PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “predictive modelling”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Effect of BD 1047, a sigma1 receptor antagonist, in the animal models predictive of antipsychotic activity.

The sigma receptors were first classified as a subtype of opioid receptors but later they were found to be a distinct pharmacological entity. Many preclinical and clinical data have indicated that sigma receptor ligands have to be involved in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Numerous data have suggested that potential antipsychotic activity of sigma ligands results from their "antagonistic" activity. However, the subcellular mechanisms by which sigma ligands exert their effects have not been elucidated in detail, therefore, the terms "agonist" or "antagonist" and their functional implications are not entirely unequivocal. The aim of the present study was to find out if BD 1047, described recently as a selective functional antagonist of sigma receptors, shows antipsychotic activity in animal models predictive of efficacy in schizophrenia. In contrast to rimcazole and panamesine, two selective sigma ligands whose antipsychotic activity was confirmed clinically, BD 1047 did not decrease amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice in a statistically significant manner. Likewise, it did not modify the hyperactivity induced by NMDA receptor antagonists, phencyclidine, memantine or dizocilpine. On the other hand, BD 1047 attenuated apomorphine-induced climbing in mice and phencyclidine-induced head twitches in rats, like rimcazole and panamesine did. Summing up, BD 1047 shows a moderate activity in models used in this study suggesting that its usefulness as an antipsychtic drug is doubtful. However, more detailed studies are required for definitive confirmation of this conclusion.

Animals↗

A simple saliency model predicts a number of motion popout phenomena.

Visual search for a moving target among stationary distractors is more efficient than searching for a stationary target among moving distractors, and searching for a fast target among slow distractors is more efficient than vice versa. This indicates that the ease of search for a target with a particular motion is not determined simply by the difference between target and distractor velocities. We suggest a simple model for predicting ease of search for a unique motion, based upon a quantitative measure of target saliency. Essentially, search will be easier the more the target motion deviates from the general pattern of velocities in the scene. Our model predicts a number of well-known motion search phenomena, and suggests that one control for target saliency as well as target discriminability when drawing conclusions about visual system mechanisms from search experiments.

Color Perception↗

Gross-alpha and gross-beta activities in airborne particulate samples. Analysis and prediction models.

Measurements of gross-alpha and gross-beta activities were made every week during the years 1992-1997 for airborne particulate samples collected using air filters at a clear site. The data are sufficiently numerous to allow the examination of variations in time and by these measurements to establish several features that should be important in understanding any trends of atmospheric radioactivity. Two models were used to predict the gross-alpha and gross-beta activities. A good agreement between the results of these models and the measurements was highlighted.

Air↗

A prediction model for identifying alcohol withdrawal seizures.

A retrospective review of alcohol withdrawal seizures was performed at a private chemical-dependence treatment facility to help identify patients who were at high risk for having a seizure. Patients were identified by two means: controlled substance records were reviewed to determine patients having received intramuscular phenobarbital, and patient charts were reviewed for all patients with a discharge diagnosis of a seizure disorder. Two thousand and one patient records were reviewed; alcohol withdrawal seizure patients were identified. Twenty-eight randomly selected nonseizure patient records served as controls. The statistical test consisted of a discriminant function analysis. The data yielded a statistically significant predictive model for alcohol withdrawal seizures based on six interdependent patient variables which will be helpful in treating future patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal.

Adult↗

Multicentric, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate blood glucose control by the model predictive control algorithm versus routine glucose management protocols in intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a fully automated algorithm for the establishment of tight glycemic control in critically ill patients and to compare the results with different routine glucose management protocols of three intensive care units (ICUs) across Europe (Graz, Prague, and London). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery (age 67 +/- 9 years, BMI 27.7 +/- 4.9 kg/m2, 17 women) with postsurgery blood glucose levels >120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/l) were investigated in three different ICUs (20 per center). Patients were randomized to either blood glucose management (target range 80-110 mg/dl [4.4-6.1 mmol/l]) by the fully automated model predictive control (MPC) algorithm (n = 30, 10 per center) or implemented routine glucose management protocols (n = 30, 10 per center). In all patients, arterial glucose was measured hourly to describe the glucose profile until the end of the ICU stay but for a maximum period of 48 h. RESULTS: Compared with routine protocols, MPC treatment resulted in a significantly higher percentage of time within the target glycemic range (% median [min-max]: 52 [17-92] vs. 19 [0-71]) over 0-24 h (P < 0.01). Improved glycemic control with MPC treatment was confirmed in patients remaining in the ICU for 48 h (0-24 h: 50 [17-71] vs. 21 [4-67], P < 0.05, and 24-48 h: 65 [38-96] vs. 25 [8-79], P < 0.05, for MPC [n = 16] vs. routine protocol [n = 13], respectively). Two hypoglycemic events (<54 mg/dl [3.0 mmol/l]) were observed with routine protocol treatment. No hypoglycemic event occurred with MPC. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the MPC algorithm is safe and effective in controlling glycemia in critically ill postsurgery patients.

