Study on Mouse Virus Link to Fatigue Retracted by US Journal

by Kathy Jones on  December 23, 2011 at 9:08 PM Research News
  •   Print
  •   Share
  •   Comments
  •  Text 
A 2009 report linking a mouse retrovirus to chronic fatigue syndrome was retracted by prominent US journal Science after it was disproved by researchers earlier this year.

The 2009 study led by Dr Judy Mikovits, the director of the Whittemore Peterson Institute, found that the retrovirus XMRV was frequently present in the blood of chronic fatigue sufferers, without establishing a causal link.

But on Thursday Science said it had "lost confidence in the report and the validity of its conclusions" after multiple laboratories, including those of the original authors, failed to detect the virus in chronic fatigue patients.

It added that "there is evidence of poor quality control in a number of specific experiments in the (original) report" and important information omitted from the legend of one of the figures that appeared in it.

The journal said most of the authors had agreed in principle to retract the report but were unable to agree on the precise wording.

"It is Science's opinion that a retraction signed by all the authors is unlikely to be forthcoming. We are therefore editorially retracting the report.

"We regret the time and resources devoted to unsuccessful attempts to replicate these results," it added.

The study had been hailed as a breakthrough for the estimated one to four million Americans who suffer from the elusive but debilitating illness, and led to many being treated with antiretroviral drugs used against HIV/AIDS.

But earlier this year a separate group of researchers published an article in Science saying that the 2009 study was wrong and that its findings were likely based on contaminated lab samples.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a mysterious disease that can last for years and cause memory loss, muscle pain, extreme tiredness and possibly insomnia.

The XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus) causes cancer and other diseases in mice but not in humans.

It was detected in humans for the first time in samples of prostate cancer tumors in 2006 and is believed to be present in six to 27 percent of men afflicted with this form of cancer.

Source-AFP

 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions
  
If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
X

Medwonders Health Network

  • Health News Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
  • News Quick Links
News Central Health Watch
Latest Health News Health In Focus
News Category (500+) Breaking Health News
Popular News Celebrating Life
Health News and Press Release Medindia - Exclusive
News Photo Gallery India Special
News Video Gallery Lifestyle and Wellness
News From Other Resources
News Categories:  
Child Health Center

Research Related News

» Overgrowth of Bacteria in Gut Blamed For Irritable Bowel Syndrome » New Drug That Only Attacks Cancer Cells Developed
» Personality Traits Linked To Longevity in Centenarians » Lack of Vitamin D in Diet Raises Stroke Risk in Japanese-Americans
» Why Bovine TB Continues to Spread Demystified in New Research » Seaweed Pill May Help Treat Arthritis
» P. Aeruginosa Infection Leads to Worse Outcomes and Increased Hospitalizations in COPD Patients » Hormone Boosts Production of Molecules Which Fight Skin Infection
Read More >>