Assembly Symposium
Chairs: R. Farre (Barcelona, Spain), P. J. Sterk (Leiden, The Netherlands)

Induction of endothelial gene expression by mechanical stretch I. Fleming (Frankfurt, Germany)
The mechanics of smooth muscle cells in asthma: to stretch or not to stretch S. J. Gunst (Indianapolis, United States Of America)
The mechanics of the alveolar cell barrier in ventilator induced lung injury R. Hubmayr (Rochester, United States Of America)