Figure 2.

The alterations of fatty acids and fatty acid-related metabolites for sepsis diagnosis (Table 1), septic shock diagnosis (Table 2), prognostication of sepsis (Table 3), prognostication of septic shock (Table 4), and monitoring the treatment response (Table 5). A down-sided triangle (▼) represents a decreased level, whereas an up-sided triangle (▲) represents vice versa. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are found increased in sepsis diagnosis, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are found contractedly. Most of ceramides are increased, together with an increase in arachidonic acids. Long-chain fatty acids enter mitochondrial for fatty acid oxidation (β-oxidation) under the carnitine shuttle process. The final product of β-oxidation is acetyl-CoA that can enter TCA cycle for an energy production. However, mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis can alter β-oxidation process, leading to an accumulation of medium-chain acylcarnitines in the cytoplasm and in the circulation, which indicates incomplete β-oxidation.