Aged↗

Survival model predictive accuracy and ROC curves.

The predictive accuracy of a survival model can be summarized using extensions of the proportion of variation explained by the model, or R2, commonly used for continuous response models, or using extensions of sensitivity and specificity, which are commonly used for binary response models. In this article we propose new time-dependent accuracy summaries based on time-specific versions of sensitivity and specificity calculated over risk sets. We connect the accuracy summaries to a previously proposed global concordance measure, which is a variant of Kendall's tau. In addition, we show how standard Cox regression output can be used to obtain estimates of time-dependent sensitivity and specificity, and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Semiparametric estimation methods appropriate for both proportional and nonproportional hazards data are introduced, evaluated in simulations, and illustrated using two familiar survival data sets.

Biometry↗

Comparative analysis of the cardiotoxicity proclivities of second generation antihistamines in an experimental model predictive of adverse clinical ECG effects.

Terfenadine and astemizole belong to the second generation histamine H1 antagonists and are widely prescribed for allergic and upper respiratory diseases. The popularity of the newer H1 antihistamines is due to their ability to provide relief from allergic symptoms without the undesirable side effect of sedation commonly associated with first generation H1 receptor antagonists such as diphenhydramine and promethazine. Recent clinical evidence that the second generation histamine H1 antagonists terfenadine and astemizole have the potential for inducing life threatening ventricular arrhythmias has raised questions as to whether other drugs in this class have similar cardiotoxic potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the arrhythmogenic potential of a series of second generation antihistamines in a quantitative experimental model predictive of adverse ECG effects in man. Antihistamines were given intravenously and electrocardiographic (ECG) and cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were measured. The ECG wave form was analyzed to determine QTc interval, PR interval, QRS interval and heart rate. To determine the relative cardiotoxic potential of the antihistamines, the lowest dose producing significant prolongation of the QTc interval was compared with the dose required to inhibit by 50% the peripheral bronchospasm elicited by histamine at 10 micrograms/kg i.v. (antihistamine ED50). The second generation antihistamines studied were astemizole (CAS 68844-77-9), carebastine (CAS 90729-42-3), cetirizine hydrochloride (CAS 83881-52-1), ebastine (CAS 90729-43-4), norastemizole (CAS 75970-99-9), terfenadine (CAS 50679-08-8) and terfenadine carboxylate (CAS 83799-24-0). The second generation antihistamines astemizole, ebastine and terfenadine produced pronounced dose-dependent QTc interval prolongation effects. These arrhythmogenic effects occurred at doses that were between 1 and 4 times their respective peripheral antihistamine doses. These drugs produced significant disruption of the ECG wave form including large amplitude, morphologically aberrant T-waves and, in some cases, torsades de pointes-type arrhythmias. In contrast, terfenadine carboxylate (100 mg/kg i.v.), norastemizole (20 mg/kg, i.v.) and carebastine (50 mg/kg, i.v.), the major metabolites of terfenadine, astemizole and ebastine, were largely devoid of adverse ECG effects. Similarly, cetirizine (20 mg/kg, i.v.) was also found to not alter ECG or cardiovascular function. These findings demonstrate that terfenadine, astemizole and ebastine exhibit significant arrhythmogenic effects including QTc interval prolongation, bradycardia and distortion of the ECG morphology in the guinea pig. The relative cardiotoxicity of these antihistamines based on the separation of antihistamine activity and adverse ECG effects was similar for terfenadine and astemizole, but slightly less for ebastine. In this model carebastine, cetirizine, loratadine, norastemizole and terfenadine carboxylate are devoid of QTc prolongation effects. Given the structural similarity of terfenadine and ebastine it is not surprising that these drugs produce significant cardiotoxicity in this animal model. Taken together, these results indicate that the ability to cause QTc interval prolongation and the proclivity for producing arrhythmias is not a class effect and is seen only with some second generation nonsedating antihistamines.

