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In this Issue

• CAMDA Challenge Takes on CFS
• CFS Advisory Committee Update
• Exciting Photo Exhibit News!
• Campaign Ads Will Appear in August
• How many people have CFS?
• 8th IACFS Conference: Call for Papers
• Basics about Nerve Pain
• Personal Story: CFS Blogger Jo of Hidden Words
• Bulletin Board Notices

CAMDA Challenge Takes on CFS
At the 2006 Critical Assessment of Microarray Data Analysis (CAMDA) meeting, research teams tackled the largest dataset ever made available for the event—data from 227 CFS patients and control subjects from the CDC’s Wichita population study. Eleven groups representing five countries and 10 institutions shared their findings on various aspects of the illness. Read our summary at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/camda.asp. 

CFS Advisory Committee Update
New member nominations, possible participation by the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services and progress on renewing the charter for this Department of Health and Human Services committee. All this is among the recent news on the CFSAC. Get the details at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/cfsac-update.asp.

Exciting Photo Exhibit News!
The CFS photo exhibit, which is a component of the national public awareness campaign, will be at the Mall of America for 10 days beginning August 5. The public is invited. For all the details, visit http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/moa.asp.

Campaign Ads Will Appear in August
If you didn’t see the full-page color print ad about chronic fatigue syndrome that appeared in the July issue of Ladies’ Home Journal and Better Homes and Gardens, you’ll have another chance to see the ad in the August issue of both magazines. These two magazines have a combined readership of more than 20 million, helping us to reach millions of Americans with educational information about CFS. The August issue will be on newsstands this week.

For more information about the print ads and other components of the CFS public awareness campaign, please go to http://www.cfids.org/sparkcfs/print.asp.

How many people have CFS?
Over the years, estimates of the prevalence of CFS have increased as study design and methods have better reflected the complexity of the illness itself. Recently, questions have been raised about the differing figures used in recent magazine advertising and the one the CDC is currently using on its web site. Here is an explanation. http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/prevalence.asp

8th IACFS Conference: Call for Papers
The International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (IACFS) invites presenter to submit abstracts for their next biannual conference, which is coming to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 12-14, 2007. Read on for details on how to submit your presentation proposal. http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/iacfs-papers.asp

Basics about Nerve Pain
In recent years, more is being understood about different mechanisms for pain. One type of chronic pain is generated from the nerves themselves. This reprint from the American Chronic Pain Association’s (ACPA) newsletter, the Chronicle, shares some basics about nerve pain. Read on at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/nerve-pain.asp.

Personal Story: CFS Blogger Jo of Hidden Words
Many people with CFS and Internet access are discovering web logs (or blogs) as a valuable means of expressing themselves, avoiding isolation and finding support. Jo, the author of the blog Hidden Words, shares her discovery and use of this online form of expression. Read on at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2006/blogger-jo.asp.

Bulletin Board Notices
Visit http://www.cfids.org/community/bulletin-board.asp for up-to-date news and happenings within the CFIDS community.