SPINA
Ruhr-Universität Bochum

SPINA is an international academic project that is actively developed and evaluated by scientists in several continents.

The first versions of SPINA Thyr have been developed as a spin-off of a mathematical theory of thyroid homeostasis at the Downtown Medical Hospitals of the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich in Germany between 1994 and 2000. Initially, the software supported classical Mac OS, in the subsequent years versions for additional platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Palm OS have been developed.

Ensuing versions introduced a plethora of new functions including calculations based on total rather than free thyroid hormones, multi-language support and addressing reference values and substitution therapy with thyroid hormones.

Several case series and trials demonstrated SPINA-GT to correlate with thyroid function and gland volume as obtained via ultrasonography and to have a higher retest reliability than that of TSH, FT4 or FT3. SPINA-GD was shown to be reduced in nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) and to be increased in states of hyperdeiodination. Up to now, the method has been evaluated in clinical trials covering more than 10 000 subjects.

SPINA Carb has been started as a joint project of the Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), the University of Ulm (Germany), the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine of the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), the Christian Medical College Vellore (India) and the Imperial College London (UK). In several international cohorts it could be demonstrated that SPINA-GBeta, SPINA-GR and SPINA-DI have superior validity, reliability and diagnostic utility compared to other methods.

Today, SPINA is increasingly used for biomedical research and patient-care in cases of less common thyroid disorders as well as for endotyping diabetes mellitus and prediabetes. Results of evaluation studies and the algorithms underlying the mathematical theory have been released in several publications.

Contributors

Johannes W. Dietrich: Initiator and main developer

Nina Siegmar: Mathematical modelling

Martin Adler: Technical advise

Matthias Holzer: Technical advise

Phil Hess: Technical advise

Martin R. Fischer: General support

C. Renate Pickardt †: Scientific advice (thyroidology)

Ulla Mitzdorf †: Scientific advice (mathematical modelling)

Rudolf Hörmann:  Scientific advice (endocrine cybernetics)

John E. Midgley †: Scientific advice (endocrine cybernetics)

Bernhard O. Boehm:  Scientific advice (diabetology

Nihal Thomas:  Scientific advice (diabetology)

Assjana Abood: Analysis, writing

Bojana Bazika-Gerasch: Analysis, writing

Patrick Müller: Contributions from cardiology

Assem Aweimer: Contributions from cardiology

Nessr Abu Rached: Contributions from dermatology



How to Cite SPINA

SPINA apps have been curated by SciCrunch.

You may cite SPINA Thyr properly as SPINA Thyr, RRID:SCR_014352, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.3596049. Optionally, you might want to link to https://dknet.org/data/record/nlx_144509-1/SCR_026848/resolver?q=SPINA%20Carb&l=SPINA%20Carb&i=rrid:scr_026848 and/or to https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3596049. 

Please cite SPINA Carb as SPINA Carb, RRID:SCR_026848, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.15249620. Respective URLs are http://scicrunch.org/browse/resources/SCR_014352 and/or to https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15249620.




References

SPINA Thyr

Dietrich, J. W., U. Mitzdorf, R. Weitkunat und C. R. Pickardt (1997). "The pituitary-thyroid feedback control: stability and oscillations in a new nonlinear model." Journal of Endocrinological Investigation 20 (Suppl. to no. 5): 100.

Dietrich, J. W., M. R. Fischer, J. Jauch, E. Pantke, R. Gärtner und C. R. Pickardt (1999). "SPINA-THYR: A novel systems theoretic approach to determine the secretion capacity of the thyroid gland." European Journal of Internal Medicine 10 (Suppl. 1) (May 1999): S34.

Dietrich, J. W. (2000). "Signal Storage in Metabolic Pathways: The ASIA Element." kybernetiknet 1 (3, 2000): 1-9. [Original paper]

Dietrich, J. W. (2002). Der Hypophysen-Schilddrüsen-Regelkreis. Entwicklung und klinische Anwendung eines nichtlinearen Modells. Berlin, Logos-Verlag.

Dietrich, J. W., A. Tesche, C. R. Pickardt und U. Mitzdorf (2002). Fractal Properties of the Thyrotropic Feedback Control: Implications of a Nonlinear Model Compared with Empirical Data. In: Cybernetics and Systems 2002. R. Trappl (Hrsg). Vienna, Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies: 329-34.

Dietrich, J. W., A. Tesche, C. R. Pickardt und U. Mitzdorf (2004). "Thyrotropic Feedback Control: Evidence for an Additional Ultrashort Feedback Loop from Fractal Analysis." Cybernetics and Systems 35 (4): 315-31. doi:10.1080/01969720490443354.

