Fig. 2: Relative levels of biomarkers in the stools of NEC infants for distinct periods preceding diagnosis.

For each NEC infant, the stool samples were pooled for three periods relative to the diagnosis: group A, −10 to −7 days; group B, −6 to −3 days; and group C, −2 to 0 days while non-NEC samples (NN) were pooled for the 10-day period. The means ± SEM are illustrated. *P < 0.05 (#P < 0.07) using the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test by comparison with NN.