TOXICOLOGY - Pharmacology
The pharmacology module requires a basic knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry, as well as anatomy and physiology, covered in the previous years of the degree program.
The exam for the Pharmacology module consists of a written test with 20 multiple-choice questions and two short essays on topics covered during the course. Each correct answer on the test is worth one point, with no penalty for incorrect answers. The open-ended questions can be graded from a minimum of -3 points to a maximum of 5 points. To pass the exam with a minimum score of 18/30, the total of the multiple-choice test score and the essay score must be at least 18. An optional oral exam may be offered based on the evaluation of the written essay or upon student request. At the students’ request, the written tests will be made available for review for one week after the exam date, after which they will be permanently archived.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge about the interaction between the human body and drugs under both normal and pathological conditions. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1.Understand the general principles underlying the interaction between the human body and drugs, their mechanisms of action, and how to determine appropriate dosing regimens. 2.Assess the risks associated with drug use in relation to various factors (route of administration, adverse effects, drug intolerance, drug interactions). 3.Describe the main legislative provisions regarding the production and use of pharmaceuticals. 4.Discuss the stages of preclinical and clinical research involved in the discovery of new drugs.
The Pharmacology course consists of 10 lectures, totaling 20 hours, covering the following topics: -Main routes of drug administration -Basics of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs in healthy individuals and patients) -Basics of pharmacodynamics (mechanism of action and variability in drug response) -Topics in drug toxicology (drug interactions, abuse, tolerance, dependence) -Elements of pharmaceutical legislation -Preclinical and clinical drug development for the discovery of new drugs, and pharmacovigilance
Frontal lessons. Classroom activities include the projection of PowerPoint presentations featuring images and diagrams. During the lessons, examples of drug use and current topics related to the subjects covered will be presented. Students will be encouraged to interact by asking questions and sharing their thoughts.
The lecturer is available to meet with students for further discussions and clarifications by appointment. Students can request a meeting by writing to the following email address: cristina.giaroni@uninsubria.it