Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

An in-depth knowledge of effect of the chemical structure on the efficacy of drugs and their interactions with endogenous molecular targets that mediate their physiological and pharmacological effects is essential for graduates of the pharmacy course. This unit continues to develop the basic principles of pharmacology developed in SCB338 Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Pharmacology and introduces the important disciplines of medicinal chemistry. An appreciation of structure activity relationships (SARs) reinforces the relationship between chemical structure of drugs and their biological effects. A detailed knowledge of the pharmacology of drugs is essential for pharmacists to understand the therapeutic applications of pharmaceutical compounds and their concomitant adverse effects. This unit provides an extension of this knowledge in pharmacology and covers the drug classes that act on the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endrocine systems.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to:

1. Provide an understanding of the principles of medicinal chemistry and their use in the optimisation of the efficacy and selectivity of pharmaceuticals from either natural products or synthetic drugs.

2. Review the mechanisms of action of drugs that act on the heart, lungs and vasculature and relate this to their therapeutic potential in the treatment of various cardiovascular & respiratory diseases.

3. Provide a detailed understanding of drugs that act on the , kidney and endocrine system.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of why the chemical structures of drugs are changed to optimise their therapeutic effect while minimising adverse effects.

2. Competently discuss the structure activity relationships for a broad range of drug classes.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of cardiovascular & respiratory diseases/complications including congestive heart failure, hypertension, angina, asthma and COPD and which drugs are used to treat these conditions.

4. Clearly explain the action of drugs on the , renal and endocrine systems.

Content

Medicinal Chemistry: Basic concepts in medicinal chemistry including physiochemical parameters that affect drug affinity, efficacy and distribution. Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs).

Cardiac Drugs: Pharmacology of drugs that act directly on the heart that modulate cardiac rhythm and rate including adrenergic agonists, cardiac glycosides, beta-blockers, sodium and calcium channel blockers, organic nitrates.

Antihypertensive Drugs: Pharmacology of drugs that control vascular tone and reduce blood pressure including calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), and diuretics.

Respiratory System: Pharmacology of drugs used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD and cough including beta-adrenergic agonists, xanthine drugs, muscarinic receptor antagonists and glucocorticoids .

Renal System: Pharmacology of drugs that influence kidney function including loop, thiazide and potassium sparing diuretics. Pharmacology of erythropoietin (EPO).

Endocrince System: Pharmacology of adrenal and thyroid and contraceptive medicines.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The teaching content of this unit will be presented as lectures (3 hours/week). Tutorial session (2 hours/ week) will provide a forum to perform problem solving exercises that will reinforce the lecture content.

Assessment

A satisfactory performance (greater than 50%) in all assessment tasks, ie theory,exams and Assignment.Feed back from the 2009 SCB438 LEX scores and the 2010 SCB338 (vertically integrated prerequisite unit) will be provided during Week 1 of the semester where students may provide further feedback to the Unit Coordinator.

Assessment name: Quiz/Test
Description: Two small quizzes on tutorial content wihich will occur 2 weeks before the mid-semester and end of semetre theory exams and will perpare studenst for thes larger assessment items;
formative and summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Mid-semester theory exam. This exam will cover the lecture content from weeks 1-6 and will be short answer questions; formative and summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Assessment name: Report
Description: The assignment will focus on the pharmacology of drugs acting on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems; summative.
Relates to objectives: 3 and 4.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: End-semester theory exam. During the central examination period you will attempt a series of multiple choice and short answers questions relating to material presented in lectures during weeks 7-13; summative.
Relates to objectives: 3 and 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

1. Lemke TL, Williams DA (editors) (2002) Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 5th edition, Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

2. Golan (2008) Principles of Pharmacology. The Pathophysiologic Basis of Drug Therapy 2nd Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus. More information on health and safety can be obtained from http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Sep-2012