Nature Reviews Microbiology 8, 250 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2348 Our monthly round up of infectious diseases news, which this month includes a broad-spectrum antiviral that tackles all enveloped viruses and the latest on the link between XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

(NaturalNews) Large numbers of men who undergo treatment for testicular cancer suffer serious and long-term side effects or illness, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Oslo and published in the journal BJUI.In the past, the rate of long-term side effects has not been well known because doctors are only required to report side effects that require medical intervention or threaten the patient's life. "Current patients with testicular cancer should be informed about the risk of short-term and particularly long-term side-effects of their highly effective treatment" lead author Sophie D. Fossa said. "It is important to focus on reducing risks through healthy lifestyle choices and consider important issues like preserving future fertility." Reviewing 40 studies ...

Authors: Do PR, Embleton K, Pentreath VW, Jackson A MRI has previously provided conflicting results when used to search for brain abnormalities in sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Eighteen CFS patients and nine healthy volunteers each underwent MRI on two occasions one year apart. The resulting images were examined for abnormalities in brain atrophy, deep white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow. Mean proportionate CSF volume was not significantly different between subject groups. All participants showed a slight increase in CSF between scans, but no significant difference was found between those with CFS and those without. Between group comparisons of ventricular volume revealed no significant differences at study commenceme...

XMRV (xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus) is a gammaretrovirus that has been detected in human patients with prostate carcinoma, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and also in a small percentage of clinically healthy individuals. It is not yet clear whether the distribution of this virus is primarily limited to the USA or whether it is causally associated with human disease. If future investigations confirm a broad distribution of XMRV and its association with disease, this would have an impact on xenotransplantation of porcine tissues and organs. Xenotransplantation is currently being developed to compensate for the increasing shortage of human material for the treatment of tissue and organ failure but could result in the transmission of porcine pathogens. Maintenance of pathogen...

(Source: BMJ Online First)

Conclusions: The economic costs generated by chronic fatigue are high and mostly borne by patients and their families. Enquiry about the functional consequences of fatigue on the social and occupational lives of patients may help doctors understand the impact of fatigue, and make patients feel better understood. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients often report symptom flare (SF) for >24 h after moderate exercise (post-ex). We hypothesized that SF is linked to increases in circulating cytokines and CD40 Ligand (CD40L). In 19 CFS patients and 17 controls, mental and physical fatigue and pain symptom ratings were obtained together with serum for 11 cytokines and CD40L before and at 0.5, 8, 24, and 48 h post-ex. Before exercise, CFS had lower CD40L (p (Source: Psychophysiology)

(Source: BMJ Online First)

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Mar 2010, Vol. 16, No. 3: 235-249. (Source: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine)

This study characterizes findings on sleep testing and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) markers in a group of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). One hundred eighteen patients seen in a general neurology practice over 5 years meeting standard clinical criteria for FM or CFS were analyzed retrospectively. Cases of untreated sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome were excluded prior to inclusion in this study. Ninety-two patients had multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT). Seventy-three (80%) were abnormal by standard criteria. Of 57 females having positive MSLTs, 22 (39%) had one or more periods of sleep onset rapid eye movement (SOREM), and 5 of 16 (31%) males with positive MSLTs had one or more SOREM. Highly fragmented sleep, as previously described in FM, was s...

Conclusion: Chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents is associated with alterations in hormonal systems controlling osmolality and blood volume, possibly supporting a theory of central dysregulation. (Source: Acta Paediatrica)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Hopes of discovering treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) dimmed on Friday after a new study cast doubt on previous findings that a virus linked to prostate cancer might also be associated with the condition. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Physicians in Montana may legally assist terminally ill patients in hastening death, according to a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court. The decision in the case of Baxter v. State of Montana concerned Robert Baxter, a retired truck driver from Billings, Mont., who was terminally ill with lymphocytic leukemia with diffuse lymphadenopathy. As a result of the disease and its treatment, Mr. Baxter suffered from symptoms including “infections, chronic fatigue and weakness, anemia, night sweats, nausea, massively swollen glands, significant ongoing digestive problems, and generalized pain and discomfort,” according to the decision. (Source: Internal Medicine News)

A novel retrovirus suspected in chronic fatigue syndrome did not show up in the blood of a cohort of patients with the debilitating condition, Dutch researchers said, adding weight to the body of evidence against it. (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)

A new study casts doubt on recent claims that a human retrovirus known as XMRV is linked to chronic fatigue syndrome or ME (myalgic encephalitis). (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Title: Virus Unlikely to Cause Chronic Fatigue SyndromeCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/25/2010 8:10:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/26/2010 (Source: MedicineNet Cancer General)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Hopes of discovering treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome dimmed on Friday after a new study cast doubt on previous findings that a virus linked to prostate cancer might also be associated with the condition.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Page: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Hopes of discovering treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome dimmed on Friday after a new study cast doubt on previous findings that a virus linked to prostate cancer might also be associated with the condition.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Page: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Hopes of discovering treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome dimmed on Friday after a new study cast doubt on previous findings that a virus linked to prostate cancer might also be associated with the condition.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Page: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Hopes of discovering treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome dimmed on Friday after a new study cast doubt on previous findings that a virus linked to prostate cancer might also be associated with the condition.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Page: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)