Biochemical parameters were measured using routine laboratory methods. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was determined with a high-sensitivity nephelometric method using the Beckman IMMAGE Immunochemistry System (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, CA), which has a minimum level of detection of 0.2 mg/L. Serum levels of TNF-α were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (R&D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The minimum levels of detection were 1.6 pg/mL for TNF-α. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation for measurements of hs-CRP and TNF-α were 2.7% and 5.0%, respectively, and 3.0% and 6.9%, respectively.
High-sensitive troponin T was measured using Cobas Troponin T hs (highly sensitive) STAT (short turn-around time) (Roche Diagnostics). The assay working range is reported as 3–10 000 ng/L, with an interassay CV, according to the manufacturer, of 3.1% at 24 ng/L and 1.3% at 300 ng/L. The lower limit of quantification is 13 ng/L, the limit of detection is 5 ng/L, and the limit of blank is 3 ng/L, as listed by the manufacturer.