OVERVIEW

This class is targeted to future professionals graduated in nursing.The students should know the principal metabolic pathways, their relationships and the molecular systems that control anabolism e catabolism; the key factors concerning the main steps of the pharmacokynetics, from the absorption to the disposal of drugs, their mechanisms of activity,the use of some class of drugs utilized for the therapy of infectious diseases.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To understand how atoms, ions and functional groups of biomolecules can interact, the properties of aqueous solutions carrying out also easy calculations to determine the pH or the concentration. To know the basis for the three-dimensional protein organization, enzyme catalysis, metabolic pathways including the fate of the main products, meaning of metabolic markers and markers of hepatic, kidney and myocardial damage. To know the essential aspects of drugs distribution, mechanism of action, metabolism and disposal. The student should acquire the general concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, concerning particularly the routes of administration and calculation of dose administration. In addition, he should know the use of specific drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

To understand the basis for interaction between atoms, ions and molecules of interest from a biological viewpoint. To understand the properties of acqueous solutions and their effects on the chemical reactions. To carry out easy calculations to determine the pH or the concentration of a solution. To identify the organic functional groups that are fundamental to synthesize and to transform the biological molecules.To know the general molecular basis that define the properties and the level of the three-dimensional protein organization.To understand the general aspects of enzyme catalysis.To know the general characteristics of the metabolic pathways. To understand the relationships between the anabolic and catabolic processes, their regulation and the fate of the main products. To understand the meaning of the glycemic profile.To know the markers of hepatic and kidney functioning as well as the marker suitable to follow a myocardial damage. 
To learn basics of Pharmacokynetics: it will be particularly necessary to know the mechanisms that regulate the absorption of drugs, with a special consideration for the way of administration; the distribution, the matabolism and the disposal of drugs. To know the principal pharmacokynetics parameters and their clinical meaning.  To know the essential aspects of pharmacodynamics; the concepts of  tolerance, untolerance, therapeutic index and their clinical implications. To know the use of some classes of drugs that are utilized for the infectious diseases therapy with a particula attention to the pertinence, the clinical use, the assessment of adverse reactions of antibiotics and of antiviral and antifungal therapies (outlines). To be informed about the drugs active on the autonomous nervous system. To know how to do simple calculations to set up the right dosage of drugs to be administered by oral or parenteral way.  

Teaching methods

The class-room taught lessons are implemented with several exercises in order to solve problems related to the topics treated. Aim of these practice exercises  is to train the student to do a groundwork that should facilitate his preparation to pass the written examination test in both Biochemistry and Pharmacology.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Forces that drive the interactions between atoms, ions and molecules of interest from a biological  viewpoint. Acqueous solutions and their effects on chemical reactions: pH and units used to define the concentration of solutions. Chemical functional groups involved in the synthesis and in the modifications of biological molecules. Three-dimensional organization of proteinse. Hemoglobin and myoglobin. Characteristics of enzyme catalysis. General features and regulation of metabolic pathways: transformation or disposal of the main products of the metabolism. Preparation of blood samples suitable for clinical analyses on serum  or plasma. Glycemic profile; markers of hepatic, kydney and heart functioning and damage. 

General Farmacokinetics aspects: drugs absorption with a particulat attention to the way of administration. 
Distribution, metabolism and disposal of drugs. Essential pharmacokinetics parameters and their clinical meaning. Basic aspects of pharmacodynamics: tolerance and intolerance, therapeutic index. Antibiotic therapy: pertinence, clinical use, evaluation of unwanted consequences. Basic concepts of antiviral therapy. Overview of drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Biochemistry: “Appunti di biochimica” Catani M.V., Savini I., Guerrieri P., Avigliano L.  Editore Piccin 

Pharmacology: "Compendio di farmacologia generale e speciale" M. Amico-Roxas, A. Caputi, M. Del Tacca. Ed. Utet Scienze Mediche

" Le basi della farmacologia" R D Howland, M J Mycek. Ed. Zanichelli - Calcoli e dosaggi farmacologici. G. Le Donne, S. Tolomeo. Ed. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana 

Teaching methods

The class-room taught lessons are implemented with several exercises in order to solve problems related to the topics treated. Aim of these practice exercises  is to train the student to do a groundwork that should facilitate his preparation to pass the written examination test in both Biochemistry and Pharmacology.

Exam description

The exam is a written test including open and multiple choice questions either for  Biochemistry or Pharmacology.

Assessment methods

The assessment of student learning of the different topics includes the administration of written questions that are changed at every exam session and that contain a range of answers sufficiently wide to reduce the possibility that a correct answer  is given accidentally. The student needs to pass always the minimal cut off to obtain a sufficient judgement.

Exam schedule