Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of medical diagnostics, and more particularly to a method for determining a vascular endothelial growth factor-A (“VEGF”) isoform concentration pattern of a biological sample. A biological material is obtained from a premature infant. A VEGF isoform concentration pattern of the biological material is determined using at least a first cytokine and a second cytokine. The VEGF isoform pattern is compared to a reference VEGF isoform concentration pattern that conveys a baseline concentration of at least a first cytokine and a second cytokine. A normal VEGF isoform concentration pattern is determined when the VEGF isoform concentration pattern is within a threshold percentage of the reference VEGF isoform concentration pattern. The VEGF isoform concentration pattern conveys concentration levels of at least the first cytokine and the second cytokine. The biological material may be a blood or a fecal sample obtained from a premature infant.

Abstract: A system and method for associating auditory stimuli with visual depictions. The system includes a display, computing environment, and means to audibly play music. The system and method enable a user to learn to associate selected pieces of music with corresponding facial expressions, practice the learned associations, and play chosen pieces of music based upon the learned associations.