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)
Prerequisites
Microbiology and Immunology, Epidemiology
Veterinary Physiology II and Endocrinology
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.
Full programme
1. Ligand-gated ion channels
2. G-protein coupled receptors
3. Tyrosin-kinase receptors
4. Intracellular receptors
5. Agonists and antagonists
6. Binding and concentration-response curves
7. Dose-response curves “in vivo” , TI and SM
8. Adverse effects of drugs
9. Drug absorption
10. Drug distribution
11. Phase I metabolism
12. Phase II metabolism
13. Renal excretion of drugs
14. First-order and saturation elimination kinetics
15. Alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists
16. Beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists
17. Indirectly acting sympathomimetic drugs
18. Uptake-1 and MAO inhibitors
19. Muscarinic agonists and antagonists
20. Nicotinic receptor agonists and ganglion blocking drugs
21. Depolarising and non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs
22. Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors
23. Phenotizine tranquilisers
24. Butyrrophenones
25. Alpha-2 selective agonist tranquilisers
26. Benzodiazepines
27. Inhalation general anesthetics
28. Barbiturates, etomidate and propofol
29. Dissociative anesthetics
30. Local anesthetics
31. Anticonvulsant drugs
32. Serotonin pharmacology
33. Class I antiarryhtmic drugs
34. Class II antiarryhtmic drugs
35. Class III antiarryhtmic drugs
36. Class IV antiarryhtmic drugs
37. ACE-inhibitors, sartans and calcium antagonists
38. Cardiac glycosides
39. Pimobendan, amrinone and milrinone
40. Organic nitrates and KCO
41. Opioid analgesics
42. NSAIDs
43. Corticosteroid drugs
44. Immunosuppressant drugs
45. Antihistaminic drugs
46. Loop diuretics
47. Thiazide diuretics
48. Potassium-sparing diuretics
49. Carbonic anidrase inhibitors
50. Antacids and gastric protectors
51. H2 receptor antagonists
52. PPI
53. Antiemetic drugs
54. Antispastic drugs
55. Antidiarrhoic drugs
56. Laxativesi
57. Bronchodilators: beta-2 agonists, metilxantines and others. Cough suppressant and mucolytic drugs.
58. Penicillins
59. Cefalosporins
60. Glycopeptides
61. Aminoglicosides
62. Macrolides
63. Lincosamides
64. Tetraciclins
65. Fenicolates
66. Fluoroquinolones
67. Polipeptide antibiotics
68. Rifamicins
69. Amphotericin B and other polyenic antimicotic drugs
70. Griseofulvin
71. Azole antimicotic drugs
72. Flucitosin
73. Benzimidazole antiparasitic drugs
74. Piperazine and pyrantel
75. Avermectins e milbemicins
76. Anticestoid and antitrematoid drugs
77. Alkylant antineoplastic drugs
78. Antimetabolite antineoplastic drugs
79. Citotoxic antibiotics
80. Plant-derived antineoplastic drugs
81. Tirosin-kinase inhibitors and mabs
Bibliography
RANG & DALE’S - “Farmacologia”, nona edizione. Edizioni Elsevier.
"Farmacologia Veterinaria". Edizioni Idelson- Gnocchi.
The students are however reminded that the textbook has to be integrated with the teacher's lessons.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons and practice
Assessment methods and criteria
The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the student in the course of Pharmacology is made by means of an 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 each 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
- - -
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
- - -
