NONMEM message

10 messages 6 people Latest: Nov 14, 2008

NONMEM message

From: Mitsuo Higashimori Date: November 12, 2008 technical
Dear all, I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? Thanks, _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. _/ _/ _/ E-mail: Mitsuo.Higashimori

Re: NONMEM message

From: Nick Holford Date: November 12, 2008 technical
Mitsuo, This is a special kind of NONMEM error message: MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. because the message itself seems to be an error. Whenever I see this message the covariance step does not run therefore I cannot decide if the covariance step produces reasonable output. I therefore ignore this message after the word SUCCESSFUL. The numerical oddities in NONMEM are well known so I am not surprised that raising women to a power make them have a different influence from distinguishing them explicitly from men. The power approach is computationally much less efficient than a conditional expression so I never use it if I can avoid it. Nick Higashimori, Mitsuo wrote: > Dear all, > > I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. > > 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. > > This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, > > TVCL = THETA(1) > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know > > 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? > 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? > > Thanks, > > _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. > _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department > _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development > _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. > _/ _/ _/ E-mail: Mitsuo.Higashimori > > > > -- Nick Holford, Dept Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand n.holford http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/sms/pharmacology/holford

NONMEM message

From: Mitsuo Higashimori Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Dear all, I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? Thanks, _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

RE: NONMEM message

From: Jeroen Elassaiss-Schaap Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Dear Mitsuo, This error message pops up with me more often. I routinely work with small datasets and hence less stable estimation. In my experience I encounter mainly three situations after this message: 1. Covariance step fails (so the message can be ignored as Nick suggested) 2. Covariance step produces standard error estimates really below the normal magnitude (say 0.001 to 1%). These results should be discarded. 3. Covariance step produces standard error estimates of the normal magnitude (say 5 to 50% or even higher) and therefore passes the check as described in the warning. In case 3, I would advice to make some effort to improve results, e.g. by scrutiny of model and initial estimates to look for possible numerical problems. You obviously did so and found the source of instability. (I suspect that in your case the standard errors were not changed to a large extent) It is not always possible however to root out the problem, and I often suspect the small size of the datasets I analyse (either in number of subjects or density of sampling) to be the cause of instability. I should add to this that the covariance step of Nonmem is not the only way to assess uncertainty of model results. Moreover it is, as discussed in this group so often, not {always} reliable. Hope this helps, Jeroen Jeroen Elassaiss-Schaap, PhD Modeling & Simulation Expert Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics & Pharmacometrics (P3) Early Clinical Research and Exploratory Medicine T: +31 41266 9320 F: +31 41266 2506 jeroen.elassaiss Schering-Plough Room KM2515 PO Box 20 5340 BH Oss, Netherlands www.schering-plough.com
Quoted reply history
-----Original Message----- From: owner-nmusers On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo Sent: Thursday, 13 November, 2008 6:27 To: Nick Holford; nmusers Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message Dear Nick, Thank you for your advice. In my case, covariance matrix also was displayed without any problem. So, I could check whether covariance matrix is reasonable or not, but it was difficult to interpret it for me. Therefore, I wanted to know if this message is important. In addition, I mused if such a result should be excluded from listing and summarizing the result files after bootstrap. Best regards, Mitsuo > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-nmusers > [mailto:owner-nmusers > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:58 PM > To: nmusers > Subject: Re: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > > Mitsuo, > > This is a special kind of NONMEM error message: > > MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > because the message itself seems to be an error. > > Whenever I see this message the covariance step does not run > therefore I > cannot decide if the covariance step produces reasonable output. I > therefore ignore this message after the word SUCCESSFUL. > > The numerical oddities in NONMEM are well known so I am not surprised > that raising women to a power make them have a different > influence from > distinguishing them explicitly from men. The power approach is > computationally much less efficient than a conditional > expression so I > never use it if I can avoid it. > > Nick > > Higashimori, Mitsuo wrote: > > Dear all, > > > > I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis > using NONMEM VI. > > > > 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > > > I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex > difference on oral clearance as shown in below, > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > > where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. > > > > This message was displayed without any error message. It > was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial > parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model > definition. For example, > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) > > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > > > Could you please let me know some details regarding the > message. Especially, I'd like to know > > > > 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? > > 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? > > > > Thanks, > > > > _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. > > _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department > > _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development > > _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. > > _/ _/ _/ E-mail: Mitsuo.Higashimori > > > > > > > > > > -- > Nick Holford, Dept Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology > University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Private Bag 92019, > Auckland, New Zealand > n.holford > http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/sms/pharmacology/holford > > This message and any attachments are solely for the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, disclosure, copying, use or distribution of the information included in this message is prohibited --- Please immediately and permanently delete.

