Proof at last that 'yuppie flu' is a real illness(2)

紐約哥倫比亞大學(xué)的研究者們對數(shù)百份分別取自肌痛性腦脊髓炎患者和健康人的血液樣本進行了分析,發(fā)現(xiàn)ME患者的血液顯示出了明顯的"化學(xué)特征".

It had higher levels of various compounds released by the immune system to defend the body against infection. The link with an immune protein, interferon gamma, was particularly strong, the journal Science Advances reports.

據(jù)《科學(xué)前沿》報道,為了抵御感染,ME患者的免疫系統(tǒng)釋放了更高水平的化合物.其中,類似免疫蛋白、干擾素γ的化合物特別多.

Interferon gamma is blamed for the extreme tiredness that follows some viral infections and has also been linked to problems with memory.

極度的疲勞感就是干擾素γ導(dǎo)致的,該癥狀緊隨病毒性感染之后出現(xiàn),同時與記憶損傷也有關(guān)聯(lián).

The finding may help researchers develop the first diagnostic test for ME. It also raises hope of better treatments. Drugs that lower levels of some of the immune proteins already exist.

該發(fā)現(xiàn)也許可以幫助研究人員進行肌痛性腦脊髓炎的首次診斷測試,同時也增加了發(fā)現(xiàn)更好治療方式的希望.目前已經(jīng)有一些降低免疫蛋白水平的藥物.

'This study delivers what has eluded us for so long: unequivocal evidence of immunological dysfunction in ME and diagnostic biomarkers for disease,' said researcher Dr Ian Lipkin.

"這項研究解開了我們多年來的困惑：提供了肌痛性腦脊髓炎導(dǎo)致免疫功能障礙以及該病癥的診斷性生物標識物的明確證據(jù),"研究員伊恩·利普金博士說.

Lead author Dr Mady Hornig said: 'We now have evidence confirming what millions with this disease already know, that ME isn't psychological.'

該研究的主要作者馬迪·何寧博士說："現(xiàn)在我們有證據(jù)向上百萬患者證明,肌痛性腦脊髓炎并不是心理疾病."

However, the work is still preliminary and many questions remain to be answered, including why the chemical markers show up only in the blood of patients in the relatively early stages of ME.

但是,這項研究仍處于初步階段,仍有許多問題等待解決.比如,為何只能在早期患者的血液中發(fā)現(xiàn)化學(xué)標識物？

Dr Hornig's team is now looking for signs of the infection that triggered the immune response. Scientists have long thought a virus is to blame but have failed to find the culprit.

何寧博士的研究隊伍正在尋找引發(fā)免疫反應(yīng)的感染標志.科學(xué)家們一直認為病毒是罪魁禍首,但卻一直未能找到這種病毒.

Dr Neil Abbot, of ME Research UK said: 'A biological signature or thumbprint for ME is the holy grail – it's what we all want to see. If the immune changes reported in the study can help, it would be a great step forward.'

英國肌痛性腦脊髓炎研究所的尼爾·阿博特博士說："肌痛性腦脊髓炎的生物標識物或者特征,就像是我們的圣杯——是我們一直想要看到的.如果這項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)的免疫變化能有幫助,那么這將是一次偉大的進步."

The finding that the chemical signature is seen only in the first stages of ME shows the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, he added.

此項研究發(fā)現(xiàn),僅在肌痛性腦脊髓炎早期階段才會出現(xiàn)化學(xué)標識物.這證明早期的診斷與治療非常重要,他補充道.

Sonya Chowdhury, of Action for ME, said the work 'could have significant implications for quicker diagnosis and improved treatments'.

負責(zé)肌痛性腦脊髓炎患者行為研究的桑亞·喬杜里表示,這項研究"能夠極大提高診斷速度,完善治療措施."

But some experts cautioned that the findings are preliminary and that ME research has been 'bedevilled with false dawns' for decades.

但也有一些專家警告,這項發(fā)現(xiàn)僅僅是初步階段的成果,而且肌痛性腦脊髓炎的研究者們已經(jīng)被這種"虛幻的希望"迷惑多年.