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Udayakumar D, Madhuranthakam AJ, Doğan BE. Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Imaging for Breast Cancer. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2024; 32:135-150. [PMID: 38007276 DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, carrying a significant socioeconomic burden. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with 4 major subtypes identified. Each subtype has unique prognostic factors, risks, treatment responses, and survival rates. Advances in targeted therapies have considerably improved the 5-year survival rates for primary breast cancer patients largely due to widespread screening programs that enable early detection and timely treatment. Imaging techniques are indispensable in diagnosing and managing breast cancer. While mammography is the primary screening tool, MRI plays a significant role when mammography results are inconclusive or in patients with dense breast tissue. MRI has become standard in breast cancer imaging, providing detailed anatomic and functional data, including tumor perfusion and cellularity. A key characteristic of breast tumors is angiogenesis, a biological process that promotes tumor development and growth. Increased angiogenesis in tumors generally indicates poor prognosis and increased risk of metastasis. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI measures tumor perfusion and serves as an in vivo metric for angiogenesis. DCE-MRI has become the cornerstone of breast MRI, boasting a high negative-predictive value of 89% to 99%, although its specificity can vary. This review presents a thorough overview of magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion imaging in breast cancer, focusing on the role of DCE-MRI in clinical applications and exploring emerging MR perfusion imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durga Udayakumar
- Department of Radiology, Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Ananth J Madhuranthakam
- Department of Radiology, Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Başak E Doğan
- Department of Radiology, Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Cobos-Mora SL, Rodriguez-Galiano V, Lima A. Analysis of landslide explicative factors and susceptibility mapping in an andean context: The case of Azuay province (Ecuador). Heliyon 2023; 9:e20170. [PMID: 37809729 PMCID: PMC10559965 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Landslides are one of the natural phenomena with more negative impacts on landscape, natural resources, and human health worldwide. Andean geomorphology, urbanization, poverty, and inequality make it more vulnerable to landslides. This research focuses on understanding explanatory landslide factors and promoting quantitative susceptibility mapping. Both tasks supply valuable knowledge for the Andean region, focusing on territorial planning and risk management support. This work addresses the following questions using the province of Azuay-Ecuador as a study area: (i) How do EFA and LR assess the significance of landslide occurrence factors? (ii) Which are the most significant landslide occurrence factors for susceptibility analysis in an Andean context? (iii) What is the landslide susceptibility map for the study area? The methodological framework uses quantitative techniques to describe landslide behavior. EFA and LR models are based on a historical inventory of 665 records. Both identified NDVI, NDWI, altitude, fault density, road density, and PC2 as the most significant factors. The latter factor represents the standard deviation, maximum value of precipitation, and rainfall in the wet season (January, February, and March). The EFA model was built from 7 latent factors, which explained 55% of the accumulated variance, with a medium item complexity of 1.5, a RMSR of 0.02, and a TLI of 0.89. This technique also identified TWI, fault distance, plane curvature, and road distance as important factors. LR's model, with AIC of 964.63, residual deviance of 924.63, AUC of 0.92, accuracy of 0.84, and Kappa of 0.68, also shows statistical significance for slope, roads density, geology, and land cover factors. This research encompasses a time-series analysis of NDVI, NDWI, and precipitation, including vegetation and weather dynamism for landslide occurrence. Finally, this methodological framework replaces traditional qualitative models based on expert knowledge, for quantitative approaches for the study area and the Andean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Lucia Cobos-Mora
- Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia de Tecnología (CIITT), Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Departamento de Geografía Física y Análisis Geográfico Regional, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Victor Rodriguez-Galiano
- Departamento de Geografía Física y Análisis Geográfico Regional, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Aracely Lima
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28031, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Geológico y Energético, Quito, 170518, Ecuador
