Department of Pharmacology

     

Forward

      The Department of Pharmacology was established in 1970/1971 to provide a course in pharmacology with the aim of achieving adequate knowledge and competence in pharmacology, which form the basis for rational drug therapy in medical practice. The student by the end of the course should be able to:

1.  understand the mechanism of drug action at molecular as well as cellular levels, both desirable and adverse.

2.  Understand the principles of pharmacokinetics i.e. drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion and be able to apply these principles in therapeutic practice.

3.  Recognize that drugs have action at most systems and should be able to group drugs with common pharmacological actions and appreciate that this classification is not absolute.

4.  Be able to know or to prototype drugs of clinical importance

    within each pharmacological group 

5.  Know the common serious side effects and contraindications  of each prototype drug, its interactions and factors modifying drug action.  

6.  know the general principles of acute drug poisoning and other drug related problems such as addiction and abuse.

 

The Department uses several methods for instructing the students including lectures, tutorials, and practical demonstration. In the third year 3 lectures,  2 hour practical, and 1 hour tutorial per week will be given.

 

In the fifth year the department is involved in teaching a 10 hour-lecture course in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics in the second term.

The department also aims at integration with other departments in the college through joint meetings, seminars and examinations.

 

   

Heads of The Department

1. Dr.  Mortada Zaidy (Indian), PhD, 1967-1972.

2. Dr. Nawzad F. Abdul- Hameed, PhD, 1972-1979.

3. Dr. Hana H. Al-Zuhair. BSc (Pharm.), 1979-1984.

4. Dr. Mohammed HH Al–Hakiem, BSc (Pharm.) PhD, 1984-1985.

5. Dr. Abdullah M. Jawad, MBChB, PhD, DipRCPath, 1985-1989.

6. Dr. Nabeel A. Ali. MBChB, PhD, 1989-1996.

7. Dr. Abdullah M. Jawad. MBChB, PhD, DipRCPath (toxicology), 1996 - 2005.

8. Dr. Nabeel A. Ali. MBChB, PhD, 2005.

9. Jawad H. Ahmed. MBChB, PhD, 2005 and continuing

 

Vision and Mission

 

1- The vision of the Department of Pharmacology at Basrah College Medicine is to be a recognized and distinguished institution in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics in Iraq in particular and in the region at large by providing excellent  teaching and training  for medical students and relevant disciplines.

 

2- The mission of the department is to provide instructions in pharmacology for the education and preparation of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and other health care professional students, leading to the rational effective and safe use of drug therapy with emphasis on lifelong learning.

 

The department also aims at providing high quality research activities directed at local problems related to drugs and poisons.  It also tries to serve the community as consultatory body in drug issues and through other services such as therapeutic drug monitoring, and continuous medical education.

 

Methods of Examination

  A composite (comprehensive) examination (written, practical and oral) covering the contents of the course is to be held at the end of the year (a total of 60 marks). This is preceded by written mid-year examination and short mid-term examinations, in addition to daily assessment in the practical (a total of 40 marks).

   Any student who fails will be held back for 3 months.

 

 

Teaching staff with their areas of interest

1.   Abdullah M. Jawad. MBChB, PhD, DipRCPath (toxicology),  Professor ( pain and analgesics).   

2.   Nabeel A. Ali. MBChB, PhD, Professor (  CNS pharmacology and clinical toxicology).

3.   Jawad H. Ahmed. MBChB, PhD. Assistant Professor

      (cardiovascular pharmacology and sickle cell disease).

4.   Ebtehal A. Abbas. MBChB, MSc. Assistant Professor (Drugs acting on GIT; Clinical pharmacokinetics).

5.   Sovik V. Vartan. MBChB, MSc. Lecturer (Endocrine pharmacology).

6.   Athra M. Salman. MBChB, MSc. Assist. Lecturer (Drugs acting on genito-urinary system).

 

PHARMACOLOGY  CURRICULUM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

2008\2009

 

 

 

 

 