Dietrich, J. W. und B. O. Boehm (2006). Equilibrium behaviour of feedback-coupled physiological saturation kinetics. In: Cybernetics and Systems 2006. R. Trappl (Hrsg). Vienna, Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies. 1: 269-74.

Dietrich, J. W., G. Landgrafe, E. H. Fotiadou (2012). TSH and thyrotropic agonists: Key actors in thyroid homeostasis. Journal of Thyroid Research, vol. 2012, Article ID 351864, 29 pages, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/351864.

Hoermann, R., J. E. M. Midgley, R. Larisch, J. W. Dietrich (2013). Is Pituitary Thyrotropin an Adequate Measure Of Thyroid Hormone-Controlled Homeostasis During Thyroxine Treatment?. European Journal of Endocrinology 168(2):271-80. PMID 23184912, doi:10.1530/EJE-12-0819.

Hoermann R, Midgley JE, Giacobino A, Eckl WA, Wahl HG, Dietrich JW, Larisch R. (2014) Homeostatic Equilibria Between Free Thyroid Hormones and Pituitary Thyrotropin Are Modulated By Various Influences Including Age, Body Mass Index and Treatment. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 81(6):907-15. doi: 10.1111/cen.12527. PMID 24953754.

Hoermann R, Midgley JE, Larisch R, Dietrich JW (2015). Integration of Peripheral and Glandular Regulation of Triiodothyronine Production by Thyrotropin in Untreated and Thyroxine-Treated Subjects. Hormone and Metabolic Research 2015; 47(9):674-80, PMID 25750078 doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1398616.

Dietrich JW, Müller P, Schiedat F, Schlömicher M, Strauch J, Chatzitomaris A, Klein HH, Mügge A, Köhrle J, Rijntjes E, Lehmphul I. (2015) Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome in Cardiac Illness Involves Elevated Concentrations of 3,5-Diiodothyronine and Correlates with Atrial Remodeling. Eur Thyroid J. 2015 Jun;4(2):129-37. doi: 10.1159/000381543. PMID 26279999; PMCID PMC4521060.

Midgley JE, Larisch R, Dietrich JW, Hoermann R. (2015) Variation in the biochemical response to l-thyroxine therapy and relationship with peripheral thyroid hormone conversion efficiency. Endocr Connect. 2015 Dec;4(4):196-205. doi: 10.1530/EC-150056. PMID 26265111. PMCID PMC4557078.

Dietrich JW, Landgrafe-Mende G, Wiora E, Chatzitomaris A, Klein HH., Midgley JE, Hoermann R. (2016) Calculated parameters of thyroid homeostasis: Emerging tools for differential diagnosis and clinical research. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2016; 7:00057. PMID 27375554. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00057.

Hoermann R, Midgley JE, Larisch R, Dietrich JW (2016). Relational Stability of Thyroid Hormones in Euthyroid Subjects and Patients with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Eur Thyroid J. 2016 Sep;5(3):171-179. PMID 27843807. doi 10.1159/000447967

Chatzitomaris A, Hoermann R, Midley JE, Hering S, Urban A, Dietrich B, Abood A, Klein HH, Dietrich JW (2017). Thyroid Allostasis – Adaptive Responses of Thyrotropic Feedback Control to Conditions of Strain, Stress and Developmental Programming. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2017; 8:00163. PMID 28775711. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00163

Dietrich JW, Midgley JEM, Hoermann R (2018). Homeostasis and Allostasis of Thyroid Function. Frontiers Media SA, Lausanne 2018. ISBN 9782889455706. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88945-570-6

Hoermann R, Midgley JEM, Larisch R, Dietrich JW. Heterogenous biochemical expression of hormone activity in subclinical/overt hyperthyroidism and exogenous thyrotoxicosis. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2020 Feb 8;19:100219. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2020.100219. PMID 32099819.

Aweimer A, El-Battrawy I, Akin I, Borggrefe M, Mügge A, Patsalis PC, Urban A, Kummer M, Vasileva S, Stachon A, Hering S, Dietrich JW. Abnormal thyroid function is common in takotsubo syndrome and depends on two distinct mechanisms: results of a multicentre observational study. J Intern Med. 2021 May;289(5):675-687. doi: 10.1111/joim.13189. PMID 33179374.

Dietrich JW, Hoermann R, Midgley JEM, Bergen F, Müller P. The Two Faces of Janus: Why Thyrotropin as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor May Be an Ambiguous Target. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Oct 26;11:542710. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.542710. PMID 33193077.

