OVERVIEW

This class is targeted to future professionals graduated in nursing.The students should know: the principal metabolic pathways, their relationships and the molecular systems for their control; the key factors concerning the main steps of the pharmacokynetics, from the absorption to the disposal of drugs, their mechanisms of activity,the use of some class of drugs utilized for the therapy of infectious diseases.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To know the metabolic pathways and the reltionships between the anabolism and catabolism. To know the basic elements underlying the absorption and the disposal of drugs, and their machanisms of functioning. The student should comprehend the general concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics with a particular attention to the way of drug administration and to the calculation of the doses to be administered. Moreover, should be familiar about some classes of drugs used to manage infectious pathologies. In this course 1 cfu will be supplied by  blended modality.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

To understand the basis for interaction between atoms, ions and molecules of interest from a biological viewpoint. To understand the properties of acqueous solutions and their effects on the chemical reactions. To carry out easy calculations to determine the pH or the concentration of a solution. To identify the organic functional groups that are fundamental to synthesize and to transform the biological molecules.To know the general molecular basis that define the properties and the level of the three-dimensional protein organization.To understand the general aspects of enzyme catalysis.To know the general characteristics of the metabolic pathways. To understand the relationships between the anabolic and catabolic processes, their regulation and the fate of the main products. To understand the meaning of the glycemic profile.To know the markers of hepatic and kidney functioning as well as the marker suitable to follow a myocardial damage. To learn basics of pharmacokynetics: it will be particularly necessary to know the mechanisms that regulate the absorption of drugs, with a special consideration for the way of administration, the distribution, the matabolism and the disposal. To know the principal pharmacokynetics parameters and their clinical meaning.  To know the essential aspects of pharmacodynamics, the concepts of  tolerance, untolerance, therapeutic index and their clinical implications. To know the use of some classes of drugs that are utilized for the infectious diseases therapy with a particular attention to the pertinence, the clinical use, the assessment of adverse reactions of antibiotics and of antiviral and antifungal therapies (outlines). To be informed about the drugs active on the autonomous nervous system. To know how to do simple calculations to set up the right dosage of drugs administered by oral or parenteral way.  

TEACHING METHODS

The class-room taught lessons are implemented with several exercises in order to solve problems related to the topics treated. Aim of these practice exercises  is to train the student to do a groundwork that should facilitate his preparation to pass the written examination test in both Biochemistry and Pharmacology.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Forces that drive the interactions between atoms, ions and molecules of interest from a biological  viewpoint. Acqueous solutions and their effects on chemical reactions: pH and units used to define the concentration of solutions. Chemical functional groups involved in the synthesis and in the modifications of biological molecules. Three-dimensional organization of proteinse. Hemoglobin and myoglobin. Characteristics of enzyme catalysis. General features and regulation of metabolic pathways: transformation or disposal of the main products of the metabolism. Preparation of blood samples suitable for clinical analyses on serum  or plasma. Glycemic profile; markers of hepatic, kydney and heart functioning and damage. 

General pharmacokinetics aspects: drugs absorption with a particulat attention to the way of administration. 
Distribution, metabolism and disposal of drugs. Essential pharmacokinetics parameters and their clinical meaning. Basic aspects of pharmacodynamics: tolerance and intolerance, therapeutic index. Antibiotic therapy: pertinence, clinical use, evaluation of unwanted consequences. Basic concepts of antiviral therapy. Overview of drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Biochemistry: “Appunti di biochimica” Catani M.V., Savini I., Guerrieri P., Avigliano L.  Editore Piccin 

Pharmacology: "Compendio di farmacologia generale e speciale" M. Amico-Roxas, A. Caputi, M. Del Tacca. Ed. Utet Scienze Mediche

“Farmacologia per le professioni sanitarie”  Anita Conforti, ecc. Ed. Idelson Gnocchi;

" Le basi della farmacologia" R D Howland, M J Mycek. Ed. Zanichelli - Calcoli e dosaggi farmacologici. G. Le Donne, S. Tolomeo. Ed. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana 

“Calcoli e dosaggi farmacologici” G. Le Donne, S. Tolomeo. Ed. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is a written test including open and multiple choice questions either for  Biochemistry or Pharmacology.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment of students understanding of the different topics includes the administration of a set of questions that are modified at every session of the exam. These questions contain a wide range of possible answers to decrease the possibility of a random exact solution. It has been also established that the test is passed only following the achievement of a minimal threshold to consider sufficient the skills acquired.

Exam schedule