Title	Hours	Lecture
I -General  Pharmacology	Total 24 hours
Introduction	1	JHA
Evaluation of new drugs	2	AMJ
Pharmacodynamics	2	EAA
Pharmacokinetics	5	SVV
Pharmacogenetics	1	EAA
Cholinergic system	3	EAA
Adrenergic system	5	AMJ
Antianginal drugs	1	AMS
Histamine and antihistamines	2	NAA
Serotonin , Kinins and Prostaglandins	2	JHA
II.  Systemic Pharmacology	Total 18 hours
1.Central nervous system
Anxiolytics and hypnotics	2	AMJ
Antipsychotics	1	AMJ
Antidepressants	1	NAA
Antiepileptics	1	NAA
Antiparkinsonian drugs	1	NAA
Non-narcotic and NSAIDs	3	SVV
Narcotic analgesics	2	JHA
Drugs for gout	1	SVV
Antirheumatic drugs	1	SVV
Drug treatment  for headache	1	EAA
General anaesthesia	2	EAA
Local anaesthesia	1	NAA
Neuromuscular blocking drugs	1	NAA
2008\2009 Second Term (Total 47 hours)
2. Drugs acting on GIT	3	NAA
3. Drugs acting on respiratory tract	2	AMS
4. Diuretics	2	NAA
5. Drugs acting on the heart
Antihypertensive	2	AMS
Antiarrhythmic drugs	3	AMS
Hypolipidemic drugs	1	SVV
Digitalis	2	AMJ
6. Blood	3
Anti-coagulants	1	JHA
Anti-anaemic drugs and vitamins	1	AMJ
7. Antimicrobials
Antibiotics (Part one)	3	JHA
Antibiotics (Part two)	3	SVV
Antifungal	1	NAA
Antiviral	1	NAA
Antiprotozoal and anthelmintic	2	AMS
Antituberculosis drugs	1	EAA
Antimalarial drugs	1	JHA
Antiseptics	1	AMJ
8.Hormones
Corticosteroids	2	EAA
Antidiabetics	2	AMS
Thyroids hormones and antithyroid	2	SVV
Vasopressin, Oxytocin and tocolytic drugs	3	EAA
Cytotoxic drugs	2	AMJ
Immunopharmacology	1	NAA
Drugs interaction	1	EAA
9. Drug poisoning	2	JHA
AMJ:  Abdullah M. Jawad, MBChB (Basrah), PhD (Pharmacology, London, UK) JHA:   Jawad H. Ahmed, MBChB (Basrah), PhD (Pharmacology, Glasgow, UK) EAA:  Ebtehal Ali Abbas, MBChB (Basrah), MSc (Pharmacology, Dundee, UK) NAA:   Nabeel A. Ali, MBChB (Basrah), PhD (Pharmacology, Cardiff, UK) SVV:   Sofik V. Vartan, MBChB (Basrah), MSc (Pharmacology, Baghdad, Iraq) AMS:  Athra M. Salman, MBChB (Basrah), MSc (Pharmacology, Kufa, Iraq)

 

 

Postgraduate studies

     Since 1993, the Department of Pharmacology is offering the opportunity to study for master degree in pharmacology  for  graduates of colleges of medicine. Graduates of pharmacy, dentistry and veterinary medicine, can also be accepted after completing at least two years in a service related to their qualification. A priority is given to those already working at the departments of pharmacology.

 

    The study is for two years: the first involves courses in: general pharmacology(11units), advanced pharmacology(5 units, including seminars), general and advanced physiology (2 units each), biochemistry (2 units), medical statistics (1unit), together with a course in English language and a proficiency certificate in computer sciences ( a total of 23 units, each unit is 15 hours theory or 30 hours practical).

 

    The success mark in each subject (except English) is 60% and the weighted average for the whole course (two terms) should be 70% and more.

 

    The second year is for research and at the end of it, the candidate should submit, and to be examined in, a thesis as a partial requirement for the fulfillment of the degree (with a weighted value equal to 9 units).

 

    At the end of the year 2007: 22 students graduated from this department.

