Endocrinology and Pharmacodynamics Quiz

Pharmacodynamic Evaluation: Endocrinology

• This chapter discusses pharmacodynamic evaluations for common clinical endocrine disorders, focusing on new oral antidiabetic classes and improved insulin analogues.
• Clinical evaluations in endocrine disorders, review along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis, with separate analysis of thyroid disorders.
• Emphasis on hormone receptor interactions, agonist/antagonist concepts, and hormone receptor binding.
• Neuroendocrinology pharmacodynamic evaluation is excluded from this chapter.

Contents

• Introduction and background information on endocrinology

• Diabetes Mellitus, including Metformin-Biguanides, general discussion on metformin's mechanisms of action, its use in patients with type 2 diabetes, and its pharmacodynamic effects. Metformin improvements include glucose tolerance, lowering basal and postprandial plasma glucose by decreasing hepatic glucose production, and impacting the intestinal absorption of glucose and improving insulin sensitivity.

• Sulfonylureas as insulin secretagogues, mechanism of action, various drugs in this class (e.g., glimepiride, glibenclamide, gliclazide), and relevant aspects of their pharmacodynamic action.

• Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors (AGIs), as starch blockers impacting post-meal blood glucose, their mechanisms of action including the effect on carbohydrate digestion and related side effects.

• Thiazolidinediones (TZDs/glitazones), mechanism of action targeting PPAR-gamma receptors, and their effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.

• Thiazolidinediones (TZDs/glitazones), detailed examination of the mechanism by which these drugs improve insulin sensitivity.

• DPP-4 Inhibitors (gliptins), their function in blocking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), the effect on incretin hormones, and factors involved in the production of insulin.

• GLP-1 Agonists or incretin mimetics, their function is mimicking natural incretin hormones to lower post-meal blood sugars.

• SGLT-2 Inhibitors (glifozins), action in blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, increasing glucose excretion, and regulating blood glucose levels.

• Prandial Glucose Regulators, detailed analysis of their mechanism of action targeting the ATP-potassium channel, rapid onset, and short effect on blood glucose levels.

• Amylin Analogues, characteristics of these injectable drugs, their similar function to amylin influencing glucagon release, slowing gastric emptying, and curbing appetite.

• Insulin Types and Forms, including various types (rapid, short, intermediate, long-acting) and how they affect managing various levels of insulin resistance and diabetic needs.

• Glucagon, detailed discussion on glucagon's role, its mechanism, and effects in impacting blood glucose levels.

• Pituitary-Hypothalamus including ACTH, Growth Hormone, Prolactin, and related hormones.

• The Thyroid Gland: Hyper- and Hypothyroidism. Analysis of thyroid hormones, their production and their impact on metabolism, symptoms, and diagnosis.

• The Parathyroids, explanation on parathyroid hormone (PTH) in calcium regulation, its mechanism of action and effect on phosphate regulation.

• The Adrenals, discussion on adrenal hormones, emphasizing glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) and mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone).

• Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones (MSH) including different types and discussing their role in skin pigmentation, appetite, sexual function, and their regulatory mechanisms.

• Oxytocin, explanation on oxytocin's function and involvement, use, and mechanisms related to childbirth, breastfeeding, and social bonding.

• Antidiuretic Hormone, explanation on ADH or vasopressin, its role in water balance, its mechanism of action on the kidney, its use in treating various conditions.

• Propylthiouracil (PTU), its use as a treatment for hyperthyroidism, and specific details about its function and limitations.

• Propylthiouracil (PTU), its role and mechanism of action in regulating thyroid function, especially its specific use in cases of allergic responses to other antithyroid drugs and its effect on T4-to-T3 conversion.

• The Gonadal Sex Steroids. Detailed analysis on the function, mechanism, and effects of testosterone, estrogens, and progesterone. Their impact on the body, related health concerns, and their clinical use.

• The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) detailed discussion about RAAS and its mechanism of maintaining blood pressure through the control of renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone. Detailing the factors involved in the regulation of the system, and the clinical significance or usage in various health concerns.

• Antiandrogens mechanism of action, different types, uses in conditions such as prostate cancer, and side effects

Additional Information

• Included are references, with specific authors' names and publications.
• Some sections include specific drugs, examples, and mechanisms of action, and specific examples.