MED2021

Introduction to pharmacology and neurosciences and introduction to statistics and epidemiology

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Introduction to pharmacology and neurosciences

Dr A A Beveridge (Pharmacology) and Professor U Proske (Physiology)

Objectives At the end of this unit students should be able to review the general arrangement of the peripheral nervous system including its afferent and efferent connections; understand the principles of sensory transduction; understand the principles of synaptic transmission; understand the way in which the autonomic nervous system controls the activity of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle; have a knowledge of the receptors involved in each of the steps of neurotransmission from the central nervous system to individual effector organs and tissues; predict the effects and possible side effects of some commonly used drugs that interact with the peripheral nervous system.

Synopsis Two new disciplines, neurosciences and pharmacology, which are among the most rapidly expanding areas in medicine, are introduced. Combining these disciplines is useful as they relate closely with each other, and a good basic knowledge of neurosciences and pharmacology is essential for students to understand material taught subsequently (eg cardiovascular and respiratory medicine). (1) The central and peripheral nervous system; (2) sensory receptors and stimulus transduction; (3) mode receptors and spinal reflexes; (4) proprioception; (5) motorneurones and central synaptic transmission; (6) the innervation of smooth and cardiac muscle (autonomic nervous system); (7) the principles of pharmacology; and (8) the effects of drugs which modulate peripheral neurotransmission by either selective or non-selective action.

Assessment Examination (2 hrs): 95% · MCQ, short essay questions, practicals: 5%

Preliminary reading

Levine R R Pharmacology: Drug actions and reactions 3rd edn, Little Brown, 1983

Prescribed texts

Berne R M and Levy M N Physiology 3rd edn, Mosby, 1993
Katzung B G Basic and clinical pharmacology 7th edn, Appleton and Lange, 1997

Reference books

Gilman A G and others Goodman and Gilman's 'The pharmacological basis of therapeutics' 9th edn, Pergamon, 1996
Nicholls J G and others From neurone to brain 3rd edn, Sinauer, 1992
Page C P, Curtis M J, Sutter M C and Hoffman B B Integrated pharmacology Mosby, 1997
Rang H P, Dale M M and Ritter J M Pharmacology 3rd edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1995

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Introduction to statistics and epidemiology

Dr L Fritschi (Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine)

Objectives On completion of this unit, students will be able to (1) understand the strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs; (2) appreciate the role of bias and confounding in epidemiological study designs (3) knowledgeably criticise articles in medical journals.

Synopsis Descriptive and analytical epidemiology, epidemiological study designs, diagnostic and screening tests, interpretation of medical literature. The unit comprises eight lectures and eight tutorials.

Assessment Examination (short answers - 1 hour): 60% · assignment: 30% · tutorials: 10%

Prescribed texts

Greenberg R S and others Medical epidemiology Appleton and Lange, 1995

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