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Nootropics have become the standart in the field of treating memory impairments and decline of cognition which are still more frequent problem when we consider aging of population in the western world. To better understand the capabilities and dangers of these drugs, it is necessary to widen our knowledge of the mechanism of their action. In this thesis I focus on the nootropics with the widespread use across the world (nicotine, caffeine) and on the drugs with long clinical prescription history and deeply explored effects on the cognition (methylphenidate, modafinil, piracetam, ampakines). Some categories of substances currently in the pre-clinical studies with good potential for future utilization are also briefly mentioned. The emphasis is laid mainly on summarization of the present knowledge concerning the mechanisms of action on the level of molecules, cells and the brain as a whole. The results of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating effects of these compounds on psychological values, memory and cognition are also considered here not only for CNS pathologies correction but also regarding healthy individuals.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are small DNA viruses ubiquitously present in population. They infect mucosal and cutaneous epithelium and cause benign and malignant diseases. Research of HPV became more intensive after 1983, when these viruses were isolated for the first time from cervical carcinoma samples. Nowaday it is known, that number of other malignancies is associated with HR HPV infection and the research is focused on evaluating the role of these viruses in skin cancer. This bachelor thesis outlines mechanisms by which HPV from Alfa and Betapapillomaviridae genus causes malignant and benign lesions. The main HPV oncoprotein is protein E6, which binds p53 and targets it for degradation, and protein E7 which interacts with retinoblastoma protein and influences his function in cell cycle regulation. Papillomaviruses from genus alpha contain additionally E5 oncoprotein which is not present in viruses from genus beta. This suggests that the mechanisms of cancerogenesis initiated by viruses from these two genera will be different. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)