OVERVIEW

The module of General Pharmacology is part of the integrated course of General Pharmacology and Toxicology, which is taught during the third year of the Master's Degree in Pharmacy, and concerns the study of the drug mechanisms of action, as well as of the processes involved in drug disposition.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of General Pharmacology aims at providing students with the basic principles of the interaction of drugs with the different biological targets of the human body. Students will acquire a solid knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, the basis of variability in drug response and the main mechanisms and effects of drug-drug interactions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module of General Pharmacology aims at providing students with solid concepts regarding the definition of drug and everything that pertains to pharmacological disciplines, the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the factors that influence the variability of response to drugs and the main mechanisms and effects of drug interactions.

The educational objectives of pharmacokinetics will address qualitative and quantitative concepts related to the processes of ADME, i.e. the set of events that bring a drug into the human body (Absorption), distribute it in the various organs and tissues (Distribution), the bio-transformation (Metabolism) and remove it from the body itself (Elimination).

The educational objectives of pharmacodynamics will address the study of how drugs interact with the human body, with particular attention to the mechanisms of action of drugs (e.g. interactions with receptors, enzymes, transporters), dose-effect relationships, duration and intensity of therapeutic effects and adverse effects, as well as potency and efficacy of drugs.

The study of drug response variability aims at identifying genetic and non-genetic factors that can modify the expected effects following the administration of a drug, including drug interactions.

TEACHING METHODS

The General Pharmacology module includes at least 24 frontal lessons with active learning techniques that involve students with scientific questions and reasoning. During the lessons, the topics covered by the program will be illustrated in a complete and detailed manner. The teaching material used during the frontal lessons will be accessible on the AulaWeb portal using the registration key.

In the event that particular problems arise that do not allow face-to-face teaching (e.g. weather emergencies or high emergency conditions), the frontal lessons can also be carried out electronically using the Microsoft Teams online platform. The teacher will promptly inform students of any changes via the teaching website in AulaWeb and on the DIFAR website.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department ( Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it ) before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific learning methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes. VERY IMPORTANT: any request for compensatory tools and adaptations in the exam MUST be done within 10 working days before the date of the exam according to the instructions that can be found at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY.

Definition of drug. Specific and nonspecific effects of drugs. Drug constituents, drug classification and nomenclature, therapeutic, toxic, placebo and nocebo effectS; equivalent drugs.

PHARMACOKINETICS

Pharmaceutical phase. Principles and mechanisms of drug passage through biological membranes. Routes of drug administration and factors affecting their absorption. Drug distribution and binding to plasma and tissue proteins; factors affecting the distribution. Drug metabolism: phase I and phase II reactions. Factors affecting metabolism. Routes of drug elimination and factors affecting elimination. Clinical pharmacokinetics: one- and two-compartmental models. Bioavailability. Apparent volume of distribution, clearance and plasma half-life. Kinetics of single and repeated administrations. Attack and maintenance dose.

PHARMACODYNAMICS

Mechanisms of action of drugs. Basic principles and qualitative-quantitative aspects of drug-receptor interaction. Phenomena drug-receptor interaction and concept of binding affinity and selectivity. Receptor theories: occupational theory, intrinsic activity theory, two-stage model theory and allosteric theory. Full, partial and inverse agonists. Concept of potency, efficacy and safety. Competitive, non-competitive antagonists and allosteric modulators. Synergy and additivity. Dose/concentration-response curves, desensitization, tolerance, receptor up- and down-regulation. Spare receptors/transporters.

Receptors: classification, macromolecular structure and signal transduction systems. Examples of the main receptor subtypes. The ion channels and the mechanisms that regulate the balance of the calcium ion. The membrane transporters.

VARIABILITY OF DRUG RESPONSE

Variability and factors influencing drug response - possible applications for simulated pharmacy training sessions. Predictable and unpredictable factors. Individual variability. Gender pharmacology, in the elderly, in children and in overweight patients. Genetic alterations, polymorphisms and the variability of response to drugs. Variability of response to repeated administrations: allergy, tolerance, tachyphylaxis, idiosyncrasy and adverse reactions. Drug resistance.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

The importance and problems of drug interaction studies. Clinically relevant interaction concept. Pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction mechanisms. Overview of the interactions between drugs and herbal products. Overview of the interactions between drugs and foods.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DRUG AND OUTLINE OF THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF PHARMACOLOGY

The different phases that characterize the development of a drug (preclinical phases, clinical phases and post-marketing phases). Definitions and outline of pharmacognosy, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, toxicology, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbooks

Farmacologia generale e molecolare

(Clementi, Fumagalli )

EDRA EDITORE

Farmacologia generale e clinica

(Bertram G. Katzung, Preziosi -Curatore)

PICCIN EDITORE

Farmacologia

(Rang & Dale)

EDRA EDITORE

Goodman & Gilman. Le basi farmacologiche della terapia

(Brunton, Hilal-Dandan, Knollmann)

ZANICHELLI EDITORE

Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche

(Rossi, Cuomo, Riccardi)

MINERVA MEDICA EDITORE

Farmacologia.

Con Contenuto digitale

(Govoni)

AMBROSIANA EDITORE

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARCO MILANESE (President)

TIZIANA BONIFACINO

LUCA RAITERI (President Substitute)

CHIARA CERVETTO (Substitute)

ERNESTO FEDELE (Substitute)

MASSIMO GRILLI (Substitute)

GUENDALINA OLIVERO (Substitute)

ANNA MARIA PITTALUGA (Substitute)

CAROLA TORAZZA (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The General Pharmacology module will be delivered in the second semester, with the times and modalities indicated on the academic calendar. Any changes will be promptly reported on the DIFAR department website.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes an oral test for each module (General Pharmacology and Toxicology).
The general pharmacology exam is oral. It is conducted by the course holder supported by a commissioner (if necessary, the exam is conducted by the professor in charge and by a doctoral student/post-doc, recognized as a subject expert by the Council of Degree Courses) and has a duration of 20 to up to 40 minutes. The exam questions focus on the topics addressed during the frontal lessons and allow the commission to verify the achievement of the educational objectives of the course.
In the event of changes to the date, time, or place, the professor in charge will promptly inform the students of any changes through AulaWeb, the website or email communication to the students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final grade will take into account the level of preparation, the reasoning ability and correlation between the different topics of the program and the appropriate scientific language used during the interview. If the evaluation criteria are not met sufficiently, the student will be rejected and invited to deepen the study making use, if necessary, of further explanations from the titular professor.

The exam will specifically evaluate a) the level of preparation and the notions acquired, (b) the ability to associate the notions acquired with possible practical applications, (c) the ability to connect the various topics, the reasoning and the use of a professionally appropriate language.

In detail, a vote between: - 18 and 21 will indicate a modest knowledge of the topics covered and a sufficient ability to place knowledge in the correct clinical context; - 22 and 24 will indicate sufficient knowledge of the topics covered, an adequate ability to deal with the topics transversely and to place the knowledge in a clinical context; - 25 and 27 will indicate a good knowledge of the topics covered, a good ability to deal with topics transversally and to place knowledge in context and more than good ability to place knowledge for use in the therapeutic field; - 28 and 30 will indicate an excellent knowledge of the topics covered, excellent ability to deal with topics transversely and to place knowledge in context and excellent ability to place knowledge for therapeutic use; Honors are expected if the student distinguishes himself for an in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course.

Exam schedule