Describe the role of immune modulators.

PHARMACOLOGY CLASS

Written Assignments

1. Describe the role of immune modulators. What is the difference between immune modulators and immune suppressants?

• Immune modulation refers to any process in which an immune response is altered to a desired level. Immune cells may either be suppressed or enhanced. The difference is the way these two drugs work. immunomodulators disrupts production of the signals which determine how many immune cells get produced, but immunosuppressants kills immune cells that have already been produced.

2. 2. Protecting a child from injury and infection is an important nursing consideration with immune-suppressant therapy. Develop a teaching plan for a 10-year-old on immune-suppressant therapy status post kidney transplant.

3. Define active immunity and passive immunity. Give an example of each type of immunity.

• Passive immunity is provided when a person is given antibodies to a disease rather than producing them through his or her immune system. Passive immunity is immediate whereas active immunity takes several weeks to develop because the persons immune system must generate the antibodies for a disease to which the person was exposed.

4. You are working with a family who is opposed to vaccinations for their new infant. What is your nursing responsibility in this situation?

5. Compare and contrast the MMR vaccine with three other vaccines. When comparing vaccines, consider therapeutic actions, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse reactions, and important drug–drug interactions.

6. Compare and contrast immune globulin with three other medications from the immune sera group. When comparing immune sera, consider therapeutic actions, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse reactions, and important drug–drug interactions.

Web/Written Assignment

1. Several new monoclonal antibodies are introduced to the drug market each year. Conduct a search for a new monoclonal antibody. Describe therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, common adverse reactions, and important drug–drug interactions for the medication.

In 2015, two monoclonal antibodies were approved for the treatment of MM, daratumumab (DARA, CD38) and elotuzumab (SLAMF7). These are the first approved antibodies for the disease and reflect a paradigm shift towards the incorporation of immune therapy into MM care. Monoclonal antibodies are generally well-tolerated and associated with a favorable toxicity profile that is conducive to their incorporation into existing regimens. CD38 is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed in low levels on lymphoid and myeloid cells, and highly expressed on MM cells making it an attractive target for MM therapeutics. It is multifunctional and is involved with calcium flux and signal transduction in lymphoid and myeloid cells. DARA is a human immunoglobulin (Ig)G1κ monoclonal antibody that targets CD38. In preclinical models, DARA was shown to elicit cell death through four mechanisms: antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and inhibition of the enzymatic activity of CD38

2. Immunization schedules are updated annually. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site http://www.cdc.gov/ and find the current immunization schedule for an infant between birth and 18 months. List what vaccines are recommended and at what age. The current immunization schedule for a child between the ages of 24 months and 18 years. List what vaccines are recommended and at what age. What immunizations are recommended for adults and older adults?

3. A patient is traveling to a foreign country (select country of your choice). Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web sitehttp://www.cdc.gov/ and determine what vaccines are recommended for foreign travel.

The Republic of Congo:  Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Hepatitis A, Malaria and Typhoid vaccines are recommended when visiting the Republic of Congo.  Yellow fever vaccine is required for arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is ≥9 months of age. The following are recommended depending on the length of stay: Hepatitis B and Rabies.