SPINA
(structure parameter inference approach) is
a method that delivers estimated structure
parameters of endocrine feedback control
systems in vivo from serum or plasma
hormone levels. The algorithm is based on
equilibrium analysis of a compartmental
nonlinear model.
The
first successful implementation of
this cybernetic approach applies
to evaluation of thyroid function. It allows
for calculating the thyroid's maximum
secretory capacity (GT or SPINA-GT) and the
sum activity of peripheral 5'-deiodinases
(GD or SPINA-GD) from levels of TSH, (F)T4
and (F)T3 that have been determined once
only (SPINA Thyr).
A second version has been developed for
insulin-glucose homeostasis. It delivers the
secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells
(SPINA-GBeta), an estimate for the insulin
receptor gain (SPINA-GR) and a static
disposition index as a measure for the loop
gain of the feedback loop (SPINA-DI).
Both implementations of SPINA have been
validated in clinical studies on the basis
of large cohorts.
They are increasingly used in experimental
research. SPINA Thyr has been evaluated in clinical trials
covering more than 10,000 subjects with
various disorders of thyroid homeostais.
Additional applications targeting other
endocrine feedback loops are currently being
developed or prepared, respectively.
SPINA
Thyr is a free application that calculates
GT and GD. It is offered on the base of a
BSD licence. Binaries are available for
macOS, Palm OS, Garnet OS and Windows. For
other operating systems, including Linux,
Solaris and BSD, SPINA Thyr is available as
sourcecode. Building from source requires
THINK Pascal (for Mac OS Classic), winsoft
PocketStudio (for Palm OS / Garnet OS) or
Lazarus/Free Pascal (for macOS / Mac OS X,
Windows, Linux, BSD and Solaris). A special
version of the calculation engine is
available for modern S implementation, e.g.
R.
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