Designing training for teaching environmental toxicology to specialized pharmacists

ntroduction: The Toxicology Unit at the University of Alcala (Spain) started to provide a novel short-term training course in environmental toxicology for pharmacists enrolled in the postgraduate specialty "Specialist in Industrial Pharmacy and Galenicals" in 2013-2014. This specialty is only available to state-board certified pharmacists considering enrolling in a specialized health training program. Objective: The objective was to create a short, dynamic, and interactive highly specialized training workshop to introduce future professionals to the subject of environmental toxicology and public health. The success of this novel short training course and the interest of the students in environmental toxicology were also analyzed. Methods: A specialized training workshop in environmental toxicology was developed for pharmacists who often have a limited knowledge of environmental health. The training workshop consisted of both theoretical and practical sessions. The practical exercise was highly dynamic and involved identifying potential human risks from pharmaceuticals and care products in water environments as well as the development of a protection and remediation strategy. Results: Following successful training pharmacists demonstrated good understanding of the source-pathway-receptor model and were capable of tailoring strategies to protect human health and future generations. Conclusions: The novel short training course was successful in developing postgraduate students' knowledge of environmental toxicology by providing a practical introduction to environmental health. The methods described here may be used for designing longer training events or courses of environmental toxicology for pharmacists who wish to work in the industry

Análisis de la impartición de un taller en toxicología ambiental

El título de Farmacéutico Especialista en Farmacia Industrial y Galénica se imparte en la Unidad Docente de Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica de la Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) desde el curso académico 2005-2006. Esta especialidad, es una Especialidad en Ciencias de la Salud, solo accesible vía Farmacéutico Interno Residente (FIR). Los objetivos de la formación de esta especialidad van encaminados a la capacitación de los alumnos para investigar, desarrollar, producir y garantizar la seguridad, eficacia y calidad de los medicamentos que fabrica. En el curso académico 2013-2014 se puso en marcha una novedosa iniciativa docente con el fin de capacitar al alumnado con herramientas básicas para la realización de una evaluación de riesgos a compuestos farmacéuticos presentes en nuestro medio ambiente para la prevención de la salud humana. Esta novedosa iniciativa surge por la actual demanda de trabajadores de la salud tanto en el sector público como en el privado, con conocimientos de toxicología ambiental y protección de la salud pública debido a los grandes índices de morbilidad y mortalidad causados por contaminantes ambientales. Para impartir estos conocimientos se creó un taller altamente especializado. Este trabajo describe los diferentes elementos del taller y recoge las impresiones del alumnado

Hablando y debatiendo en inglés en la Especialidad de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica

Ante la creciente necesidad de una constante formación y actualización del estudiante y del profesional egresado, el conocimiento y dominio de la lengua inglesa se hace ineludible. Esta visión del inglés ha sido clara entre los docentes que imparten el título de Farmacéutico Especialista en Farmacia Industrial y Galénica en la Universidad de Alcalá (UAH). Con el fin de que los alumnos de esta especialidad adquirieran como competencia en su formación cómo analizar, discutir u opinar en inglés, se ha creado un novedoso taller de 5 horas de duración que se imparte exclusivamente en inglés y que es altamente participativo. El taller se ha impartido en los cursos académicos 2013-2014 y 2014-2015, debido a la excelente acogida entre los estudiantes. Al comienzo del taller los alumnos reciben un guión en inglés. En este taller se discuten diferentes conceptos en relación con los productos farmacéuticos, la contaminación ambiental y la remediación de ambientes afectados por residuos farmacéuticos, además los alumnos deben cumplimentar una encuesta. Con la labor activa del docente, para generar interés por el tema, la sesión se desarrolla con completa normalidad presentando niveles del 98% de satisfacción entre el alumnado

Estudio de especialistas egresados en Farmacia Industrial y Galénica de la Universidad de Alcalá

