Virgin coconut oil: A comprehensive review of antioxidant activity and mechanisms contributed by phenolic compounds.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is obtained by processing mature coconut cores with mechanical or natural methods. In recent years, VCO has been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its excellent functional activities. VCO has biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral, and also has potential therapeutic effects on many chronic degenerative diseases. Among these functions, the antioxidant is the most basic and important function, which is mainly determined by phenolic compounds and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This review aims to elucidate the antioxidant functions of each phenolic compound in VCO, and discuss the antioxidant mechanisms of VCO in terms of the role of phenolic compounds with fat, intestinal microorganisms, and various organs. Besides, the composition of VCO and its application in various industries are summarized, and the biological functions of VCO are generalized, which should lay a foundation for further research on the antioxidant activity of VCO and provide a theoretical basis for the development of food additives with antioxidant activity.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Synovial Fluid α-Defensin Lateral Flow Test in Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: There is a controversy on the diagnostic reliability and accuracy of synovial fluid α-defensin in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the α-defensin lateral flow test in PJI. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched, and articles (up to January 2020) on the diagnosis of hip and knee PJIs using the α-defensin Synovasure lateral flow test were included. The diagnostic accuracy of the α-defensin lateral flow test in PJI was evaluated using meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and post-test probabilities were calculated. RESULTS: Seventeen studies including 1443 cases were included. Meta-analysis showed the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and a diagnostic odds ratio was 0.83 (95% CI 0.77, 0.88), 0.95 (95% CI 0.93, 0.97), 16.86 (95% CI 11.67, 24.37), 0.17 (95% CI 0.13, 0.24) and 85.30 (95% CI 47.76, 152.35), respectively. The area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.97 (95% CI 0.95, 0.98). Subgroup analysis also confirmed the high efficiency of α-defensin Synovasure lateral flow test in diagnosing PJIs, irrespective of ethnicity. Fagan's nomogram analysis there was a high positive post-test probability of 94% and a low negative post-test probability of 15%. CONCLUSIONS: We indicated that the α-defensin lateral flow test had a high accuracy for diagnosing PJI. Large-scale studies are needed to validate its significance in PJI diagnosis.

[Effects of VEGF-Notch Signaling Pathway on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Bone Marrow MSC in Patients with Aplastic Anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the regulation of VEGF-Notch signaling pathway on proliferation and apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: The bone marrow specimens of AA patients were collected for isolation and identification of BM MSC. Westen blot was used to detect the expression of VEGF-Notch signaling pathway-related proteins (VEGF, VEGFR, Notch 1, Jagged 1, Delta-like 1 and Hes1). The VEGF (100 ng/ml) and DAPT (γ-secretase inhibitor, 10 µmol/L) were respectively added into MSC culture system in oder to activate and inhibit the signaling transduction of VEGF-Notch in BM MSC. The proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of MSC in AA patients were detected by CCK8 assay and flow cyfometry. The adipogenic differentiation of BM MSC was detected by oil red O staining. RESULTS: The VEGF-Notch signaling pathway was significantly inhibited in AA BM tissues and AA MSC (P＜0.05) detected by Western blot. The intervention of VEGF and DAPT significantly activated and inhibited VEGF-Notch signaling in AA MSC, respectively. CCK8 assay showed that VEGF intervention significantly promoted the proliferation of MSC in AA patients (P＜0.05). Flow cytometry showed that VEGF significantly inhibited apoptosis of MSCs by blocking S phase cells (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: The activation of VEGF-Notch can restore the proliferation function of MSC in AA patients.