66430 - Veterinary General Pathology and Molecular Oncogenesis

Learning outcomes

The student knowscell and tissue pathologic processes, in particular molecular pathogenetic processesin regressive, difensive, neoplastic trasformation and in vascular disorders. The student is able torecognize a pathologic process.

Course contents

At the end of the teaching the student knows the pathogenetic mechanisms that lead to the establishment of purely functional to morphologically overt alterations. He/she knows the terminology defining regressive (atrophies, degeneration, apoptosis, and necrosis) and inflammatory processes, and the concepts related to their pathogenesis. Is able to apply the general concepts acquired to the pathophysiology of the apparatuses and to recognize, through histological preparations, the main lesions.  At the end of the study, students know the underlying tissue damage mechanisms at the base of hypersensitivity reactions and transplant rejection, the mechanisms by which autoimmune diseases materialize and immunodeficiencies, and the development of tumors (morphology, invasiveness, metastasis) and the pathogenetic mechanism of neoplastic transformation. The student is able to recognize the main tumor types on histological preparations.

The final exam will be verbalized by prof. Brunetti.

 

Veterinary General Pathology

Aims of the course, study materials, books, exam. cell injury, reversible cell injury and irreversible cell injury. Cell adaption, acute cell swelling, vacuolar degeneration. Protein and lipid accumulation. Tissue degeneration. Atrophy, Classification of necrosis. Apoptosis and gangrene. Inflammation: changes in vascular flow and caliber, exudation and leukocyte extravasation, fluid and cellular components of inflammation, molecular basis of inflammation, acute and chronic inflammations.  Hypersensitivity reaction I, II, III, and IV type and organ transplant

Molecular oncology

Biology of tumor growth: benign and malignant neoplasms (differentiation, anaplasia, rates of growth, cancer stem cells and cancer cell lineages, local invasion, metastasis). Molecular basis of cancer (essential alterations for malignant transformation, the normal cell cycle, self-sufficiency in growth signals, oncogenes, protooncogenes, oncoprotein, insensitivity to growth inhibitory signals, tumor suppressor genes, evasion of apoptosis, DNA repair defect and genomic instability in cancer cells, telomerase, development of sustained angiogenesis, invasion  and metastasis, stromal microenvironment and carcinogenesis, dysregulation of cancer-associated genes). Molecular basis of multistep carcinogenesis. Carcinogenic agents and their cellular interaction (chemical carcinogenesis, radiation carcinogenesis, microbial carcinogenesis). Host defense against tumors, tumor immunity (tumor antigens, antitumor effector mechanisms, immune surveillance). Clinical characteristic of tumors. Effect of the tumour in the host. Tumoral grading and staging. Laboratory diagnosis of tumours.

The program in detail (Syllabus) is available on the website of the Course of Studies.

Readings/Bibliography

Material explained in the classroom by the lecturer can be found on Virtuale

 Suggested texts.

• Kumar V., Abbas A.K., Aster J.C. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic basis of disease, 10th ed, 2020 (Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia).
• Stevens A., Lowe J.S., Young B.: Wheater Istopatologia essenziale - Testo Atlante. III Edizione, 2004 (Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano)
• Zachary J.F. McGavin M.D.: Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease,6th ed., 2016 (Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri, USA).

Teaching methods

The course consists of 40 hours of lectures and 8 hours of practical work.

The lectures are conducted in classroom with the aim of a computer, a projector and when necessary the use of a database of images (Noas'h Arkive), which allow the viewing of microscopic and macroscopic presented lesions. Many videos on youtube are also shown on the topics covered, videos are in English, so in addition to strengthening the visual memory thanks to the animations, the learning of the English language is practiced.
The practical lessons  will be held in a classroom equipped with optical microscopes and a microscope connected to a videocamera and to a projector for interactive explanation of the provided slides. For each slide, the student has at its disposal a card with a description of the preparation and the teacher is available to provide any additional explanation.
The aims of the practical lessons are twofold:
• students acquire familiarity with the optical microscope - acquisition of professional skills;
• students develop the ability to recognize organs and lesions and, to use the appropriate language when describing histological sample - acquisition of diagnostic skills and communication

Assessment methods

For the final exam are provided at least 3 questions. The exam lasts about 30 minutes. To be promoted it is necessary to answer all three questions in a sufficient way or to respond optimally to two out of three questions.

Final Grade Grading:
Substantially comprehensive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and linking, full command of specific terminology, and ability to argue and self-reflect (30-30L).
Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology (25-29).
Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to analyze independently only on purely executive issues; expression in correct language (20-24).
Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to analyze emerging only with the help of the lecturer; expression in overall correct language (18-19).

Students with DISABILITY or DSA, should contact the lecturer to have adaptations to the teaching in class phase or in the final evaluation phase, by email, entering in C/C the reference personnel by whom he/she is followed (of the appropriate DISABILITY or DSA service) and the Department contact person who is currently Prof. Fabiana Trombetti.

Teaching tools

Projector connected to a light microscope, PC, youtube video.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Brunetti