La Especialidad de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica de la Universidad de Alcalá, es una Especialidad en Ciencias de la Salud en régimen de alumnado (RD 127/1984 de 15 de octubre). Comenzó su puesta en marcha en la Universidad de Alcalá en el año 2005 continuando en la actualidad. Esta Especialidad se imparte por profesores universitarios y cuenta además, con la inestimable colaboración de expertos de la Asociación Española de Farmacéuticos de la Industria, Farmaindustria, laboratorios farmacéuticos, profesionales de la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios e inspectores de la Comunidad de Madrid. En este trabajo, se pretende mostrar la experiencia profesional de los alumnos egresados de ocho promociones así como el nivel de aceptación con respecto a la organización y desarrollo del curso, las instalaciones, infraestructura y recursos utilizados, la calidad y motivación del profesorado. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la elevada adquisición de destrezas y habilidades de todos los estudiantes y su alto nivel de formación para acceder a un puesto de trabajo en la industria farmacéutica y otras instituciones o empresas tras cursar la Especialidad de Farmacia Industrial y Galénica. Se pone de manifiesto también la adecuación de las infraestructuras y recursos de nuestra Universidad

Opinión de los alumnos respecto a la asignatura del grado de farmacia “Formulación Magistral”

La asignatura Formulación Magistral es una asignatura optativa del Grado de Farmacia de la Universidad de Alcalá de carácter tanto teórico como práctico, se ha implementado en el presente curso académico 2014-15, con la intervención de varios profesores. Con objeto de ver la satisfacción de los alumnos en el diseño y puesta en marcha de esta asignatura así como su utilidad se ha diseñado un cuestionario de carácter anónimo para los alumnos matriculados. Este cuestionario fue cumplimentado por el 100% de los alumnos lo cual muestra un gran compromiso dado su carácter voluntario. El análisis de los resultados obtenidos muestra entre otros la gran utilidad de esta asignatura para su futuro profesional al adquirir no sólo conocimientos teóricos sino habilidades prácticas y competencias profesionales (56%). Además el 69% de los alumnos manifiestan que se han alcanzado los objetivos de la asignatura al proporcionar los conocimientos necesarios en el correcto diseño, elaboración, dispensación y aspectos legales de las formulaciones magistrales tanto a nivel hospitalario como de Oficina de Farmacia. El 42% de los alumnos han encontrado que las prácticas facilitan el autoaprendizaje. Aunque otros resultados sugieren la introducción de algunas mejoras para el próximo curso académico

Development of a formulation of potassium iodide tablets as an antidote against nuclear incidents

Objectives: Potassium iodide (KI) is a treatment to neutralize radioactive agents that could be inhaled or ingested in nuclear incidents. The inorganic salt KI constitutes a source of iodine, which in the body acts by accumulating in the thyroid gland, producing its saturation, and thus preventing the fixation of radioactive iodine species. In Spain, the Military Defence Pharmacy Centre (CEMILFARDEF) was challenged to develop this antidote to be distributed among the population surrounding nuclear power plants, in only one new solid pharmaceutical form for oral administration, in order to replace the two pharmaceutical forms available, which are capsules for adults and oral solution for children, considered less versatile.Methods: A selection of excipients was carried out to achieve pharmacotechnical behaviour suitable for the industrial manufacture of potassium iodide in tablets, complying with the pre-established process and finished product quality parameters. The development allowed the preparation of three industrial-sized batches on which the stability of the developed formulation was studied.Results: An uncoated 65 mg double-scored potassium iodide tablet was developed using easily accessible excipients in the formulation and direct compression as the manufacturing method. The formula com-plied with the stability tests, with which the development carried out can respond to the eventual demand that its elaboration would entail in the event of nuclear incidents.Conclusions: The developed formulation of a 65 mg double-scored potassium iodide tablet allows the great variability of user needs, from infants to adults with a single pharmaceutical form, which addition-ally implies logistical benefits in distribution, stock control and appropriate renewal according expiration dates, among the population surrounding nuclear power plants and available to deployed military personnel, in the event of potential nuclear incidents

Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foams by Sorbitol and Corn Derived Biopolyol Mixtures

Sorbitol arises to be a strong candidate for renewably sourced polyol synthesis. Moreover, processes for extracting sorbitol directly from cellulosic materials are effective, and materials such as agroforestry residues could be used as green sorbitol sources. Rigid polyurethane foams were successfully synthesized by using mixtures of a sorbitol based high functionality polyol and a corn based diol. Microstructure and properties of the rigid polyurethane foams were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal conductivity measurements, compression tests, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Results showed that the cross-linking density of the formed polymer network was directly modified by polyol mixture ratio, and microstructure and properties also changed in consonance. The incorporation of different amounts of a diol with longer chain length between hydroxyl groups allowed fixing the rigidity of the foams, opening the door to the possibility of designing rigid polyurethane foams with tailored properties.Financial support from the Basque Government in the frame of Grupos Consolidados (IT-776-13) and from European Union-FP7-PIRSES-GA-2012-BIOPURFIL program is gratefully acknowledged. Additionally, the author thanks the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) for funding this work (PIFUPV047/2011). Technical support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU, MINECO, GV/EJ, ESF) is gratefully acknowledged

