San Diego State University Disease Pharmacology Discussion

MSCI 520
RESEARCH PAPER: DISEASE PHARMACOLOGY ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The paper assignments in this course focus on diseases that highlight normal physiologic processes,
mechanisms of alterations to these processes that result in the diseases and the therapeutic manipulations
of molecular players in an attempt to restore homeostasis. In addition to exploring these processes, the
assignments are also aimed at helping students enhance their scientific inquiry skills including current
literature review and scientific communication. Theses afford students an opportunity to complete a
research journal-type of work that is relevant to a career in the field of biomedicine and healthcare.
INSTRUCTIONS
Paper Topic:
Your instructor will assign you a disease topic for your papers. Your references MUST include at least 5
recent primary research articles, 3 of which are from journals published by the American Physiological
Society (APS). There are 7 American Journal of Physiology (AJP) journals to choose from: Cell
Physiology; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology; Heart & Circulatory
Physiology; Lung, Cellular & Molecular Physiology; Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology;
and Renal Physiology. In addition, there are a few other journals published by the APS that include
primary research that can be found on their website.
Writing the papers:
Research Paper: Disease Pharmacology
Start the body of the paper on a new page after the title page. You should review current research on at
least five (5) pharmacological management options for the disease you focused on in Research Paper:
Disease Physiology/Pathophysiology, including drugs in clinical trials. Your review should include these
components:
1) The physiologic rationale for using the drugs in treating your assigned disease.
2) The mechanisms of action of these drugs.
3) The side effects of these drugs and their contraindications.
4) The dosages and routes of administration of the drugs.
This section must include a minimum of 5 unique references that are recent and are cited in AMA format,
and the paper should be 3 pages long exactly.
Figures
Figures are allowed in any section, but do not count towards page count. These can be your original
figures/drawings or (if properly cited) from one of your sources. Place all figures at the end of the paper.
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MSCI 520
Formatting the paper:
1) The title page for each paper should include the title of the entire project; course name, number,
and section number; professor’s name; and date. Title page does not count toward the page count.
Please refer to the AMA sample paper.
2) Paper must be double-spaced, including between paragraphs. New paragraphs should be started
with a single tab.
3) Paper must have 1” margins on all sides.
4) Font must be 12 pt., Arial font (regular).
5) Minimum lengths refer to full pages; a full page is 23 lines of text. Do not use section headings for
“filler” as these will not count towards page count. Short or long papers will be penalized based on
the amount written/missing.
6) Direct quotations are not appropriate for this project; you are to write a paper, not copy and paste
from other papers.
7) All references must be professional peer-reviewed articles.
8) Your in-text citations and references need to be in current AMA format.
Failure to follow any of these formatting instructions will result in loss of points. (See rubrics.)
Each section will be graded on clarity and demonstration of mastery of topic. The information must be
accurate, and the writing must indicate thorough graduate-level work. The writing level and style should
be the same as the peer-reviewed professional articles you use for your sources.
Please review the Academic Honor Code to ensure you are following it when writing the paper. Penalties
for Academic Dishonesty can include failure of the assignment or the entire course.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
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