6 ORIGINAL PAPERS 7 ABBREVIATIONS 8 INTRODUCTION 9 Presentation 9 History 11 Cochlear anatomy 12 Cochlear physiology 14 Cochlear innervation 16 The sensory auditory systems 19 The spiral ganglion 21 Specific characteristics of the human spiral ganglion 23 Tight and gap junctions 27 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDIES 29 MATERIAL AND METHODS 30 RESULTS 36 Preservation 36 Light microscopic studies and TEM ...

The medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) of the hypothalamus plays a major role in many functions involved in maintaining bodily homeostasis, such as thermoregulation and osmoregulation, as well as in the control of complex behaviours, e.g. sexual behaviour. A fundamental basis for the control and execution of these functions is the synaptic communication between neurons of the MPN. However, the funct...

Osteotropic Cytokines: Expression in Human Gingival Fibroblasts and Effects on Bone. Py Palmqvist, Department of Oral Cell Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden Bone metabolism is regulated by endocrine and paracrine signalling molecules influencing bone cells in the continuously remodelling bone tissue. These molecules include a variety of osteotropic stimulatory and inhibitory cyto...

Cystinuria is defined as an inherited disorder characterised by increased urinary excretion of cystine and the dibasic amino acids arginine, lysine and ornithine. The only clinical manifestation of cystinuria is renal cystine stone formation due to the low solubility of cystine in the urine. Cystinuria can be attributed to mutations in the SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 genes in the majority of all cases an...

[1] Cipra, T.: Momentová úloha matematické statistiky a její aplikace ve stochastickém programování. RNDr. rigorosní práce, Karlova universita, Praha 1977. Nadace profesora Šauera v rámci Československé demografické společnosti za rok 1991).

The Neuropeptide VIP and the IL-6 Family of Cytokines in Bone – Effects on Bone Resorption, Cytokine Expression and Receptor Signalling in Osteoblasts and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Emma Persson, Department of Oral Cell Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden Bone tissue is continuously degraded and rebuilt to respond to the needs of the body. Cells of the osteoblast lineage are respons...

Malignant melanoma arises from the pigment producing melanocytes in epidermis and is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing faster than any other type of cancer in white population worldwide, with a doubling rate every 10-20 years. So far, the only identified external risk factor for malignant melanoma is UV exposure. Elimination of photodamag...

There is an aura about sessions such as this which suggests analogies to a fraternity initiation. Given that, one of the first questions the discussant must ask himself is where his discussion stands in relation to "Hell Week." All of us, I believe, would agree that "Hell Week" is the responsibility of the pledge trainer, or dissertation adviser in this case. If "Hell Week" is over, is the disc...