Re: NONMEM message

From: Nick Holford Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Mitsuo, This is a special kind of NONMEM error message: MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. because the message itself seems to be an error. Whenever I see this message the covariance step does not run therefore I cannot decide if the covariance step produces reasonable output. I therefore ignore this message after the word SUCCESSFUL. The numerical oddities in NONMEM are well known so I am not surprised that raising women to a power make them have a different influence from distinguishing them explicitly from men. The power approach is computationally much less efficient than a conditional expression so I never use it if I can avoid it. Nick Higashimori, Mitsuo wrote: > Dear all, > > I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. > > 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral > clearance as shown in below, > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. > > This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared > even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I > changed the model definition. For example, > > TVCL = THETA(1) > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, > I'd like to know > > 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? > 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? > > Thanks, > > _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. > _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department > _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development > _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. > _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Nick Holford, Dept Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel:+64(9)923-6730 fax:+64(9)373-7090 http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/sms/pharmacology/holford

RE: NONMEM message

From: Jeroen Elassaiss-Schaap Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Dear Mitsuo, This error message pops up with me more often. I routinely work with small datasets and hence less stable estimation. In my experience I encounter mainly three situations after this message: 1. Covariance step fails (so the message can be ignored as Nick suggested) 2. Covariance step produces standard error estimates really below the normal magnitude (say 0.001 to 1%). These results should be discarded. 3. Covariance step produces standard error estimates of the normal magnitude (say 5 to 50% or even higher) and therefore passes the check as described in the warning. In case 3, I would advice to make some effort to improve results, e.g. by scrutiny of model and initial estimates to look for possible numerical problems. You obviously did so and found the source of instability. (I suspect that in your case the standard errors were not changed to a large extent) It is not always possible however to root out the problem, and I often suspect the small size of the datasets I analyse (either in number of subjects or density of sampling) to be the cause of instability. I should add to this that the covariance step of Nonmem is not the only way to assess uncertainty of model results. Moreover it is, as discussed in this group so often, not {always} reliable. Hope this helps, Jeroen Jeroen Elassaiss-Schaap, PhD Modeling & Simulation Expert Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics & Pharmacometrics (P3) Early Clinical Research and Exploratory Medicine T: +31 41266 9320 F: +31 41266 2506 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Schering-Plough Room KM2515 PO Box 20 5340 BH Oss, Netherlands www.schering-plough.com
Quoted reply history
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo Sent: Thursday, 13 November, 2008 6:27 To: Nick Holford; nmusers Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message Dear Nick, Thank you for your advice. In my case, covariance matrix also was displayed without any problem. So, I could check whether covariance matrix is reasonable or not, but it was difficult to interpret it for me. Therefore, I wanted to know if this message is important. In addition, I mused if such a result should be excluded from listing and summarizing the result files after bootstrap. Best regards, Mitsuo > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Nick Holford > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:58 PM > To: nmusers > Subject: Re: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > > Mitsuo, > > This is a special kind of NONMEM error message: > > MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > because the message itself seems to be an error. > > Whenever I see this message the covariance step does not run > therefore I > cannot decide if the covariance step produces reasonable output. I > therefore ignore this message after the word SUCCESSFUL. > > The numerical oddities in NONMEM are well known so I am not surprised > that raising women to a power make them have a different > influence from > distinguishing them explicitly from men. The power approach is > computationally much less efficient than a conditional > expression so I > never use it if I can avoid it. > > Nick > > Higashimori, Mitsuo wrote: > > Dear all, > > > > I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis > using NONMEM VI. > > > > 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > > > I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex > difference on oral clearance as shown in below, > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > > where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. > > > > This message was displayed without any error message. It > was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial > parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model > definition. For example, > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) > > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > > > Could you please let me know some details regarding the > message. Especially, I'd like to know > > > > 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? > > 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? > > > > Thanks, > > > > _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. > > _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department > > _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development > > _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. > > _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > -- > Nick Holford, Dept Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology > University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Private Bag 92019, > Auckland, New Zealand > [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel:+64(9)923-6730 fax:+64(9)373-7090 > http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/sms/pharmacology/holford > > This message and any attachments are solely for the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, disclosure, copying, use or distribution of the information included in this message is prohibited --- Please immediately and permanently delete.

