IL6 and alkaline phosphatase measurement: As previously reported [21], our results showed that the serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and TGF-β were all increased in patients with MAP and SAP compared with the corresponding levels in healthy individuals (all P < 0.001, Figure 6A–6C, E, F); these levels were actually increased along with AP severity, and a significant difference was observed between patients with MAP and SAP (all P < 0.05).