Fig. 2. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) scores (A,D) and loading plots (B,E) obtained from ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry data from serum (A,B) and liver (B,E) samples. Outliers from the elliptical region of the 95% confidence interval were excluded by Hotelling’s T² test. The scores plots showed significant separation between samples based on the model quality parameters: R²X, R²Y, and Q²Y. The PLS-DA model was validated by a permutation test (n=200): p-values and intercepts of R² (Ri) and Q² (Qi) (C,F). The numbered metabolites are listed in Table 2.