INTEGRATED COURSE IN PHISIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2019/2020
- Teacher
- RITA CANELLA
- Credits
- 12
- Curriculum
- BIOTECNOLOGIE PER LA SALUTE
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
Training objectives
- The course is divided into two modules: one referring to the physiology and the other to molecular pathology.
MODULE OF MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
The objective of the molecular physiology module is to provide students with the foundation for approaching the study of physiological systems and their interconnections and to understand the basics of pathophysiological mechanisms.
The main knowledge gained will be:
• Structure of biological barriers and description of transport mechanisms located therein
. Some homeostatic mechanisms such as thermoregulation, management of the flow of energy in the body and hormonal control.
• Features of excitable tissues with particular regard to the propagation of nerve impulses and muscle excitation-contraction coupling
• Physiology of the digestive system
• Cardiac activity
• Introduction to blood physiology
MODULE OF MOLECULAR PATOLOGY
The aims of the course are to understand the molecular mechanisms leading to genetic diseases. In particular, the student will learn about novel technologies that have been developed during the last few decades, epigenetics, a detailed description of the pathological basis of genetic disorders (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked diseases, diseases due to triplet expansion). Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the changes brought about by mutations and how these cause different diseases. The students will acquire knowledge essential to understand the pathological basis of diseases. Additionally, students will learn the basic concepts of general pathology and will be taught the basics of immunology. Prerequisites
- Prerequisites for the Molecular Physiology module
For this module are not requested introductory courses.
As prerequisites, the following knowledge are requested:
• elementary concepts of electrology and fluid dynamics;
• knowledge of the basic concepts of chemistry, the properties of the elements and inorganic compounds and major organic molecules of biological interest;
• knowledge of cell structure and organization of tissues;
Prerequisites for the Molecular Pathology module
Students do not have to have passed specific exams but it is expected that students have a solid base in genetics, biochemistry and physiology in order to fully understand the basic mechanisms of diseases. Course programme
- Contents of the molecular physiology module
The molecular physiology module includes 48 hours of lectures on the following topics:
Areas of study of physiology
Definition of isolated, closed and opensystems. From the cell to the body. Functional Organization of the organism. Internal homeostasis and hormonal regulation. Energy exchanges. External relations and communication mode.
Physiology of biological membranes and transport mechanisms
Structure of biological membranes. Transport mechanisms in free form. mediated transport. Endocytosis and exocytosis. Ionic fluxes and membrane potential. Ion permeability. Gibbs-Donnan Balance. Hodgkin Goldman and Katz equation .
Excitable tissues
Electrophysiological Techniques. The action potential. The voltage-clamp technique. The Hodgkin-Huxley model. Comparison between the model predictions and the current knowledge.
Nervous tissue
Highlights onorganization of the nervous system. Cytology of neurons and glia. The conduction of the action potential. Electrical and chemical synapses; the chemical transmission mechanism: pre- and postsynaptic phenomena; direct and indirect synapses; biochemistry of the synaptic receptors. Sensory systems.
Physiology of the muscle
Skeletal muscle: the muscle fiber structure; excitability; contraction; excitation-contraction coupling; mechanical properties of the muscle; energy metabolism and muscle contraction. The smooth muscle: highlight of cellular organization, contractile apparatus and muscle mechanics, excitability and contraction.
The digestive tract
General structure. Motility and electrical activity. Secretion. nervous and hormonal control. Digestion in the various sectors: from the mouth to the large intestine. Exocrine and endocrine pancreas. The liver and biliary secretion. The absorption of nutrients.
The heart
anatomical and histological notions. General properties: excitability, contractility, conduction, refractory, rhythm, sequential activation. The mechanical function: the cardiac cycle; cardiac output. extrinsic regulation: the nervous control; The humoral control.
The endocrine system:
Hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hormones of the adenohypophysis and the neurohypophysis. Thyroid-parathyroid and control of calcemia. Adrenal glands. Endocrine pancreas and blood sugar control. Hormones of male and female gonads
Contents of the module of molecular pathology
General concept of molecular pathology (4 hours);
Basic concepts of immunology and general pathology (12 hours);
mutations and inheritance ( 2 hours);
methods in molecular pathology (4 hours);
diagnostic methods, diagnosis and pharmacogenetics (4 hours);
molecular pathology of tumors and cancer cells (6 hours);
neuromuscular diseases (dystrophies, myotonias, congenital myopathies)(tot 6 hours);
congenital metabolic disorders (2 hours);
cystic fibrosis (2 hours);
xeroderma pigmentosa (2 hours);
Articles on subject decided by the lecturer. Didactic methods
- Molecular Physiology: The course is theoretical and uses lectures.
Molecular Pathology: The course is theoretical and does not include a practical laboratory. Learning assessment procedures
- For the molecular physiology module, the aim of the examination is to test the level of achievement of learning objectives previously indicated.
The exam consists of 16 closed questions with 4 answers of which only one is correct. For each correct answer 2 points, each answer not given 0 points, every wrong answer -0.5 points.
The test aims to evaluate the study of the subject and the understanding of the basic subjects. The score to pass the exam is 18. It is not allowed to consult texts or use PCs, smart phones, calculators, etc. ;
Total time planned for the test is 30 minutes.
Molecular pathology exam:
Students have to pass a written multiple choice exam of 31 questions. The questions cover all lecture material and will assess student knowledge on the subject and his or her understanding of molecular pathology. During the examination, students are not allowed to consult textbooks, computers, smartphones, smartwatches etc. The exam will last 1 hour.
REGISTRATION OF FINAL VOTE:
To have the registration on the eletronic booklet of the final vote resulting from the average of the two partial votes, it is NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT TO SUBSCRIBE to one of the DEFINITIVE APPS that will be created at the end of each exam session. IT DOES NOT NEED TO PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO THIS APPEAL, which serves only for the final verbalization.
THE FINAL VOTE WILL RESULT FROM THE ROUNDED MEDIA FOR EXCESS, OF THE VOTES OBTAINED AT THE LAST PASSED EXAMINATION FOR EACH MODULE. Reference texts
- For molecular physiology: notes provided by the teacher; to access use the link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kFNYzdvHjtGwbc_66Mggu9Sh4H8RE7FX?usp=sharing
Texts:
AA.VV., FISIOLOGIA UMANA Elementi, Casa Editrice EdiErmes
Guyton and Hall., TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY, Saunders Elsevier
For molecular pathology:
Texts:
1. Le basi cellular e molecolari delle malattie per le lauree triennali e magistrali. A. Albi, F.S. Ambesi-impiombato, F. Curcio, B. Moncharmont, A. Palese, Sorbona Editori, 2019 Edizione Idelson-Gnocchi.
2. Principles of Molecular Pathology Anthony A. Killeen , Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey 2010.
3. Scientific Articles available through the” libreria universitaria”.
