A role for a leaky gut and the intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

The field of ME/CFS research is challenged by many often confusing and conflicting reports of immune, neuroendocrine, autonomic, neurological dysfunction. During the prodromal phase of this condition patients often report flu-like symptoms, persistent chronic fatigue and gastro-intestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and discomfort. Its study is complicated by the lack of specific biomarkers and criteria to accurately define the illness, relying on the exclusion of other fatiguing illnesses. Recent publications suggest an altered intestinal microbiota and increased intestinal permeability are associated with ME/CFS. Further evidence is accumulating for dysfunctional energy, lipid and amino acid metabolism that may indicate oxidative stress and/or immune-mediated damage to mitochondria, disrupting the efficiency of aerobic respiration, explaining the effect of postexternal malaise (PEM), a unique characteristic for the diagnosis of ME. In this study, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy probed the composition of the intestinal microbiota and faecal and serum microbiomes in 17 severe, house-bound patients and house-hold healthy controls (HHC). Severe, house-bound patients account for 0.5% of all ME/CFS research, yet it is estimated they represent 25% of the patient population. We found Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly reduced in severe patients (p = 0.018) but did not replicate individual differences in faecal and serum metabolites that others have previously reported. We further enhanced a flow cytometry technique for detecting IgA coated bacteria in faecal suspensions and analysed the proportional differences between patients and HHCs. This demonstrated a trend for increased IgA-coated bacteria in most patients; however, this trend was reversed when repeated with a second sample produced a year on. Since the initial concept for this study, several advances have been made in sequencing methods and quality control standards for metagenomic and metabolomic studies. Based on these, we conclude further investigations are warranted using whole genome sequencing and targeted metabolomics to address the emerging hypotheses in ME/CFS research, with an emphasis on the study of severe, house-bound ME patients

The development of two scales to measure selfobject needs.

Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1988 .V566. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1988

Self-regulatory deficits, relational experiences, and the functions of weight control in bulimic women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, within the framework of psychoanalytic self psychology, the ability to regulate affect and self-esteem, and the level of object relations and self-object experiences, in a group of 30 bulimic women. The relationships between self-regulatory functions and relational experiences, and severity of bulimic symptoms were examined. Comparisons of self-regulatory functions and relational experiences were made between the bulimic group and three control groups composed of 30 depressed women, 30 overweight dieting women, and 30 normal controls who were not overweight, not dieting, not depressed, and not bulimic. In addition, the self-regulatory function of weight control was examined, and compared across groups. The psychometric characteristics of three measures used in the study, namely the Soothing Receptivity Scale (Glassmen, 1988), the Symptoms of Fragmentation Scale (Vipond, 1988), and the Selfobject Needs Scale (Vipond, 1988) were also examined. Results indicated that the bulimic women had more difficulty regulating dysphoric affects and self-esteem, were more vulnerable to fragmentation experiences, and reported more primitive object relations and selfobject experiences than either the overweight dieters or the normal controls; however, the bulimic group did not differ significantly from the depressed group on these measures. Statistically significant relationships were found between self-regulatory deficits and levels of object and selfobject relations across groups. In addition, statistically significant relationships were found between self-regulatory deficits and relational experiences, and severity of some symptoms in the bulimic group. When the bulimic group imagined losing five pounds, they reported experiencing greater decreases in anxiety, depression, and symptoms of fragmentation, and greater increases in self-esteem than did subjects in any of the other three groups. When the bulimic group imagined gaining five pounds, however, they reported experiencing increases in anxiety, depression, and symptoms of fragmentation, and decreases in self-esteem which were greater only than those reported by the depressed group. Implications of the results were discussed as they relate to self psychology theory; to the relationships among bulimia, depression, and self-regulatory deficits; and to the treatment of bulimic women. Directions for future research were suggested.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1992 .V566. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-05, Section: B, page: 2777. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1992