RE: NONMEM message

From: Martin Fransson Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Dear Mitsuo This previous, quite comprehensive post by William Bachman (orig. Ken Kowalski) may help to interpret the COV-step. http://www.cognigencorp.com/nonmem/nm/99may012003.html Best regards Martin Fransson
Quoted reply history
> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo > Sent: den 13 november 2008 06:27 > To: Nick Holford; nmusers > Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > Dear Nick, > > Thank you for your advice. > In my case, covariance matrix also was displayed without any problem. So, > I could check whether covariance matrix is reasonable or not, but it was > difficult to interpret it for me. Therefore, I wanted to know if this > message is important. In addition, I mused if such a result should be > excluded from listing and summarizing the result files after bootstrap. > > Best regards, > Mitsuo > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Nick Holford > > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:58 PM > > To: nmusers > > Subject: Re: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > > > > > Mitsuo, > > > > This is a special kind of NONMEM error message: > > > > MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > > > because the message itself seems to be an error. > > > > Whenever I see this message the covariance step does not run > > therefore I > > cannot decide if the covariance step produces reasonable output. I > > therefore ignore this message after the word SUCCESSFUL. > > > > The numerical oddities in NONMEM are well known so I am not surprised > > that raising women to a power make them have a different > > influence from > > distinguishing them explicitly from men. The power approach is > > computationally much less efficient than a conditional > > expression so I > > never use it if I can avoid it. > > > > Nick > > > > Higashimori, Mitsuo wrote: > > > Dear all, > > > > > > I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis > > using NONMEM VI. > > > > > > 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL > > > HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. > > > REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND > > ACCEPT THEM ONLY > > > AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. > > > > > > I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex > > difference on oral clearance as shown in below, > > > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > > > where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. > > > > > > This message was displayed without any error message. It > > was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial > > parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model > > definition. For example, > > > > > > TVCL = THETA(1) > > > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > > > > > Could you please let me know some details regarding the > > message. Especially, I'd like to know > > > > > > 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? > > > 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. > > > _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department > > > _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development > > > _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. > > > _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Nick Holford, Dept Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology > > University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Private Bag 92019, > > Auckland, New Zealand > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel:+64(9)923-6730 fax:+64(9)373-7090 > > http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/sms/pharmacology/holford > > > >

