The rabbit models of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque (VAP) were established by high fat diet and pharmaceutical triggering. The serum RANTES levels of VAP group (91.97 +/- 8.51 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of AS (atherosclerosis) group (50.03 +/- 2.92 ng/ml). Consistently, the mRNA and protein of RANTES in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques were also obviously up-regulated compared to

AS group (P smaller than 0.01). Moreover, corrected plaque area and vulnerability index of VAP group proved to be significantly higher than AS group. The correlation coefficient between RANTES and plaque vulnerability indicated that RANTES, especially plaque RANTES, was positively correlated with VAP. In addition, increased expression of nuclear factor kappa check details B p65 (NF-kappa B p65) was observed in VAP group compared to AS group (P smaller than 0.05), which partly accounted for the increased RANTES levels. In conclusion, positive associations between RANTES and plaque vulnerability suggest that higher RANTES levels may be associated with atherosclerosis and high-risk plaques. Our study highlights the utility of both serum and plaque RANTES levels as indicators of plaque vulnerability in the field of preventive cardiology. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.”
“This study

provides redescriptions of two small cicada species, Yoyetta landsboroughi (Distant) and Y. tristrigata (Goding and Froggatt), from eastern Australia, based on a detailed morphological AG-014699 in vitro examination of available material. The status of Y. toowoombae (Distant) is re-examined and it is now formally recognised to be a junior synonym of Y. landsboroughi. Four new species of Yoyetta are described, also from eastern Australia. These are: Y. cumberlandi sp. nov., Y. fluviatilis sp. nov., Y. nigrimontana sp. nov., and Y. repetens sp. nov.. Within each species (re) description, sections on distinguishing features,

distribution, habitat and behaviour, and calling song structures are described and illustrated where appropriate.”
“The induction of programmed cell death in premalignant or malignant cancer cells by chemopreventive agents could be CP456773 a valuable tool to control prostate cancer initiation and progression. In this work, we present evidence that the C-28 methyl ester of the synthetic oleanane triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO-Me) induces cell death in androgen-responsive and unresponsive human prostate cancer cell lines at nanomolar and low micromolar concentrations. CDDO-Me induced caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activation; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage; internucleosomal DNA fragmentation; and loss of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction in PC3 and DU145 cells.