Learning objectives
The course will allow the student to acquire the knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts in general pathology, immunopathology and animal pathophysiology
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The student will acquire detailed knowledge on the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of cellular and tissue damage in relation to the various etiological causes of disease, cellular, of tissue adaptation and cell death and on the etiological and pathogenetic of neoplasms (General Pathology) as well as damage tissue mediated (Immunopathology). This will allow him to fully understand how these pathological processes evolve as well as how the local and systemic defensive response develops with particular reference to inflammation and regenerative and reparative response, to acute phase reactions, to innate and acquired immune response to biological infectious agents.
The student must also know and be able to fully understand the pathophysiology aspects of the main organs and systems (Physiopathology)
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING ABILITY
The student will have to demonstrate to apply the knowledge of pathology in order to be able to easily characterize an elementary pathological process, consider it in the context of a tissue and organ context above all for the purpose of the local functional implications but also of the systemic repercussions in the course of insufficiency of organ.
In the practical activity related to the histopathology laboratory, students will acquire the ability to identify the main aspects of cellular damage (cellular and extracellular degeneration) through the observation of pathological preparations at the level of various tissues under the microscope; this activity is preparatory to the histopathological evaluation for diagnostic purposes which will be done during the pathological anatomy exam of the third year.
With the immunopathology laboratory, the students will participate in making whole blood sample management techniques for the phenotyping of lymphocytes by flow cytometry for the purpose of functional evaluation of the efficiency of the immune response.
In the blood physiopathology laboratory, students will participate in the preparation of a cytological preparation from whole blood and will learn the protocols for the analysis and diagnostic management of anemia pictures.
In the practical activity related to joint physiopathology they will acquire the ability to recognize macroscopic lesions of osteoarthritis of osteochondrosis for the purpose of a differential evaluation.
In certain topics (Pathophysiology of the defensive response, Joint and blood physiopathology (anemia), through the application of "Solving problems", the student will be allowed to use the knowledge and understanding acquired in some problems of practical application relating to aspects of pathophysiology of the defensive response and organ failure.
There are self-assessment tests on the knowledge of the program for the purpose of preparing for the final exam.
Prerequisites
Propedeutics to: Pathological Anatomy – Internal Medicine – Pathologoicaol Surgery and Radiology – Infectious Diseases – Ostetrics
Propedeutics done: Microbiology and Iiia e Immunologia - Epidemiologia, Fisiologia II - Endocrinologia
Course unit content
The contents of General Pathology are the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the tissutal and cellular damage, the cell and tissue adaptation and the cell death, as well as the processes of the defensive response (the inflammation and the innate immunity, the regenerative and reparative responses, the acute phase reaction and the defensive response against the biological pathogens). Moreover, the etiology, pathogenesis and physiopathology of the neoplastic diseases are treated. The main arguments treated in the immunopathology, are the hypersensitivity and the autoimmune diseases with reference to the specific spontaneous disease, the causes of immunosuppression as well as the pathophysiological aspects and the modulation of the immune response during viral and bacterial infections. The part of Pathophysiology provides the detailed knowledge on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the functional insufficiency at the level of major organs and systems.
Full programme
CONTENTS OF THEORETICAL LESSONS
GENERAL PATHOLOGY
Homeostasis, health and disease : basic concepts of causes and pathogenesis of the diseases.
Etiopathogenesis (causes of cell and tissue pathology)of the diseases: - Infectious agents (the main mechanisms of injury by virus e bacteria); - the main mechanisms of chemical injury, of physical agents (radiation injury, thermal injuries, mechanical forces); - the general aspects of nutritional deficiencies.
Cell, tissue and systemic adaptive response:
-Molecular aspects of cell (heat shock proteins, anti-oxidants, response to DNA damage) and tissue adaptation (hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, metaplasia).
Reversible and irreversible cell injury:The models of cell damage by hypoxia and free radicals.
