Vancouver: Women with ME/CFS sought for study looking at effects of exercise challenges

[Dolphin]

[Note from Dolphin: As usual, I don't accept any responsibility regarding people's participation in this study]

From The Chronic Complex Diseases Study FB page
http://on.fb.me/1MLsTqY
i.e. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=831252573589205&id=468387359875730&pnref=story

We are looking for women who have been diagnosed with ME/CFS for a research study. This is a two-day exercise study and will take approximately 7 hours of your time

• You must meet the Canadian Consensus Criteria and Fukuda definition for ME/CFS, to be confirmed with your physician
• You must understand English
• You do not have any other complex medical condition
• You are over 19 years of age

Your participation is voluntary. If you are eligible and agree to take part it will involve 1 visit to Vancouver General Hospital, 2 visits to BC Children’s Hospital and 2 home visits. Blood work will be taken and you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your medical history and quality of life. The questionnaires are done at home.

There will be some compensation if you are enrolled in this study and you will be reimbursed for parking or bus fare from within the lower mainland.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact the clinical research coordinator at sparker@cheos.ubc.ca

This study is being conducted by Dr. David Patrick and has been approved by the Office of Research Ethics at the University of British Columbia

 

[Dolphin]

Title of this study
"Exploring Host Gene Expression During Post-Exertional Symptom Flare in ME/CFS"

More info at:
http://projectreporter.nih.gov/proj...ram=&ddvalue=&ddsub=&cr=26&csb=default&cs=ASC

 

[chronix]

Any reason why they are only seeking women for this particular study?

 

[alex3619]

Any reason why they are only seeking women for this particular study?

Cost. A mixed cohort requires many more participants to reach statistically important cohort sizes.

 

[*GG*]

Cost. A mixed cohort requires many more participants to reach statistically important cohort sizes.

Oh, I was thinking they are sexist. LOL

GG

 

[alex3619]

Oh, I was thinking they are sexist. LOL

GG

Lol, its not sexist but it does produce research that we cannot be sure generalizes to men. Just as we cannot be sure that research on mild patients generalizes to very severe patients.

 

[Kati]

Any reason why they are only seeking women for this particular study?

Gene expression pathways are different for men and women.

 

[Bob]

A bit more info about this, via ME Research UK:
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/news/gene-expression-exercise/
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/our-research/ongoing-studies/host-gene-expression/

 

[Bob]

Their university campus looks nice! (University of British Columbia at Vancouver.)

 

[Snowdrop]

Their university campus looks nice! (University of British Columbia at Vancouver.)

It is.
And there is a large 'park' which is actually a small forest attached to the campus. Pacific Spirit Park.
If you ever watch any tv programmes filmed in Vancouver this location almost inevitably shows up.

 

[panckage]

Any reason why they are only seeking women for this particular study?

What's funny is while they probably have good reason for limiting the research focus, they won't publicly state the reason. On the facebook page they will only email individuals about it. Now I don't care enough to email them about it, but if someone gets that email I would be happy to read it here

 

[Snow Leopard]

What's funny is while they probably have good reason for limiting the research focus, they won't publicly state the reason. On the facebook page they will only email individuals about it. Now I don't care enough to email them about it, but if someone gets that email I would be happy to read it here

@Kati already answered the question. Gene expression pathways can be subtly different between men and women and this is just a way of trying to get cleaner data. I'd do it too if I had a limited budget and sample size.

 

[Dolphin]

I do find it frustrating how many ME/CFS studies don't include men. But can understand it with small studies.