Pharmacology and Therapeutics I

Code:

MV312

Acronym:

FTI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 10-01-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Imuno-Physiology and Pharmacology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	107	Official Study Plan	3	-	4	56	108

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To provide students with knowledge in General Pharmacology, with special reference to drug mechanisms of action (from molecules to the system), pharmacokinetics, relation of mechanisms of action to clinical response, side effects, clinical problems and toxicity and its use in Veterinary Therapeutics.

Learning outcomes and competences

PRACTICAL LAB CLASSES

- Application of the scientific methodology and follow-up of different experimental protocols.

- Capability of solving practical problems. Organised team work.

- Basics of laboratory safety and good laboratory practices.

- Rules of handling, management and care of lab animals.

- Training in basic experimental techniques (e.g. weighing, preparing solutions etc.).

- Specific training in pharmacological experiments (e.g. preparing equipment, isolation of the preparations and registration of biological signals, evaluation of the effects promoted by the drugs applied etc).

- Drugs administration in required doses and concentrations for in vivo and in vitro experiments.

- Understanding basic pharmacology concepts such as performing dose-response curves, drugs action selection, routes of drugs in a living organism etc.

- Observation capability, quantification, experimental variability appraisal, evaluation and interpretation of experimental data.

 

THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES:

- Teamwork capability.

- Time management, self-discipline and work capability without direct supervision.

- Autonomous problem solving. Information retrieve and bibliographical research.

- Handling of experimental results and conclusion obtained from different sources.

- Critical assessment of different sources.

- Presentation of a written piece of work (monograph).

- Competence with Microsoft office programs such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and others.

- The methodology for obtaining information and bibliographical research must include the use of databases and Internet (certification of the site’s quality).

- Mastery of communication skills (interpersonal and public speaking competencies).

- Evaluation of auto-didactism and development of interest in lifelong learning.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Students should have approved Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology.

Program

THEORETICAL CLASSES PROGRAM

General Pharmacology – Introduction to pharmacology; Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacodynamics (Drug/receptor interactions, Transducing Systems); Regulatory systems (neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, autacoids, hormones); Peripheral autonomic nervous system (cholinergic and adrenergic divisions); Central nervous system pharmacology (stimulants, depressants, sedatives and hypnotics, anticonvulsants, antiparkinsonics, muscle relaxants); General and local anesthetics; Opioids; Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; drugs used in gout. Cholinergic transmission:  cholinoceptor-activating and cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs; cholinoceptor-blocking drugs. Adrenergic transmission: adrenoceptor-activating  and other sympathomimetic drugs; adrenoceptor antagonist drugs. Drugs with actions on smooth muscle: Eicosanoids, Nitric oxide and Purines. Endocrine drugs: pharmacology of Hypothalamic and Pituitary hormones; pharmacology of Thyroid and antithyroid drugs; Adrenocorticosteroids and adrenocortical antagonists; Gonadal hormones and antagonists; Agents that affect bone mineral homeostasis; pharmacology of diabetes. 

LAB CLASSES PROGRAM (Laboratory of Pharmacology, ICBAS – UP)

Introduction to laboratory procedures - Biotransformation of zoxozolamine “in vitro”. - Observation of the action of hepatic microsomes. - The effects of local anaesthetics in hypotonic haemolysis of rat erythrocytes. - Comparison of the anaesthetic effect of procaine and cocaine in the cornea of guinea pig. The influence of vasoconstrictors in the duration of local anaesthesia. - Action of anti-epileptics in nervous conduction. - Relaxing muscle agents (depolarizing and non-depolarizing)

 

THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES (Laboratory of Pharmacology, ICBAS – UP) - The subject varies each year

Practical cases:
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics (concentration-response curves)
- Discussion of clinical cases (neuropharmacology and pharmacology of the endocrine system)

Thematic discussions:
- Appetite regulation in pets
- Anesthesia in small rodents
- Separation anxiety in dogs and cats – how to control it?
- Nerve blocks in horses
- Role of kidney and SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes
- New developments in the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis in veterinary medicine

Monographies:
- Hypocalcemia in dairy cows (milk fever or puerperal paresis) - pathophysiology and treatment
- Corticosteroid therapy – routes of administration, care and indications for “weaning”
- Refractory epilepsy in dogs
- Cholinesterase inhibitors – clinical use and toxicity
- Heat synchronization in meat-producing animals
- Hyperaldosteronism in cats – how to treat it?

