An Integrated Approach to Teaching Laboratory Data and Pharmacology of Respiratory Diseases to Pharmacy Students

Laboratory data course has been designed in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Beirut Arab University to build and develop the basic skills needed in the analysis and interpretation of laboratory test results to ultimately ensure safety and effectiveness of the patient’s treatment regimen. The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary module integration, customized by pharmacology, laboratory data and pharmacotherapeutics disciplines, in teaching asthma and COPD pharmacotherapy on the third level Beirut Arab University pharmacy students’ knowledge acquisition and satisfaction. Following the completion of an integrated approach, third year pharmacy students (N= 92) were recruited to participate in filling close-ended questionnaire based on 5-point Likert scale. One-sample t-test was conducted in the statistical results of Likert scale. The strength of the relationship between the students\u27 performance (represented by grade point average, GPA) in laboratory data, pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics was determined using Spearman\u27s Rho Correlation. Statistical analysis of students’ evaluation identified a positive feedback on the integrated module, which significantly contributed to their enhanced performance in the subsequent pharmacotherapeutics course. Spearman\u27s Rho coefficient analysis revealed a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between laboratory data and pharmacotherapeutics GPAs (rs(86)=.38, pp\u3c.05). The integrated module was well-appreciated as an effective way of asthma and COPD pharmacotherapy learning by third year pharmacy students. Nevertheless, findings of the present study identified the insufficient allotted time for pharmacology I as a shortcoming of the multidisciplinary integrated module, underscoring an urgent need of fine-tuning of the curriculum.The integrated module was well-appreciated as an effective way of asthma and COPD pharmacotherapy learning by third year pharmacy students.The introduction of laboratory data as an integrative discipline greatly helped the students apply the integrated knowledge in the pharmacotherapeutics course

EPAC in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major components of blood vessels. They regulate physiological functions, such as vascular tone and blood flow. Under pathological conditions, VSMCs undergo a remodeling process known as phenotypic switching. During this process, VSMCs lose their contractility and acquire a synthetic phenotype, where they over-proliferate and migrate from the tunica media to the tunica interna, contributing to the occlusion of blood vessels. Since their discovery as effector proteins of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), exchange proteins activated by cAMP (EPACs) have been shown to play vital roles in a plethora of pathways in different cell systems. While extensive research to identify the role of EPAC in the vasculature has been conducted, much remains to be explored to resolve the reported discordance in EPAC’s effects. In this paper, we review the role of EPAC in VSMCs, namely its regulation of the vascular tone and phenotypic switching, with the likely involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the interplay between EPAC and its targets/effectors.represent a potential target for drugs designed to treat atherosclerosis and hypertension. It is, therefore, important that future studies identify other downstream effectors that mediate Rap1-independent EPAC signaling to facilitate the development of new therapeutics that may target this family of cAMP effectors. Extensive research is also required to resolve the discrepancies in the role of EPAC in the vasculature and to translate in vitro and in vivo studies into clinical trials. Author Contributions: N.W., S.A.N., Y.A.-D., R.I., A.B. (Alessandra Bitto), A.F.E.-Y., A.B. (Adnan Badran), F.K., E.B. and A.H.E. contributed to writing the manuscript. N.W., S.A.N. and A.H.E. led the writing of the first draft. Author Contributions: All authors contributed to writing the manuscript. N.W., S.A.N. and A.H.E. led the A.H.E. conceived, edited, and finalized the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version writing of the first draft. A.H.E. conceived, edited, and finalized the manuscript. of the manuscript. Funding: This work was supported by the American University of Beirut (Grant: MPP 320133 and Farouk Jabre Awarrdtto Allii Eiidd)),, and United Arab Emirates University (Grant #: 31S398--UPAR to Yusraa Al-Dhaheri).Scopu

EPAC in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major components of blood vessels. They regulate physiological functions, such as vascular tone and blood flow. Under pathological conditions, VSMCs undergo a remodeling process known as phenotypic switching. During this process, VSMCs lose their contractility and acquire a synthetic phenotype, where they over-proliferate and migrate from the tunica media to the tunica interna, contributing to the occlusion of blood vessels. Since their discovery as effector proteins of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), exchange proteins activated by cAMP (EPACs) have been shown to play vital roles in a plethora of pathways in different cell systems. While extensive research to identify the role of EPAC in the vasculature has been conducted, much remains to be explored to resolve the reported discordance in EPAC’s effects. In this paper, we review the role of EPAC in VSMCs, namely its regulation of the vascular tone and phenotypic switching, with the likely involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the interplay between EPAC and its targets/effectors