[DOI: 10.1063/1.3149781]“
“Background. Diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular disease, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is that diabetes aggravates atherosclerosis by enhancing MI-503 concentration plaque inflammation. The Akita mouse

has recently been adopted as a relevant model for microvascular complications of diabetes. Here we investigate the development of atherosclerosis and inflammation in vessels of Akita mice on LDLr-/- background. Methods and Results. Akita-LDLr-/- and LDLr-/- mice were fed high-fat diet from 6 to 24 weeks of age. Blood glucose levels were higher in both male and female Akita-LDLr-/- mice (137% and 70%, resp.). Male Akita-LDLr-/- mice had markedly increased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, a three-fold increase in atherosclerosis, and enhanced accumulation of macrophages and T-cells in plaques. In contrast, female Akita-LDLr (/) mice demonstrated a modest 29% increase in plasma cholesterol and no significant increase in triglycerides, atherosclerosis, or inflammatory cells in lesions. Male Akita-LDLr-/- mice had increased levels of plasma IL-1 beta compared to nondiabetic mice, whereas no such difference was seen between female diabetic Galunisertib nmr and nondiabetic mice.

Conclusion. Akita-LDLr-/- mice display considerable gender differences in the development of diabetic atherosclerosis. In addition, the increased atherosclerosis in male Akita-LDLr-/- mice is associated with an increase in inflammatory cells in lesions.”
“Environmental exposures need to SB525334 chemical structure be assessed for the understanding of the health risks of general population. Organochlorine compounds (OCs) from chlor-alkali plants (CAPs) are significant for the exposomes of individuals living in locations receiving their emissions and have to be determined. The aims of the study are to identify the area of influence of past and present OC emissions from CAPs and to set quantitative body burden estimates. A CAP situated in a rural area was selected for study. The

geographic distribution of the atmospheric emissions was monitored using olive tree leaves. Human biomonitoring was assessed by serum analysis from general population (n = 1340). DC concentrations followed exponential decay functions with maxima in the immediate vicinity of the factory. The individuals living within 1 km exhibited hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and DDT-DDE (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) concentrations that were 12, 1.3-1.9 and 3.9 times higher than in sites not influenced by the emissions from this factory. Individuals from municipalities situated 15-25 km away from the CAP showed 1.5, 12-1.4 and 1.3 times higher serum HCB. PCB and DDT concentrations than in distant sites. The high serum concentrations of DDT and PCBs were observed even 23-31 years and 9-17 years after manufacture completion of these compounds, respectively.