Are excessive urinary albumin levels associated with future cardiovascular mortality in postmenopausal women?
This is the first large cohort study that confirms a predictive role of urinary albumin for the risk of future cardiovascular mortality independent of hypertension and diabetes. Our findings support the hypothesis that microalbuminuria is a reflection of vascular damage and a marker of early arterial disease in women from the general population.
Reoxygenation induces gap formation. This is dependent on (i) Ca(2+) overload during reoxygenation, (ii) energy production and (iii) activation of myosin light chain kinase. Together these results indicate that activation of the endothelial contractile machinery is the underlying cause.