OVERVIEW

Pathology is the study (logos) of suffering (pathos). It is a bridging discipline connecting basic science and clinical practice, and is devoted to the study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs that underlie disease. Through molecular, microbiological, immunological and morphological studies, General Pathology investigates the different causes of disease and their pathogenic mechanisms to favor the development of effective therapies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The learning outcome is the knowledge the main responses of tissues to injuries mediated by exogenous or endogenous agents.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide students
- the notions necessary to understand causes (endogenous or exogenous) and mechanisms underlying important human pathologies
- a general understanding of how the immune system controls and defends the body's well-being
- the ability to integrate different knowledge leading to patients' evaluation during the clinical practice

At the end of the course, the student will be able to
• Know the causes and mechanisms of cell and tissue damage
• Recognize the characteristics and indicators of an inflammatory process
• Understand the genesis and evolution of common human diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer
• Know the benefits and possible negative effects of the innate and adaptive immune response
• Apply knowledge to guide therapeutic choices

PREREQUISITES

Notions of biology, biochemistry and physiology

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activity is carried out through lectures with the aid of on-screen presentations. The teaching material is available in pdf version on Teams or aulaweb, to allow the student to learn and deepen the topics indicated in the course program and required for passing the final exam.

In case of changes in the health and epidemiological situation, the lessons will be held in remote (Teams).

There are no student reception hours, but students can contact the teachers by email in order to make an appointment for further explanations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Environmental factors of disease: physical causes (radiation, temperature extremes and mechanical energy); chemical causes.

Mechanisms of xenobiotic biotransformation.

Cell pathology: adaptation (atrophy/hypertropy, metaplasy, neoplasy) and death (necrosis and apoptosis).

Innate immunity: cells and molecules, local and systemic inflammation, acute and chronic, histological variants of inflammation, tissue damage repair and regeneration.

Adaptive Immunity: generation, education and function of B and T lymphocytes

Type I hypersensitivity

Mention of immune system’s diseases (immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory diseases)

Mention of Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and HSC transplants

Mention of Overview of anemia and hemostasis disorders

Atherosclerosis and mention of cardiovascular disease and rheumatic fever

Oncology: benign and malign neoplasms, the abnormal metabolism of cancer cells, 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). Cancer stem cells (CSC), Tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment.

Immune responses against cancer, Natural killer cells, tumor escape mechanisms, tumor-associated inflammation.

Environmental causes of cancer: physical, chemical and biological carcinogenesis.

Optical microscope evaluation of pathologic tissues (different types of inflammation and cancer).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Elsevier

Abbas & Lichtman Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Elsevier

The didactic material is available in pdf format for download (Teams or aulaweb)

Students with SLD, disability or other special educational needs certification are strongly encouraged to contact the teachers at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching methods which, respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory instruments.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CRISTINA BOTTINO (President)

ROBERTA RICCIARELLI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2nd semester, 2nd year

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The end-of-course exam aims to evaluate the achievement of the educational objectives of the course. The exams take place on the dates indicated in the calendar. Verification is oral, in presence, conducted by two teachers for each student. The grade is assigned as a weighted average. The teachers verify the achievement of the educational objectives by asking diversified questions relating to the programs actually carried out during the lesson hours. When the educational objectives have not been achieved, the student is invited to better verify his knowledge and to take the exam again in its entirety.

There are no student reception hours, but students can contact the teachers by email in order to make an appointment for further explanations.

Exam Commission: Proff. Cristina Bottino, Roberta Ricciarelli

In case of changes in the sanitary and epidemiological situation, the exams will be carried out in remote (TEAMS).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Verification of learning takes place only through the final exam which aims to verify the actual acquisition, by the student, of the expected learning outcomes. In order to pass the exam, with a score of not less than 18/30, the student must demonstrate that they know and connect the topics covered during the course

The following contribute to the final mark expressed out of thirty:

- Ability to deal with the requested topics in a transversal and critical manner;

- Correctness, clarity, synthesis and fluidity of presentation;

- Mastery of the subject;

- Adoption of appropriate terminology

The mark of 30/30 with possible honors will be awarded when the knowledge / skills of the subject are excellent.

Students with SLD or other regularly certified special educational needs will be able to agree on written or oral modalities with the teacher, by contacting the teachers at least 10 days before the exam. They can also take advantage of 30% additional time.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance allows the student to better learn the contents of the course because the teacher provides detailed explanations during the lessons and frames the topics with continuous references to the most current discoveries in the field of the subject. The teaching material is available online (Teams or Aulaweb)