RE: NONMEM message

From: Kenneth Kowalski Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Mitsuo, This is a new message specific to NONMEM VI. I must confess I don't know what to make of this message myself. It would be informative if someone could tell us what internals in NONMEM trigger this message (i.e., "PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION"). With respect to your two model runs note that they are really two different parameterizations. In the first parameterization, where TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX note that THETA(1) represents the true value of CL for males and THETA(2) represents the ratio of CL between females to males. In the second parameterization, where TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) note that THETA(1) and THETA(2) represent the true values of CL for males and females, respectively. Thus, THETA(2) has a different interpretation between these two parameterizations. A third parameterization that you could consider is TVCL = THETA(1) *(1 + THETA(2))**SEX or equivalently, TVCL = THETA(1) * (1 + THETA(2)*SEX) where THETA(1) is again the true value of CL for males and THETA(2) is the fractional change in CL for females relative to males. Each of these parameterizations should result in the same model fit (i.e., minimum value of the OFV) but one parameterization may be more stable than another...it is similar to the issue with continuous covariates where we center or scale the covariate based on the mean or median value (i.e., centering or scaling will reduce the correlation in the estimates between the intercept term and the covariate effect which should lead to a more stable model and faster convergence to the minimum OFV). I would look at the COV step output and in particular, look at the correlation of the estimates between THETA(1) and THETA(2) for these different parameterizations. My guess is that the correlation is higher for the first parameterization (given that you indicate that it gives this warning message and that the second parameterization does not). You can also use the PRINT=E option on the COV statement and look at the ratio of the largest to the smallest eigenvalues to more globally assess the stability of your model. In the end, if they all converge to the same final OFV and if you really want to estimate the ratio of CLs between males and females then so be it even if the model is less stable and NONMEM gives you this warning message. On the other hand, if the different parameterizations don't converge to the same OFV then you need to look more closely at how you parameterize the covariate effect. If you get a lower OFV with the second parameterization because it is more stable and NONMEM has an easier time iterating to the minimum OFV then I would go with that parameterization and if you want to estimate the ratio of the CLs you can always estimate it as THETA(2)/THETA(1) (i.e., which is equivalent to THETA(2) in the first parameterization. I hope this helps. Ken Kenneth G. Kowalski President & CEO A2PG - Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group, Inc. 110 E. Miller Ave., Garden Suite Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Work: 734-274-8255 Cell: 248-207-5082 Fax: 734-913-0230 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quoted reply history
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NMusers] NONMEM message Dear all, I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? Thanks, _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

