them has been reported in other diseases as well, particularly neurological diseases. We also examine the bidirectional relationship between redox imbalance, inflammation, energy metabolic deficits, and a hypometabolic state. We speculate as to what may be causing these abnormalities. Thus, understanding the molecular underpinnings of both PASC and ME/CFS may lead to the development of novel therapeutics.

Risk markers for both chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes: a prospective case-control study in primary care

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1913-1921 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. T. Hamilton ◽  
A. M. Gallagher ◽  
J. M. Thomas ◽  
P. D. White
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Risk Marker ◽  
Risk Markers ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Control Study

BackgroundFatigue syndromes and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often occur together. Explanations include being different manifestations of the same condition and simply sharing some symptoms.MethodA matched case-control study in UK primary care, using data collected prospectively in the General Practice Research Database (GPRD). The main outcome measures were: health-care utilization, specific symptoms and diagnoses. Risk markers were divided into distant (from 3 years to 1 year before diagnosis) and recent (1 year before diagnosis).ResultsA total of 4388 patients with any fatigue syndrome were matched to two groups of patients: those attending for IBS and those attending for another reason. Infections were specific risk markers for both syndromes, with viral infections being a risk marker for a fatigue syndrome [odds ratios (ORs) 2.3–6.3], with a higher risk closer to onset, and gastroenteritis a risk for IBS (OR 1.47, compared to a fatigue syndrome). Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) shared more distant risk markers with IBS than other fatigue syndromes, particularly other symptom-based disorders (OR 3.8) and depressive disorders (OR 2.3), but depressive disorders were a greater risk for CFS than IBS (OR 2.4). Viral infections were more of a recent risk marker for CFS compared to IBS (OR 2.8), with gastroenteritis a greater risk for IBS (OR 2.4).ConclusionsBoth fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes share predisposing risk markers, but triggering risk markers differ. Fatigue syndromes are heterogeneous, with CFS sharing predisposing risks with IBS, suggesting a common predisposing pathophysiology.

scholarly journals Endothelial Senescence and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a COVID-19 Based Hypothesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adonis Sfera ◽  
Carolina Osorio ◽  
Carlos M. Zapata Martín del Campo ◽  
Shaniah Pereida ◽  
Steve Maurer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Host Proteins ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Sleep Abnormalities

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is a serious illness of unknown etiology, characterized by debilitating exhaustion, memory impairment, pain and sleep abnormalities. Viral infections are believed to initiate the pathogenesis of this syndrome although the definite proof remains elusive. With the unfolding of COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in this condition has resurfaced as excessive tiredness, a major complaint of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, often lingers for a long time, resulting in disability, and poor life quality. In a previous article, we hypothesized that COVID-19-upregulated angiotensin II triggered premature endothelial cell senescence, disrupting the intestinal and blood brain barriers. Here, we hypothesize further that post-viral sequelae, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, are promoted by the gut microbes or toxin translocation from the gastrointestinal tract into other tissues, including the brain. This model is supported by the SARS-CoV-2 interaction with host proteins and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Conversely, targeting microbial translocation and cellular senescence may ameliorate the symptoms of this disabling illness.

scholarly journals EARLY DIAGNOSTICS OF AUTOINFLAMMATORY DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH POST-VIRAL CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN CHRONIC MIXED HERPES VIRAL INFECTIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 975-980
Author(s):  
I. V. Nesterova ◽  
E. O. Khalturina
Keyword(s):  
Blood Serum ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Herpes Viruses ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Autoimmune Pathology ◽  
Long Course

The steady increase in the number of autoimmune diseases and immune-mediated autoinflammatory processes causes an increased interest of doctors of all specialties in this topic and makes the issue of early detection of autoimmune disorders / autoimmune syndrome (AS) extremely urgent. These disorders often develop against the backdrop of an atypical stream of chronic active viral infections caused by persistent viruses, in particular those of the Herpesviridae family, and remain undiagnosed due to polysymptomatic disease, and various “clinical masks” of the disorders caused by them. The semi-quantitative method developed by us for screening assessment of the content of autoantibodies in the blood serum of patients suffering from ACAI caused by herpes viruses using the ELISA method (Immunodot) is a highly specific screening method that can allow for an objective assessment of the dynamics of the autoimmune process, as well as control the effectiveness of the ongoing complex antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. The detection of autoantibodies of various specificity in the blood serum of patients suffering from an atypical chronic active infection caused by herpes viruses (ACAI) is an early diagnostic marker, necessary, first of all, to identify autoimmune pathology of the nervous system, which is associated with a long course of the active mixed herpes-viral process. 

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