Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student should have acquired knowledge regarding general and special pharmacology. In detail, the student should be able to:
1. Know the mechanisms of action of drugs and the drug-receptor and drug-drug interactions. Know the principles of pharmacokinetics. Know the most important classes of drugs used in veterinary medicine. Be able to employ the appropriate scientific language and terminology. (knowledge and understanding)
2. Understand the therapeutic properties of the different drugs and their adverse effects/interactions. (applying knowledge and understanding)
3. Explain the results of the studies and drug properties also to an audience of non-experts. (communication skills)
4. Choose the right drug belonging to a specific class on the basis of the acquired knowledge and clinical needs. (making judgements)
5. Link the different topics treated in the course between themselves and with other disciplines of the academic degree course. (learning skills)
Course unit content
The Course provides the students with essential concepts of general Pharmacology including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics with particular emphasis on the action of drugs, receptors, the agonist/antagonist concept, therapeutic indications, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. The student is expected to possess knowledge about the interactions between drugs both at a pharmacodynamic and at a pharmacokinetic level and the undesired effects of drugs. Additionally, the student is expected to be familiar with the drugs that act on the central, autonomous and somatic nervous system, adrenergic, cholinergic, serotonergic and histaminergic pharmacology, local anaesthetics, inotropic and anti-arrhythmic drugs, ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and other vasodilators, diuretics, glucocorticoids, Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), drugs active on the gastrointestinal functions and on the respiratory system, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs, and the most relevant antineoplastic agents.
Bibliography
CARLI - ORMAS - RE - SOLDANI - "Farmacologia Veterinaria". Edizioni Idelson- Gnocchi-2009.
RANG & DALE’S - “Farmacologia”, 8th edition. Elsevier.
The students are however reminded that the textbook has to be integrated with the teacher's lessons.
Assessment methods and criteria
The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the student in the course of Pharmacology is made by means of a live streaming oral exam. The student, therefore, after online registration to the official exam calendar published on the Department of Veterinary Science website, will have to perform an oral exam consisting of answering to three questions regarding topics of the course of general and special pharmacology, and chemotherapy. The student will have to show to have understood the core concepts of the treated topics of the course. The student will have to show to have understood the core concepts of the subject. To the students with diagnosis of specific learning disability (DSA) certified under law n. 170/2010, proper specific support will be provided.
Other information
9 examination sessions are scheduled throughout the academic year, as reported on ESSE3 platform website. 5 more sessions are scheduled for so called "fuori corso e ripetenti" students. A minimun of 14 days is required between two subsequent examination sessions. The examining board consists of at least two teachers.
