| CODE | CPH3011 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Drugs used in Disorders of the Endocrine and Reproductive Systems and Cancer: Applications of Molecular Pharmacology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will look at the pharmacology and mode of action of drugs used in immunopharmacology and oncology and how drugs affect and are used in endocrine disorders. It will also help students gain an understanding of applied molecular pharmacology. Study-unit aims: The study-unit aims to provide students with a sound appreciation of the disease mechanisms and pharmacological management of major endocrine, reproductive and oncological disorders. It aims to empower students with the tools necessary in order to enable them to identify the rationale behind drugs which are used in combination for these conditions, and to also position this within the context of research based molecular pharmacology applications. Content By the end of this study-unit, the student will be able to understand: - Molecular basis of cancer; - Mechanisms of action of chemotherapy and hormonal treatments; - Targeted therapies; - Pharmacokinetics of chemotherapy; - The relationship between toxicity and pharmacology of anti-cancer drugs; - Clinical application of anti-cancer drugs; - Oral and injectable hypoglycaemic agents; - Thyroid hormones; - Male and female sex hormones, contraceptives, HRT; - Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone and Calcitonin; - Drugs affecting the Nitric Oxide pathways; - Experimental approaches to molecular pharmacology; - Receptor signaling, trafficking, dimerization; - Basic molecular cloning, cell culture; - Gene therapy. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge and understanding By the end of this study-unit, the student will be able to: - Describe the molecular mechanisms and clinical presentations of major types of cancer, and explain the rationale and modes of actions of different pharmacological management protocols; - Explain how major reproductive and endocrine diseases are managed pharmacologically, and discuss the risks and benefits of the available treatments; - Explain how molecular pharmacology research approaches may be used to study the actions of various drugs, and provide practical examples of such applications. 2. Skills By the end of this study-unit, the student will be able to: - Apply basic principles in the treatment and understanding of endocrine disorders; - Apply basic pharmacological principles in the understanding of patient's drug therapy in chemotherapy; - Understand basic approaches to experimental molecular pharmacology; - Adopt a correct understanding of the pharmacology and selection of drugs in these disorders. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Kong Loke Y, MacEwan D, Rang HP. Rang & Dale's Pharmacology. 9th Ed. Elsevier. 2019. - Wecker L PhD. Brody's Human Pharmacology: Mechanism-Based Therapeutics, 6th Ed. Elsevier. 2018. - British National Formulary. Pharmaceutical Press (also available online through the University of Malta Library Services). Reference/Additional: - Brunton L, Knollmann B, Hilal-Dandan R. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Ed. McGraw-Hill Education. 2017. - Waller DG, Sampson T. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 5th Ed. Elsevier. 2017. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE CPH2011 AND TAKE CPH2110 In THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE CPH3010 |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Godwin Mario Grech Vanessa Petroni (Co-ord.) Ruth Theuma Josanne Vassallo Lorna West |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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