So i'm blogging in a lecture...

Using this as a notepad :D

An elderly person was suffering from hypertension and heart failure that was manifested by oedema in the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion, and peripheral oedema, causing swelling in the lower limbs.

(i) List the class of drugs that could be prescribed to decrease the patient's extracellular fluid volume, including an example of each type and their mechanism of action (3 mins)

• Loop diuretics - i.e. frusemide
• Thiazides - acting on distal convoluted tubules to inhibit Na/Cl reabsorption
  

(ii) On another visit to the doctor, the cardiac glycoside digoxin was prescribed as the patient was suffered from severe heart failure. What drug interactions should the doctor be aware of that may increase the toxicity of dogixin? Explain the mechanisms causing this potential drug interaction (4 mins)

• Thiazides, frusemide - loss of K+
  
• Digoxin competes for K+ channels - the less K+ present, more chance digoxin will bind to channels -> toxicity
  

On the patient's next visit, the doctor indicates that other treatment options also need to be considered because of the patient's electrolyte imbalance.

(iii) What is the likely ion imbalance? Give an example of each of the treatment options that the doctor should consider, including mechanisms of action for correction of the electrolyte imbalance (3 mins)

• K+ imbalance
• Potassium-sparing diuretics - i.e. aldosterone, Na+ channel blockers
• Potassium supplements

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The following drugs were prescribed to an elderly patient with 'heart problems': aspirin, simvastatin, captopril, atenolol, warfarin.

(i) For each drug, suggest a clinical state/disease for its intended use, and indicate the mechanisms of action that are likely to contribute to the beneficial effects observed in this situation.

• Aspirin - irreversible COX inhibitor
• simvastatin - lipid lowering drug
• captopril - ACE inhibitor
• atenolol -selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonist
  
• warfarin - anticoagulant
  

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An elderly man is diagnosed with hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

(i) List the symptoms of these 2 conditions.

(ii) Discuss the treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Surgery
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors - i.e. finasteride
  
• alpha blockers
  

(iii) The doctor prescribes a class of drugs and explains that this will 'provide benefit for both the hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia'. Give an example of this particular class of drug and discuss its mechanism(s) of action for both conditions, as well as potential side-effects.

• alpha blocker - anti-hypertensive, blocks tonic activity in blood vessels and prostate.
• Side-effects = dizziness
  

Hectic.

Its been quite a while since I've last updated. Or rather, its been a while since I've been able to update. These past few weeks (namely this current week) have been my most busiest weeks this year, let alone during my uni life (albeit, its been quite short).

The amount of assessment deadlines this week would be considered nothing short of madness, insanity, absurd even. My educated guess would be that most uni students would be in the same position I'm in right now with all the assessments and whatnot.

In other news, I've decided to apply for a Pharmacology Research Project next semester! After several emails back and forth with the Unit Coordinator, I found out quite a bit of information regarding the unit. The prerequisite for said project is a Distinction (≥70%) average in both first semester Pharmacology units (PHA3011 and PHA3021). Judging by my progress so far, its going smoooooothly, as one would put it. Albeit, my PHA3011 average dropped a fair bit after the results of the group assignment was released yesterday qq (although an average of 80% is still good). PHA3021 progress has been really good thus far, but in perspective, its not all that much considering we've only completed practicals (15%) and a mid-semester test (15%).

Having said that, the list of potential projects (and their respective supervisors) was posted up just recently. Of the listed projects, only two of them really stand out (to me, at least);

• Monash Venom Group; Details

• Drug Discovery Biology (maximum of 3 students); Details
  

I'm leaning towards Drug Discovery Biology as the field of research that's associated with it (G-protein coupled receptors; GPCRs) really appeals to me. Alas, they just recently moved their lab to Parkville so I might end up having to go to Parkville for one day, Clayton for the remainder of the week. Else, I'll just go with Venoms and Toxins (awesome stuff) and stay in Clayton.

The only disadvantages I could find with undertaking with said project are that;

1. 12 contact hours per week; 6 hour lab + 6 hours of self-direct learning (analysing data, reading scientific literature, preparing presentations, working on reports).
2. For a major unit like this (12 contact hours!), its only worth 6 credit points; the same amount of credit points to that of a normal unit :(

So I guess for the next few days, I'll be contacting relevant individuals to the aforementioned projects, filling a myriad of forms then hope I do reasonably well in the upcoming exams in order for me to get into the unit. If it all doesn't go according to plan, well, I rather not think about that.

NB: this post was updated from the placeholder inserted here a while back, hence the old posting date. This post has been published as at 27/05/09.