84427 - Neuropathology

Learning outcomes

Recognize the morphologic and molecular features of neurological diseases,and correlate them with their clinical presentation.

Course contents

The course will focus on the neuropathological aspects of central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

There will be an introduction to the basic pathological reactions of the CNS components, including neurons and glial cells, to different types of injury.

This will be followed by a discussion of the most common CNS disorders, including:

- Cerebrovascular disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic

- Trauma

- Inflammatory diseases: meningitis and meningoencephalitis

- Brain tumors, primary and metastatic

- Introduction to demyelinating diseases

- Basics of neurodegeneration

Readings/Bibliography

Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th Edition Authors: Vinay Kumar & Abul K. Abbas & Jon C. Aster

WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System, Ed. DN Louis, H Ohgaki, OD Wiestler, WK Cavenee IARC 2016

Louis DN et al The 2021 WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system: a summary Neuro-Oncology 2021; 23: 1231-1251

Teaching methods

Face-to-face and blended Synchronous Learning - Interactive lectures with Power Point Presentations.

Teaching materials and slides will be made available to the students at least the day before the lesson. During the lessons, it is important for students to have direct access (online or off-line) to the teaching materials in order to be able to concentrate on specific contents rather than on reproducing slides.

Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 60% of lessons.

For Integrated Courses (IC), the 60% attendance requirement refers to the total amount of I.C. lessons. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement will not be admitted to the final exam of the course, and will have to attend relevant classes again during the next academic year.

Professors may authorize excused absences upon receipt of proper justifying documentation, in case of illness or serious reasons. Excused absences do not count against a student’s attendance record to determine their minimum attendance requirement.

Assessment methods

Neuropathology accounts for 1 (of 15) CFU of the Final Exam within the Integrated Course of Neurological, Psychiatric Diseases and Pain (see below). A calendar for the exam will be posted AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.

Neuropathology Module Assessment:

Written or oral exam focused on the neuropathology topics discussed in class.

The exam will cover all the subjects of the course. The student should demonstrate his/her knowledge of specific subjects and the ability to understand the links between different parts of the course, and the use of appropriate terminology.

To pass the Final exam within the Integrated Course of Neurological, Psychiatric Diseases and Pain, the student will need to reach at least the pass-mark (18/30) in all modules of the I.C.; the final grade will be the marks weighted average. Cum laude will be considered when obtained in at least one of the modules with a full score (30/30) in the others. The student will be able to accept or decline the final grades. If a student did not pass one or more modules, he/she will be able to sustain again only the exam of the failed modules (maintaining the grades obtained in the others), as long as this occurred within the same academic year.

Gradation of the final grade:

Insufficient: lack of preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors.

18-19: knowledge of the basic concepts without serious gaps. Exposition of concepts and language as a whole acceptable.

20-24: knowledge of the basic concepts without gaps. Ability to analyze and link in partial autonomy. Exposure of discrete concepts and language.

25-29: preparation of good or very good level or even excellent preparation but with inaccuracies in the presentation that compromise the achievement of full marks. Ability to analyze and link independently. Exposure of concepts in the right succession and mastery of the language.

30-30L: full preparation, consolidated and without inaccuracies on the topics covered in the course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and connect independently. Concepts in the right succession and full command of the specific language.

Teaching tools

pdf files of the power point presentations distributed through the platform virtuale.unibo.it

Students are encouraged to attend the lectures with a printout of the relevant file downloaded or bringing electronic devices to access the relevant material during the lecture.

Office hours

See the website of Caterina Giannini