Pharmacology

Traditional classes. Students are invited to actively participate with questions and comments on discussed topics.

If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, necessary changes may be introduced in order to fullfill all statements in the Syllabus.

Basic knowledge in the following topics: Anatomy, Histology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pathology, Microbiology.

Mandatory attendance to classes, except for new instructions for contingent reasons.

General Pharmacology

• General principles of pharmacology;
• Development of a drug;
• Routes of administration;
• Pharmacokinetics: absorption, diffusion, metabolism and elimination of drugs;
• Pharmacodynamics: biological targets of drugs, classification of receptors and receptor theories, concentration-response curve;
• Signal transduction mechanisms;
• Agonists and antagonists;
• Factors that influence the response to drugs;
• Adverse drug reactions

Clinical Pharmacology

• Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators (synthesis, metabolism, distribution, functions, targets, drugs): acetylcholine, adrenaline and noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, histamine, opioids, arachidonic acid
• General and local anesthetics;
• Drugs of the cardiovascular system, blood and kidney;
• Diabetes medications;
• Notes on drugs active on the gastrointestinal system;
• General principles of antibacterial and antitumor chemotherapy.

• Rossi - Cuomo - Riccardi: Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche, Minerva Medica, Edizione III e successive
• Rang - Dale: Farmacologia, Ed. Edra, Edizione VIII e successive
• Katzung - Preziosi - Masters – Trevor: Farmacologia Generale e Clinica, Piccin, Edizione IX e successive

Written test and oral exam about topics listed in the program and discussed during classes. The final evaluation will be determined by appropriate use of the scientific language, the ability to explain what has been learned, as well as by the skills of critical thinking.