PHARMACOLOGY AND ORTHOTICS

Integrated educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

ORT31C1

Academic Year of enrolment:

2021

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in ORTHOPTIC AND OPHTALMOLOGIC ASSISTANCE

Language:

Italian

Moduls:

PHARMACOLOGY - 2 credits
ORTHOTIC III - 2 credits
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY - 2 credits

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

The student must have basic knowledge of biochemistry, physiology, and of the diagnosis and treatment of committing and inciting strabismus.

Objectives

The main goal of the course is to provide the knowledge aimed at training a professional figure able to understand the general concepts of pharmacology, ocular electrophysiology, and some specific ocular diseases. In particular, the course aims to allow the student to develop adequate knowledge on:
- the fate of substances administered to a living organism, the methods of drug administration, the mechanism of drug action, the theoretical basis necessary for a reasoned understanding of the therapeutic and adverse effects (with particular reference to ocular effects) that drug induces after systemic or local administration (with particular attention to drugs used in ocular therapy).
- nystagmus in all its aspects, on orbital fractures and on the purely orthotic approach to retraction syndromes
- the fundamentals of ocular electrophysiology that can help to perform the main electrophysiological tests and correctly interpret the results of the main electrophysiological tests;
At the end of the course, the student will improve his ability to communicate and interact with other professional figures and to be full participant in the interdisciplinary model of eye care, improving the quality of patient care. The student will develop skills useful for forming personal and adequate opinions, for independent study, and for autonomously updating their knowledge in the field.

Contents

The course will focus on the general concepts of pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, and on drug delivery issues relevant to ocular therapy. The effects, properties, and reactions of some therapeutic drugs used in eye care will also be evaluated. The course will also give the students a general understanding of nystagmus, retraction syndromes, orbital fractures, and the basic knowledge of the execution and interpretation of electrophysiological tests.

Extended Syllabus

Pharmacology:
Definition of drug; development of medicines; generic drugs and brand name drugs; Biological and biosimilar drugs;
Pharmacokinetics: mechanisms of transport across biological membranes; main routes of drug administration, absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion of drugs.
Bioavailability, blood-brain barrier, placental barrier, volume of distribution, therapeutic range, dose-effect and dose-response curves, therapeutic index, and plasma half-life.
Characteristics of ocular routes of drug administration, blood-ocular barrier, ocular formulations.
Pharmacodynamics: drug-receptor interactions, classification of receptors, main signal transduction pathways; receptor agonists and antagonists, potency, intrinsic activity, and maximum efficacy of a drug; receptor regulation: up-regulation, down-regulation, and desensitization.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID);
glucocorticoids;
Chemotherapy of microbial disease in the eye: general consideration, antibacterial agents and antiviral agents.
Drugs used for the treatment of glaucoma.
Autonomic agents used in ophthalmology; miotics, mydriatics, and cycloplegics.

Orthotic III
Incomitant deviations and restriction syndromes
definitions and generalities
- Stilling Turk Duane Syndrome type I, II, III
- Brown Syndrome
- Moebius Syndrome
NYSTAGMUS
Definition and Characteristics (wave type, frequency, amplitude, intensity, direction, symmetrical spatial trajectory, age of onset, neutral point)
Physiological nystagmus
- optokinetic nystagmus
- caloric-induced vestibular nystagmus
- rotatory vestibular nystagmus
- laterality nystagmus
- voluntary nystagmus
- fatigue nystagmus; from an extreme or unsupported gaze
pathological nystagmus
congenital or infantile
- idiopathic congenital nystagmus
- nystagmus due to sensory defect
- latent nystagmus; manifest-latent nystagmus
- spasmus nutans
acquired
- vestibular nystagmus
- neurological nystagmus
- periodic alternating nystagmus
- nystagmus secondary to visual impairment
- spasmus nutans
Therapeutic approach
OCULAR TORCICOLLO
Definition and general aspects
etiopathogenesis
Compensatory stiff necks improve visual function
- from refractive anomalies
- from perimetric anomalies
- from nystagmus (congenital; manifest latent strabismus; in congenital monophthalmos, sensory N, acute nystagmus)
Incomitant squint in:
fracture (s) of the orbital walls
thyroid myopathy
Exophthalmos
Ptosis and eyelid malformations

Electrophysiology:
Execution and interpretation of electrophysiological examinations:
- PEV
- ERG
- EOG
- PERG

Recommended Bibliography

Recommended textbooks:
Pharmacology
“Farmacologia. Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche”- F. Rossi, V. Cuomo, C. Riccardi. Ed. Minerva Medica – or
“Rang & Dale farmacologia”- H.P Rang, M.M. Dale, J.M Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson- ed Edra.
Orthotic III
GUNTER K. VON NOORDEN “Visione binoculare e motilità oculare” Medical Books 1993
FROSINI R, CAMPA L.,FROSINI S.,CAPUTO R. “Diagnosi e terapia dello strabismo e delle anomalie oculomotorie “ 1998
Kanski. Oftalmologia clinica. Editore: Edra
Electrophysiology
Fondamenti di elettrofisiologia oculare Edoardo Fiorentini- Dario Messenio Felici. San Giuliano Terme, 2009

Teaching Methods

The course will be carried out through frontal lectures.
The attendance compulsion is 70-75%.
In the event of a serious health emergency, remote lessons will be provided through the platform suggested by the University.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The learning will be evaluated through a final assessment that will verify the level of achievement of the learning objectives previously described. The overall rating will be expressed in thirtieths and the evaluation criteria will concern the correct use of the basic terminology, the knowledge, and mastery of the contents, the clarity, and the ability to summarize.
In the event of a health emergency, the oral examination will be carried out remotely by using the platform suggested by the University.

Contacts/More Information

Student reception:
Pharmacology: appointment via email (patricia.giuliani@unich.it)
Orthotic III: by appointment
Electrophysiology: every Wednesday from 9 to 11 am and upon appointment via email (raffaella.franciotti@unich.it)

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree

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