Cellular and extracellular degenerations: cloudy swelling, hydropic and vacuolar degeneration, steatosis, intracellular protein accumulation disorders, fibrinoid necrosis, sclerosis, pathological calcification.
The cell Death:
- Necrosis: biochemical and morphologic aspects, types of necrosis;
- Apoptosis: causes (physiologic and pathologic apoptosis), morphologic and biochemical features and mechanisms.
The inflammation:
-General features: etiology, classification and development
The Acute inflammation and immune innate response
- vascular and cellular events of acute inflammation;
- inflammatory and innate immune cells;
- chemical mediators of inflammation outcomes of acute inflammation;
- Cellular events and regulation;
- the mechanisms of connection to acquired immune response.
The primary chronic inflammation and granulomatous inflammation (causes and pathogenetic mechanisms).
Acute Phase Reactions.
Tissue renewal and repair: regeneration; repair by healing; cutaneous wound healing; factors influencing wound healing.
Neoplasia: definition, general features and nomenclature; molecular basis of cancer (oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, apoptosis genes); biology of the neoplastic cell (transformation and progression, heterogeneity); etiology and epidemiology (chemical, radiation and microbial carcinogenesis); differential aspects between benign and malignant neoplasms and classification; invasion and metastasis; immune response against neoplastic cells; paraneoplastic syndromes.
IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
Hypersensitivity: etiology, pathogenesis and examples of immune-mediated diseases ( Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV hypersensitivity).
Autoimmunity : mechanisms of immunologic tolerance, general concepts and pathogenetic mechanisms, mechanisms of immune-mediated damage, examples of autoimmune diseases.
Immunosuppression: hereditary and acquired immunodeficiency.
Infection and immunity: damage by hypersensitivity, by autoreactivity and immunesuppressive effects.
PHYSIOPATHOLOGY
Physiopathology o the infection: damage by virus and bacteria, endotoxic and septic shock, the innate and adaptive immune response to virus and bacteria.
Physiopathology of joints: pathogenesis and gross lesions of osteoarthritits and osteochondrosis.
Bone physiopathology: calcium/phosphorus imbalances and metabolic bone diseases.
Physiopathology of blood: leukocytosis, leukopenia, anaemia, polycvthemia, haemostasis and thrombosis.
Hemodynamic disorders. edema, hyperaemia, , embolism, infarction, hemorrhagic disorders, shock.
Physiopathology of kidney: acute and chronic failure, nephrotic and uremic syndromes.
Physiopathology of water and acido-base imbalances: dehydration, acidosis and alkalosis.
Hepatic physiopathology: jaundice, steatosis, liver failure.
Basics of lung and cardiac physiopathology the respiratory failure, edema, emphysema, the hearth failure.
CONTENTS OF PRACTICE ACTIVITY.
1) LABORATORY of histopathology:
a) etiopathogenetic aspects of cellular degenerations and of types of acute and chronic inflammations (evaluation topics in the exam)
b)observation of microscopic features of cell degenerations and types of acute and chronic inflammations (only propedeutics to exam of anatomical pathology at third year).
2) LABORATORY OF IMMUNOPATHOLOGY: application of parameters and techniques for cytometry for lymphocyte characterization (Portfolio activity: take part in doing)and to evaluate the efficiency of immune response (Immunogical parameters)
3) LABORATORY OF PHYSIOPATHOLOGY OF BLOOD:
a) Evaluation protocols for anaemia's diagnosis (evaluation topics in the exam)
b) Preparation of cytologic samples of blood for description and evaluation of cases of anaemia (only propedeutics to exam of anatomical pathology at third year).
4) CLASSROOM PRACTICE and solving problems on "Markers of organ damage" and "inflammatory markers"
5) CLASSROOOM PRACTICE and problem solving regarding joint physiopatology with observations of macroscopic features of osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis for the evaluation on differential diagnostic aspects).
5) SELF-EVALUATIONS tests about several aspects of the programme and "open discussion" with the teacher.
