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, physiology and general pathology

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activities are conducted through lectures with the aid of screen presentations. The teaching material is available in PDF format on AulaWeb, allowing students to learn and deepen their understanding of the topics listed in the course program and required for passing the final exam.

There are no fixed office hours for student consultations, but students can contact the instructors via email to arrange an appointment for further explanations.

Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the instructor and the disability coordinator of the School at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Hematopoiesis

The hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow transplant / HSC

Erythropoiesis

Anemias. Classification and general considerations

Bone marrow aplasia

B12 and folate deficiency anemia

Thalassemia, Iron deficiency anemia

Auto and alloimmune hemolytic anemias

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Hemostasis and bleeding diathesis

Abnormalities of the vascular wall, thrombocytopenia

Alterations of clotting factors

The neoplastic transformation; benign and malignant tumors; metastasis

Local and systemic effects, paraneoplastic syndromes

Molecular basis of cancer

Oncogenes and related neoplastic diseases

Oncosuppressors and related neoplastic diseases

Epidemiology

Risk and prognostic factors, stage, grade

Cancer stem cells (CSCs)

Hematological neoplasms: classification and general considerations

Myeloid neoplasms

Lymphoid neoplasms

Angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment

Anti-tumor immune response

Neoplasm and inflammation

Atherosclerosis

Ischemic heart disease

Rheumatic fever

Hypertension

Heart failure

Renal physiopathology and acute and chronic renal insufficiency and failure.

Salts and water balance (in particular water, sodium and potassium balances)

Acid-base equilibrium: overview and analysis of respiratory and metabolic disorders of the acid-base balance. Simple and mixed disorders.

Diabetes mellitus and its acute and chronic complications

Dyslipidemias: lipoprotein metabolism, Fredrickson classification, primary and secondary causes of dyslipidemia.

Some examples of alterations of nitrogen metabolism

Thrombosis and Thrombotic Risk

Embolism

Shock: general features and causes

Hypovolemic, Cardiac and Neurogenic Shock

Respiratory System Pathophysiology

Acute and chronic respiratory insufficiencies

Hypoxia, anoxia, cyanosis

COPD and pulmonary emphysema

General characteristics of bronchial asthma

Immunopathology of pulmonary fibrosis

Gastrointestinal system pathophysiology

Main gut pathologies

Immune-mediated intestinal diseases

Liver and biliary tract pathophysiology

Etiopathogenesis of hepatitis, NAFLD, NASH, cirrhosis, hepatocarcinogenesis

Causes of jaundice

Pathophysiology of the immune response

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Elsevier

Altucci L. et al, Patologia generale, Ed. Idelson Gnocchi

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

The aim of the course is also to familiarize students with online biomedical scientific literature (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed)

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)

GUIDO FERLAZZO (President)

NICOLA TRAVERSO (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st semester, 3rd 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, 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, Nicola traverso, Guido Ferlazzo

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 (Aulaweb)