The invention relates to a method and a computer program for estimating a bilirubin level of a neonate, composed of the steps of: Acquiring a series of bilirubin levels estimated at different time points from a sample obtained from a neonate, Acquiring a plurality of covariates from the neonate, each composed of an information about a neonatal property, Providing a pre-defined bilirubin model function, wherein the bilirubin model function is configured to describe a time course of a bilirubin level of a neonate, Determining a plurality of model parameters of the bilirubin model function, wherein each model parameter is estimated from at least one covariate of the plurality of covariates and an associated population model parameter, Determining from the series of acquired bilirubin levels and the bilirubin model function with the determined model parameters an expected bilirubin level of the neonate for a time particularly later than a lastly acquired bilirubin level of the series of bilirubin levels.

The invention relates to a method and a computer program for estimating a bilirubin level of a neonate, composed of the steps of: Acquiring a series of bilirubin levels estimated at different time points from a sample obtained from a neonate, Acquiring a plurality of covariates from the neonate, each composed of an information about a neonatal property, Providing a pre-defined bilirubin model function, wherein the bilirubin model function is configured to describe a time course of a bilirubin level of a neonate, Determining a plurality of model parameters of the bilirubin model function, wherein each model parameter is estimated from at least one covariate of the plurality of covariates and an associated population model parameter, Determining from the series of acquired bilirubin levels and the bilirubin model function with the determined model parameters an expected bilirubin level of the neonate for a time particularly later than a lastly acquired bilirubin level of the series of bilirubin levels.

The invention relates to a method and a computer program for estimating a bilirubin level of a neonate, comprising the steps of: Acquiring a series of bilirubin levels estimated at different time points from a sample obtained from a neonate, Acquiring a plurality of covariates from the neonate, each comprising an information about a neonatal property, Providing a pre-defined bilirubin model function, wherein the bilirubin model function is configured to describe a time course of a bilirubin level of a neonate, —Determining a plurality of model parameters of the bilirubin model function, wherein each model parameter is estimated from at least one covariate of the plurality of covariates and an associated population model parameter, Determining from the series of acquired bilirubin levels and the bilirubin model function with the determined model parameters an expected bilirubin level of the neonate for a time particularly later than a lastly acquired bilirubin level of the series of bilirubin levels.

A detection device for detecting analytes in liquid specimen is provided. The detection device comprises: a specimen chamber for collecting or storing a liquid specimen; a detecting chamber for containing a detecting element; and a through hole for transferring the liquid specimen between the specimen chamber and the detecting chamber. The through hole can be opened or self-sealed. The sealing or opening of the through hole controls whether or not the liquid specimen in the specimen chamber enters the detecting chamber via the through hole. Furthermore, a detection method is provided.

The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

Identification and use of proteins fluorescently labeled and that undergo a change in fluorescence index upon binding bilirubin are described. Probes are disclosed which are labeled at a cysteine or lysine residue and also probes labeled at both cysteine and lysine with two different fluorophores. These probes are useful for determination of unbound bilirubin levels in a fluid sample.

The invention relates to methods for estimating a bilirubin level of a neonate, comprising the steps of acquiring a series of bilirubin levels estimated at different time points from a sample obtained from a neonate; acquiring a plurality of covariates from the neonate, each comprising an information about a neonatal property; providing a pre-defined bilirubin model function; determining a plurality of model parameters of the bilirubin model function; and determining from the series of acquired bilirubin levels and the bilirubin model function with the determined model parameters an expected bilirubin level of the neonate for a time particularly later than a lastly acquired bilirubin level of the series of bilirubin levels.

A device for detecting an analyte in a sample is provided, which comprises: a collecting chamber containing an opening for collecting a liquid sample; a detecting element for detecting an analyte in the liquid sample; and a lid for covering the opening of the collecting chamber. The device further comprises an indicating device thereon to indicate whether or not the lid covers at an appointed position. The operation of the device is very simple.

The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

The present invention relates to the field of diagnostic methods. Specifically, the present invention contemplates a method for diagnosing heart failure in a subject and a method for monitoring progression or regression of heart failure in a subject. The invention also relates to tools for carrying out the aforementioned methods, such as diagnostic devices.