Emphasis is on the clinical relevance of basic science information. Classical and current research in the neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology of pain relate to clinical observations, pain syndromes, and mechanisms of analgesic drugs. Material is most relevant for dental, medical, and nursing graduate students. Offered fall semester. Emphasis is on general pharmacologic principles and drugs used in dental practice.
Students complete a summer research project or term paper.
Emphasis is on methods of measuring metabolites of local and general anesthetics and analgesia drugs. Topics include biochemical and neuropharmacologic sites of action of anesthetics, analgesics, and various antibiotic drugs, and endorphins and substance P in pain and anxiety. Topics include theories on the mechanism of action, structure-activity relationships, physiological effects of these agents, and drug interactions and clinical aspects. Offered spring semester. This course for graduate students in health professions and others with an interest in gerontology focuses on cell biology, metabolic processes, cardiovascular, and neurobiological aspects of aging.