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Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of pharmacology?
Which of the following historical figures is considered the 'Father of Medicine'?
What is considered a major limitation of early pharmacological practices?
Which of the following is a source of drugs mentioned in the historical context?
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What does the term 'pharmakon' translate to in English?
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Which drug is NOT mentioned as an example in pharmacology?
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What was the purpose of using the recipe from Celsus during surgeries?
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In pharmacology, what is meant by 'mechanism of action'?
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Which natural product is derived from the plant Atropa belladonna?
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What is Exenatide extracted from?
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Which biological target is NOT considered a main target for drug action?
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Human growth factor is isolated from which part of the body?
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Hirudin is extracted from which of the following?
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What is the mechanism of action primarily involved with most drugs?
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Which drug is derived from the fungus Penicillium notatum?
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What is a key factor affecting the clinical efficacy of drugs?
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What is the primary action of local anesthetics like sodium channel blockers?
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How does Captopril contribute to lowering blood pressure?
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Which mechanism describes how receptor agonists function?
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What role do carrier molecules play in cellular function?
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Which of the following best defines a receptor in pharmacology?
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What is the effect of digoxin when it binds to sodium/potassium-ATPase pump?
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Which type of receptor is primarily involved in direct ion channel activation?
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What distinguishes partial agonists from full agonists?
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What is the effector domain for the insulin receptor?
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Which receptor is associated with G-protein effector domains?
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Which of these drugs was the first antibiotic introduced?
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What does teratogenicity refer to?
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Which of the following receptors is a nuclear receptor?
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Which of the following milestones in drug therapy occurred first?
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Thalidomide was initially used as what type of medication?
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Which organization is not associated with drug regulation in the UK?
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Study Notes
History of Pharmacology
- Hippocrates, known as the "Father of Medicine", created the first collection of medical texts, "The Hippocratic Collection", and promoted the importance of observation and examination in medicine.
- The text highlights early practices using willow bark to relieve pain, reflecting an understanding of herbal remedies.
- Amputations in ancient times were often painful, leading to the use of Henbane or mandrake root for anesthesia.
- Celsus used boiled poppy heads with raisin wine to create a form of anesthesia for amputations.
Pharmacology Defined
- Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms, leading to functional modifications within these systems.
- Drugs do not create new conditions but rather modify existing ones.
- Pharmacology examines how drugs work at the cellular level, including their effects on individual proteins, cells, tissues, and organs.
Sources of Drugs
- Plants and natural products:
- Atropine (from Atropa belladonna)
- Digoxin (from Digitalis purpurea)
- Opiates (from Papaver somniferum)
- Quinine (from Cinchona bark)
- Cannabis (from Cannabis sativa)
- Cocaine (from Erythroxylum coca)
- Microorganisms:
- Penicillin (from Penicillium notatum)
- Neomycin (from Streptomyces fradiae)
- Vancomycin (from Amycolatopsis orientalis)
- Botulinum toxin (from Clostridium botulinum)
- Cephalosporins (from Cephalosporium acremonium)
- Animals:
- Insulin (from porcine or bovine pancreas)
- Exenatide (from Gila monster saliva)
- Allantoin (from maggots)
- Human growth factor (from the pituitary gland)
- Hirudin (from leeches)
- Teprotide (from snake venom)
Key Factors in Pharmacology
- Mechanism of action: Explains how a drug exerts its effect.
- Dose: Refers to the amount of drug needed to achieve the desired effect, including ineffective, clinically effective, and toxic levels.
- Selectivity: Indicates a drug's ability to target specific biological pathways.
- Side effects: Undesired consequences of drug use.
- Risk/benefit ratio: A balance between potential benefits and potential harm of a drug.
Mechanisms of Drug Action
- Physical mechanisms: Less common, examples include osmosis or adsorption, like osmotic laxatives.
- Chemical mechanisms: Neutralization reactions are an example, such as antacids.
- Biological/Cellular protein targets:
- Ion channels (e.g., sodium channels blocked by local anesthetics)
- Enzymes (e.g., captopril inhibits ACE enzyme, sildenafil inhibits phosphodiesterase)
- Carrier molecules (e.g., sodium-potassium pump)
- Receptors (e.g., insulin receptors, adrenergic receptors, glucocorticoid receptors)
Receptor Types
- Receptors are specialized macromolecules that bind drugs and mediate their effects.
- Key-lock model: A drug's affinity for a receptor determines its ability to bind, while intrinsic activity determines the ability to initiate a response.
- Types of drug actions on receptors:
- Agonists: Fully activate receptors.
- Partial agonists: Partially activate receptors.
- Antagonists: Block receptors
Receptor Classification
- Ligand-gated ion channels: The receptor's effector domain is an ion channel (e.g., nicotinic receptors).
- Enzyme-linked receptors: The receptor's effector domain is an enzyme (e.g., insulin receptors with tyrosine kinase activity).
- G-protein-coupled receptors: The receptor's effector domain is a G-protein (e.g., adrenergic receptors).
- Nuclear receptors: The receptor's effector domain is located in the nucleus, influencing DNA (e.g., glucocorticoid receptors).
Drug Safety
-
Teratogenicity: The ability of a drug to cause fetal abnormalities.
- Examples include Thalidomide (limb malformations) and Rubella (fetal abnormalities).
- Drug regulatory bodies: Ensure drug safety (e.g., CAPA in Egypt, EDA in Egypt, MHRA in the UK, CSM in the UK).
Milestones in Drug Therapy
- 1600 BC: Egyptian medical papyrus - early record of medicine.
- 200 AD: Galen's theory of disease (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile).
- 1516: Van Hohenheim questioned Galen's theory and focused on active principles in natural products.
- 1804: Sertürner isolated morphine, the first pure drug.
- 1909: Ehrlich synthesized arsenical compounds used in syphilis treatment.
- 1935: Domagk developed sulphonamides, the first selective antimicrobials.
- 1945: Fleming, Chain, and Florey discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic.
- 1960s: Black's study on drug function led to the development of beta-blockers (propranolol) and H2 antagonists (cimetidine).
- 2000s: Biologics like antibodies emerged for treating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (e.g., etanercept, infliximab).
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of pharmacology, from Hippocrates' foundational texts to the early use of herbal remedies and anesthesia. This quiz covers key developments in how drugs interact with living organisms and their origins. Test your knowledge about the essential principles and historical milestones in the field of pharmacology.