Bibliography
PREPARATORY BOOKS FOR EXAMINATION:
1) V Kumar, A. Abbas, N. Fausto: “Robbins e Cotran: Le basi patologiche delle malattie. vol. 1 Patologia Generale” (2010), Elsevier Italia, Srl, Milano.
2) McGavin M.D., Zachary J.F. Patologia generale veterinaria. (2008). Elsevier Masson, Milano.
3) M.A. Russo, L. Frati, G.M. Pontieri. Patologia Generale vol. I e II (2009) Piccin, Padova. Piccin, Padova.
TEACHING MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON-LINE:
1) SLIDES OF LECTURES provided for SINGLE TOPIC;
2) SCHEMATIC DISPENSA ON ALL THE TOPICS COVERED DURING THE COURSE: The dispensa should be only an INTEGRATION and COMPLETION of the study on one of the TEXT recommended; at the end of the exam MAY BE USEFUL as they provide an overview and summary of the arguments in condensed form and by schemes for a general review on the contents of the course.
3) PATHOPHYSIOLOGY DISPENSA. The animal physiopathology is a more extensive and complete dissertation of the topics covered in class, above all to make up for a current lack of available books on this subject
Teaching methods
The lectures (classroom teaching: 72 hours) were carried out the topics of the program by presenting Power Point slide.
Practicals (20 hours) is carried out in multi-seat laboratories of histopathology and immunopathology/ pathophysiology as well as through the activities of "Class room practice" in which students will face problems on the practical aspects of pathophysiology ("solving problems"). Test of self-assessment tests with open discussion with the teacher on argomentoi being examined were also included.
Assessment methods and criteria
EXAMINATION
The assessment of learning, as the achievement of the indicated training objectives, is made on the ability to know and understand the contents of all three disciplines of General Pathology, Animal Pathophysiology and Veterinary Immunopathology as well as on what has been done in the practical activity.
Type of exam: the student can choose between oral Or a written exam.
1) ORAL EXAMINATION:
a) three questions on the topics covered in the lectures and precisely one question on general pathology and oncology, one on immunopathology and one on physiopathology.
b) The assessment is completed by a question on what has been done in the practical activity:
- a question on types of degeneration, types of inflammation, immune parameters, diagnostic protocols for anemia;
- a question on LYMPHOCYTE PHENOTYPES for the evaluation of portfolio activity.
The final grade out of 30 will depend on the global evaluation of the various answers.
2) WRITTEN EXAMINATION: 15 questions to be carried out in 2 hours and which consist of:
a) Multiple choice question on theoretical and practical topics;
b) Brief explanation of the answer and/or addition to the topic.
Each answer is assigned a variable score from 0 (completely wrong or missing answer) to 2, for a total of 30
points. It is possible to assign fractions of points to each answer (e.g.: 2.5 points).
However, there will be a short oral test for the definition of the final grade out of 30.
Examples of written test are available online (elly.didattica)
DURING THE COURSE IT IS POSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT a self-assessment test of learning. The test, however, is OPTIONAL and will be carried out towards the end of the course on the topics of General Pathology, Oncology and Immunopathology carried out and will focus on multiple choice tests.
This assessment, if accepted by the student, may be considered by the teacher as an integration of the final oral assessment of knowledge and competence on the whole program in the official exam sessions.
At the request of the students, self-assessment tests AIMED AT VERIFYING PREPARATION AND TAKE THE EXAM may be scheduled during the course.
Students with SLD, BES or disabilities must send requests to be able to take advantage of measures during the exam
compensatory and/or dispensatory at least 10 working days before the scheduled date for the exam by e-mail addressed to the teacher in charge of the course and in cc to the Department contact person (list of contact persons and related email addresses available here http://cai. unipr.it/it/student-con-dsa-e-con-bes/42/) and at the Welcome and Inclusion Center (cai@unipr.it).
Other information
The teacher is at students disposal for further explanations on the contents, during the course and for exam's preparation, and tutorial assistance. For this purpose, the reception is possible for students from Monday to Friday prior agreements via-email.
