[Smoking and drug use among students of selected univerities]. / Palenie tytoniu i stosowanie innych uzywek wsr6ód studentów wybranych uczelni.

Smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs are still actual social and health problems in Poland and in the world as well. Conducted studies, considering health behaviours among children and youth, indicate high percentage (between 20-30%) of smokers in mentioned population, depending on age, gender and environment. Health effects caused by smoking occur usually in adulthood as smoking related diseases, despite the addiction leading to the health problem begins earlier, even in childhood. Statistics, considering drinking alcohol and drugs abuse among young people are also frightening. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the state of knowledge about harmful effects of smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs use among students of Silesian Medical University, Silesian University of Technology and Academy of Physical Education and to evaluate and compare health attitudes towards mentioned addictions among students of different Universities. 315 students at age between 19-24 years took part in the study and filled in the anonymous questionnaire prepared by authors. Surveyed population included 108 students of Silesian Medical University, 110 students of Silesian University of Technology and 97 students of Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. Knowledge, presented by all students, about harmful effects of smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs use is not put into practice and does not result in healthy behaviours in examined part of life style. Students of Silesian Medical University demonstrate the highest state of knowledge about drugs. Students of Academy of Physical Education in Katowice have the most improper behaviours in the area of addictions. There is a necessity of preparing and spreading efficacious prophylactic programmes in order to raise awareness about the harmfulness of smoking, drinking and drugs use.

The neuroprotective function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known mainly as the potent angiogenic and vascular permeability-enhancing factor. Both processes are very effective in hypoxia. The latest studies show that VEGF has neurotrophic and neuroprotective as well as angiogenic properties. It exerts neuroprotective actions directly through the inhibition of programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis and the stimulation of neurogenesis. VEGF is also a mediator of multiple processes including angiogenesis, enhancing blood brain barrier permeability for glucose, antioxidants activation, which indirectly result in neuroprotection. VEGF prevents neurons from death under critical conditions such as hypoxia, glucose deprivation through binding to the specific receptors, which are also expressed on the surface of neuronal cells. The increased expression of VEGFR-2/flk-1/KDR receptors on neurons subjected to hypoxia, glucose deprivation provides evidence that these receptors are mainly involved in neuroprotective effects of VEGF. Furthermore, binding to these receptors triggers the phosphatidyloinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) /Akt signal transduction system and, in consequence, leads to the inhibition of PCD by activating antiapoptotic proteins through the transcription factor NFkappaB and inhibiting proapoptotic signaling by Bad, caspase-9, caspase-3, and other effectors. Promotion of neuronal cells proliferation by VEGF is also associated with the increased expression of VEGFR-2 receptors and up-regulation of E2F family transcription factors, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and cdc25. It is known that the amount and types of VEGF isoforms influence its action. At least six isoforms of VEGF proteins are formed as a result of alternative mRNA splicing and it is unknown which of them and in what proportion occur in the nervous system in physiology and pathophysiology. It seems to be very essential to find out the mechanisms responsible for specific patterns of VEGF isoforms and their receptors expression in different pathologies of the nervous system. Maybe such knowledge will provide new perspectives in VEGF therapy.

[Evaluation of knowledge and health attitude towards cigarette smoking, alcohol and drugs use among students]. / Ocena wiedzy i postaw zdrowotnych studentów w zakresie palenia tytoniu i stosowania innych uzywek.

Cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use are important epidemiological problems affecting state of health. Negative effects of these unhealthy behaviors are commonly known and result in many socioeconomic consequences. Despite relatively good knowledge about harm-fullness of cigarette smoking a percentage of smokers in polish population is still high, especially in young population, and hesitates between 20-30% depending on age, sex and socioeconomic conditions. Negative health attitude towards smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use among young people requires further education and promotion in this area. Aim of the study was evaluation of knowledge about harmful effects of smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use among students of Silesian University of Technology and evaluation of health attitudes towards smoking, drinking alcohol and drug abuse in examined population. 109 students of Silesian University of Technology at age between 19-24 years took part in the study and filled the anonymous questionnaire prepared by authors. The study revealed that 8% of Silesian University of Technology students smoke cigarettes regularly. 15% of students declare smoking occasionally despite most of them know negative effects of such smoking. Almost 80% do not smoke at all. In opinion of 66,7% passive model of smoking is as harmful as the active one. Relatively many (8%) of examined students admit drinking alcohol regularly. Only 15% do not drink alcohol. 35% of students declare taking a drug, at least once during entire life, and some of examined consider marihuana as not addictive. High knowledge about harmful effects of smoking among students results in a relatively low percentage of inveterate smokers. Despite knowledge about harmfulness of drinking alcohol and drug abuse proper healthy behaviors in this area are not put into practice in examined motion in order to reduce unhealthy behaviors among young people.