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

纽约哥伦比亚大学的研究者们对数百份分别取自肌痛性脑脊髓炎患者和健康人的血液样本进行了分析,发现ME患者的血液显示出了明显的"化学特征".

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.

据《科学前沿》报道,为了抵御感染,ME患者的免疫系统释放了更高水平的化合物.其中,类似免疫蛋白、干扰素γ的化合物特别多.

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

极度的疲劳感就是干扰素γ导致的,该症状紧随病毒性感染之后出现,同时与记忆损伤也有关联.

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.

该发现也许可以帮助研究人员进行肌痛性脑脊髓炎的首次诊断测试,同时也增加了发现更好治疗方式的希望.目前已经有一些降低免疫蛋白水平的药物.

'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.

"这项研究解开了我们多年来的困惑：提供了肌痛性脑脊髓炎导致免疫功能障碍以及该病症的诊断性生物标识物的明确证据,"研究员伊恩·利普金博士说.

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

该研究的主要作者马迪·何宁博士说："现在我们有证据向上百万患者证明,肌痛性脑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,这项研究仍处于初步阶段,仍有许多问题等待解决.比如,为何只能在早期患者的血液中发现化学标识物？

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.

何宁博士的研究队伍正在寻找引发免疫反应的感染标志.科学家们一直认为病毒是罪魁祸首,但却一直未能找到这种病毒.

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.'

英国肌痛性脑脊髓炎研究所的尼尔·阿博特博士说："肌痛性脑脊髓炎的生物标识物或者特征,就像是我们的圣杯——是我们一直想要看到的.如果这项研究发现的免疫变化能有帮助,那么这将是一次伟大的进步."

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.

此项研究发现,仅在肌痛性脑脊髓炎早期阶段才会出现化学标识物.这证明早期的诊断与治疗非常重要,他补充道.

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

负责肌痛性脑脊髓炎患者行为研究的桑亚·乔杜里表示,这项研究"能够极大提高诊断速度,完善治疗措施."

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

但也有一些专家警告,这项发现仅仅是初步阶段的成果,而且肌痛性脑脊髓炎的研究者们已经被这种"虚幻的希望"迷惑多年.