Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Metapopulation epidemic models with heterogeneous mixing and travel behaviour
Conclusions: The proposed modelling approach introduces a theoretical framework for the study of infectious diseases spread in a population with two layers of heterogeneity relevant for the local transmission and the spatial propagation of the disease. It can be used for pandemic preparedness studies to identify adequate interventions and quantitatively estimate the corresponding required effort, as well as in an emerging epidemic situation to assess the pandemic potential of the pathogen from population and early outbreak data. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - January 13, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Andrea ApolloniChiara PolettoJosé RamascoPablo JensenVittoria Colizza Source Type: research

Dependency of codon usage on protein sequence patterns: a statistical study
Conclusions: We provided a hypothesis that there are segments on genes that affect the codon usage and thus influence protein translation speed, and these regions are the regions that code protein pattern regions. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - January 10, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Mohammad-Hadi Foroughmand-AraabiBahram GoliaeiKasra AlishahiMehdi Sadeghi Source Type: research

In-silico models of stem cell and developmental systems
Understanding how developmental systems evolve over time is a key question in stem cell and developmental biology research. However, due to hurdles of existing experimental techniques, our understanding of these systems as a whole remains partial and coarse. In recent years, we have been constructing in-silico models that synthesize experimental knowledge using software engineering tools. Our approach integrates known isolated mechanisms with simplified assumptions where the knowledge is limited. This has proven to be a powerful, yet underutilized, tool to analyze the developmental process. The models provide a means to st...
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - January 8, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Yaki Setty Source Type: research

A patient-specific therapeutic approach for tumour cell population extinction and drug toxicity reduction using control systems-based dose-profile design
Conclusion: The conflicting oncological objectives of tumour-cell extinction and host protection can be simultaneously accommodated using the techniques of drug input reconstruction by enforcing a bias shift and guided control over the drug dose-time profile. For translational applicability, the procedure can be adapted to accommodate varying patient parameters, and for corrective clinical monitoring, to implement full tumour extinction, while maintaining the health profile of the patient. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - December 26, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Suhela KapoorVP RallabandiChandrashekhar SakodeRadhakant PadhiPrasun Roy Source Type: research

Changes in geometric configuration and biomechanical parameters of a rapidly growing abdominal aortic aneurysm may provide insight in aneurysms natural history and rupture risk
Conclusion: Aneurysm area under high stress and redistribution of stress against the posterior wall due to changes in geometric configuration and thrombus deposition over time may have implications to aneurysms natural history and rupture risk. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - December 5, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Nikolaos KontopodisEleni MetaxaYannis PapaharilaouEfstratios GeorgakarakosDimitrios TsetisChristos Ioannou Source Type: research

Computer simulation of cervical tissue response to a hydraulic dilator device
Conclusion: This study opens a new avenue for the implementation of CCBD device instead of mechanical dilators to prevent cervical injury during cervical dilation. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - November 6, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Nenad FilipovicDalibor NikolicIgor SaveljicIrena TanaskovicNebojsa ZdravkovicAleksandar ZivanovicPetar ArsenijevicBranislav JeremicSlobodan Arsenijevic Source Type: research

Molecular docking studies for the identification of novel melatoninergic inhibitors for acetylserotonin-O-methyltransferase using different docking routines
Background: N-Acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) is an enzyme which by converting nor-melatonin to melatonin catalyzes the final reaction in melatonin biosynthesis in tryptophan metabolism pathway. High Expression of ASMT gene is evident in PPTs. The presence of abnormally high levels of ASMT in pineal gland could serve as an indication of the existence of pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) in the brain (J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 65: 675--684, 2006). Different levels of melatonin are used as a trait marker for prescribing the mood disorders e.g. Seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disord...
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - October 24, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Syed AzamSumra Abbasi Source Type: research

Spatial Chaos and Complexity in the Intracellular Space of Cancer and Normal Cells
Conclusion: Initial findings are promising for characterizing different types of cells and therefore useful for studying cancer cells in the spatial domain using state-of-the-art imaging technology. The measures of the chaotic behavior and complexity of the spatial cell will help computational biologists gain insights into identifying associations between the oscillation patterns and spatial parameters of cells, and appropriate model for simulating cancer cell signaling networks for cancer treatment and new drug discovery. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - October 24, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Tuan PhamKazuhisa Ichikawa Source Type: research