 

 

 

MSc course in Pharmacology, 2008-2009

 

1st Semester	Hours	lecturer	Expected date
Introduction	1	AMJ
Pharmacodynamics	3	EAA
Pharmacokinetics	4	JHA
Sympathomimetics	2	AMJ
Sympatholytics	2	AMJ
Parasympathomimetics	2	EAA
Parasympatholytics	2	EAA
Cardiac failure	2	NAA
Cardiac arrhythmias	2	JHA
Antianginal drugs	1	JHA
Antihypertensives	1	JHA
Peripheral vascular dis.	1	AMJ
Diuretics	2	NAA
Anticoagulants	2	EAA
Haematinics	1	AMJ
GIT	2	NAA
Respiratory drugs	1	JHA
Autacoids	2	NAA
2nd Semester
General anaesthetics	2	EAA
Local anaesthetics	1	NAA
Sedatives and hypnotics	1	AMJ
Alcohol	1	NAA
Antipsychotics	1	AMJ
Anxiolytics	1	AMJ
Antidepressants	1	NAA
Antiepileptics	1	NAA
Antiparkinsonians	1	NAA
Narcotic analgesics	1	JHA
Non-narcotic analgesics	1	AMJ
Drug therapy of gout	1	EAA
Antimicrobials	4	JHA
Antifungal and antiviral	1	NAA
Antiprotozoal drugs	1	EAA
Anthelmintics	1	EAA
Anti malarial	1	JHA
Anti tuberculous	1	EAA
Chemotherapy of cancer	1	AMJ
Hormones as drugs:
Pituitary	1
Corticosteroids	1	EAA
Thyroid &Parathyroid	1	AMJ
Antidiabetics	1	JHA
Sex hormones	1	EAA
Drugs acting on uterus	1	EAA
General &Clin.Toxicology	3	AMJ
Breast feeding	1
Skin Pharmacology	1
Eye Pharmacology	1

 

 

Advanced Pharmacology
2nd Semester
Clinical trials	2	AMJ
Design of clinical trial	2	AMJ
Quantitative Methods in clinical pharmacology	2	NAA
Pharmacological assays	4	NAA
TDM  and toxicology laboratory	1	JHA
Advances in pharmacology of current interest Drugs and hemoglobinopathy	4	JHA
Overview of prostaglandins in medicine	2	AMJ
Advances in pain and analgesics	2	AMJ
Prescribing in neonates and children	2	AMJ
Prescribing in elderly	2	NAA
Prescribing in pregnancy	2	JHA
Disease factors in drug kinetics and response	4	JHA
Adverse drug interactions of clinical significance	2	EAA
Drug abuse	2	JHA
Essential drug list and evidence based medicine	2	NAA

 

 

Hours and units for first term:

 

 

Subject	Hours/week Lectures	Hours/week Practical	Units
General Pharmacology	2	6	6
General Physiology	2	-	2
Biochemistry	1	2	2
Medical Statistics	1	-	1
English Language	1	-	-
			11

 

Hours and units for second term:

 

Subject	Hours/week Lectures	Hours/week Practical	Units
General Pharmacology	2	6	6
Advanced Pharmacology	2	2	3
Advanced Physiology	2	-	2
Seminar	1	-	1
			12

 

Number of units for Project/dissertation:     9

Number of units for 1&2 terms:                    23

Total number of units:                                    32

 

 

 

Titles suggested for seminar/ practical for the year 2008/2009

 

   Practical:

 

1.     Preparation of stock solution

2.     The use of TLC method in pharmacological  assays

3.     A rabbit model for ethanol induced ulceration.

4.     Isolated organ method- testing effects of drugs

5.     MDA, Oxidative stress and antioxidants

6.     Pain measurement

7.     UV spectrometer for salicylate measurement in urine

8.     Test for sickle cells (slide method), test for antisickling drugs

9.     Other ideas suggested by students or staff

 

 

   Seminars:

 

1.     Angiotensin receptor antagonists in comparison to ACEIs.

2.     Calcium antagonists and cardiovascular risk

3.     Receptor subtypes: opioid receptors

4.     Receptor subtypes: serotonin receptors

5.     Receptor subtypes: adrenergic receptors

6.     Cytotoxic-induced vomiting

7.     Statins

8.     Evidence-based medicine

9.     Beta blockers in heart failure

10.            New generation cephalosporins

11.            Antibiotic resistance

12.            Ciprofloxacin and related antimicrobials

13.            Eradication of H.pylori

14.            Paracetamol poisoning

15.            Alcohol-induced liver damage

16.            Current inhalational anaesthetics and muscle relaxants

17.            COX2 inhibitors and cardiovascular risk

18.            Osteoporosis and care for postmenopausal women

19.            Other subjects could be suggested by the students.

 

  

 

General Physiology ( Two hours/week, Two units)

                                                                           

 

 

   Biochemistry 1^st term (1 hour lecture + 2 hours practical/week, Two units)

 

  1. lectures

 

 

 

              Medical statistics for post graduate students

                   Topics:

1.     

