DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF KHARTOUM Proposed Programme for Master of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology by Course and Research May 2012
Proposed Programme for Master of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology by Course and Research Introduction : The proposed programme, Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, is designed for graduates from Faculties of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Science, involved in protection and improvement of animal and human health and environment. The proposed programme provides a broad array of advances in Pharmacology and Toxicology including concepts, technical approaches and problem solving. Rationale : Shortage of specialists in the field of pharmacology and toxicology to meet the need in Universities and Research Centres. High demand by large numbers of students for enrolling in postgraduate training in this discipline. Lack of apt innovative researches in pharmacology and toxicology. Lack of know-how for safe use of medicines and chemicals at work sites. Objectives : The programme is intended to: 1. Provide candidates with essential knowledge required for rational, effective and safe use of drugs and chemicals. 2. Train biomedical researchers to conduct research and other scholarly activities in Pharmacology and Toxicology. 3. Satisfy the community, Universities and the research centres with qualified specialists. Available Facilities : a) Teaching Staff at the Department is comprised of One Professor One Lecturer Three Associate Professors. One Teaching Assistant. Three Assistant Professors Two Technicians 1
b) Cooperating Teaching staff The department may seek assistance in teaching from the staff of other departments of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and other Faculties of the University of Khartoum or other Universities. c) Laboratories 1. Pharmacology laboratory ( 30 students) 2. Toxicology Laboratory ( 30 students) 3- Other Laboratories in other departments of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. 4- Central Laboratory at Shambat Campus and other Campuses of the University of Khartoum. d) Libraries 1-The Departmental library (15 students) 2-Shambat Campus main Library (200 students) 3-The University of Khartoum Main Library ( 500 students) 4-Postgraduate Virtual Library at Shambat (20 students) 5-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Library (30 students) E) Animal houses Pens, laboratory animal houses, and breeding units are available for animal experimentations. Admission requirements: All regulations of the Graduate College and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine should be applied. Applicants to master degree of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology should be: Holders of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Science from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum or any equivalent degree from other Universities. Candidates may be asked to pass a qualifying examination specified by the Department. 2
Course structure: The programme shall be run over four semesters, 15 weeks each, comprising lectures, practicals, seminars, examinations and research. The research work shall be started only after successful completion of the courses and seminars. The total hours required for graduation are 34 credit hours, comprising core courses (21 credit hours), electives (6 credit hours), seminars (one credit hour) and the thesis (6 credit hours). Semester I : Code Courses Type Credit hours MVPT 601 Pharmacokinetics and Drug action Core 3 (2 + 1) MVPT 603 Toxokinetics and Toxodynamics Core 2 ( 1 +1) MVPT 605 Ethnopharmacology and Toxicology of Plants Core 3( 2 + 1) MVPT 607 Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology Core 2 (1 +1) MVPT 609 Clinical Biochemistry Core 2 ( 1 + 1) MVPT 611 Advances in Cell Physiology Core 2 (1 +1) Total 14 Semester II : Code Courses Type Credit hours MVPT 602 Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics and Toxicology Core 3 (2 +1) MVPT 604 Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology Core 2(1+1) MVPT 606 Research Methodology and Biostatistics Core 2(1+0) MVPT 608 Seminar Core 1(1+0) MVPT 610 Molecular Toxicology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT 612 Molecular Pharmacology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT 614 Endocrine and Reproductive Pharmacology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT 616 Clinical Pathology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT 618 Ecotoxicology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT620 Forensic Toxicology Elective 2(1+1) MVPT 622 Cell and Molecular Biology Elective 2(1+1) Total (8 core + 6 elective ) 14 3
