67022 - Pharmacology

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide knowledge about drug mechanisms that control the kinetics of a drugs o xenobiotics in the body, the administration and distribution and  excretion and their chemical-physical interactions that leads to the therapeutic effects.

Course contents

Part I - Teacher: Gabriele Campana
Pharmacology: definitions; Drug concept, Pharmacodinamics: Mechanisms of drug action; Receptor classification; Factors-depending drug action; dose/effect ratio; Pharmacologycal and Therapeutics properties Pharmacokinetcs: Movement  of drugs across cell membranes, blood-brain barrier and placenta filter; routes of administration and absorption; binding to plasma proteins;  bioavailability; Half life of drugs; Drug dependent effects; drug independent effects;; dose-response and time-response curves; agonists, partial agonists, antagonists; side-effects; overdose; idiosyncratic and allergic reactions; distribution of drugs in the body, volume of distribution, , drug metabolism; excretion; Drugs interactions;  Factors inducing variability in drug action (species, age, sex, gender,ect). Concept of drug addiction: tollerance, physical and psychical dependence, drugs of abuse. Drug development: Chemical and pharmacological studies; preclinical studies; Clinical Trials (phase I,II,III and epidemiological studies –IV)


Part II - Teacher : Lucia Carboni
Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system: cholinergic agonists and antagonists, cholinesterase inhibitors, adrenergic agonists and antagonists, drugs relaxing skeletal muscles. Drugs acting on the central nervous system: general anesthetics, local anesthetics, drugs for Parkinson's disease; sedative-hypnotic drugs, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, opioid analgesics and their antagonists, drugs of abuse. Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs: antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, vasodilators and drug used in angina pectoris; drugs used in heart failure; drugs used in cardiac arrhythmias; drugs used in dyslipidemia.  Drugs with actions on smooth muscle: Bronchodilators and other agents used in asthma, drugs active on gastrointestinal functions, anti-ulcer drugs. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. Antidiabetic drugs. Chemotherapy: antimicrobial antifungal, antiviral, antineoplastic drugs

Readings/Bibliography

Farmacologia Generale e Clinica per le Lauree Triennali – Furlanut – Edizioni Piccin
Katzung, Masters, Trevor Farmacologia Generale e Clinica - Piccin

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Verification of learning takes place through an oral assessment. This assessment aims to assess the knowledge on the topics covered during the course of both modules. The purpose of the oral examination  focuses on the ability of the candidate to have learned the basics of the mechanisms of action of drugs, how they are modified by body and how these can affect the phisiology of the body. In addition to this the candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the major classes of drugs covered in the lectures.
During the oral exam, the candidate cannot use supporting material such as books, notes or computer media

Teaching tools

PC

Video projector
Lessons on CD available for students

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Campana

See the website of Lucia Carboni