Mandatory literature

Baggot J. Desmond; physiological basis of veterinary clinical pharmacology. ISBN: 0-632-05744-0
Adams H. Richard ed.; Veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics. ISBN: 0-8138-1743-9
Plumb Donald C.; Plumb.s veterinary drug handbook. ISBN: 0-8138-0518-X
Allen Dana G.; Handbook of veterinary drugs. ISBN: 0-7817-4126-2
Boothe Dawn Merton; Small animal clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. ISBN: 0-7216-4364-7

Complementary Bibliography

G.M. Brenner & C.W. Stevens; Pharmacology. , Saunders, 2006
Hardman Joel G. ed.; Goodman & Gillman.s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. ISBN: 0-07-135469-7
Katzung Bertram G. ed.; Basic & clinical pharmacology. ISBN: 007-121931-5
Rang H. P. 070; Rang and Dalec2b4s pharmacology. ISBN: 0-443-06911-5
D.G. Waller, A.G. Renwick & K. Hillier; Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Saunders, 2001
Guimarães Serafim; Terapêutica medicamentosa e suas bases farmacológicas. ISBN: 972-0-06029-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

-The teaching methodology includes theoretical, theoretical-practical and practical classes, as the following:

Theoretical classes: Video projection (Data-Show).

Theoretical-Practical lessons: Presentation and discussion of themes related to the laboratory work and to clinical practice.

Practical lessons: Focus on experimental work at the Laboratory of Pharmacology (ICBAS).

Attendance to theoretical/practical and practical classes is mandatory.

keywords

Health sciences > Pharmacological sciences > Veterinary pharmacology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	37,50
Prova oral	32,50
Trabalho de campo	7,50
Trabalho escrito	15,00
Trabalho laboratorial	7,50
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	26,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho escrito	14,00
Trabalho laboratorial	12,00
Total:	108,00

Eligibility for exams

Practical Evaluation (compulsory, 6 points)

1. Discussion of topics (1.5 points) and presentation of monographs (2.5 points) on relevant topics. Group research work (2-3 students). Preparation of written work and presentation (~20 min) and oral discussion (~10 min).

2. Presentation / report of practical work (sorted group); Discussion of practical clinical cases; Instructor’s continuous Assessment (2.0 points)

NOTE: Practical classification is valid for two consecutive years after achievement.

Theoretical Evaluation (14 points): Final examination (test + oral evaluation).

Test: Multiple choice questions / Correspondences / Short answer.

Admission conditions: *75% attendance to practical lessons, *3.0/6.0 points in the practical course.

Oral examination: Waived if final classification in the test is higher than * 7.5/14.0 points. Compulsory if final classification in the test is higher than * 6.0/14.0 points. Failure if final classification in the test is lowed than * 6.0/14.0 points.

NOTE: The completion of the final exams (written test + oral exam) at any time requires pre-registration sent to farmacol@icbas.up.pt at least 72 hours before each exam.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Score= 0.3* practical classes score + 0.7* Theoretical Exam Score 

Practical score = Thematic discusson (1.5 points) + Monograph (2.5 points) + Laboratory classes / Clinical cases (2.0 points)

Examinations or Special Assignments

1. Discussion of topics (1.5 points) and presentation of monographs (2.5 points) on relevant topics. Group research work (2-3 students). Preparation of written work and presentation (~20 min) and oral discussion (~10 min).

2. Presentation / report of practical work (sorted group); Discussion of practical clinical cases; Instructor’s continuous Assessment (2.0 points)

 

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Oral evaluation

Classification improvement

Written teste + Oral evaluation