When the researchers then entered blinded blood samples into the same machinery, each condition was accurately identified based on its molecular patterns. "It separated them completely, with no misclassifications," Buffington said. "That's very important. It never mistook a patient with fibromyalgia for a patient with arthritis. Clearly we need more numbers, but this showed the technique is quite effective." The researchers also analyzed some of the potential chemicals that could someday function as biomarkers in the fibromyalgia blood samples, but further studies are needed to identify the molecules responsible for the spectral patterns, he said.

common link exists among these types of diseases, and that they might have origins in the central nervous system.

d interstitial cystitis (IC). This syndrome also occurs in humans. It turns out that the origins of IC, like such human disorders as irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia,