Medical pharmacology curriculum at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga.

LECTURES TIMETABLE

Date

Subject

Molecular pharmacology

1. General part

Sept.6

History of the experimental pharmacology. Development of pharmacology in Latvia. Modern problems and strategies in pharmacology.

Sept.13

Drug binding to cell molecules. Drug specifity. Ligand-receptor interaction, quantitative evaluation. Agonism. Antagonism. Drug translocation, disposition. Principles of pharamacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Sept 20

Molecular aspects of synaptic transmission. Target-proteins. 7-transmembrane region receptor organisation. The main signal transduction mechanisms (STM).

Sept.27

STM I: Ionotropic receptors (receptor-operated channels). STM II: Metabotropic receptors (G protein-coupled). Intracellular second messenger molecules.

Oct.4

STM III: Tyrosine kinase-coupled receptors. STM IV: DNA transcription regulating receptors. Nuclear effects of steroids. Receptor cross-talk. Genomic pharmacology.

Oct.11

Regulation of calcium homeostasis. Channel proteins, units, domains, conformations. Intracellular calcium pathways. Glutamatergic systems. NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Neurodegeneration.

Oct.18

Peptidergic processes. Precursors, bioprocessing. The main peptide classes. Neuropeptides: opiatergic regulation of pain perception. Pain and inflammatory peptides.

Oct.25

Neuropeptides: liberins and statins. Neuropeptides as interface molecules in the neuroimmunoendocrine regulation. Cytokines in the brain. Regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral axes. Neurohypophyseal hormones.

Nov.1

Vasoactive peptides. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Receptors, enzymes, their inhibition strategies. Kallikrein-kallidin-kinin system (KKK).

Nov.8

Cholinergic transmission. Cholinergic drugs. Anticholinesterase inhibitors, reactivators.

Nov.15

Catecholaminergic (dopamin- and adrenergic) processes. Receptor subtypes, agonists, antagonists.

Nov.22

GABA-, serotonin-, histamin- and purinergic reception.

Nov.29

Principles and methods in biostatistics. Modelling of the diseases. Transgenic animals. Phases of drug trials.

Dec.6

Bioethics. Phases of drug trials.

Special pharmacology

Dec.13

Classification of psychotropic drugs. Psychostimulants., Antidepressants.

Dec. 20

Antiparkinsonian and antipsychotic (anti-schizophrenic) drugs

February 8

Anxiolytic drugs. Nootropic drugs

February 10

General anaesthetics. Analgesics. Antiinflammatory drugs. NSAIDs. Local anaesthetics

February 17

Drug dependence, mechanisms, regulation possibilities.

February 24

Cardiovascular drugs: classification. Antihypertensive drugs.

March 2

Antianginal drugs. Pharmacotherapeutic strategy in myocardial infarction.

March 9

Cardiotonic drugs. Congestive heart disease. Antiarrhythmic drugs.

March 16

Diuretic drugs.

March 23

Haemostatics: anticoagulants, antiaggregants, thrombolytics.

March 30

Lipid-lowering drugs. Anti-diabetic drugs.

April 6

Gastrointestinal pharmacology. Treatment of respiratory diseases. Anti-asthmatic drugs.

April 13

Pharmacotherapy of the hormonal systems. Bone mineral regulation. Immunomodulation.

April 20

Haemopoietic drugs. Vitamins.

April 27

Chemotherapeutic drugs. Classification. Main principles of action. Bacteriostatics. Antibiotica.

May 4

Anti-tbc drugs. Anti-viral drugs.

May 11

Anticancer drugs.

May 18

Anti-protozoa drugs.

May 25

Antihelmentic drugs.

TUTORIALS TIMETABLE

Date

Subject

Sept.7

The main experimental techniques.

Sept.14

Methods for the evaluation of agonism and antagonism.

Sept.21

IBM: Transport proteins.

Sept.28

IBM: Target enzymes.

Oct.5

Internet: data bases in pharmacology.

Oct.12

Principles in prescription.

Oct.19

Videoclips: Animal models, behaviour. Handling. Drug administration routes.

Oct.26

MCQ: Presynaptic processes. Signal transduction mechanisms.

Nov.2

IBM: calcium channels.

Nov.9

MCQ: regulation of calcium homeostasis.

Nov.16

IBM: preparation of isolated organs.

Nov.25

MCQ: Peptidergic systems.

Nov.30

MCQ: Cholinergic processes.

Dec.7

MCQ: Catecholaminergic processes GABA-, serotonin-, histamin-, purinergic processes.

Dec.14

Pharmacological methods: demonstration in vivo and in vitro (in laboratory).

Dec.21

Methods in molecular pharmacology: demonstration in laboratory.

February 15

IBM: Motor disorders (Parkinson’s disease).

February 22

IBM: Schizophrenia.

VIDEOCLIPS: Alzheimer’s disease.

February 29

Seminar: Psychopharmacological correction: antidepressants, psychostimulants.

March 7

IBM: Drug dependence.

March 14

Seminar: Antiparkinsonian, antipsychotic nootropic drugs.

March 21

VIDEOCLIPS: morphine, naloxone, analgesia.

March 28

Seminar: Anxiolytic and antiepileptic drugs. Drug dependence.

April 4

Seminar: Analgesic drugs. NSAIDs. General and local anaesthetics.

April 11

IBM: Coronary circulation.

April 18

Seminar: Antihypertensive, antianginal, cardiotonic drugs.

April 25

IBM: Heart dysrrhythmias.

May 2

Seminar: Pharmacotherapeutic strategy in myocardial infarction. Antiarrthythmic drugs.

May 9

IBM: Inflammation pharmacology.

May 16

Seminar: Haemostatic drugs. Diuretics.

Prescription

May 23

Seminar: Antilipidemic and antidiabetic drugs.

Prescription

May 30

Seminar: Drugs regulating hormonal functions.

June 6

Seminar: Drugs affecting organ systems.

June 8

Consultations

June 13

Seminar: Bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs. Antibiotica.

June 15

Seminar: Anti-tbc, antiprotozoa and antihelmintic drugs. Antivirals.

June 20

Seminar: Anti-cancer drugs.

Prescription

June 22

Consultations

June 27

Examination