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Konrath F, Loewer A, Wolf J. Resolving Crosstalk Between Signaling Pathways Using Mathematical Modeling and Time-Resolved Single Cell Data. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2634:267-284. [PMID: 37074583 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3008-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Crosstalk between signaling pathways can modulate the cellular response to stimuli and is therefore an important part of signal transduction. For a comprehensive understanding of cellular responses, identifying points of interaction between the underlying molecular networks is essential. Here, we present an approach that allows the systematic prediction of such interactions by perturbing one pathway and quantifying the concomitant alterations in the response of a second pathway. As the observed alterations contain information about the crosstalk, we use an ordinary differential equation-based model to extract this information by linking altered dynamics to individual processes. Consequently, we can predict the interaction points between two pathways. As an example, we employed our approach to investigate the crosstalk between the NF-κB and p53 signaling pathway. We monitored the response of p53 to genotoxic stress using time-resolved single cell data and perturbed NF-κB signaling by inhibiting the kinase IKK2. Employing a subpopulation-based modeling approach enabled us to identify multiple interaction points that are simultaneously affected by perturbation of NF-κB signaling. Hence, our approach can be used to analyze crosstalk between two signaling pathways in a systematic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Konrath
- Mathematical Modelling of Cellular Processes, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Loewer
- Systems Biology of the Stress Response, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jana Wolf
- Mathematical Modelling of Cellular Processes, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
- Mathematical Modelling of Cellular Processes, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Clouston SAP, Morozova O, Meliker JR. A wind speed threshold for increased outdoor transmission of coronavirus: an ecological study. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1194. [PMID: 34837983 PMCID: PMC8626759 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06796-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To examine whether outdoor transmission may contribute to the COVID-19 epidemic, we hypothesized that slower outdoor wind speed is associated with increased risk of transmission when individuals socialize outside. METHODS Daily COVID-19 incidence reported in Suffolk County, NY, between March 16th and December 31st, 2020, was the outcome. Average wind speed and maximal daily temperature were collated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Negative binomial regression was used to model incidence rates while adjusting for susceptible population size. RESULTS Cases were very high in the initial wave but diminished once lockdown procedures were enacted. Most days between May 1st, 2020, and October 24th, 2020, had temperatures 16-28 °C and wind speed diminished slowly over the year and began to increase again in December 2020. Unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted analyses revealed that days with temperatures ranging between 16 and 28 °C where wind speed was < 8.85 km per hour (KPH) had increased COVID-19 incidence (aIRR = 1.45, 95% C.I. = [1.28-1.64], P < 0.001) as compared to days with average wind speed ≥ 8.85 KPH. CONCLUSION Throughout the U.S. epidemic, the role of outdoor shared spaces such as parks and beaches has been a topic of considerable interest. This study suggests that outdoor transmission of COVID-19 may occur by noting that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the summer was higher on days with low wind speed. Outdoor use of increased physical distance between individuals, improved air circulation, and use of masks may be helpful in some outdoor environments where airflow is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A P Clouston
- Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, #3-071, Nichols Rd., Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8338, USA.
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Olga Morozova
- Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, #3-071, Nichols Rd., Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8338, USA
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jaymie R Meliker
- Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, #3-071, Nichols Rd., Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8338, USA
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Bteich M, Poulin P, Haddad S. Comparative Assessment of Extrapolation Methods Based on the Conventional Free Drug Hypothesis and Plasma Protein-Mediated Hepatic Uptake Theory for the Hepatic Clearance Predictions of Two Drugs Extensively Bound to Both the Albumin And Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:1385-91. [PMID: 33217427 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Bteich and coworkers recently demonstrated in a companion manuscript (J Pharm Sci 109: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2020.07.003) that a protein-mediated hepatic uptake have occurred in an isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) model for two drugs (Perampanel; PER and Fluoxetine; FLU) that bind extensively to the albumin (ALB) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). However, to our knowledge, there is no quantitative model available to predict the impact of a plasma protein-mediated hepatic uptake on the extent of hepatic clearance (CLh) for a drug binding extensively to these two proteins. Therefore, the main objective was to predict the corresponding CLh, which is an extension of the companion manuscript. The method consisted of extrapolating the intrinsic clearance from the unbound fraction measured in the perfusate or the unbound fraction extrapolated to the surface of the hepatocyte membrane by adapting an existing model of protein-mediated hepatic uptake (i.e., the fup-adjusted model) to include a binding ratio between the ALB and AGP. This new approach showed a relevant improvement compared to the free drug hypothesis particularly for FLU that showed the highest degree of ALB-mediated uptake. Overall, this study is a first step towards the development of predictive methods of CLh by considering the binding to ALB and AGP.