Three elective courses (6 credit hours) will be selected by the Department from the seven courses, taking into consideration the future research plan of the candidates. Semesters III and IV : Code Courses Type Credit hours MVPT 701 Thesis Required 6 Overall total 34 Evaluation: Students will be evaluated according to their performance in: a) Seminars. b) Final examinations (written and practical). c) Thesis. Examination Regulations: i. Students shall abide by the regulations of the Graduate College, University of Khartoum for postgraduate examinations. ii. iii. iv. Written, practical and oral examinations shall be held at the end of each semester. A student who fails in no more than one third of the total number of courses will be allowed to sit for supplementary examinations. A student who fails in more than one third up to 50% of the total number of courses will have to re-sit for all courses. v. A student who passes the re-sit or supplementary examinations will only obtain a pass grade. vi. vii. A student who fails in more than 50% of the total number of courses or fails in any of the supplementary or re-sit examinations shall be discontinued. Evaluation of the thesis will follow the rules and regulations of the Graduate College, University of Khartoum. Award of the degree: The Senate of the University of Khartoum upon the recommendation of the Graduate College, shall award successful candidates the Master degree in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. 4
Course contents: MVPT 601: Pharmacokinetics and Drug Action (3 credit hours) The concepts and postulates on mechanism of drug action Qualitative aspects of drug-receptor interactions The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs Routes of drug administration Factors modifying drug delivery, bioavailability and bioequivalence Drug toxicities and interactions Residues of veterinary drugs Environmental contaminants and pesticide residues. Pharmacodynamics of the Autonomic Nervous System; Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system Functions of the autonomic nervous system Neurotransission Cholinergic transmission Adrenergic transmission Parasympathomimetic drugs Parasympatholytic drugs Sympathomimetic drugs. Sympatholytic drugs MVPT 603: Toxokinetics and Toxodynamics (2 credit hours) Study of commonly encountered toxicants Source of poisoning, effect in the body, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of toxicosis Mutagenesis and carcinogenesis Techniques in toxicology Toxicity testing studies. MVPT 605: Ethnopharmacology and Toxicology of Plants (3 credit hours) Traditional remedies and regional folklore in disease cure Classification, identification and chemical constituents of medicinal plants Classes of constituents: Alkaloids, Glycosides, Phenols, Polysaccharides, Tannins, Terpenes, Sterols, Volatile and Fixed oils and Resins Extraction, distillation, evaporation and other processes used in purification and preparation of active constituents from medicinal plants Therapeutic and adverse effects of potential herbal drugs Alternate systems of medicine in animals Sources and toxic manifestations of poisonous plants MVPT 607: Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (2 credit hours) Common laboratory animals and their bio-parameters Methods and factors affecting the nature and degree of pharmacological responses Routes of administration and chemical euthanasia Physiological salt solutions Methods of stimulation and laboratory animals anaesthesia common agents and dose calculations Conventional bioassays Dose-response studies Advanced analytical instrumentation Toxicology mechanisms and selective toxicities Extraction, separation and detection of common poisons in toxic specimens 5
Designing animal toxicity experiments, general toxicity tests and antidotal treatment. MVPT 609: Clinical Biochemistry (2 credit hours) Disorders of carbohydrates, protein and lipid metabolism Serum metabolites and enzymes of clinical diagnostic importance Liver and kidney functions Electrolytes and acid base balance. MVPT 611: Advances in cell Physiology: (2 credit hours) Excitable tissues, synaptic transmission and reflexes Autonomic nervous system Comparative sensations Arousal mechanisms and EEG Nutrition, energy balance and integrated metabolism Comparative gastrointestinal function and regulation The effects and control of endocrine system on metabolism Cardiovascular and respiratory function, regulation and homeostasis in health and disease. MVPT 602: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics and Toxicology (3 credit hours) Pharmacological properties of drugs modifying the cell, organ and system functions in animals. The rationale, use and choice of chemotherapeutic agents against bacteria, protozoa, viruses, fungi, helminthes, other parasites and cancer. legislation of veterinary drugs Veterinary pharmacies management legal obligations Study of toxic minerals, organic and inorganic substances, and gases. Pesticides, industrial and agricultural chemicals, mycotoxins, venoms and stings and bio-radioactive contamination Study of toxic compounds encountered in food and important toxic