2.4 Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria were: (1) multiple organ failure; (2) severe liver or kidney function impairment (i.e., alanine aminotransferase/glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase > three-fold upper limit or serum creatinine > 265 umol/L); (3) serious cerebrovascular diseases, blood system diseases, nervous system diseases, and malignant tumors; (4) acute myocardial infarction or cardiogenic shock; (5) pregnancy or lactation; and (6) a mental disorder or unwillingness to cooperate with study protocols.