Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting. The following biochemical tests were performed: complete blood cell count, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, C-reactive protein, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer, alpha-fetoprotein, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin.
Serum levels of BDNF were measured using a Human BDNF enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (R&D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA).
Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, and myostatin were measured using a Human IL-1 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-6 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-10 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-15 ELISA Kit, or a Myostatin Quantikine ELISA Kit from R&D Systems, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Serum levels of BDNF were measured using a Human BDNF enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (R&D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA).
Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, and myostatin were measured using a Human IL-1 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-6 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-10 ELISA Kit, a Human IL-15 ELISA Kit, or a Myostatin Quantikine ELISA Kit from R&D Systems, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.