90316 - General Pathology Lab-based Course (A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the general elements of histopathology and is able to recognize the microscopic morphological alterations of cells and tissues, caused by morbid processes and fundamental defense reactions against pathogens; - will be able to describe and interpret the pathological picture of the preparation, tracing it back to the specific etiopathogenetic mechanism; - understands the limits and diagnostic potential of the histopathological investigation.

Course contents

General course contents - Epithelial and mesenchymal tumors, metastases. Degenerations and amyloidosis. Necrosis and heart attack. Acute and chronic inflammation. Granulation tissue. Sclerosis. Cirrhosis. Atherosclerosis. Thrombosis.

Specific course contents - General histopathological and pathogenetic characteristics of the following Laboratory topics: Benign and precancerous lesion; Malignant tumors of epithelial and mesenchymal origin; Metastasis; Degenerations and amyloidosis; Necrosis and infarction. Acute inflammation: purulent appendicitis, lobar pneumonia, fibrinous pleurisy, necrotic-hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia. Acute and chronic purulent inflammation: purulent bronchitis, purulent bronchopneumonia, acute kidney abscess, chronic kidney abscess, myocardial actinomycosis. Chronic granulomatous inflammation: foreign body granuloma, secondary pulmonary tuberculosis, miliary pulmonary tuberculosis, recent lymph node tuberculosis, advanced lymph node tuberculosis, renal tuberculosis. Connective tissue neoformation: young granulation tissue, granulation tissue at various stages, granulation tissue in pulmonary infarction, liver cirrhosis, cirrhosis with steatosis, myocardiosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis: medial calcific sclerosis and fibrous plaque, atherosclerosis with fibrous plaques, atherosclerosis with intramural hemorrhage, atherosclerosis with fat necrotic plaque, atherosclerosis with parietal white thrombus, atherosclerosis with aneurysm and thrombus in the aneurysm. Thrombosis: variegated venous thrombus, organization of a venous thrombus, thrombophlebitis, pulmonary infarction, thrombosis of the aneurysm, white parietal thrombus on atheromatous plaque.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides, videos and virtual microscopy platform provided by the Teacher.

Teaching methods

The course is divided into lectures, virtual microscopy and laboratory drill lessons. The individual topics of the drill lessons are presented in the classroom by the teacher and related to the corresponding topics covered in the General Pathology and Physiopathology Course. Even the individual preparations are illustrated in the classroom by the teacher, who will highlight both the morphological aspects and the pathogenetic path that led to the specific pathological picture. The specimens will be visible "on-line" thanks to the virtual microscopy platform. Observation is particularly useful for consolidating and reviewing what has been learned through the teacher's explanation. There are also explanatory videos of each preparation of the course. In the drill lessons, students will be divided into groups to ensure individual access to the microscopes.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral and aims to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the student on the teaching topics in order to achieve the educational objectives. The exam assesses the student's ability to frame the topic of general pathology or general physiopathology on which he/she is questioned and to expose it by making the necessary logical-deductive connections, also in relation to specific morphological alterations. The coherence of the conceptual succession and the appropriateness of the scientific language are further elements of evaluation. The examination of the General Pathology and Physiopathology Course includes the observation and oral description of a microscopic preparation up to the recognition of the specific histopathological picture.

Graduation of the final grade.

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

18-19: knowledge of the basic concepts without serious gaps. Exposure 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 control of the specific language.

The exam will focus on the topics covered in class and will be supported with the Professor who taught. Each student will therefore take two tests in Pathology and General Physiopathology which will contribute 50% to the final grade. The General Pathology and Physiopathology exam will take place together with the General Pathology Laboratory test. The final grade will derive from the mathematical average of the marks reported in the two individual tests, approximated by excess (-,5). Honors will be awarded to the Student who has been proposed for honors by at least one of the two Professors and only if the full grade (30/30) has been achieved in the other part.

Teaching tools

The teaching material used by the teacher for the presentations in the classroom will be available on the "Virtuale" teaching support platform. The specimens are visible "online" thanks to the virtual microscopy service smartzoom.unibo.it. The system allows you to "explore" the specimens online from your PC. The General Pathology Laboratory has 48 microscopes with which students, divided into groups, can practice observing individual specimens.

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Dall'Olio