Farmacinema: recurso docente en el aprendizaje de Farmacología y Farmacia Clínica / Pharmacinema: teaching resource in the learning of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy

Introducción: El objetivo prioritario de la actividad Farmacinema es favorecer el proceso deenseñanza-aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Farmacología (Licenciatura o Grado en Farmacia), conuna metodología complementaria a la empleada en la enseñanza tradicional, utilizando películascomerciales para reforzar aspectos terapéuticos y bioéticos. Los estudiantes.Metodología: Losestudiantes pueden asistir a 3 sesiones distintas durante el curso: 2 en grupo amplio (80-100estudiantes) y una sesión en grupos reducidos (16), que se realiza en las prácticas de Farmacia Clínica.Las películas seleccionadas han sido: El aceite de la vida y Despertares en las sesiones generales, enel primer y segundo trimestre de curso, respectivamente; Los chicos de la señorita Evers y Eljardinero fiel en las sesiones en prácticas. En cada sesión el procedimiento utilizado es similar: breveintroducción sobre las características técnicas más importantes de la película así como los puntosfuertes, aspectos a destacar para enfocar el interés de los estudiantes a lo que creemos más útil paraconseguir los objetivos propuestos; visualización de la película y debate. Para motivar la atención delalumno hacia estos “puntos fuertes”, se les entrega un tríptico con la información básica sobre lapelícula y con una serie de cuestiones que tienen que ir contestando a lo largo de la sesión o bien alacabar ésta. Estas cuestiones sirven de base para plantear y suscitar el debate. Resultados yconclusión: La asistencia es voluntaria y ha ido aumentando en los tres años que se ha ofertado estaactividad. Los estudiantes valoran muy positivamente el Farmacinema(AU)

Introduction: The main objective of Pharmacinema is to favour the teaching-learning process ofPharmacology students of the School of Pharmacy, as a complementary method to the conventionallyused one, using commercial movies to reinforce therapeutic and bioethical aspects. Methodology:Students may assist to 3 different sessions throughout the school year: 2 in big groups (80-100students) and one in small groups (16 students) to be performed during the practical lessons of ClinicalPharmacy. The selected movies were: Lorenzo’s oil and Awakenings for the general sessions of thefirst and second trimesters respectively, Mrs Evers’ boys and The constant gardener for the practicallessons sessions. The procedure used for each session was similar: a brief introduction stating themajor technical characteristics of the movie ant the strong points, aspects to be pointed out in order toaddress the students’ interest towards what we consider most relevant to achieve the proposedobjectives; movie visualization and debate. To motivate the student’s attention towards these strongpoints, the students received a flyer with the basic information about the movie and a series ofquestions that they have to answer during or at the end of the session. These questions also are used asa start point for the debate. Results and conclusion: Assistance to the general sessions is voluntary,and has increased over the three years in which this activity has been offered. Students have evaluatedPharmacinema as a very positive activity(AU)

Treatment with a CO-releasing molecule (CORM-3) reduces joint inflammation and erosion in murine collagen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are a novel class of anti-inflammatory agents. We have examined the possible therapeutic effects of CORM-3 in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: Arthritis was induced in DBA-1/J mice by type II collagen. Animals were treated with CORM-3 (5 and 10 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) or the inactive compound iCORM-3 (10 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) unable to release CO, from days 22 to 31. Production of anti-type II collagen antibodies, cytokines and cartilage olimeric matrix protein (COMP) was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) by radioimmunoassay. Localisation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Therapeutic administration of CORM-3 suppressed clinical and histopathological manifestations of disease. The levels of PGE(2), interleukin (IL)1beta, IL2, IL6, IL10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha in joint tissues were inhibited by CORM-3. By contrast, CORM-3 augmented IL4. Anti-type II collagen antibodies and COMP levels in serum were reduced by CORM-3. Treatment with CORM-3 decreased cellular infiltration, joint inflammation and destruction, as well as the expression of COX-2, ICAM-1 and RANKL, whereas HO-1 increased. These beneficial effects were due to CO release, as iCORM-3 was ineffective. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the antiarthritic properties of CORM-3 in the CIA model and supports the notion that CO-RMs could be developed as a novel strategy for the treatment of inflammatory and arthritic conditions.