Animals↗

Small in-frame deletions and missense mutations in CADASIL: 3D models predict misfolding of Notch3 EGF-like repeat domains.

CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is a hereditary microangiopathic condition causing stroke in young adults. The responsible gene has recently been identified as the Notch3 gene. Notch3 encodes a large transmembrane receptor with 34 extracellularly localised epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeat domains. We screened 71 unrelated CADASIL families for mutations in two exons coding for the first five EGF-like repeats and found mutations in 70% of the families (n = 50). Two types of mutations were identified: 48 families (96%) had missense mutations and two families (4%) had small in-frame deletions. Seven mutations occurred multiple times. All of them are C to T transitions that affect CpG dinucleotides, suggesting that their multiple occurrence is due to the hypermutability of this sequence. All mutations, including the two deletions, result in the gain or loss of a cysteine residue, thus substantiating the pivotal role of an uneven number of cysteine residues within EGF-like repeat domains of Notch3 in the pathogenesis of CADASIL. To study the potential effects of these mutations 3D homology models of the first six EGF domains were generated on the basis of NMR data from human fibrillin-1. These models predict domain misfolding for a subset of mutations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Longitudinal model predicting partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States.

BACKGROUND: A limited amount of information pertaining to ethnic-specific risk factors associated with intimate partner violence across time currently exists. The current study examines ethnic-specific longitudinal predictors of male-to-female and female-to-male partner violence (MFPV and FMPV) in white, black, and Hispanic couples in the U.S. general population. METHODS: In 1995, a total of 1635 married or cohabitating couples 18 years of age or older living in households in the 48 contiguous states participated in a national survey that used a multistage probability sampling procedure with 100 primary sampling units and included oversamples of blacks and Hispanics. In 2000, the follow-up survey had an overall response rate of 72% and included 406 white, 232 black, and 387 Hispanic intact couples.Ethnic-specific regression models predicting MFPV and FMPV at follow-up were developed. The risk factors of interest included male and female reports of history of childhood abuse, exposure to parental violence, impulsivity, alcohol problems, frequency of drinking five or more drinks per occasion, volume of alcohol consumed per week in average standard drinks, approval of marital aggression and male-to-female and female-to-male partner violence at baseline. MFPV and FMPV in 1995 and 2000 were based on the Conflict Tactics Scale Form R. RESULTS: Black and Hispanic couples were at approximately three times greater risk of MFPV and two times greater risk of FMPV at follow-up in comparison to white couples even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, and psychosocial variables. Extreme specific models indicated that among blacks, MFPV was a significant predictor of MFPV and FMPV at follow-up. In contrast, among Hispanics, FMPV was a significant predictor of FMPV and MFPV at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic-specific multivariate logistic regression models indicated that the predictors of MFPV and FMPV including psychosocial variables, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems varied by ethnicity. These findings contribute to our continually growing knowledge base regarding ethnic differences associated with the development of intimate partner violence and have important implications for prevention and intervention.

Adult↗

Repeated enflurane anaesthetics and model predictions: a study of the variability in the predictive performance measures.

We quantified the total variability (reproducibility) and the within-patient but between repeat anaesthetics variability (repeatability) in measures which are used to judge the predictive performance of our physiological model. We studied 14 patients who received enflurane closed-circuit anaesthesia on two occasions. The end-tidal concentrations measured and those predicted served to calculate the predictive performance measures of the model: root mean squared error (rmse = total error), bias (systematic error) and scatter (error around the bias). The overall results were: rmse 15 (7)%, bias 0 (14)% and scatter 9 (3)% (grand mean (total SD)). The within-patient SD values were smaller for the rmse (4%) and bias (10%), but not for scatter (3%). The repeat rmse values and biases were linked to the first results. This implies that these performance measures depended partly on the patient. As there was no association between the personal performance measures and age, sex, body weight, body surface area or body mass index, these characteristics cannot be used to further tune the model.

Adolescent↗

Multivariate prediction model of kidney transplant success rates.

