The present invention relates to the field of post-partum depression. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of biomarkers to diagnose post-partum depression or predict a risk thereof. In a specific embodiment, a method for identifying a likelihood of PPD in a patient comprises the steps of (a) providing a sample from the patient; (b) measuring white blood cell type counts and DNA methylation levels of a panel of biomarkers in the sample collected from the patient, wherein the panel of biomarkers comprises HP1BP3 and TTC9B and the white blood cell type counts comprise monocytes and non-monocytes; and (c) identifying the patient as likely to develop PPD based on the relative DNA methylation levels at the biomarker loci relative to the ratio of monocytes:non-monocytes.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for testing a drug eluting prosthesis. A drug eluting prosthesis is placed within a conduit that is coupled at one end to a first conduit frame and at a second end to a second conduit frame. The first conduit frame is coupled to the second conduit frame using a movable shaft, such that the first conduit frame and the second conduit frame can move relative to each other. When the first conduit frame and the second conduit frame are moved relative to each other, they expose the conduit and the drug eluting prosthesis to compressive or tensile forces. While the drug eluting prosthesis is being exposed to compressive or tensile forces, a fluid flow is provided through the conduit to test the particle shed rate of the drug eluting prosthesis.

A downhole local solid particles counting probe (1) for counting solid particles (101) in a fluid (100) present in a hydrocarbon well in production comprising: an elongated and flexible protective tube (2) defining an internal cavity (5) terminating by a membrane wall (3) defining a tip (4), the protective tube (2) and the membrane wall (3) isolating the internal cavity (5) from the fluid (100) of the hydrocarbon well, the protective tube (2) and membrane wall (3) are made of metal or metal alloy and have a thickness (ei) such as to resist to the downhole hydrocarbon well pressure; a passive acoustic sensor (6) mounted inside the internal cavity (5), the passive acoustic sensor (6) having a front side (7) mechanically coupled on the membrane wall (3) of the tip (4); a characteristic dimension of the passive acoustic sensor (6) is similar to solid particles (101) average characteristic dimension, ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, and a characteristic dimension of the membrane wall (3) defining the tip (4) ranges from 1 mm to 2 mm; and the passive acoustic sensor (6) is arranged to detect acoustic waves (30) generated by solid particles (101) impacting the membrane wall (3) defining the tip (4) so as to resolve an individual impact from a single solid particle and to produce a signal representative of a count of solid particles.

An outside opening of each aperture of a plurality of counting chambers for performing particle counting based on the electric resistance method is connected to suction pump through a confluent piping. Liquid supplying part supplies an additional liquid to the counting chamber side after completion of counting of counting chamber, so that the liquid level of sample liquid of counting chamber will not descend to aperture or a predetermined liquid level.

A particulate matter sensor device comprises an enclosure (21) defining a flow channel (2), a radiation source (3) for emitting radiation into the flow channel for interaction of the radiation with particulate matter in an aerosol sample in the flow channel, and a radiation detector (4) for detecting at least part of said radiation after interaction with the particulate matter. The sensor device comprises a flow modifying device (511) arranged upstream of the radiation detector and/or radiation source so as to reduce particulate matter precipitation onto the radiation detector, the radiation source and/or the channel wall sections in their proximity. The invention also relates to a method of determining parameters of particulate matter in an aerosol sample by using such a particulate matter sensor device.

The principles and embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods for using terlipressin to treat a patient having impaired renal function associated with liver disease. A patient identified as suffering from HRS-1 is tested to determine if the patient meets at least two out of three criteria, wherein the three criteria include a WBC<4 or >12 cells/4; HR>90 bpm; and any one of HCO3<21 mmol/L or PaCO2<32 mmHg or >20 breaths per minute. If the patient meets at least two of the criteria, he or she is administered terlipressin in an amount effective to produce a reduction in serum creatinine of at least 1.0 mg/dL.

The principles and embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods for using terlipressin to treat a patient having impaired renal function associated with liver disease. A method of treating an adult patient with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-1) may include assessing a baseline serum creatinine level prior to administration of terlipressin to the patient, initiating dosing of about 0.5 mg to about 1 mg of terlipressin to the patient every 6 hours by IV for 1-3 days, assessing a serum creatinine level in the patient at day 41 day from initiating dosing, administering a modified dosage of terlipressin based on a comparison of the assessed serum creatinine level at day 41 day and the baseline serum creatinine level, and continuing administration until 24 hours after two consecutive serum creatinine levels of 1.5 mg/dL at least 2 hours apart for a maximum of 14 days. The treatment may result in verified reversal of the HRS-1.

Various embodiments include methods and apparatuses to reduce false-particle counts in a water-based condensation particle counter (CPC). In one embodiment, a cleanroom CPC has three parallel growth tube assemblies. A detector is coupled to an outlet of each of the three parallel growth tube assemblies, and is used to compare the particle concentrations measured from each of the three growth tube assemblies. An algorithm compares the counts from the three detectors and determines when the particles counted are real and when they are false counts. Any real particle event shows up in all three detectors, while false counts will only be detected by one detector. Statistics are used to determine at which particle count levels the measured counts are considered to be real versus false. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

A system and method for the detection and quantification of biomolecules by measuring a piezoelectric signal is described. The system comprises a plurality of elongate zinc oxide nanowires mounted generally parallel to each another on a semi conductive silicon substrate. The free ends of the nanowires are provided with biomolecules that are capable of associating with complementary biomolecules within a biological or water sample. Following incubation of the system in a sample, the association of molecules of interest with the immobilised biomolecules on the system results in the displacement of the zinc oxide nanowires. The displacement of the nanowires produces a piezoelectric voltage signal that is useful in diagnosing a pathogenic infection or the contamination of a sample.

Disclosed is a bacterial counting method, comprising the following steps, S1: preparing a polyaniline/bacterial composite film on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode by electric polymerization; S2: drawing the standard curve of the polyaniline/bacterial composite film modified electrode; and S3: determining the bacterial concentration of the bacteria solution sample to be tested according to the standard curve obtained in step S2. The method does not require the cultivation of the bacteria in the implementation process, such that same takes a short time and is easy to operate; the method uses aniline as the main reagent, and the consumption of the solution to be tested is small, such that the testing cost is low and the equipment is simple; the method has the advantages of a good repeatability and a wide detection linear range; and the method is an easy to operate, short time-consuming, and low cost bacterial counting method. The method is a bacterial counting method based on the polyaniline/bacterial composite film, and can achieve rapid and accurate detection of the bacterial thallus concentration.