3.3. Data Collection
psoriasis
BLOOD, PSORIASIS
Background demographic and psoriasis diagnosis data were collected at the screening visit. Blood was collected at the beginning (screening visit) and end (Week 12) of the study. Levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-10, and insulin were determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits according to the manufacturer’s protocol (Elabscience, Houston, TX, USA). Total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, blood glucose, and uric acid levels were analyzed using an Indiko Plus Chemistry Analyzer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). For the LDL-C determination, the following formula was used: ([total cholesterol − HDL] − triglyceride)/5. A previously described high-frequency ultrasonography technique was used for skin examinations [