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Niu K, Wu J, Qi L, Niu Q. Energy intensity of wastewater treatment plants and influencing factors in China. Sci Total Environ 2019; 670:961-970. [PMID: 30921728 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The wastewater-energy nexus is an emerging concern in the wastewater treatment sector. Understanding the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the factors that influence it will help to improve planning and managing in order to meet increasing energy conservation demands. In this study, we use a unique big dataset from a pollution source census of all WWTPs in China to establish a quantitative model that relates the energy consumption of WWTPs to major influencing factors. From our results, we found that WWTPs in China are more energy-intensive than their international counterparts. Influencing factors such as treatment scale, technology, treatment degree, load factor, sludge amount, age, topography and wastewater collection area all significantly affect energy efficiency. In terms of energy saving potential, if the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration is increased to >500 mg/L, the total energy consumption of the wastewater treatment industry can be reduced by at least 20%. Furthermore, potential energy conservation is 5.9% for increasing the load of sewage treatment plants and 3.2% for renovating old WWTPs. We prioritized approaches for WWTP energy conservation and ranked them as follows: 1) establishing rain and sewage diversion facilities and increasing the inlet concentration of pollutants; 2) expanding and improving the sewage treatment pipe network and increasing the utilization rate of WWTPs; and 3) renovating old WWTPs. Our findings provide insights for other countries to improve the wastewater-energy nexus in their wastewater treatment sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Niu
- Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, CAAS, Beijing 100081, PR China.
| | - Jian Wu
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, PR China.
| | - Lu Qi
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, PR China.
| | - Qianxin Niu
- Business School, Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, Xi'an 710100, PR China
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Chen Z, Xiao X, Xing B, Chen B. pH-dependent sorption of sulfonamide antibiotics onto biochars: Sorption mechanisms and modeling. Environ Pollut 2019; 248:48-56. [PMID: 30771747 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It remains a challenge to precisely predict and control environmental behaviors of ionizable organic contaminants (IOCs) due to their species change relative to pH and because of the lack of appropriate models to illustrate the underlying pH-dependent mechanisms. We studied the pH-dependent sorption behavior of five sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) as typical IOCs with different pKa values towards a series of biochars as representative sorbents with well-characterized surface structures. After subtracting the contribution of the speciation effect using a classical speciation model, up to three unexpected enhanced sorption peaks could be found and regulated by the pKa,SA of the SAs and the pKa, BC of the biochars. The mono H-bond formation between the two pKa,SA of the SAs (pKa,SA1 is from NH2, pKa,SA2 is from SO2NH), and the biochar surface functional groups with comparable pKa values generated two peaks. Another peak around the middle between pKa,SA1 and pKa,SA2 appeared due to the aromatic π bonding-enhanced dual H-bond. All of these peaks were quantitatively separated by a novel two-compartment model, which was developed by capturing the characteristics of pH-dependent sorption. The quantified hydrogen bonding among different SAs elucidates the effectiveness and limits of the pKa equalization principle to predict the strengthening of hydrogen bonding at the solid-aqueous interface. This work recognizes the quantitative relationship among the structure, sorption, and H-bond interaction of biochars and guides the prediction of the fate of IOCs in the environment and the development of remediation options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaiming Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China; Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xin Xiao
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Huang H, Wang A, Morello-Frosch R, Lam J, Sirota M, Padula A, Woodruff TJ. Cumulative Risk and Impact Modeling on Environmental Chemical and Social Stressors. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 5:88-99. [PMID: 29441463 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-018-0180-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of this review is to identify cumulative modeling methods used to evaluate combined effects of exposures to environmental chemicals and social stressors. The specific review question is: What are the existing quantitative methods used to examine the cumulative impacts of exposures to environmental chemical and social stressors on health? RECENT FINDINGS There has been an increase in literature that evaluates combined effects of exposures to environmental chemicals and social stressors on health using regression models; very few studies applied other data mining and machine learning techniques to this problem. The majority of studies we identified used regression models to evaluate combined effects of multiple environmental and social stressors. With proper study design and appropriate modeling assumptions, additional data mining methods may be useful to examine combined effects of environmental and social stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtai Huang
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Aolin Wang
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, and the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Juleen Lam
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marina Sirota
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy Padula
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Tian M, Dyck O, Ge J, Duscher G. Measuring the areal density of nanomaterials by electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Ultramicroscopy 2018; 196:154-160. [PMID: 30391804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Thickness measurements of nanomaterials are usually performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques such as convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns analysis and the log-ratio method based on electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) spectrum. However, it is challenging to obtain both the thickness and elemental information, especially in non-crystalline materials or for very thin samples. In this work, we establish a series of procedures to calculate the areal density of the material by directly measuring the inelastic scattering probability in a thin sample. Core-loss EELS are fit with a quantitative model to extract atomic areal density. Knowledge of one of the parameters (volume density or sample thickness) allows a measurement of the other. The absolute error between the known thicknesses and those measured was less than 4% using two-dimensional materials with a well-defined thickness as test samples, which is much better than the log-ratio method for very thin samples. One promising advantage of this method is the thickness/areal density determination in mixed phase/element systems. We use Ag-Co bimetallic triangles and black rutile as examples to calculate the thickness map in mixture systems in different cases. We also demonstrate this technique can be applied to measure the argon gas density in spherical cavities. This allows a temperature vs pressure curve to be obtained and illustrates the unique capability of this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengkun Tian
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37909, USA.
