00351 - Pharmacology (A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows: - the fundamental principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; - the essential elements of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the actions (favorable and/or unfavorable) of the different classes of drugs and toxicants; - the main therapeutic uses and contraindications of drugs; - the essential elements for understanding the variability of response to drugs in relation to genetic and physiopathological factors as well as pharmacological interactions; - the methods of clinical pharmacology, including pharmacosurveillance and pharmacoepidemiology

Course contents

Introduction to Pharmacology: History; definition of drug and classification of drugs. Pharmacodynamics: Main mechanisms of action of drugs (receptor and non-receptor); concentration-effect relationship; receptor agonists and antagonists; main membrane and intracellular receptors in relation to the different pharmacological classes. Pharmacokinetics: Descriptive pharmacokinetics: routes of drug administration; drug absorption and mechanisms of intercellular crossing; distribution of drugs in the body; definition of drug clearance, biotransformation and excretion; single and repeated dose regimens; bioequivalent drugs; Pharmacokinetic alterations in special populations. Quantitative pharmacokinetics: fundamental and derived pharmacokinetic parameters; order of kinetics and saturative mechanisms of elimination of drugs. Pharmacoepidemiology and experimentation: Pre-clinical and clinical drug testing; functions of the Ethics Committee; classification of adverse drug reactions; principles of pharmacovigilance; pharmacogenetics.

Readings/Bibliography

Attendance at lectures and notes taken during class are essential for exam preparation. Students can study the topics in depth on the following texts:

1) Govoni, Spampinato, Navarra, AAVV. Farmacologia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, II Ed, 2023

2) Rossi, Cuomo, Riccardi. Farmacologia: prinicipi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche. Minerva Medica, V Ed, 2023

3) Goodman & Gilman. Le basi farmacologiche della terapia. Zanichelli, XIII Ed, 2019.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons. Attendance at lessons is of fundamental importance in the learning process because it guides the student to a critical and clinical reading of the aspects of general pharmacology. Similarly, it is essential that the student deepens and consolidates his knowledge on a manual of his choice.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the integrated course of Pharmacology (9 CFU) will consist of two oral interviews, with the respective teachers of the modules. The topics of the first semester (General Pharmacology and Drugs and Bioethics) will be the subject of the first interview. Successful completion of the first interview will be eligible for access to the second interview. Grading of the final grade: - Only essential knowledge of the topic and analytical ability that emerges only with the help of the teacher, expression in generally correct language (grade: 18-19); - More extensive knowledge and autonomous analytical ability only on some aspects, expression in correct language (grade: 20-24); - In-depth knowledge, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology (grade: 25-29); - Complete knowledge, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and connection between different topics, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect also on clinical implications (grade: 30-30L).

Office hours

See the website of Pier Giorgio Cojutti