A mathematical model for optimizing the indications of liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Conclusion: We concluded that it is possible to include patients with tumor size up to 10 cm without increasing the total mortality of this population. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - October 20, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Eleazar ChaibMarcos AmakuFrancisco CoutinhoLuis LopezMarcelo BurattiniLuiz D¿AlbuquerqueEduardo Massad Source Type: research

Modeling of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-mediated interaction between the serotonin regulation pathway and the stress response using a Boolean approximation: a novel study of depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disorder known to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. MDD presents a heritability of 37%, and a genetic contribution has also been observed in studies of family members of individuals with MDD that imply that the probability of suffering the disorder is approximately three times higher if a first-degree family member is affected. Childhood maltreatment and stressful life events (SLEs) have been established as critical environmental factors that profoundly influence the onset of MDD. The serotonin pathway has been a strong candidate for genetic studies...
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - October 5, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Oscar Moreno-RamosMaria LattigAndrés González Barrios Source Type: research

A simplified cervix model in response to induction balloon in pre-labour
Conclusions: The model, a simplified one-quarter version of the cervix, is capable of maintaining near-constant dilation rates, similar to published clinical observations for pre-labour. Lowest spring constant values are achieved when two springs are used, but nearly identical tracking of dilation speed can be achieved with only a pin joint spring. Initial and final values for effacement and dilation also match published clinical observations. These results provide a framework for development of electro-mechanical phantoms for induction training, as well as dilator testing and development. (Source: Theoretical Biology a...
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - September 26, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: James Andrew Smith Source Type: research

Application of pattern recognition tools for classifying acute coronary syndrome: an integrated medical modeling
Conclusion: The results reveal that an integrated AI-based feature selection and classification approach is an effective method for the early and accurate classification of ACS and ultimately a timely diagnosis and treatment of this disease. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - September 18, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Nader SalariShamarina ShohaimiFarid NajafiMeenakshii NallappanIsthrinayagy Karishnarajah Source Type: research

Fractal-like kinetics of intracellular enzymatic reactions: a chemical framework of endotoxin tolerance and a possible non-specific contribution of macromolecular crowding to cross-tolerance
Conclusion: The model highlights the links between the organization of the intracellular environment, MMC and the LPS signaling machinery leading to ET. Our FLK-based model does not minimize the role of the numerous negative regulatory factors. It simply draws attention to the fact that macromolecular crowding can contribute significantly to the induction of ET by imposing geometric constrains and a particular chemical kinetic for the intracellular reactions. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - September 14, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Catalin VasilescuMircea OlteanuPaul FlondorGeorge Calin Source Type: research

Homology modeling and ligand docking of Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 5 (MK5)
Conclusions: The 3FHR-based MK5 model may serve as a working tool for development of chemical probes using computer aided drug design. The biological function of MK5 still remains elusive, but its role as a possible drug target may be elucidated in the near future. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - September 14, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Inger LindinYimingjiang WuxiuerIrina KufarevaRuben AbagyanUgo MoensIngebrigt SylteAina Ravna Source Type: research

Rate-dependent Ca 2+ signalling underlying the force-frequency response in rat ventricular myocytes: a coupled electromechanical modeling study
Conclusions: Our model provides mechanistic biophysically based explanations for the rate-dependence of CICR, generating useful and testable hypotheses. Although rat ventricular myocytes exhibit a positive peak FFR in the presence/absence of beta-adrenergic stimulation, they show a characteristic increase in the positive slope in FFR due to the presence of Norepinephrine or Isoproterenol. Our study identifies cAMP-mediated stimulation, and rate-dependent CaMKII-mediated up-regulation of ICa;L as the key mechanisms underlying the aforementioned positive FFR. (Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling)
Source: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling - September 10, 2013 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Abhilash KrishnaMiguel ValderrábanoPhilip PaladeJohn Clark Jr. Source Type: research