Pharmacology Student Questions

Which ethical dilemma was NOT surrounding penicillin during World War II?

Question if antibiotics should be used in agriculture to prevent disease in livestock, even if this makes human antibiotics less effective.

The penicillin antibiotic derives from the _____ ______ mold and was accidentally discovered by ______ ______.

Penicillium notatum; Alexander Fleming.

The mold first associated with the discovery of penicillin was _____ _____, but for large-scale production of the drug, it was later switched to _____ ______.

Penicillium notatum; Penicillium chrysogenum.

Who discovered the first antibiotic and what was it?

Alexander Flemming; Penicillin.

Which of the following best explains how antibiotic overuse contributes to antimicrobial resistance?

Overuse of antibiotics creates selective pressure, allowing resistant bacteria to survive and multiply.

How are antibiotics incorporated into animal agriculture to promote growth?

Modification of gut flora.

What made chloroquine an important antimalarial drug during WWII?

It was more effective, cheaper, and easier to access than quinine.

Why did malaria become a global issue?

Mosquitoes were difficult to control and global travel increased spread.

Why are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) used instead of artemisinin alone?

Combination therapy reduces the likelihood of drug resistance developing.

Which statement is false about over the counter NSAIDs?

Celecoxib is an example.

Which milestone in the history of aspirin provided the scientific "blue-print" for modern NSAIDs by identifying that the drug works by inhibiting the COX enzyme and interfering with prostaglandin synthesis?

The 1971 discovery by Sir John Vane regarding the mechanism of action.

What are the key enzymes in platelets forming blood clots? There may be more than 1 correct answer.

Thromboxane A2 (TxA2).

ADP.

What is the most common intravenous anesthetic?

Propofol

What procedure was diethyl ether first used in 1842 by Elijah Pope?

Dental Procedure

Why is it dangerous to use nitrous oxide in surgeries such as craniotomies?

Nitrous oxide is highly soluble and increases pressure in air filled places.

What type of receptor is the Mu opioid receptor?

G-Protein Coupled Receptor

Why was the use of opioids to treat diarrhea considered a lifesaving side effect?

It caused constipation, which prevented fatal dehydration.

What has most likely contributed the most to the recent decrease in opioid-related death rates?

New policy actions aimed at improving opioid prescription costs

Public Awareness campaigns about the dangers of opioids as the main driver

Improved Detection of opioids at US shipping ports

Increased access to withdrawal treatment services alone

None of the Above (*)

What refers to the internalized negative attitudes regarding one's own mental illness that individuals on antipsychotics may struggle with?

Self-stigma

What is a side effect caused by first-generation antipsychotics?

Tremors

What was the cage-like device used to restrain individuals during the 19th and 20th centuries called?

Utica Crib

Why do opportunistic infections like PCP and Kaposi's Sarcoma serve as key indicators of AIDS?

They take advantage of a severely weakened immune system.

What is the drug that treats AIDS and how does it work?

Antiretroviral Therapy and it uses combination therapy to block HIV reproduction.

What is the enzyme that HIV utilizes to convert its RNA to DNA?

Reverse Transcriptase

How do antidepressants help treat depression?

They increase the availability of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the synapse.

Why do antidepressants typically take several weeks to improve symptoms of depression?

They need time to build up and cause gradual changes in brain signaling.

What was a common belief about depression before the 1800s?

It was viewed as a character flaw or imbalance of bodily fluids.

What are the consequences of not taking birth control every 24 hours?

Hormone levels return to baseline, and the pill loses its effectiveness.

What is the most common type of estrogen in combination pills?

Ethinyl Estradiol

What are the building blocks of birth control?

Progestin & Estrogen.

What was a major goal of early marijuana prohibition policies in the United States during the 20th century?

To control and discriminate against marginalized populations associated with marijuana use

Why is transporting marijuana across state lines legally complicated?

Federal law still classifies marijuana as illegal

What is the key difference between THC and CBD?

THC produces psychoactive effects, while CBD does not

Why do psychedelic clinical trials have difficulty maintaining double-blind study designs?

The psychological effects are obvious to participants and researchers

Why are preparation sessions and screening used in psychedelic research studies?

To reduce psychological risks and ensure participant safety

What did Oregon Measure 109 establish?

A regulated program allowing supervised psilocybin therapy

What type of psychedelic is LSD?

Semi-synthetic ergoline

Psychedelics are also known as:

Hallucinogens

Which route of insulin administration is NOT for type 1 diabetes?

Oral medication

Which sign is NOT associated with UNTREATED type 1 diabetes?

Hypoglycemia

Which treatment is NOT for Type 1 Diabetes?

Antibiotics

Which drug class used to treat type 2 diabetes reduces insulin resistance by resetting the body's circadian rhythm?

Dopamine-2 Agonists

Which type 2 diabetes drug class is associated with the side effect hypoglycemia?

Sulfonylureas

What made metformin the primary treatment option for type 2 diabetes?

It had fewer severe side effects and was better handled by the body and was inexpensive and readily available

Why does natural GLP-1 have limited therapeutic use compared to GLP-1 medications?

Natural GLP-1 has a short half-life due to enzymatic degradation.

What best describes the clinical development of GLP-1 drugs?

They were originally developed for type 2 diabetes before being modified for obesity treatment.

Which is NOT a reason why the use of GLP-1 medications for obesity treatment is considered controversial?

Lack of FDA approval for GLP-1 medications as a treatment for obesity.

What is the process that occurs in the early stages of Hyperlipidemia where macrophages accumulate excessive amounts of oxidized LDL?

Foam cell formation.

What do high levels of lipid in the blood cause physiologically?

Atherosclerosis.

How do Statins decrease cholesterol levels?

They act as antagonists that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase.

What is the function of a Sphygmograph?

It is used to measure and graphically record the pulse wave of an artery.

Which factors have an effect on Blood Pressure?

All of the Above (Cardiac output, Blood Volume, Vessel Resistance).

What makes managing hypertension so difficult?

It's often asymptomatic.

How did William Withering's treatment with foxglove improve patient symptoms?

It increased heart strength, improving blood flow.

What does RAAS stand for and how does it contribute to heart failure?

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System; exacerbates heart failure due to increased blood pressure, salt retention, and structural changes to the heart.

How does Digoxin improve heart function?

By inhibiting the sodium-potassium pump in heart cells.