Ascorbate and biomarker measurement
The concentration of ascorbate in the processed plasma was determined fluorometrically using an end-point kinetic microplate assay adapted from assays developed by Lane et al. and Vislisel et al. for determination of ascorbate in cultured cells [Plasma levels of inflammatory chemokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factors alpha, and C-reactive protein were measured by commercially available ELISA kits (ThermoFisher Scientific, Melbourne, Australia).