Table 4.

Plasma level of TNF-α (pg/mL) among the three groups (mean ± SD).

Groups	Before induction of anesthesia	Time after operation (h)
		0	24	48
A (n = 29)	547.56 ± 36.73	956.42 ± 32.19	780.62 ± 35.71∗$	738.37 ± 27.85$
B (n = 30)	570.91 ± 31.53	961.45 ± 34.17	658.87 ± 28.35∗∗#$	612.64 ± 21.31∗#$
C (n = 28)	554.64 ± 37.36$	948.35 ± 39.78	890.68 ± 31.72	806.10 ± 32.62

^* P < 0.05, ^** P < 0.05 versus group C; ^# P < 0.05 versus group A.

^$ P < 0.05 versus all the other time points in the patients of the same group.