OVERVIEW

The course gives students the fundamental elements of pathophysiology, which are essential for the successive comprehension of clinical medical sciences.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Physiopathology is a branch of medicine that combines physiology and pathology especially in the study of altered bodily function in disease. The learning outcome is the knowledge of the main physiopathological mechanisms of organs and systems,  in order to recognize the mechanisms and causes of their malfunction, and to be able to interpret the symptoms, which will be exposed to the students in the successive clinical courses

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of the main physiopathological mechanisms of organs and systems, with particular regard to blood, liver, kidney, respiratory and digestive systems, some aspects of endocrinology and metabolism, and the physiopathology of neoplasms.

PREREQUISITES

basic knowledge in anatomy, histology, biochemistry, immunology and physiology

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, with any possible dialectic interaction with students

In case of sanitary emergency, lessons will switch to remote learning

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), mesenchimal stem cell (MSC), HSC transplant (HSCT).

Erythropoiesis, classification and examples of anemia: aplastic, paroxysmal nocturnal nemoglobinuria (PNH), immune hemolytic, deficiency (Fe, B12 and B9), drugs-mediated, secondary to chronic disorders.

Hemostasis and examples of hemostasis disorders (endothelium, platelets or coagulation factors abnormalities).

Oncology: benign and malign neoplasms, metastasis, local and systemic effects, paraneoplastic syndromes. Epidemiology (risk and prognostic factors). Molecular basis of tumor transformation: oncogenes, oncosuppressors and examples of tumors. Epigenetic mechanisms (methylation, miRNA). Hematological malignances: classification and examples of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms. Cancer stem cells (CSC), Tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment. Immune responses against cancer, tumor escape mechanisms, tumor-associated inflammation.

Pathogenesis and consequences of dyslipidemias. Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, Acute rheumatic fever (ARF), essential and secondary hypertension.

Classification of renal diseases, and acute and chronic renal failure. Hydro-electrolytic balance, in particular sodium and potassium. Acid base balance and its alterations.

Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus.

Pathophysiology of lipoprotein metabolism

Examples of nitrogen metabolism: phenylketonuria, hyperhomocystinemias, gout

Pathophysiology of the respiratory system.

Pathophysiology of the liver and the biliary tract: acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and ascites, hepatic failure, portal hypertension, cholestasis, icterus, systemic effects of liver damage

Liver metabolic diseases: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Hemochromatosis and Hemosiderosis
Wilson disease
Overview of most common digestive disorders
Overview of most common pancreatic  disorders

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Elsevier

The didactic material is available in pdf format for download (https://www.aulaweb.unige.it). The aim of the course is also to familiarize students with online biomedical scientific literature (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CRISTINA BOTTINO (President)

MARIA ADELAIDE PRONZATO (President)

NICOLA TRAVERSO (President)

ANNA MARIA BASSI

CINZIA MARIA DOMENICOTTI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st semester, 3rd year

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exams. The students are evaluated by two professors about any of the subject of the course program.

On line exams in case of sanitary emergency

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination consists in several questions, starting from more general questions to more precise ones, in order to assess the knowledge of the students. Students must know the main physiopathological mechanisms of the selected organs/systems and demonstrate the ability to connect different subjects of the program.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

The didactic material is available in pdf format for download (https://www.aulaweb.unige.it)

Students can contact the teachers by mail  (information, appointment)