2.     1-Introduction to medical statistics

3.     2-Summarization and presentation of data

4.      3-Measurements of variability

5.      4-Measurements of central location

6.      5- The concept of  probability,  laws of probability

7.      6- The normal distribution and its characteristics: The confidence intervals

8.     7- Tests of significance:

                                                                             Z test (SND)

                                                                            t-test

                                                                           Chi square test

8.      8- Regression and correlation

9.      9- Sampling and sampling methods

 

 

 

Research Areas at The Department of Pharmacology

, University of Basrah, Iraq

 

	Research Model	Type of Research Projects
1	Animal model of gastric ulcer: stress-alcohol induction of gastric ulcer in rabbits	The effect of drugs (e.g. H1-blockers) and herbal medications (e.g. Nigella sativa, Matricaria Chamomilia)
2	In vitro sickling tests and separation of irreversible sickle cells using percoll density gradient	The effect of calcium antagonists (nifedipine, methoxyverapamil), and morphine, and herbal extracts e.g. Nigella sativa.
3	Oxidative stress, MDA level and lipid peroxidation in blood and tissues (liver homogenate, gastric tissues)	The effect of different NSAIDs and their combination on MDA level in liver homogenate of the rabbit
4	Animal models of pain: tail-flick, hot plate, formalin, and writhing tests	The effect of co-analgesic drugs (chlorpromazine, subanesthetic doses of ketamine, dextromethorphan, B-complex,…) on induced pain in mice
5	Animal models of bone fracture	The effect of drugs (e.g. NSAIDs; singly or in combination; for short and long duration) on fracture healing in the rabbits
6	Synthesis of slow-release drug formulation using locally collected and isolated chitosan from shrimps	Using indometacin as a model drug for binding with chitosan
7	In vitro model of renal stone dissolution	Effect of herbal extracts on the rate of dissolution
8	Clinical trials on patients and normal volunteers	The effect of methotrexate, and sulfasalazine alone or in combination with diclofenac in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The glycemic effects of different types of honey
9	Drug toxicity studies on patients	Clinical and laboratory follow-up of the effect of antituberculosis drugs on the liver. The effect of combined contraceptive pills on blood coagulability indices. The effect of drugs like ciprofloxacin on sperm counts in healthy volunteers
10	Intestinal transit time in mice	The effect of herbal extracts on intestinal motility in mice

 

 

 

Professor Abdullah M. Jawad

 

Publications in English                      

1. Hypercholesterolaemia as a risk  factor in myocardial infarction in

Iraq, a study on 200  patients.  N Fadhel, FH Sheena and  AM  Jawad. J Chronic Diseases  and Therapeutic Research 1979, 3(9):22  - 30 .

 

2. Pharmacological  investigation on  toxic plants of Iraq, part 1,  cardiotoxic  plants:Nerium oleander. N Fadhel, AM Jawad, RB Arora. The Medical Journal of Basrah University 1979, 2(1):28- 45.

 

3. The effects of flurbiprofen and indomethacin on the mitogenic response of human peripheral mononuclear cells. AM Jawad and HJ Rogers. Immunopharmacology 1984, 7: 56-67.

 

4. Prescribing errors and self-medication in Basrah city. MHH Al-Hakiem and AM Jawad. Iraqi Medical Journal 1985, 33: 170-187.

 

5. Acute poisoning in adults: a 4 year retrospective study of patients admitted to Basrah Al-Jumhori Hospital. NA Ali and AM Jawad. J Faculty of Medicine (Baghdad) 1988; 30(2): 209-218.

