News from the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

[Hutan]

A thread for ME/CFS-related news from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

*************************************************

Coaching to Strengthen Critical Success Factors in Integrative Care for Chronic Fatigue Patients: The Patient Needs-Resources Model 2023,Araja et al

Diana Araja 1*, Angelika Krumina 2, Zaiga Nora-Krukle 1, Marion E. Schneider 3, Uldis Berkis 4 and Modra Murovska 1
Rīga Stradiņš University

A paper funded by the Latvian Council of Science does not seem to have much to do with what it was funded for (ME/CFS biomarkers). That's a great shame given someone probably worked very hard to get that funding arranged.

Funding for this is listed as

"The research was supported by the Horizon 2020 Project/Agreement No. 952376 “Reducing networking gaps between Riga Stradins University (RSU) and internationally leading counterparts in viral infection-induced autoimmunity research (VirA)” and Latvian Council of Science FARP Grant Number: LZP-2019/1-0380, “Selection of biomarkers in ME/CFS for patient stratification and treatment surveillance/optimization.”"

I fail to see how this paper could be even remotely considered to be relevant to "Selection of biomarkers in ME/CFS for patient stratification and treatment surveillance/optimization.".

 

[Hutan]

Looking at the threads we have with a "Latvia" tag, I see this study was done with funding from the same 2019 Latvian Council of Science grant:
Potential of Activin B as a Clinical Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), 2021, Gravelsina et al

Sabine Gravelsina 1,*, Zaiga Nora-Krukle 1 , Anda Vilmane 1 , Simons Svirskis 1 , Katrine Vecvagare 1 , Angelika Krumina 2 and Modra Murovska 1
Rīga Stradiņš University


The first line of the abstract of that paper was

Reliable serum biomarkers are of immense need for diagnostic purposes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)—a disabling and complex disease for which diagnosis is mainly based on clinical symptoms.

The study found that Activin B was not useful as a biomarker - a negative result, but still a worthwhile effort in the hunt for a biomarker.

So, things started out well ... It looks as though there is a story there.

 

[rvallee]

Any Lithuanians here?

Hello. I’m a family doctor working in OlmClinic in Lithuania. We are a new clinic starting specializing in #MECFS , #LongCovid, #Dysautonomia's, and etc. We are searching who could consult us and explain practical ways, how to examine these patients properly. We have tilt table test, and we are able to do skin biopsy for small fiber neuropathy as well as wide laboratory testing. We are searching who could give us practical advises from their own experience. In Lithuania this is very new; therefore, we are searching doctors specialising in this field from abroad.
@olmclinic

 

[Wyva]

Yes, I remember there was a member called @Rena who was actually looking for doctors familiar with ME/CFS in Lithuania. I don't know if she still checks the forum or not but I'm tagging her just in case.

 

[NelliePledge]

@Mike Harley probably did a marathon and have contacts??

 

[Mike Harley]

@Mike Harley probably did a marathon and have contacts??

hiya, yeah I saw this too, very encouraging. I only have 2 patient contacts. As far as I know there aren't any charities/associations in Lithuania