| | - Ondrej Dyck
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jingxuan Ge
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Gerd Duscher
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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Bertens LMF, Kleijn J, Hille SC, Heiner M, Koutny M, Verbeek FJ. Modeling biological gradient formation: combining partial differential equations and Petri nets. Nat Comput 2015; 15:665-675. [PMID: 27881934 PMCID: PMC5101295 DOI: 10.1007/s11047-015-9531-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Both Petri nets and differential equations are important modeling tools for biological processes. In this paper we demonstrate how these two modeling techniques can be combined to describe biological gradient formation. Parameters derived from partial differential equation describing the process of gradient formation are incorporated in an abstract Petri net model. The quantitative aspects of the resulting model are validated through a case study of gradient formation in the fruit fly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jetty Kleijn
- LIACS, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sander C Hille
- Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Monika Heiner
- Department of Computer Science, Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
| | - Maciej Koutny
- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Beierlein JM, McNamee LM, Walsh MJ, Ledley FD. Patterns of Innovation in Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development: A Strategic Assessment Based on Technological Maturity. Clin Ther 2015; 37:1643-51.e3. [PMID: 26243074 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This article examines the current status of translational science for Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug discovery by using an analytical model of technology maturation. Previous studies using this model have demonstrated that nascent scientific insights and inventions generate few successful leads or new products until achieving a requisite level of maturity. This article assessed whether recent failures and successes in AD research follow patterns of innovation observed in other sectors. METHODS The bibliometric-based Technology Innovation Maturation Evaluation model was used to quantify the characteristic S-curve of growth for AD-related technologies, including acetylcholinesterase, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, B-amyloid, amyloid precursor protein, presenilin, amyloid precursor protein secretases, apolipoprotein E4, and transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). This model quantifies the accumulation of knowledge as a metric for technological maturity, and it identifies the point of initiation of an exponential growth stage and the point at which growth slows as the technology is established. FINDINGS In contrast to the long-established acetylcholinesterase and NMDA receptor technologies, we found that amyloid-related technologies reached the established point only after 2000, and that the more recent technologies (eg, TDP-43) have not yet approached this point. The first approvals for new molecular entities targeting acetylcholinesterase and the NMDA receptor occurred an average of 22 years after the respective technologies were established, with only memantine (which was phenotypically discovered) entering clinical trials before this point. In contrast, the 6 lead compounds targeting the formation of amyloid plaques that failed in Phase III trials between 2009 and 2014 all entered clinical trials before the respective target technologies were established. IMPLICATIONS This analysis suggests that AD drug discovery has followed a predictable pattern of innovation in which technological maturity is an important determinant of success in development. Quantitative analysis indicates that the lag in emergence of new products, and the much-heralded clinical failures of recent years, should be viewed in the context of the ongoing maturation of AD-related technologies. Although these technologies were not sufficiently mature to generate successful products a decade ago, they may be now. Analytical models of translational science can inform basic and clinical research results as well as strategic development of new therapeutic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Beierlein
- Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Department of Management, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Laura M McNamee
- Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Department of Management, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J Walsh
- Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Department of Management, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Fred D Ledley
- Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Department of Management, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
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