Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Clinical Treatment of Human Diseases

1.Demonstrate understanding of the molecular, cellular and physiological basis of drug action, and apply the knowledge to the clinical treatment of human diseases.

2.Appraise the peer-reviewed scientific literature to identify a current research need and construct a novel proposal to address that scientific need.

You will carry out a computer based practical that simulates the effect of an agonist and three different concentrations of an antagonist on guinea pig ileum. You will be provided data sheets that you will use to collect data from the experiment. These data will enable you to draw dose-response curves and determine the ED50 values. With help of the ED50 values you will draw a Schild plot that enables you to find out the pA2 value for the antagonist.

You will need to search the scientific literature in order to discuss one agonist or one antagonist drug of your choice in the cholinergic neurotransmission.

You will be expected to prepare a laboratory report containing the description of the simulated experiment, the data you obtained, the dose-responses curves, the ED50 values, the linear regression graph for pA2 and its calculations, and a brief discussion of an agonist and antagonist drug of the cholinergic neurotransmission. You are expected to describe the mechanism of action and the adverse effects of the drug, and indicate the disease(s) it is used for. The report should be no more than 1500 words (excluding references). The lab report should be structured like a research article in a scientific journal (see details below), and should be submitted via BREO only.

Your lab report should contain five sections: Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion and References. Each section should be clearly labelled. Clarity of English language and presentation is essential throughout.

This section should represent 30% of your report. It has to explain what the simulated experiment of the practical is about, and state the scientific aim of the study. You need to indicate what data you were required to collect, and what values you were supposed to provide as your results, i.e. ED50, pA2 with clear definitions. Put these into the context of the pharmacology of receptor agonists and different types of receptor antagonists by using relevant literature. Focus on the cholinergic neurotransmission.

Method:

This section should represent 10% of your report. It should briefly summarise the experimental setup, describe the components of the organ bath used in the experiment, and explain which type of smooth muscle of the guinea pig ileum is responsible for contractions (responses). It should clearly indicate that the experiment was a simulated one.

Results

Results:

This section should represent 40% of your report. Data should be presented in tables. A graph should be provided to show the dose-response curves with ED50. You will draw 4 dose-response curves in the same graph (one for the agonist only, and the other three curves for the agonist + different concentrations of antagonist). A graph for the pA2 value should also be presented. You have to include all calculations for the pA2 value (i.e. DR values, log (DR-1) and –log antagonist concentrations). The graphs should be prepared using Excel. The figures and tables should be separately numbered and clearly labelled. You should add figure legends to each figure. The Results should describe your findings/observations, but not interpret their meaning. 

This section should represent up to 20% of your report. You should interpret your results; explain what your results indicate referring to the pharmacology of receptor agonists and antagonists. In this section you need to include the discussion of an agonist or antagonist drug of the cholinergic neurotransmission, describing its mechanism and the adverse effects in relation to the disease it is used to treat.

Students are reminded of their responsibilities concerning academic integrity and that plagiarism (the use of others’ words, published or unpublished, and failing to acknowledge the influence of another’s work or attribute quotes to the author) is a serious academic offence. This is an individual assessment, so collusion is also an academic offence.

The completed lab report should have a top page giving your student number, unit code and assessment number, and the word count of your report (excluding references). It should be submitted via BREO by 10am on above mentioned date. Failure to submit your report by this time, or non-attendance at the laboratory practicals without mitigation, will result in a G/0 grade.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

·Demonstrate appropriate analysis of the data acquired in a practical in which you identify the effect of drugs using computer simulation.

·Produce a scientific report according to expectations described in the assignment brief.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

• be created electronically using Microsoft word and contain graphs created electronically using Excel

• contain a  title  page  giving  the  assessment  title,  unit  code, assessment number, your student number and your final word count (excluding references)

• contain appropriately labelled tables and figures referred to in the main text

• contain appropriate examples of how calculations were performed

• Follow the word-limit requirement

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

This assignment is based on your findings from the scheduled simulation practical (PCCAL) and is directly related to the taught element delivered during lectures. More specifically, lectures related to drug delivery, drug-receptor activation, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.