HPX and diabetes mellitus: Seven proteins (serotransferrin, ceruloplasmin, hemopexin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, beta-2-microglobulin, HPT, and α-1-microglobulin/bikunin precursor (AMBP)) were selected for further ELISA validation as they were increased both in the WDM-NP group and the DM-NP group relative to healthy individuals and the DM-WNP group, respectively (Table 1).