Concentration-time profile of IL-12 levels. Serum IL-12 levels were significantly higher in group A (▪) compared with group B (○) on days 4 (*P = .0203) and 8 (**P = .0225). Group A showed significant increase of IL-12 compared with group B (***P ≦ .01). Error bars = SEM, *P and **P: Mann-Whitney U test; ***P: two-way ANOVA.