97322 - General Pathology -

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to understand the mechanisms underlying the main disorders

Course contents

Introduction to General Pathology

• Concepts of health and disease
• Homeostasis
• Etiology and pathogenesis
• Physical, chemical, biological, genetic, and environmental causes of disease
• Gene–environment interactions
• Basic principles of the epidemiology of chronic diseases

Cellular Pathology

• Cellular homeostasis
• Cellular adaptations (hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, and metaplasia)
• Reversible and irreversible cell injury
• Oxidative stress
• Autophagy
• Apoptosis
• Necrosis
• Cellular senescence
• Storage diseases and amyloidosis
• Cellular effects of environmental and occupational exposures

Inflammation and Tissue Repair

• Definition, characteristics, and signs of inflammation
• Damage signals (PAMPs and DAMPs)
• Molecular mechanisms of inflammation
• Cells involved in the inflammatory response
• Inflammatory mediators (cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandins)
• Acute and chronic inflammation
• Systemic effects of inflammation: fever and thermoregulation
• Tissue repair and wound healing
• Fibrosis
• Chronic inflammation and ageing (inflammaging)

Immunology and Host Defense Mechanisms Innate Immunity

• Natural barriers
• Neutrophils
• Macrophages
• Dendritic cells
• Natural Killer (NK) cells
• Complement system
• Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) and Toll-like Receptors (TLRs)

Adaptive Immunity

• Antigens
• Antibodies
• Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
• Antigen presentation
• B and T lymphocytes
• CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes
• Immunological memory

Immune Response

• Immune responses against bacteria and viruses
• Vaccines

Immunopathology

• Allergies
• Type I, II, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions
• Autoimmunity
• Immunodeficiencies

Infectious Diseases and Biological Risk

• Major infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites)
• Mechanisms of infection transmission
• Epidemiology of infectious diseases
• Principles of diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases
• SARS-CoV-2 as a model of an emerging infectious disease
• Biological risk in living and working environments

Molecular Pathology and Genetic Diseases

• Organization and function of DNA and RNA
• DNA mutations and repair mechanisms
• Monogenic genetic diseases
• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Multifactorial diseases
• Examples of inherited diseases:
  • Familial hypercholesterolemia
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors

Neoplasia and Carcinogenesis

• Benign and malignant tumors
• Characteristics of cancer cells
• Multistep carcinogenesis: initiation, progression, and metastasis
• Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
• Angiogenesis
• Chemical, physical, and biological carcinogens
• Environmental carcinogenesis
• Oncogenic viruses
• Principles of cancer prevention

Metabolic Diseases and Lifestyle

• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Lipid metabolism
• Dyslipidemia
• Atherosclerosis
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Risk factors and complications
• Ethanol metabolism
• Alcohol-induced liver injury and alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Role of lifestyle and environmental factors in the development of chronic diseases

Readings/Bibliography

Maurizio Parola, Patologia Generale ed Elementi di Fisiopatologia, II edizione o successive, EdiSES Università

Teaching methods

Lectures (24 hours).

The course consists of lectures supported by PowerPoint and PDF presentations, which will be available on the Virtuale e-learning platform. During the course, short quizzes and exercises will be provided both in class and on Virtuale to help students progressively assess their learning and prepare effectively for the final examination.

Assessment methods

Student learning will be checked at the end of the course through a written, true/false quiz.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Teaching slides will be available on line at Unibo e-learning website https://iol.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Maria Conte