OVERVIEW

General Pathology is a discipline that studies the causes of the diseases, the pathogenetic mechanisms and the body's defense response to damage.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is aimed at understanding the etiological bases and pathogenetic mechanisms of human diseases, providing an adequate medical terminology. The study of General Pathology is divided into the following sections: Concept of health and disease; Intrinsic causes of disease; Environmental pathology; Cellular pathology; Oncology.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main purpose of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge on the causes and pathogenetic mechanisms of human diseases. Attendance at lectures and the individual study will allow the students a) to know the causes of diseases, b) to recognize cell responses to injury, c) to distinguish an acute inflammatory process from a chronic one; d) to describe the atypia of the neoplastic cell and classify tumors; and e) to acquire an adequate medical terminology.

PREREQUISITES

To effectively address the teaching content, the following basic knowledge is recommended: elements of cell and genetic biology; notions of anatomy and histology.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching is organized in frontal classroom lectures for a total of 48 hours. In periods of weather or health emergency, lectures are held remotely using the TEAMS platform.

Students with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with disabilities, are invited to contact the professor and the School/Department LSD contact person at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

INTRODUCTION. Fields of the study of General Pathology. Concept of homeostasis. Differences between the disease, the pathological state, process and phenomenon.

CELLULAR PATHOLOGY. Reversible and irreversible cell damage. Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis.

Adaptive cell response to injury: atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and metaplasia. Intracellular and extracellular degenerations. Steatosis. Amyloidosis.

GENERAL ETIOLOGY. Intrinsic causes of disease: gene, genomic and chromosomal mutations. Ionizing and exciting radiation and their effects. Trauma and wound healing. Burns and frostbite. Baropathies: nitrogen narcosis, gas embolism and hypoxia. Chemical causes: pH alteration, solvents, protein denaturing and toxicants. Mechanisms of biotransformation. Dietary causes: protein-energy malnutrition, anorexia and bulimia. Vitamins and related deficiencies. Obesity. Relationship of diet with atherogenesis and cancer.

INFLAMMATION. Phases of inflammation. Chemical mediators of plasma and cellular origin. Systemic effects of inflammation. Acute inflammation. Chronic inflammation. Granulomas.

FEVER. Heat production and heat loss. Febrile hyperthermia. Fever curves.

TUMORS. Molecular bases of tumors: oncogenes and their activation. Alterations of tumor suppressors. Etiology of tumors. Concept of initiation and promotion. Classification of tumors.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The teaching material and slides used during the lectures are available on Aulaweb.

Other specific information on the bibliography will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

General Pathology lectures begin in the second semester of the academic year at last February/early March.

The link to the Degree Course web page is as follows:

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&form-type=corso&include=corso&anno=2025&scuola=ScuoladiScienzeMedicheeFarmaceutiche&corso=8452&_lang=it

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test. Two exam sessions will be available during the winter period (January and February), one session during Easter holidays, three sessions during the summer (June and July) and two sessions during the autumn period (September).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to study for the exam and the level of depth of each topic will be provided during the lectures. The oral exam will focus on the discussion of some topics concerning the program and the professor will verify if the student has achieved the aims and learning outcomes. The ability to show, summarize and critically analyze the contents of the program will also be evaluated.       

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.