RE: NONMEM message

From: Kyun-seop Bae Date: November 13, 2008 technical
Hi, All, This is just brief my understanding. If common variable IRSET (a kind of reset indicator variable) is set to 1, this error message shows. This variable is set with various conditions but without minimization failure. The condition I found is that IRSETP==1 or IRSET > 0.1*ITN or (IRESET==1 and IER==0) Here ITN is iteration count and IER (presumably integer/indicator/index of) error return code. One reason (IRESET==1) is that 'RESET' event on Hessian matrix. You may have seen the message like 'RESET HESSIAN, TYPE I' during the minimization. You may not see this message if you do not use PRINT=1 option. Anyway, this message means NONNEM experienced some difficulties during minimization, but "recovered" without any significant error message. So, user is requested to be careful and make decision with "COVARIANCE" together. Because, "COVARIANCE STEP" is done in different subroutines from "MIMINIZATION STEP" subroutines, successful and reasonable covariance step supports that "MINIMIZATION STEP" was right. As others already mentioned, I don't care much about this message if standard errors are reasonable. Thanks, ===================== Kyun-Seop Bae MD PhD Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quoted reply history
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Kowalski Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 07:36 To: 'Higashimori, Mitsuo'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message Mitsuo, This is a new message specific to NONMEM VI. I must confess I don't know what to make of this message myself. It would be informative if someone could tell us what internals in NONMEM trigger this message (i.e., "PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION"). With respect to your two model runs note that they are really two different parameterizations. In the first parameterization, where TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX note that THETA(1) represents the true value of CL for males and THETA(2) represents the ratio of CL between females to males. In the second parameterization, where TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) note that THETA(1) and THETA(2) represent the true values of CL for males and females, respectively. Thus, THETA(2) has a different interpretation between these two parameterizations. A third parameterization that you could consider is TVCL = THETA(1) *(1 + THETA(2))**SEX or equivalently, TVCL = THETA(1) * (1 + THETA(2)*SEX) where THETA(1) is again the true value of CL for males and THETA(2) is the fractional change in CL for females relative to males. Each of these parameterizations should result in the same model fit (i.e., minimum value of the OFV) but one parameterization may be more stable than another...it is similar to the issue with continuous covariates where we center or scale the covariate based on the mean or median value (i.e., centering or scaling will reduce the correlation in the estimates between the intercept term and the covariate effect which should lead to a more stable model and faster convergence to the minimum OFV). I would look at the COV step output and in particular, look at the correlation of the estimates between THETA(1) and THETA(2) for these different parameterizations. My guess is that the correlation is higher for the first parameterization (given that you indicate that it gives this warning message and that the second parameterization does not). You can also use the PRINT=E option on the COV statement and look at the ratio of the largest to the smallest eigenvalues to more globally assess the stability of your model. In the end, if they all converge to the same final OFV and if you really want to estimate the ratio of CLs between males and females then so be it even if the model is less stable and NONMEM gives you this warning message. On the other hand, if the different parameterizations don't converge to the same OFV then you need to look more closely at how you parameterize the covariate effect. If you get a lower OFV with the second parameterization because it is more stable and NONMEM has an easier time iterating to the minimum OFV then I would go with that parameterization and if you want to estimate the ratio of the CLs you can always estimate it as THETA(2)/THETA(1) (i.e., which is equivalent to THETA(2) in the first parameterization. I hope this helps. Ken Kenneth G. Kowalski President & CEO A2PG - Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group, Inc. 110 E. Miller Ave., Garden Suite Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Work: 734-274-8255 Cell: 248-207-5082 Fax: 734-913-0230 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NMusers] NONMEM message Dear all, I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? Thanks, _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