 

6. Use and abuse of thyroid function tests. MHH Al-Hakiem and AM Jawad. Iraqi Medical Journal 1988; 3(2): 315-317.

 

7. Pattern of osteoarthritis of the knee in Basrah. TA Hamdan, KA Makki, AM Jawad and B Hassan.  J  Neurological  and Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery 1989, 10(4) : 315 - 317 .

 

8. Lung function changes induced by a single oral dose  of captopril: the effect of smoking.  AM  Jawad, SA Sultan and AAH  Radhi. The Medical  Journal of Basrah University 1994, 12 ( 1& 2 ): 30-47.

 

9. Comparative placebo-controlled study on the efficacy of hyoscine  N-butylbromide and diclofenac sodium in clinically diagnosed renal colic. ZA Al-Faddagh, AM Jawad and AM Salman. Basrah J of Surgery 1996, March 2: 16-20.

 

10. The state of traditional medical practices in Basrah city (in Arabic). AM Jawad and AM  Al-Ansari. The Medical J of Basrah University 1996, 14 (1&2 ): 137-150.

 

11. The effect of methoxyverapamil, diltiazem, morphine and their combination on the formation of irreversibly sickle cells: an in vitro study. JH Ahmed, MS Saod and AM Jawad. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal  1997, 3 (2): 301-309.

 

12. Treatment of renal colic with injectable aspirin (Aspegic ). FMH Al-Obadi, JI Mubarak and AM Jawad. Eastern Med. Health Journal 1997, 3(2): 296-300.

 

13. Effectiveness of praziquantel in treatment of intestinal amoebiasis and giardiasis. KA Mohammed, SK Strak, AM Jawad, IO Sadoon and NK Mahdi. Eastern Med. Health Journal  1998, 4(1): 161-163.

 

14. Hypoglycaemic effects of aqueous extract of the leaves of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum in healthy volunteers. JA Abdul-Bari, IA Abdul-Hasssan, AM Jawad, MHH AL-Hakiem. Eastern Med. Health Journal  2000; 6(1): 83-88.

 

15. Does indomethacin, aspirin or their combination have in vitro and in vivo effects on normal erythrocyte sedimentation? AM Jawad. The Medical J  Basrah University 2000; 18(1): 9-12.

 

16. In vitro effect of some  non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activity measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of the whole blood. AS Abdullah, AM Jawad, AH Al-Hashimi. Saudi Medical Journal  2001, 22 (4): 360-365.  

 

18.Captopril-induced cough: incidence in Basrah (Iraq) and characterization of patients. AM Jawad.  Journal of the Arab Board of Medical Specializations  2001; 3(4):80-87.

 

19. The use of herbal remedies in chronic skin diseases. Jawad K Hassan, AM Jawad and SA Dhaher. The Medical J of Basrah University 2002; 20(1): 29-31.

 

20. Effect of aqueous extract of Zizyphus mauritiana on animal intestinal motility. Athra M Salman, N F Naema and AM Jawad. The Medical Journal of Basrah University 2003; 21(1): 32-34.

 

21. The effect of ciprofloxacin on semen analysis in human healthy volunteers. Sofik V Vartan, Ahmed H Ali and Abdullah M Jawad. Basrah Journal of Surgery 2003; 9(2):175-178.

 

22. Drugs and fracture healing: a review of literature. Thamer A Hamdan, Riyad A Hussein and Abdullah M Jawad. Basrah J Surgery 2005;11(1):14-23.

 

23. The effect of 2 and 14 day treatment with aspirin, diclofenac and their combination on fracture healing in rabbits. Thamer H Hamdan, Riyad A Hussein, Ahmed H Ali and Abdullah M Jawad. Basrah J Surgery 2005;11(1):24-32.

 

24. Antinociceptive effect of nigella sativa oil, apple vinegar, honey and their combination in laboratory mice. Jawad AAH, Jassim NH and Jawad AM.  Bas. J. Vet. Res. 2006; 5(2): 183-188.

 

25. Effect of the aqueous extract of celery (apium graveolans) seeds, apple vinegar and their combination on animal models of pain. Jawad AAH, Jassim NH and Jawad AM. Accepted for publication in Basrah J. Sceince (436B/10.12.2006).