67022 - Pharmacology

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biological Sciences (cod. 8012)

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes will be: a) basic knowledge about drug pharmacokinetics, drug action and their use in pharmacotherapy; b) identification of the most important toxic effects

Course contents

 

A- General Pharmacology

Introduction- history of pharmacology, drugs and religion, homeopathic medicine theories and experimental evidences; placebo, theories and clinical outcomes;  generic drugs

Pharmacokinetics- Absorption, distribution, metabolism (phase I, II and III); the role of the metabolic processes in pharmacology and toxicology; elimination, xenobiotic bioactivation and detoxification: manipolation of activity  in in vitro (genotoxicity) and in vivo (chemoprevention).

Pharmacodynamics- Targets and mechanisms of drugs, receptors, dose-response curve, agonists, partial agonists, antagonists, drug interaction, tolerance.

Pharmacogenomics-Genetic polymorphisms at metabolic and receptor level and their possible role in pharmacology (personalization of therapy) and toxicology (individual vulnerability); some examples.

Toxicology- Side effects, idiosyncratic and allergic reactions,

B- Pharmacotherapy

General considerations, mechanism of action, clinical use and main side effects:

Cholinergic agonists and antagonists, adrenergic agonists and antagonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, treatment of the anxiety disorders, alcohols, treatment of depressive disorders, drugs for Parkinson's disease, treatment of psychoses, anticoagulants.

Chemotherapy- General considerations, mechanism of action, clinical use, resistence and main side effects: antibiotics, antiviral and antineoplastic agents.

Readings/Bibliography

B.G. Katzung, Farmacologia generale e clinica, VII Ed. Italiana, Casa Editrice Piccin, Nuova Libraria, Padova, 2009.

L.M. Fuccella, E. Perruca, C. Sirtori, Farmacologia Clinica, Casa Editrice UTET, Torino, 1998.

H. Lullmann, k. Mohr, Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Piccin, Padova, 2001.

Teaching methods

Lectures and discussion

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning takes place through a written/oral test articulated on questions that will focus on the topics related to the program and objectives of the Course.

 

 

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC

Distribution of the material projected during the lesson

Office hours

See the website of Moreno Paolini

SDGs

Good health and well-being

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.