L-carnitine plays an essential role in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids by transporting long chain acyl-coenzyme A into the mitochondrial matrix.Carnitine deficiency may lead to various diseases,including lipid storage myopathies,systemic carnitine deficiency syndrome,cardiomyopathy,obesity,and infertility.This article summarizes the causes of carnitine deficiency and elucidates the clinical features and treatment strategies of its related diseases.

Objective:To obtain the full length cDNA sequences of hepatoma associated gene HTA, analyze its alternative splicing, detect the expression pattern of 2 HTA gene transcripts in different hepatic cell lines, and to establish a base for further study of HTA gene function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurence and development. Methods:The full length cDNA of HTA gene was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA 3' ends (3'-RACE), rapid ampliifcation of cDNA 5' ends (5'-RACE) and DNA sequencing. The gene structure and alternative splicing were analysed. Northern blot assay was performed to detect the expression pattern of 2 HTA gene transcripts in different hepatic cell lines. Results:The full length of HTA gene was 1414 bp, composed of 3 exons and 2 introns, and the second intron could be retained in mRNA. Northern blot assay showed that 2 transcripts of HTA mRNA(1.4 kb and 1.7 kb) could express in the HCC cell lines HepG2 and QGY-7703, but not in the non-malignant cell line L-02 and HUVEC. The expression level of 1.4 kb transcript was much higher than 1.7 kb one. Conclusion:This study successfully has obtained the full length cDNA of HTA gene, and analysed the gene sequence and alternative splicing, 2 transcripts of HTA mRNA specifically expressed in HCC cell lines. As a hepatoma associated gene, HTA deserves further investigation.

Objective To investigate the preventive effects of phytosterol on lipid metabolic disturbance of rats fed with high-fat diet. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (fed with basic diet), high-fat model group (fed with high-fat diet), low phytosterol group( fed with high-fat diet and 100 mg/kg phytosterol) and high phytosterol group( fed with high-fat diet and 200 mg/kg phytosterol). Body weight, serum lipid, liver fat and body fat were measured at the end of experiment (6 weeks later). Results At the end of experiment, the body weight, contents of liver fat and body fat and serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly higher in high-fat model group, low phytosterol group and high phytosterol group than those in control group (P <0.05), while serum HDL-C levels in these three groups were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). Compared with high-fat model group, the body weight gain and content of body fat of high phytosterol group were significantly lower (P <0.05). The contents of liver fat and serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels in low phytosterol group and high phytosterol group were significantly lower than those of high-fat model group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Phytosterol could prevent lipid metabolic disturbance of rats fed with high-fat diet. High dose phytosterol has the potential to reduce the body weight gain and contents of body fat of rats fed with high-fat diet.

Objective: To investigate the average dietary nutrients intake status among Chinese residents between 2010-2012, and to compare the difference between rural and urban areas. Methods: Data were collected from Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance between 2010-2012. Based on regional features and economic development levels, China's county-level divisions were classified into four types: big city, medium and small city, ordinary rural area and poor rural area. A total of 62 857 valid subjects, including 14 017, 16 539, 19 910 and 12 391 respondents in each group separately, were enrolled by Multi-stage stratified proportion to the population cluster random sampling method. The dietary survey was conducted by recalling the 24 h diet in 3 consecutive days and weighting condiment. The daily dietary intake of energy, macronutrient, dietary fiber, vitamin, and mineral substance per resident were calculated based on China Food Composition. Results: The average energy intake per resident in Mainland China was 9 047.1 kJ, with highest (9 719.3 kJ) in poor rural area and lowest (8 490.4 kJ) in medium and small city. The average dietary protein intake was 64.2 g, with highest (73.9 g) in big city and lowest (60.7 g) in poor rural area. The average dietary fat intake was 79.7 g, with highest (89.4 g) in big city and lowest (70.6 g) in poor rural area. The average intake of micronutrients of vitamin A, vitamin B₂, vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc was separately 441.9 μg, 0.8 mg, 80.1 mg, 364.3 mg, and 21.4 mg; which were lower than Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes. The percentage of population whose average intake of vitamin A, vitamin B₂, vitamin C, calcium were lower than estimated average requirement was separately 77.0%, 90.2%, 67.7%, and 96.6%. Conclusion The supply of 3 macronutrient was sufficient in mainland China. However, it was a common issue that there was excessive intake of fat but deficient intake of micronutrients such as vitamin, calcium, iron and zinc. There were differences in nutrition intake among big city, medium and small city, ordinary rural area and poor rural area.

The senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP)has bidirectional regulation on tumor cells.However, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of SASP on major malignant tumors is still lacking.This article aims to review the types, characteristics and regulatory roles of SASP in several malignant tumors including liver cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the mechanisms of occurrence, development, and metastasis of these malignant tumors.