Reflective practice applications: "Guided weekly refection papers" excented from Alcalá University (Spain) to the Montfort University (UK)

Edulearn16: 8th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies. Barcelona, 4th-6th of july, 2016-Barcelona, SpainKnowledge has to be developed firmly based on reflections and thoughts as much as evidence. Being conscious of this principle, our innovation teaching group from the University of Alcalá has developed a reflective pedagogical approach called Guided Weekly Reflection Papers (GWRP) and implemented it since 2007. In this approach students hand in to the lecturer their “weekly work”, in which they schematically express the most important ideas related with the topic presented during the classes, and their reflections and comments on those aspects which they found especially difficult or interesting. Moreover students have to apply the concepts developed during the week to solve some questions or problems proposed by the lecturers to find solutions to real life situations and to explore beyond the walls of the classroom to discover where in the world around them they can find application of the material presented by the lectures.This innovative pedagogical approach has deeply contributed to the development of the student learning process and consequently been reflected in our teaching practice. The outcomes of the GWRP activity do not depend upon how much students have been studying but upon the level of comprehension of the knowledge we have shared with them. Therefore this strategy is very useful to prove the efficiency and quality of our teaching practice which leads us to continuously improve our way of teaching. Over several years, we have shown our results both in internal meetings in our University and in International Conferences, our colleagues have been caught up by our enthusiasm, which promotes their involvement in our model. Thus, different academics and organizations have adopted our reflective pedagogic strategy. The most recent incorporation of this approach has been implemented by selected academic staff at De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester (United Kingdom). This versatile methodology is being tested in a new university educational environment using a student cohort with a different set of characteristics and academic context compared to previous cohorts. This communication will describe the adaptation of the GWRP to teaching in the Clinical Biochemistry module delivered as part of two different Bachelor degrees taught at DMU: Biomedical Science and Medical Science and the response of students enrolled in this programmes at DMU. The results of the GWRP implemented in new subjects by the teachers of the innovation group at the University of Alcalá (UAH) will be also analysed

Guided weekly reflection papers: a strategy for Achieving academic goals

Rapid changes in innovative teaching need multidisciplinary efforts to accomplish a variety of goals through a collaborative tool which inspires and stimulates the students to learn and use the knowledge in a more a critical way. In this context, our team of lecturers concerned by educational innovation had carried out during three academic years a learning tool based on “Weekly Reflection Papers” (WRP). With the experience gained in this process we have implemented an essential modification in the procedure in order to improve the teaching-learning process. The goal of this communication is to show the development of the initial tool and how it has been changed until the actual proposal called Guided Weekly Reflection Papers” (GWRP)

Raman spectral signatures for the differentiation of benzodiazepine drugs

The identification of benzodiazepine drugs is important in the forensics field because they are used in drugfacilitated crimes. Raman spectroscopy has been proven as a non-invasive, fast and reliable technique highly promising for the analysis of drug products. Until recently, attention has been paid to active ingredients, but the spectral drug product signature has rarely been used in spite of having potential valuable information. In this work, confocal Raman microscopy was used to obtain the spectral signature of the most widely used benzodiazepine products. Firstly, the study aimed at determining appropriate Raman mapping spectra to obtain each benzodiazepine signature with low sampling error. Then, PCA scores and loadings showed that the variability, measured on the variance, among batches of the same benzodiazepine drug was similar to the variability of the spectral signature of the same tablet (or capsule content) and the same batch, mainly attributed to the heterogeneity of such drug products. Interestingly, differentiation among doses of the same active ingredient (AI), benzodiazepine drugs with different AIs manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company, and drugs with the same AI but manufactured by different companies were demonstrated. It is remarkable that for low doses, the active ingredient is almost absent of the spectral signature, but the differentiation is mainly achieved by excipients. As a consequence, the spectral signature obtained by confocal Raman microscopy can be used for discriminating among these benzodiazepine drugs without requiring a clearly identifiable band related to the active ingredient in the corresponding Raman spectra