An excellent correlation of predicted and observed cadaver kidney graft survival rates was obtained using a nine-factor computer model. A total of 924 recipients for whom a greater than 80% 1-year survival rate was predicted had an observed rate of 84.6%, whereas 179 recipients with a predicted 1-year success rate of less than 40% had an observed rate of 38.2%. Our model gives improved results as compared with previously published methods. We anticipate that the model's predictive power can be further refined, and that patient selection and organ sharing will benefit from the application of sophisticated computer models for the prediction of transplant success.

Analysis of Variance↗

A predictive model to determine the effects of pH, milkfat, and temperature on thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen of significance because of its comparatively high heat resistance, zero tolerance in ready-to-eat foods, and growth at refrigeration temperatures. A 3 x 3 x 3 factorial study was done to determine the effects of milkfat (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%), pH (5.0, 6.0, 7.0), and processing temperature (55 degrees C, 60 degrees C, 65 degrees C) on the thermal resistance of L. monocytogenes in a formulated and homogenized milk system. Data were fit to a modified Gompertz equation where parameter estimates characterized three regions of a survival curve: the shoulder, maximum slope, and tail. Statistical analysis was done for each of the 27 individual treatment sets to visualize individual effects on parameter estimates and to evaluate how well the Gompertz equation represented the data. A regression model for the Gompertz equation was generated to predict the logarithmic surviving fraction of L. monocytogenes based on all 27 treatments and their single and interactive effects. The shoulder region of the survival curve was affected by pH; however, the maximum slope was affected by temperature, milkfat, and the interaction of temperature x milkfat. Validation of the model suggests that the predictions are best suited for processing above 62 degrees C. Trends over time for a 4-log reduction in cells (4D values) were evaluated using results from the 27 individual treatment sets, the regression model for the Gompertz equation, and a linear equation. At lower temperatures, 4D values by the three methods varied by twofold. At higher temperatures, all methods gave similar 4D values, suggesting that death became more linear. Based on this study all three factors affect heat resistance for specific regions of a survival curve, and a predictive model was developed that can be used as a preliminary estimate for L. monocytogenes inactivation.

Animals↗

[Development of prediction models for three in vitro embryotoxicity tests which are evaluated in an ECVAM validation study]

In 1997 ZEBET started the co-ordination of a study funded by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) with the aim of pre-validation and validation of three in vitro embryotoxicity tests. These tests employ the cultivation of post-implantation whole rat embryos (WEC test), cultures of primary limb bud cells of rat embryos (micromass test, MM-Test), and cultures of a pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cell line (embryonic stem cell test, EST). In the current Validation Study each of the tests is evaluated in four laboratories under blind conditions. In an initial phase of the validation study six out of 20 test chemicals comprising different embryotoxic potential (non, weak and strong embryotoxic) were tested. The results were used to improve the prediction models (PM) for the WEC test and the MM-Test in order to identify the embryotoxic potential of test chemicals. In addition, the existing PM for the EST was evaluated using the results from testing of the initial six chemicals. The PM for the EST was developed using the results of a previous pre-validation study (Scholz et al.,1999), in which 94% of the learning sample were classified correctly. Applying this PM to the results of the initial phase of the current validation study, 80% of the experiments were classified correctly according to the embryotoxic potential of the tested chemicals in vivo. Applying the PM for the MM-Test and the WEC test that were developed during the current validation study in both tests, 79% correct classifications were achieved. Since the PM of the WEC-Test took into account only parameters of growth and development, but not cytotoxicity data, a second PM (PM2) for the WEC was developed that was improved by incorporating cytotoxicity data of the differentiated mouse fibroblast cell line 3T3 derived from the EST. This approach, which has previously never been used as an adjunct to the WEC test, resulted in an increase of correct classifications to 96%.

Journal Article↗

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: development of a predictive model.

Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of congestive heart failure, which often begins after acute myocardial infarction. To better delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era, we prospectively evaluated patients enrolled in six of the TAMI trials. The study cohort comprised 1619 consecutive patients who had at least 1 mm of ST-segment elevation in two contiguous electrocardiographic leads within 6 hours of the onset of acute myocardial infarction and who received intravenous thrombolytic therapy. We prospectively collected clinical characteristics, baseline demographics, acute and 1-week angiographic variables, and in-hospital and 1-year outcome data. We performed stepwise multivariable regression analysis to determine the noninvasive and invasive predictors of the development of in-hospital congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure developed in 301 patients in the hospital (19% of 1521 patients admitted were not in heart failure). These patients were likely to be older and female, have diabetes mellitus and previous myocardial infarction, and have an anterior wall myocardial infarction. On acute angiography, they had lower ejection fractions and a higher incidence of multivessel disease. Patency at 90 minutes was lower in the patients with congestive heart failure, and acute mitral regurgitation occurred in 1.6% versus 0.21% of patients without congestive heart failure. Patients with congestive heart failure had higher mortality, more in-hospital complications, and longer hospitalizations. At 1-year follow up, 21% of the patients in whom congestive heart failure developed had died versus 5% in the group without congestive heart failure. Predictors of new congestive heart failure included increased age, anterior wall myocardial infarction, lower pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and the presence of rales on admission. The acute angiographic variables of reduced ejection fraction, increased number of diseased vessels, and attempted percutaneous intervention improved the concordance of the predictive model by 6%. Congestive heart failure remains a common clinical problem after acute myocardial infarction and is associated with a twofold increase in in-hospital morbidity and a fourfold increase in in-hospital and 1-year mortality. The development of congestive heart failure in the hospital can be predicted from noninvasive and invasive baseline characteristics. We present a simple table to predict congestive heart failure from baseline characteristics and invasive information.

Age Factors↗

Development of prediction models for three in vitro embryotoxicity tests in an ECVAM validation study.

Since 1997 the National Center for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments, ZEBET, in Berlin, has been coordinating a validation study aimed at prevalidation and validation of three in vitro embryotoxicity tests, funded by the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) at the Joint Research Center (JRC, Ispra, Italy). The tests use the cultivation of postimplantation rat whole embryos (WEC test), cultures of primary limb bud cells of rat embryos (micromass or, MM, test), and cultures of a pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cell line (embryonic stem cell test or EST). Each of the tests was performed in four laboratories under blind conditions. In the preliminary phase of the validation study 6 out of 20 test chemicals comprising different embryotoxic potential (non, weakly, and strongly embryotoxic) were tested. The results were used to define biostatistically based prediction models (PMs) to identify the embryotoxic potential of test chemicals for the WEC test and the MM test. The PMs developed with the results of the preliminary phase of the validation study (training set) will be evaluated with the results of the remaining 14 test chemicals (definitive phase) by the end of the study. In addition, the existing, improved PM (iPM) for the EST, which had been defined previously, was evaluated using the results of the preliminary phase of this study. Applying the iPM of the EST to the results of this study, in 79% of the experiments, chemicals were classified correctly according to the embryotoxic potential defined by in vivo testing. For the MM and the WEC test, the PMs developed during the preliminary phase of this validation study provided 81% (MM test) and 72% (WEC test) correct classifications. Because the PM of the WEC test took into account only parameters of growth and development, but not cytotoxicity data, a second PM (PM2) was developed for the WEC test by incorporating cytotoxicity data of the differentiated mouse fibroblast cell line 3T3, which was derived from the EST. This approach, which has previously never been used, resulted in an increase to 84% correct classifications in the WEC test.

3T3 Cells↗

The ECVAM international validation study on in vitro embryotoxicity tests: results of the definitive phase and evaluation of prediction models. European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.

From 1996 to 2000, ZEBET (Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments at the BgVV, Berlin, Germany) coordinated the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) prevalidation and validation study on three embryotoxicity tests: a) a test employing embryonic stem cell lines (EST); b) the micromass (MM) test; and c) the postimplantation rat whole-embryo culture assay (WEC test). The main objectives of the study were to assess the performance of these three in vitro tests in discriminating between non- embryotoxic, weakly embryotoxic and strongly embryotoxic compounds. Phase I of the study (1997) was designed as a prevalidation phase, for test protocol optimisation, and for the establishment of a comprehensive database of in vivo and in vitro data on embryotoxic compounds. Phase II (1998-2000) involved a formal validation trial, conducted under blind conditions on 20 test compounds selected from the database, which were coded and distributed to the participating laboratories. In the preliminary phase of the validation study, six chemicals out of the 20, which showed embryotoxic potential, were tested. These results were used to define new biostatistically based prediction models (PMs) for the MM and WEC tests, and to evaluate those developed previously for the EST. As a next step, the PMs were evaluated by using the results for the remaining 14 chemicals of the definitive phase of the validation study. The three in vitro embryotoxicity tests proved to be applicable to testing a diverse group of chemicals with different embryotoxic potentials (non-embryotoxic, weakly embryotoxic, and strongly embryotoxic). The reproducibility of the three in vitro embryotoxicity tests were acceptable according to the acceptance criteria defined by the Management Team. The concordances between the embryotoxic potentials derived from the in vitro data and from the in vivo data were good for the EST and the WEC (PM2) test, and sufficient for the MM test and the WEC (PM1) tests according to the performance criteria defined by the Management Team before the formal validation study. When applying the PM of the EST to the in vitro data obtained in the definitive phase of the formal validation study, chemicals were classified correctly in 78% of the experiments. For the MM and the WEC tests, the PMs provided 70% and 80% (PM2) correct classifications, respectively. And, very importantly, an excellent predictivity (100%, except for PM1 of the WEC test, with 79%, considered as good) was obtained with strong embryotoxic chemicals in each of the three in vitro tests.