Aweimer A, Schiedat F, Schöne D, Landgrafe-Mende G, Bogossian H, Mügge A, Patsalis PC, Gotzmann M, Akin I, El-Battrawy I, Dietrich JW. Abnormal Cardiac Repolarization in Thyroid Diseases: Results of an Observational Study. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Nov 23;8:738517. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.738517. PMID: 34888359.

Abu Rached N, Dietrich JW, Ocker L, Quast DR, Scheel C, Gambichler T, Bechara FG. Primary Thyroid Dysfunction Is Prevalent in Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Marked by a Signature of Hypothyroid Graves' Disease: A Case-Control Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Dec 4;12(23):7490. doi: 10.3390/jcm12237490. PMID: 38068542.

Aweimer A, Dietrich JW, Santoro F, Fàbregas MC, Mügge A, Núñez-Gil IJ, Vazirani R, Vedia O, Pätz T, Ragnatela I, Arcari L, Volpe M, Corbì-Pascual M, Martinez-Selles M, Almendro-Delia M, Sionis A, Uribarri A, Thiele H, Brunetti ND, Eitel I, Stiermaier T, Hamdani N, Abumayyaleh M, Akin I, El-Battrawy I. Takotsubo syndrome outcomes predicted by thyroid hormone signature: insights from cluster analysis of a multicentre registry. EBioMedicine. 2024 Apr;102:105063. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105063. PMID: 38502972.

Bazika-Gerasch B, Kumowski N, Enax-Krumova E, Kaisler M, Eitner LB, Maier C, Dietrich JW. Impaired autonomic function and somatosensory disturbance in patients with treated autoimmune thyroiditis. Sci Rep. 2024 May 29;14(1):12358. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63158-w. PMID: 38811750.

Dietrich JW. P4-Endokrinologie – Kybernetische Perspektiven eines neuen Ansatzes. Leibniz Online, 2024; 54. doi: 10.53201%2Fleibnizonline54.


SPINA Carb

Dietrich JW, Dasgupta R, Anoop S, Jebasingh F, Kurian ME, Inbakumari M, Boehm BO, Thomas N. SPINA Carb: a simple mathematical model supporting fast in-vivo estimation of insulin sensitivity and beta cell function. Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 21;12(1):17659. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22531-3. PMID: 36271244.

Dietrich JW, Abood A, Dasgupta R, Anoop S, Jebasingh FK, Spurgeon R, Thomas N, Boehm BO. A novel simple disposition index (SPINA-DI) from fasting insulin and glucose concentration as a robust measure of carbohydrate homeostasis. J Diabetes. 2024 Sep;16(9):e13525. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.13525. PMID: 38169110.

Dietrich JW. P4-Endokrinologie – Kybernetische Perspektiven eines neuen Ansatzes. Leibniz Online, 2024; 54. doi: 10.53201%2Fleibnizonline54.

Abu Rached N, Dietrich JW, Ocker L, Stockfleth E, Haven Y, Myszkowski D, Bechara FG. Endotyping Insulin-Glucose Homeostasis in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus and Inflammation. J Clin Med. 2025 Mar 21;14(7):2145. doi: 10.3390/jcm14072145. PMID: 40217596.



Press Coverage

Life Science Network: Systems level in-silico analysis helps to identify new mechanisms of thyroid homeostasis. April 2015.

BergmannsheilReport 03/2015: "Neue Therapie bei Schilddrüsenunterfunktion?", September 2015: 7.

Life Science Network: Age, sex, SPINA-GD and aetiology of hypothyroidism independently predict L-T4 dose. August 2015.

Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Diabetes einfach und sicher früh berechnen, January 2024 (by Meike Drießen).

Tech Explorist: Easy, early diabetes prediction. January 2024 (by Prajakta Banik)

News Medical & Life Sciences: Mathematical model ushers in era of cost-effective early diabetes detection. January 2024.

Ruhr University Bochum: Simple and Reliable Early Prediction of Diabetes. January 2024 (by Meike Drießen and Donata Zuber).

innoreports: Simple Blood Test Improves Early Diabetes Prediction. January 2024.

Tomorro Bio: Revolutionierung der Diabetes-Vorhersage: Einfacher Bluttest schneidet dank mathematischer Modellierung besser ab als komplexe Methoden. January 2024.

RUB Campusleben: Good News #1. February 2024 (by Lisa Bischoff)

Pharmazeutische Zeitung: Diabetes einfach und früh diagnostizieren. January 2024 (by Christina Hohmann-Jeddi).

Diabetiker Niedersachsen: Blutprobe genügt. March 2024.





Links
SPINA project entry at sourceforge.net