Join Scripps' Bill Gerwick in an exploration of the potential uses of one of the most ancient of all life forms - blue-green algae - as a source for new pharmaceuticals with used ranging from anticancer compounds to drug screening. (54 minutes)
As taught Spring Semester 2011.
This module studies the implications of the growing use of illicit drugs for the political system from both a national and international perspective. It will examine the production, consumption and trade in drugs as an international problem. The development of, and the issues associated with, contemporary British drug policy will be explored, and policy success or failure will be evaluated. The theoretical/philosophical questions raised by drug control policy will also be explored.
Module Codes: M13035 (20 credits)
Suitable for study at: undergraduate Level
Dr Sue Pryce, School of Politics and International Relations
British and US politics; the premiership, politics and drugs. Modules taught: Power and Leadership; European Union Studies; American Government and Politics; Political Ideas in Revolution; Political Ideas in Conflict; Politics and Drugs (all undergraduate). Current research students: Sayaka Fukumi 'Anti-drug cooperation in Latin America'.
This course covers topics and questions such as: What is poverty? How is it defined and measured in the United States and other countries? What are the different program designs that countries use to relieve poverty? To answer these questions, the course examines the main public policy frames that guide theory, research, policy, and practice. How do the definition and policies to deal with poverty change over time? What are the economic, political, and social forces that contribute to the persistence of poverty and its periodic reframing? Can social science to help to resolve the public policy debates that make poverty and its relief so controversial?
Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect behavior. If a drug changes your perception, or the way you feel or think, the drug exerts effects on your brain and nervous system. We call drugs that change the way you think or feel psychoactive or psychotropic drugs, and almost everyone has used a psychoactive drug at some point (yes, caffeine counts). Understanding some of the basics about psychopharmacology can help us better understand a wide range of things that interest psychologists and others. For example, the pharmacological treatment of certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease tells us something about the disease itself. The pharmacological treatments used to treat psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia or depression have undergone amazing development since the 1950s, and the drugs used to treat these disorders tell us something about what is happening in the brain of individuals with these conditions. Finally, understanding something about the actions of drugs of abuse and their routes of administration can help us understand why some psychoactive drugs are so addictive. In this module, we will provide an overview of some of these topics as well as discuss some current controversial areas in the field of psychopharmacology.
Throughout the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Americans were inundated with myriad medicinal treatments collectively known as patent medicine. At a time when doctors and medical clinics were less common, especially in rural areas, patent medicines promised relief from pain and chronic conditions when few other options existed. The term patent medicine referred to ingredients that had been granted a government patent; but ironically many purveyors of patent medicine did not register their concoctions with the government. As a result, many competitors offered similar formulas and freely imitated each others products. The story of patent medicine is multi-layered. It is about the phenomenon of Americans self-medicating with opiates, alcohol, and herbal supplements, as well as womens health and healthcare options. It follows the evolution of advertising in America and the rise of chromolithography printing techniques and newspaper advertisements. Finally, patent medicine reveals dubious scientific knowledge during a time when germ theory was in its infancy. This exhibition was created as part of the DPLAs Public Library Partnerships Project by collaborators from Minnesota Digital Library. Exhibition organized by Greta Bahnemann.
This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:
"Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, known as aHUS,is a rare type of thrombotic microangiopathy, or TMA. aHUS is characterized by thrombocytopaenia; microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia; and damage to end organs, particularly the kidneys. The disease is caused by dysregulation of the complement system resulting in overactivation of the terminal complement pathway. This leads to endothelial cell damage and platelet activation, causing thrombosis in micro blood vessels. Encounter of red blood cells with thrombi leads to their mechanical fragmentation. The disease can thus be treated with complement C5 inhibition. Eculizumab, a complement protein C5–inhibiting antibody, was the first approved treatment for aHUS. Although it’s effective, it must be infused intravenously every two to three weeks. This high frequency of administration may be inconvenient for patients, while also increasing the infusion burden and the risk of infusion-related reactions..."
The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.
Statistical table showing respondents's perceptions towards the nation's progress in coping with illegal drugs.
This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:
"Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Treatment of metastatic gastric cancer typically aims to prolong overall survival and maximize health-related quality of life. For patients who have failed previous gastric cancer treatments, the oral, fixed-dose tablet trifluridine/tipiracil, appears to do just that. Adding tipiracil slows trifluridine metabolism, boosting the anti-cancer effect at a manageable level of drug toxicity by increasing trifluridine bioavailability in the body. Once inside the cancer cell, trifluridine inhibits cell proliferation by interfering with DNA synthesis. The pivotal phase 3 TAGS trial examined trifluridine/tipiracil’s efficacy and tolerability in previously treated patients with metastatic gastric cancer or adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction..."
The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.
These learning activities are designed to be used in a large introductory chemistry course, each as part of a larger module of learning activities that include a prior reading of a short background information document. By working in small groups to discuss the presented information and question prompts, students will apply concepts seen in earlier coursework to explore a topic of societal or environmental relevance. No new conceptual information is delivered in these activities; rather they provide an opportunity to show students how the chemistry concepts they have developed support a detailed scientific understanding of a significant issue.Instructional resources for each activity include 1) background information (.docx and .pdf) 2) the learning activity (.docx and .pdf) 3) the learning objects (.docx and .pdf) and 4) the slide deck (.pptx).These activities include exploration of:Methyl Transferase EnzymesNitrogen CycleOzone and Chlorofluorocarbons Mechanism of Penicillin Interior Salish Pit Cooking
The Maryland State Department of Education is working to prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids. This is a student-centered lesson for the 3-5 grade band. This lesson can be modified or remixed to meet the needs of the students you teach. The content of this lesson includes teaching students by definition what is prescription medicine and non-prescription medicine and emphasizing that medication, whether it is prescription or non-prescription, should be administered in the presence of a trusted adult. Students are also required to examine Drug Fact Labels and demonstrate understanding of the information found on the Drug Fact Labels.