William Atkins
Sunday, 11 October 2009 20:10
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The U.S. team found that 68 of them (about 67.3%), tested positive for XMRV genes. That is, they
“identified DNA from a human gammaretrovisus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV).” [Paper]
{mosloadpostition william08}A control group of 218 healthy people (without CFS) had only eight people with XMRV genes (about 3.7%).
They concluded that their results
“raise the possibility that XMRV may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of CFS.” [Paper]
Their study also raises the possibility, because of the fact that about nearly 4% of otherwise healthy people have the XMRV gene, that many more people could potentially acquire CFS.
The researchers estimate that as many as ten million people in the United States and hundreds of millions of people worldwide could be potentially infected with the virus.
As mentioned previously, the cause of CFS is not known. In fact the medical community is not sure whether it is a physiological or psychological condition.
According to the October 8, 2009
New Scientist article “
Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to 'cancer virus',” British psychistrist Simon Wessely was said to have been
“vilified by patient groups for his scepticism of cut-and-dried explanations for CFS and his asertion that psychological factors may play an important role. “
Dr. Wessely (from King’s College London) states,
“It's a contentious area that lies somewhere between medicine and psychiatry."
Page three concludes with additional information on CFS and XMRV, and further sources of information on the two.