3T3 Cells↗

A mechanistic, predictive model of dose-response curves for cell cycle phase-specific and -nonspecific drugs.

In vitro dose-response curves for anticancer agents are useful for predicting the clinical response to chemotherapy, and models to capture the time-dependency of dose-response curves are necessary for potential clinical extrapolation. Usually, the modified Hill model is used (see Levasseur et al., Cancer Res., 58: 5749-5761, 1998), although this model is neither mechanistic nor predictive for understanding how drug and tumor cell characteristics affect the shape of the dose-response curve. A new exponential kill (EK) model is proposed to predict the shape of dose-response curves based on the cell cycle phase specificity of a drug, the cell cycle time, the duration and concentration of drug exposure at the site of action, and a scaling factor for the level of drug resistance. Explicit analytical equations are presented for predicting the ICx (the concentration required to reduce cell growth by x%), the maximum cell kill achievable at high doses after a given duration of drug exposure, and the slope of the survival fraction versus log (concentration) plot at the ICx. Numerical solutions illustrate that there may be an optimal, finite duration of drug exposure that maximizes cell kill for a given area under the concentration versus time curve, and an analytical equation is given to calculate when such an optimal, finite duration exists. The EK model generates sigmoidal dose-response curves, like those seen empirically and previously described by the Hill model, which eventually plateau with increasing drug concentration at levels that depend on the cell cycle specificity of the drug, the cell cycle time, and the duration of exposure to the drug. This study includes no original data. Instead, empirical results in the literature are used to test the model. Because data by Levasseur et al. (1998) was fit to the Hill model assuming the plateau in the effect versus concentration curve to be independent of exposure duration, a full test of the model is not possible using their published data. Some tests of the EK model were possible, however, showing that EK model predictions yield good fits to in vitro data published in that and in another study. In addition, combining the EK model with a pharmacokinetic model resulted in predictions that were consistent with results of clinical studies comparing etoposide given in different schedules. Further tests of the model are necessary.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A prognostic factor analysis for use in development of predictive models for response in adult acute leukemia.

The pretreatment characteristics of 325 adults with acute leukemia who were treated at the M. D. Anderson Hospital between 1973 and 1977 have been evaluated to assess their value as prognostic indicators. The patient population includes all patients treated with an anthracycline (Adriamycin or rubidazone), cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, and prednisone during the time period. Most patients had one of the variants of acute myelogenous leukemia (75%), and the remaining patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (16%) or undifferentiated leukemia (8%). Twenty-one factors were found to be significantly associated with probability of obtaining a complete response. In addition to characteristics previously known to provide prognostic information such as age, temperature status at the start of treatment, morphology, the presence of Auer rods, sex, and hemoglobin level, we identified the presence of a documented antecedent hematologic disorder and the finding of insufficient metaphases on cytogenetic analysis using the squash technique as being major prognostic variables. In addition, the pretreatment biochemical characteristics of hypoalbuminemia and elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were found to adversely influence prognosis. The prognostic significance of factors such as the leukocyte count and platelet count, identified in earlier studies, was not confirmed in this group of patients. From this natural-history analysis predictive models for response have been developed using multivariate logistic regression techniques. One of these models has been used to evaluate the effect of morphology, treatment, and cytogenetic pattern on response to the combination of drugs used.

Acute Disease↗