Table 3.
Discriminant analysis of different plasma metabolites in the studied groups
| No. | Identified metabolites | Retention time (min) | m/z ratio | HCC n = 22 | Cirrhosis n = 22 | Wilks’ lambda | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dihydroxyacetophenone | 5.793 | 281.00 | 5.132 ±3.905 | 5.475 ±1.021 | 0.971 | 0.078 |
| 2 | Trisiloxane | 6.136 | 73.00 | 8.220 ±4.657 | 7.545 ±4.232 | 0.949 | 0.084 |
| 3 | Benzenedicarboxaldehyde | 6.958 | 133.00 | 2.733 ±1.942 | 1.043 ±0.986 | 0.983 | 0.400 |
| 4 | Carbamic acid | 7.304 | 149.00 | 7.645 ±7.578 | 2.817 ±1.910 | 0.917 | 0.058 |
| 5 | 3-ethyl 2-methylhexane | 7.465 | 84.00 | 5.857 ±1.443 | 4.675 ±0.007 | 0.940 | 0.069 |
| 6 | Silane | 7.585 | 207.00 | 2.860 ±0.000 | 1.193 ±0.543 | 0.995 | 0.635 |
| 7 | Pyridinecarbonitrile | 7.811 | 221.00 | 5.66 ±0.000 | 14.120 ±0.000 | 0.994 | 0.605 |
| 8 | Caprylic acid | 8.106 | 57.00 | 7.334 ±2.623 | 2.711 ±1.802 | 0.985 | 0.023* |
| 9 | Oxomalonic acid | 8.087 | 57.00 | 3.770 ±0.000 | 2.736 ±2.006 | 0.988 | 0.480 |
| 10 | Oxalic acid | 8.110 | 57.00 | 3.223 ±1.001 | 2.112 ±0.701 | 0.934 | 0.001* |
| 11 | Neohexane | 9.050 | 57.00 | 3.950 ±0.000 | 1.090 ±0.000 | 0.952 | 0.155 |
| 12 | Enanthic acid | 9.078 | 57.00 | 2.945 ±0.306 | 3.983 ±2.448 | 1.000 | 0.985 |
| 13 | Caproic acid | 9.084 | 57.00 | 2.945 ±0.306 | 3.983 ±2.448 | 1.000 | 0.985 |
| 14 | Butane | 9.315 | 57.00 | 2.731 ±1.228 | 4.770 ±0.000 | 0.976 | 0.319 |
| 15 | Iodododecane | 9.386 | 57.00 | 8.570 ±0.000 | 2.060 ±0.000 | 0.949 | 0.141 |
| 16 | Valeric acid | 9.629 | 191.00 | 3.3120 ±2.000 | 3.146 ±2.153 | 0.997 | 0.704 |
| 17 | Glutaric acid | 9.697 | 191.00 | 3.312 ±2.000 | 3.146 ±2.153 | 0.997 | 0.704 |
| 18 | Methoxy benzoic acid | 10.617 | 135.00 | 3.801 ±2.025 | 2.564 ±1.593 | 0.961 | 0.199 |
| 19 | Ethanol | 12.668 | 179.00 | 5.025 ±2.147 | 3.634 ±2.023 | 0.973 | 0.290 |
| 20 | Hypoxanthine | 13.115 | 55.00 | 1.800 ±0.000 | 0.650 ±0.000 | 0.982 | 0.389 |
| 21 | Arachidic acid | 13.133 | 73.00 | 3.129 ±2.491 | 3.424 ±5.271 | 0.991 | 0.535 |
| 22 | Palmitic acid | 13.221 | 73.00 | 3.129 ±2.491 | 3.424 ±5.271 | 0.991 | 0.535 |
| 23 | Pentadecylic acid | 13.234 | 73.00 | 3.129 ±2.491 | 3.424 ±5.271 | 0.991 | 0.535 |
| 24 | Heptadecanoic acid | 13.893 | 57.00 | 1.920 ±1.392 | 1.983 ±1.352 | 0.988 | 0.484 |
| 25 | Propionic acid | 14.547 | 57.00 | 1.382 ±1.268 | 0.616 ±0.220 | 0.929 | 0.081 |
| 26 | Capric acid | 14.601 | 73.00 | 0.713 ±0.210 | 0.343 ±0.208 | 0.923 | 0.009* |
| 27 | Oleic acid | 14.621 | 55.00 | 4.743 ±1.442 | 1.602 ±0.333 | 0.929 | 0.041* |
| 28 | Stearic acid | 14.747 | 60.00 | 4.460 ±0.057 | 2.440 ±2.258 | 0.997 | 0.721 |
| 29 | Glycine | 14.774 | 223.00 | 55.245 ±1.734 | 50.611 ±2.341 | 0.939 | 0.015* |
| 30 | Methionine | 15.153 | 223.00 | 1.071 ±0.663 | 0.947 ±0.658 | 0.995 | 0.639 |
| 31 | L-Leucine | 15.193 | 223.00 | 1.071 ±0.663 | 0.947 ±0.658 | 0.995 | 0.639 |
| 32 | Butylhydroquinone | 15.273 | 295.00 | 1.737 ±0.313 | 1.525 ±0.335 | 0.994 | 0.102 |
| 33 | Acrylic acid | 16.164 | 311.00 | 14.200 ±0.000 | 6.070 ±6.772 | 0.996 | 0.674 |
| 34 | Isophthalic acid | 16.904 | 267.00 | 57.710 ±0.000 | 50.360 ±19.638 | 0.976 | 0.318 |
Relative intensities of plasma metabolites in the two study groups (HCC vs. cirrhosis) are given as their peak areas, and expressed as mean ± standard deviation
*
Statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05, n – number
HCC – hepatocellular carcinoma.