Validation
For proteomic analysis validation, fetuin-B measurements were performed using ELISA. Serum samples were diluted 1:10 000 with DPBS (Corning #20-031-CVR, Mediatech, Inc., Manassas, VA, USA) and kit-specific dilution buffer, and analyzed with a FETUB ELISA Kit (Cat No EKX-LDKNLJ-96; Nordic BioSite AB, Täby, Sweden), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Graphpad Prism 9 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA) was used for interpolation of the data. Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) was measured as part of the other sub-study (