Phorbol ester-mediated pulmonary artery endothelial barrier dysfunction through regulation of actin cytoskeletal mechanics.

The mechanisms of phorbol ester- and thrombin-mediated pulmonary artery endothelial barrier dysfunction were compared. Phorbol ester dibutyrate (PDBU) mediated slow force velocity and less force than thrombin. Taxol did not attenuate PDBU-mediated tension, while it reversed nocodazole-mediated tension.

Cytomegalovirus disease is not a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease after renal transplantation.

Background: It has been suggested that cytomegalovirus infection increases the risk of ischemic heart disease. Both cytomegalovirus and ischemic heart disease are common after renal transplantation, suggesting a possible causal association in this population.

Methods And Patients: We studied 1004 consecutive renal transplants with no prior history of ischemic heart disease and grafts that functioned at least 12 months.