Ateneo - UPO

General and special pharmacology

Pharmacology: Basic principles and therapeutic applications
Rossi - Cuomo- Riccardi

General and Molecular Pharmacology
Fumagalli & Clementi

The pharmacological basis of therapy
Goodman & Gilman

General and clinical pharmacology
Katzung & Trevor’s

This course aims to give the basis of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to achieve awareness of the factors that influence the pharmacological and / or therapeutic effect. Furthermore, we want to outline the drug discovery and development and its use in order to restore a situation altered by a pathology at levels as close as possible to normal physiology.

In order to achieve the intended learning outcomes, the student must have a solid background in molecular biology, anatomy, physiology and general pathology.

face-to-face

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of a written test. The written test is assessed by the ability to apply the knowledge acquired during the course and is made up of 6 open -ended questions. Each question are attributed from 0 to 5 points. The test is believed to have been passed if it was answered at all questions with a minimum vote of 18 as the evaluation is expressed in thirties.

General Pharmacology:
-Drug development: preclinical and clinical phase
-Pharmacodynamics: receptors and signal transduction; concept of agonist and antagonist, dose-response curve.
-Pharmacokinetics: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs
Biotech drugs: therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, gene therapy
Special Pharmacology:
- Diabetes drugs: insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents
-Anti-dyslipidemic drugs
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: NSAIDs, glucocorticoids
- Chemotherapeutic drugs
- Drugs for the cardiovascular system: anti-arrhythmic drugs, heart failure drugs, antithrombotic drugs and anticoagulant drugs
- Respiratory system drugs
- System nervous system: synapses and neurotransmitters; antidepressive drugs; anti Parkinson drugs; antipsychotic drugs; sedative-hypnotic drugs.
Integration of the gender dimension: where of interest, attention will be paid to gender pharmacology.

At the end of the course, students should have learned pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Moreover, they should have learn the mechanisms of action, therapeutic indications, unwanted side effects and methods of administration of the main classes of drugs treated during the course.