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ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND HUMAN HEALTH

CODE 61770
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
  • 2 cfu during the 2nd year of 11158 BIOLOGIA APPLICATA E SPERIMENTALE(LM-6) - GENOVA
  • SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/09
    TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
  • SEMESTER 2° Semester
    TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

    OVERVIEW

    The module aims to provide students with an adequate study of the substances present in the environment and how they can interfere with the proper functioning of natural hormones in humans.

    AIMS AND CONTENT

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    The module aims to provide students with an adequate study of the substances present in the environment and how they can interfere with the proper functioning of natural hormones in humans.

    AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

    Participation in the planned training activities (lectures) will allow students to acquire the general knowledge and fundamental notions about endocrine disrupters and the effects they may have on human health.

    The module aims to define the endocrine disruptors (EDs), the modalities of dispersion and accumulation in the environment, the modalities of exposure, the adverse effects on human health, the molecular mechanisms with which they act and the legislation on the matter.

    The student must be able to:

    • Knowing the various categories of endocrine disruptors;

    • Acquiring the mechanisms of interference with the endocrine system;

    • Understanding the causality between exposure to a given ED and the onset of hormone dysmetabolism.

    Skills acquired at the end of the module: At the end of the module the student must have acquired a general overview of the mechanisms of interference of all phases of synthesis of secretion, transport, action and degradation of lipophilic hormones both from a molecular and an organ point of view. The skills acquired will make it possible for the student to have an adequate understanding of international publications on endocrine disruptors.

    PREREQUISITES

    Knowledge of the Human Physiology program.

    Knowledge of the main aspects of Endocrinology and Molecular Biology.

    TEACHING METHODS

    The teaching consists of lectures. Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended. Part of the course could be carried out with didactic modalities different from lectures, eg: Problem based learning.

    Please refer to the specific AulaWeb application for teaching for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

     

    Some scietific papers are also used as well as some slides are in english

    SYLLABUS/CONTENT

    • Endocrine disrupters (EDs): definition and historical outline. Bioaccumulation, biomagnifications. NOAEL and LOEL. Molecular mechanisms of action of EDs. Assays for the identification of EDs.

    • EDs and ovarian function: polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis. Leiomyoma / fibroma, precocious puberty, lowering of the probability of fertilization and pregnancy, preterm birth, underweight birth, alteration of the menstrual cycle.

    • EDs and male reproductive health: congenital cryptorchidism, hypospadias, semen quality, testicular dysgenesis syndrome, germ cell carcinoma of the testis.

    • EDs and thyroid hormones: goiter or thyroid nodules, congenital hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism or Graves' disease, thyroid cancer.

    • EDs and cancer: hormonal tumors of the breast, of the endometrium, of the ovaries, of the testicles, of the prostate and of the thyroid.

    • EDs and alterations of lipid homeostasis.

    RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Slides and material provided by the lecturer

    TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

    Exam Board

    ELENA GRASSELLI (President)

    LAURA CANESI

    ILARIA DEMORI (President Substitute)

    LESSONS

    LESSONS START

    To agree with the students

    EXAMS

    EXAM DESCRIPTION

    During the module, each student is asked to participate in the Journal Club, which consists of summarizing and presenting a review or a paper published in scientific international journals through a brief exposure with power point. This activity will affect on the exam grade.

    The examination procedure for the assessment of the achievement by the student of the objectives set will take place with an oral examination, and will always be conducted by a Commission consisting of at least two tenured teachers (or in cases limited by a tenured professor and an expert on the subject designated by the CCS). The Commission, appointed in this way, is able to verify with high accuracy the achievement of the educational objectives of the teaching.

    Booking: https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami/prenotazione

    At least 3 calls will be available in the winter session (January-February) and 3 calls in the summer session (June, July, September).

     

    Please refer to the specific AulaWeb application for teaching for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

    ASSESSMENT METHODS

    The Commission accurately verifies the achievement of the educational objectives of the teaching by asking different questions related to the program actually carried out during the lessons of the module.

    The students are asked to summarise by power point presentation a paper choosen by the students.

    For the final evaluation of the student the commission will evaluate the following requirements: level of knowledge of the topics covered by the questions, exposure skills, ability to reason and link with other topics of the course. In the event that the training objectives are not achieved, the student is invited to better verify his / her knowledge and possibly to make use of further explanations by contacting the teacher in charge of the module.

    Exam schedule

    Date Time Location Type Notes
    15/06/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    11/07/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    18/07/2023 09:00 GENOVA Orale
    18/09/2023 11:00 GENOVA Orale