Advanced Modelling Case Studies
Case Study 2
Assignment
• This assignment has 4 questions worth a total of 50 marks.
• You answers must be written up in a single word (or similar) document with the
full answers to the questions. Any supporting material - for example matlab files -
can also be submitted and any code used given in the appendix of the document.
• Answers to the questions and any relevant Matlab (or other) code should be submitted via the www.maths.shu.ac.uk server on Friday 14th July 2017 by midnight.
• Your attention is drawn to the University’s regulations on plagiarism. Answers to
this assignment must be individual work; any evidence suggesting the possibility of
collusion will be investigated.
• You should answer all questions.
• Any questions should be directed to Angharad Ugonna. Room: Norfolk 607;
e-mail: [email protected].
Part 1
1.1. Consider an enzymatic reaction in which an enzyme can be activated or inactivated [8]
by a chemical X as follows:
E + X
k1
−*
)−
k
−1
E1; E1 + X
k2
−*
)−
k
−2
E2; E1 + S −! k3 P + Q + E: (1)
Suppose further that X is supplied at a constant rate, and removed at a rate
proportional to its concentration.
(a) Write down differential equations for the evolution of E; E1; E2; X and S.
(b) Write down a set of meaningful initial conditions. Justify your answer.
(c) Which elements of this system are conserved? Explain your reasoning.
1.2. We are now going to consider the dynamics of this reaction system. Using Matlab [12]
(or otherwise), solve the system of equations. Let all rates of reaction and non-zero
initial conditions be 1.
1AMCS Case Study 2 2016/2017
Figure 1: Plot of enzyme dynamics for given equation 1
(a) Plot E; E1; E2; X; S and P. Ensure that the plots are fully labelled and that
they are presented in such a way as to meaningfully demonstrate the dynamics
of the system.
(b) Investigate the steady state of the system. What does this tell us about the
dynamics? Relate your answer to the rates of reaction and initial conditions.
(c) Explain what happens as we increase the initial reactant and enzyme concentrations. Why do we see these particular dynamics?
(d) Under what conditions will we see an increase in product formation? Under
what conditions will we see more E2 produced than P?
(e) Look at figure 1. Estimate the parameter values for the plot given. Explain
your reasoning.
Part 2
You have been introduced to the concept of physiologically based pharmacokinetic
(PBPK) modelling. In this part of the assignment you will be asked to investigate
the pros and cons of such models, to build a simple model of your own and to critique
a model for yourself.
2.1. One of the earlier PBPK models was developed by Bischoff et al. in their [12]
1971 paper. In this paper a multi compartment representation to simulate the
movement of an immunosuppressive drug through the body is given. The full
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list of equations are:
VP dCP
dt = Mg(t) + Q RL LCL + Q RK K CK + Q RM M CM − (QL + QK + QM)CP
VM dCM
dt = QM CP − R CM M
VK dCK
dt = QK CP − R CK K − kK R CK K
VL dCL
dt = (QL − QG) CP − R CL L + QG R CG G − R CL L − r
τ
dr1
dt = r − r1
τ
dr2
dt = r1 − r2
τ
dr3
dt = r2 − r3
VG dCG
dt = QG CP − R CG G + 1 4 P4 i=1( Kk G G+ CC i 1 + bCi)
dCGL
dt =
14
P4 i=1 dC dti
VGL
4
dC1
dt = r3 − kFVGLC1 − 1 4 K k G G+ CC 1 1 + bC1
VGL
4
dCi
dt = kFVGL(Ci−1 − Ci) − 1 4 K k G G+ CC i i + bCi
The full nomenclature and diagram are given in the paper Bischoff et al..
How do we obtain the value for r where r = kL(CL=RL)
KL+(CL=RL)? What do we mean by
saturation level?
(b) Run the model (Bischoff Matlab Model). Modify the dose applied between
3mcg/kg and 300mcg/kg. How does this effect the maximum values of CM,
CK, CG and CGL. Ensure that any plots given are clearly labelled.
(c) The parameters given are for mice. Modify these parameters for humans. What
are the key differences that we observe? Give evidence of these observations and
state the parameters used.
(d) Given your observations of this model what do you see as the main advantages
and disadvantages of this model? How do you believe that it could be improved?
2.2. We are now going to build our own PBPK model for exposure to chloroform. Think [18]
about how the compound enters the body, how it is metabolised and what parameter
values are available.
(a) i. Give a schematic outlining your PBPK model. This schematic should
clearly indicate absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
ii. Discuss how you decided which compartments to use when building your
PBPK model. In particular, state which compartments are lumped together
and how this can be justified.
(b) i. Write down a set of possible equations to describe the interactions between
these compartments. Explain your choices - stating clearly what assumptions you have made.
ii. How do you go about finding parameters for these equations? Give examples of potential parameters and cite your sources.
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(c) Solve your equations using Matlab, or otherwise. Where you do not have specific
parameter values use guestimates with full reasoning. What do your results tell
you about the metabolism of ethanol in the body? Use plots to help answer
this.
(d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your model? How could we improve
on this model. Give specific examples with details of how this can be achieved.
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