We have already presented a mathematical model for one intensive chemotherapy cycle with intravenous (IV) daunorubicin (DNR), and cytarabine (Ara-C) [1]. This model is now extended to nonintensive subcutaneous (SC) Ara-C and for a standard intensive chemotherapy course (four cycles), consistent with clinical practice. Model parameters mainly consist of physiological patient data, indicators of tumor burden and characteristics of cell cycle kinetics. A sensitivity analysis problem is solved and cell cycle parameters are identified to control treatment outcome. Simulation results using published cell cycle data from two acute myeloid leukemia patients [2] are presented for a

course of standard treatment using intensive and nonintensive protocols. The aim of remission-induction therapy is to debulk the tumor and achieve normal BM function; by treatment completion, the total leukemic population should be reduced to at most 10(9) cells, at which point BM VX-770 in vivo hypoplasia is achieved. The normal cell number should be higher than that of the leukemic, and a 3-log reduction is the maximum permissible level

of population reduction. This optimization problem is formulated and solved for the two patient case studies. The results clearly present the benefits from the use of optimization as an advisory tool for treatment design.”
“Rationale: The mitochondrial permeability transition pore is a well-known initiator of cell death that is increasingly recognized as a physiological modulator of cellular metabolism. Objective: We sought to identify how the genetic find protocol deletion of a key regulatory subunit of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, cyclophilin

D (CypD), influenced endothelial metabolism and intracellular signaling. Methods and Results: In cultured primary human endothelial cells, genetic targeting of CypD using siRNA or shRNA resulted in a constitutive increase in mitochondrial matrix Ca2+ and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Elevated matrix NADH, in turn, diminished the cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH ratio and triggered a subsequent check details downregulation of the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Downstream of SIRT1, CypD-deficient endothelial cells exhibited reduced phosphatase and tensin homolog expression and a constitutive rise in the phosphorylation of angiogenic Akt. Similar changes in SIRT1, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and Akt were also noted in the aorta and lungs of CypD knockout mice. Functionally, CypD-deficient endothelial cells and aortic tissue from CypD knockout mice exhibited a dramatic increase in angiogenesis at baseline and when exposed to vascular endothelial growth factor. The NAD(+) precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide restored the cellular NAD(+)/NADH ratio and normalized the CypD-deficient phenotype. CypD knockout mice also presented accelerated wound healing and increased neovascularization on tissue injury as monitored by optical microangiography.