84965 - Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Metabolism Disorders

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - Has learned the bio-molecular basis that supervises the control of hormonal secretion. He knows the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the main metabolic disorders, in particular obesity and diabetes. He gained knowledge of animal and cellular disease models.

Course contents

Radical damage: reactive oxygen and nitrogen monoxide species. Alcohol damage: alcohol metabolism and cellular damage.
Hepatic steatosis:  macro and microvesicular steatosis. Food steatosis. Hormonal steatosis and increased lipogenesis. Toxic and hypoxic steatosis. Alcoholic steatosis: toxic effects of alcohol and mechanisms that influence alcoholic liver disease. Non alcoholic steatosis. Extrahepatic steatosis. Pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. Fibrosis and remodeling of the vascular bed. Consequences of cirrhosis.
Atherosclerosis. Risk factors for atherosclerosis. Mechanisms of formation of atheromatous plaques.
Diseases caused by mutations of genes that encode enzymes. Phenylketonuria, galactosemia. Lysosomal storage diseases. Glycogen storage diseases.
Nutritional diseases. Diabetes mellitus. Physiological regulation of blood sugar. Role of tissues in glycemic homeostasis. Etiological classification of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes: epidemiology, pathophysiology, etiological factors, pathogenesis. Acute complications and long-term complications.
Molecular and cellular pathophysiology of the endocrine system. General organization of the endocrine system. Hormones and receptors. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis
The thyroid: general aspects of thyroid pathology and pathophysiology.
The role of nutrition in the pathogenesis of cancer.

Teaching methods

Pdf or Power Point support will be utilised during the lessons and a copy of it will be available for the Students at the beginning of the Course. Interesting Pathology-related Internet locations will be available also

Assessment methods

The final test aims at verifying the achievement of the following teaching purposes:

- To be familiar with the pathogenesis and etiology of the main human diseasesof endocrin sistem

- To be familiar with the pathogenesis and etiology of storage diseases and diabetes

The final grade is defined, through an oral examination, on the average of the marks obtained in the two teaching modules. The evaluation will consider the capability to explain the contents in a synthetic and complete fashion.

In order to go through the final exam, the students must register in the electronic board respecting the deadline. Students that are not able to register can be admitted to the final proof anyway, provided they contact the professor by e-mail before the expected deadline.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be supplied on informatic supports ( http://campus.unibo.it/ )

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Pession