Perhaps the results from the gene expression study that Dr Montoya mentioned on the recent conference call might be used to validate, to some extent, the results of the present study (assuming the cohorts are different).
That study looked at the m-RNA from 200 ME/CFS patients and 400 controls. (See this
post.)
If the expression of the genes from the Montoya study, corresponding to the cytokines measured in the present study, show the same relative differences between: patients at less than 3 years, more than 3 years, and controls, then the present study might (effectively) be considered at least partially validated in a different set of patients (and likewise Montoya's study similarly cross-validated).
On the other hand, if the gene expression for those same cytokines is different, then that wouldn't necessarily prove things one way or the other, since the levels of the cytokines measured in the present study could be affected after gene expression (i.e., post-transcriptionally).