hazards associated with food additives, drugs and chemical residues, bacterial toxins, mycotoxins in feed Food contamination during processing and packaging Toxic constituents in animal feed Systemic food toxicity. MVPT 604: Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology (2 credit hours) General aspects of the immune system and its chemical mediators Pharmacological control of the immune responses Immunomodulators, immunostimulants, immunosuppressant and tolerogens Immunological basis of drug allergy and drug tolerance Interactions of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems Immunotoxic effects of environmental and other pollutants Immunotherapy Xenobiotic-induced immune dysfunctions and immune deficiencies Autoimmune reactions to xenobiotics. 6
MVPT 606: Research Methodology and Biostatistics (2 credit hours) Research methodology : Concepts of research and methodologies Problem statement, research questions and hypotheses Study design Data sources and classification Sampling and survey design Scientific writing. Biostatistics : Means of mortality, incidence and prevalence Biological variability Screening Sampling distribution confidence intervals Statistical significance test Testing hypothesis regarding means (t-test, analysis of variance and their nonparametric equivalent Correlation, simple and multiple linear regression Logistic regression Principles of experimental design Analysis of variance: one and two-way classifications Randomized clinical trials. MVPT 608: Seminar (1 credit hour) Each student will be required to present a seminar on a selected topic in Pharmacology and /or Toxicology. MVPT 610: Molecular Toxicology (2 credit hours) Cellular, subcellular and molecular targets of toxicity Mechanisms of toxicities Factors affecting toxicity Interactions of toxicants with target molecules Cellular dysfunctions, repair and dysrepair Target organ directed toxicological effects of xenobiotics Detoxification, risk assessment Mechanism of chemical mutagenesis, carcinogenesis teratogenesis and radiation toxicity. MVPT 612: Molecular Pharmacology(2 credit hours) Physicochemical properties of drugs, forces involved in binding of drugs to receptors Receptor conformation and configuration and structure activity relationship Theories of drug receptor interactions Analysis of dose response relationship and molecular mechanisms of drug actions Methods of identification, isolation and characterization of receptors Genetic biomarkers, of disease and adverse drug reactions. MVPT 614:Endocrine and Reproductive Pharmacology(2 credit hours) Pharmacology of drugs affecting endocrine functions of pituitary, thyroid, adrenals and pancreas Hormonal regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis Pharmacology of drugs affecting male reproductive organs and Spermatogenesis Pharmacology of drugs affecting female reproductive organs, ovulation, oestrus, conception, gestation and lactation Oxytocic and tocolytic drugs. 7
MVPT 616: Clinical Pathology (2 credit hours) Interpretation of the results of hematological, fecal, urine, rumen and body fluids Interpretation of liver, kidney and other organs function tests Evaluation of enzyme assays and mineral determinations in body fluids and cytology evaluation. MVPT 618: Ecotoxicology (2 credit hours) Basic principles of ecotoxicology Sources and effects of pollutants on ecohealth Chemical contamination of air, water, soil and food by major agricultural and industrial chemicals pesticides, hydrocarbons and metals Fate of chemicals in the environment and target species Marine and wildlife as monitors of environmental quality Contamination control and approaches to rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems. MVPT620: Forensic Toxicology (2 credit hours) History and development of forensic toxicology Scope of forensic toxicology Death and post mortem signs and changes Forensic toxicology interpretations of different inflictions The crime scene chain of evidence Organic, inorganic, and drug causes Blood and forensic serology DNA extraction and molecular techniques in forensic toxicology Conventional versus molecular identification of meats. MVPT 622: Cell and Molecular Biology (2 credit hours) The eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell Cellular compartments and organization in eukaryotes Chemical components, structure and functional roles of membranes and eukaryotic plasma organelles Membrane transport DNA structure, function, replication and repair RNA structure and transcription RNA translation (protein synthesis) DNA cloning and engineering Regulation of gene expression and gene mutation The fragmentation, separation and sequencing of DNA molecule Applications of the DNA technology. MVPT 701: Thesis (6 credit hours) Students shall be required to carry out a research in any area of Pharmacology and/or Toxicology. The students shall prepare and submit a thesis for examination after completion of the research project. 8