RE: NONMEM message

From: Mitsuo Higashimori Date: November 14, 2008 technical
Dear all, Thanks for your kind advice. I tried to dig out the solution based on your suggestion except for the demol definition, but unfortunately I can't identify any possible cause for the error message. There is no error in covariance step, estimated standard errors are within normal range, 20-40% as CV, and no unusual correlation was found in correlation matrix. An only certainty is that this error message is peculiar in NONMEM VI as Ken said. In fact, I haven't had this experience in NONMEM V, and the error message did not occur in even the former model. Mitsuo
Quoted reply history
> -----Original Message----- > From: BAE, KYUN-SEOP [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 5:09 AM > To: Ken Kowalski; Higashimori, Mitsuo; [email protected] > Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > > Hi, All, > > This is just brief my understanding. > > If common variable IRSET (a kind of reset indicator variable) > is set to > 1, this error message shows. > This variable is set with various conditions but without minimization > failure. > > The condition I found is that > > IRSETP==1 or IRSET > 0.1*ITN or (IRESET==1 and IER==0) > > Here ITN is iteration count and IER (presumably > integer/indicator/index > of) error return code. > > One reason (IRESET==1) is that 'RESET' event on Hessian matrix. > You may have seen the message like 'RESET HESSIAN, TYPE I' during the > minimization. > You may not see this message if you do not use PRINT=1 option. > > Anyway, this message means NONNEM experienced some difficulties during > minimization, but "recovered" without any significant error message. > So, user is requested to be careful and make decision with > "COVARIANCE" > together. > Because, "COVARIANCE STEP" is done in different subroutines from > "MIMINIZATION STEP" subroutines, successful and reasonable covariance > step supports that "MINIMIZATION STEP" was right. > > As others already mentioned, I don't care much about this message if > standard errors are reasonable. > > Thanks, > > ===================== > Kyun-Seop Bae MD PhD > > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Ken Kowalski > Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 07:36 > To: 'Higashimori, Mitsuo'; [email protected] > Subject: RE: [NMusers] NONMEM message > > Mitsuo, > > This is a new message specific to NONMEM VI. I must confess I don't > know what to make of this message myself. It would be informative if > someone could tell us what internals in NONMEM trigger this message > (i.e., "PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION"). > > With respect to your two model runs note that they are really two > different parameterizations. In the first parameterization, where > > TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX > > note that THETA(1) represents the true value of CL for males and > THETA(2) represents the ratio of CL between females to males. In the > second parameterization, where > > TVCL = THETA(1) > IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) > > note that THETA(1) and THETA(2) represent the true values of CL for > males and females, respectively. Thus, THETA(2) has a different > interpretation between these two parameterizations. > > A third parameterization that you could consider is > > TVCL = THETA(1) *(1 + THETA(2))**SEX or equivalently, TVCL = > THETA(1) * > (1 + > THETA(2)*SEX) > > where THETA(1) is again the true value of CL for males and THETA(2) is > the fractional change in CL for females relative to males. > > Each of these parameterizations should result in the same model fit > (i.e., minimum value of the OFV) but one parameterization may be more > stable than another...it is similar to the issue with continuous > covariates where we center or scale the covariate based on the mean or > median value (i.e., centering or scaling will reduce the > correlation in > the estimates between the intercept term and the covariate > effect which > should lead to a more stable model and faster convergence to > the minimum > OFV). > > I would look at the COV step output and in particular, look at the > correlation of the estimates between THETA(1) and THETA(2) for these > different parameterizations. My guess is that the > correlation is higher > for the first parameterization (given that you indicate that it gives > this warning message and that the second parameterization does not). > You can also use the PRINT=E option on the COV statement and > look at the > ratio of the largest to the smallest eigenvalues to more > globally assess > the stability of your model. In the end, if they all converge to the > same final OFV and if you really want to estimate the ratio of CLs > between males and females then so be it even if the model is > less stable > and NONMEM gives you this warning message. On the other hand, if the > different parameterizations don't converge to the same OFV > then you need > to look more closely at how you parameterize the covariate effect. If > you get a lower OFV with the second parameterization because > it is more > stable and NONMEM has an easier time iterating to the minimum > OFV then I > would go with that parameterization and if you want to estimate the > ratio of the CLs you can always estimate it as > THETA(2)/THETA(1) (i.e., which is equivalent to THETA(2) in the first > parameterization. > > I hope this helps. > > Ken > > Kenneth G. Kowalski > President & CEO > A2PG - Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group, Inc. > 110 E. Miller Ave., Garden Suite > Ann Arbor, MI 48104 > Work: 734-274-8255 > Cell: 248-207-5082 > Fax: 734-913-0230 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Higashimori, Mitsuo Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NMusers] NONMEM message Dear all, I have a following error(?) massage on a poplation analysis using NONMEM VI. 0MINIMIZATION SUCCESSFUL HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE MINIMIZATION. REGARD THE RESULTS OF THE ESTIMATION STEP CAREFULLY, AND ACCEPT THEM ONLY AFTER CHECKING THAT THE COVARIANCE STEP PRODUCES REASONABLE OUTPUT. I found it when I described a control stream to assess sex difference on oral clearance as shown in below, TVCL = THETA(1) * THETA(2) ** SEX where SEX=0 for male and SEX=1 for female. This message was displayed without any error message. It was not dissapeared even though I changed the initial parameters. However, it was solved when I changed the model definition. For example, TVCL = THETA(1) IF (SEX.EQ.1) TVCL = THETA(2) Could you please let me know some details regarding the message. Especially, I'd like to know 1. What impact does this error message give the analysis result? 2. Why does it depend on the model definition? Thanks, _/ _/ _/ Mitsuo Higashimori, Ph.D. _/ _/ _/ Pharmacokinetic Group, Early Phase Development Department _/ _/ _/ Clinical Division, Research & Development _/ _/ _/ AstraZeneca K.K. _/ _/ _/ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]