Statistical modeling of diabetic neuropathy: Exploring the dynamics of nerve mortality.

Diabetic neuropathy is a disorder characterized by impaired nerve function and reduction of the number of epidermal nerve fibers per epidermal surface. Additionally, as neuropathy related nerve fiber loss and regrowth progresses over time, the two-dimensional spatial arrangement of the nerves becomes more clustered. These observations suggest that with development of neuropathy, the spatial pattern of diminished skin innervation is defined by a thinning process which remains incompletely characterized.

Scalable and flexible inference framework for stochastic dynamic single-cell models.

Understanding the inherited nature of how biological processes dynamically change over time and exhibit intra- and inter-individual variability, due to the different responses to environmental stimuli and when interacting with other processes, has been a major focus of systems biology. The rise of single-cell fluorescent microscopy has enabled the study of those phenomena. The analysis of single-cell data with mechanistic models offers an invaluable tool to describe dynamic cellular processes and to rationalise cell-to-cell variability within the population.

Parameters of the diffusion leaky integrate-and-fire neuronal model for a slowly fluctuating signal.

Stochastic leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuronal models are common theoretical tools for studying properties of real neuronal systems. Experimental data of frequently sampled membrane potential measurements between spikes show that the assumption of constant parameter values is not realistic and that some (random) fluctuations are occurring. In this letter, we extend the stochastic LIF model, allowing a noise source determining slow fluctuations in the signal.

Maximum likelihood estimation of a time-inhomogeneous stochastic differential model of glucose dynamics.

Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are assuming an important role in the definition of dynamical models allowing for explanation of internal variability (stochastic noise). SDE models are well established in many fields, such as investment finance, population dynamics, polymer dynamics, hydrology and neuronal models. The metabolism of glucose and insulin has not yet received much attention from SDE modellers, except from a few recent contributions, because of methodological and implementation difficulties in estimating SDE parameters.

A general approach to the apparent permeability index.

The apparent permeability index is widely used as part of a general screening process to study drug absorption, and is routinely obtained from in vitro or ex vivo experiments. A classical example, widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, is the in vitro Caco-2 cell culture model. The index is defined as the initial flux of compound through the membrane (normalized by membrane surface area and donor concentration) and is typically computed by adapting a straight line to the initial portion of the recorded amounts in the receiver compartment, possibly disregarding the first few points when lagging of the transfer process through the membrane is evident.

Modeling the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp by stochastic differential equations.

The Euglycemic Hyperinsulinemic Clamp (EHC) is the most widely used experimental procedure for the determination of insulin sensitivity. In the present study, 16 subjects with BMI between 18.5 and 63.

Effects of levosimendan on right ventricular afterload in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pilot study.

Objective: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is frequently associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance and thus with systolic load of the right ventricle. We hypothesized that levosimendan, a new calcium sensitizer with potential pulmonary vasodilator properties, improves hemodynamics by unloading the right ventricle in patients with ARDS.

Design: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study.

Prophylactic fenoldopam for renal protection in sepsis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Objective: Acute renal failure is common in septic patients. Fenoldopam, a dopamine-1 receptor agonist, increases renal blood flow and may, therefore, reduce the risk of acute renal failure in such patients. Accordingly, we sought to determine the safety and efficacy of fenoldopam for the prevention of acute renal failure in septic patients.

A mathematical model of the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp.

Background: The Euglycemic Hyperinsulinemic Clamp (EHC) is the most widely used experimental procedure for the determination of insulin sensitivity, and in its usual form the patient is followed under insulinization for two hours. In the present study, sixteen subjects with BMI between 18.5 and 63.

Terlipressin versus norepinephrine to counteract anesthesia-induced hypotension in patients treated with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors: effects on systemic and regional hemodynamics.

Background: Terlipressin has been suggested as the ideal drug to treat anesthesia-induced hypotension in patients under long-term renin-angiotensin system inhibitor treatment for arterial hypertension. The authors compared the effects of terlipressin and norepinephrine on systemic hemodynamic parameters and gastric mucosal perfusion using a laser Doppler flowmetry technique in patients treated with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors who experienced hypotension at induction of anesthesia.

Methods: Thirty-two patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy under general anesthesia and treated with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors had hypotension after induction of general anesthesia.