C8328 - GENERAL PATHOLOGY

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the student is able to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cell injury, types of cell death, and cellular senescence, as well as their implications in pathology. The student acquires knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes involved in acute and chronic inflammation, immune function, and immunopathology, including immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, and autoimmunity. Moreover, the student is able to select, apply, and interpret appropriate experimental and diagnostic methods to study programmed cell death, cellular senescence, inflammation, and immune responses in both tissue sections and cell-based assays.

Course contents

MODULE 1 – Programmed Cell Death and Senescence [Silvia Sabattini]

Lecture topics

1. The normal cell: structure and function
2. Causes of cell injury and reversible cell injury
3. Irreversible cell injury and cell death: apoptosis and necrosis
4. Chronic cell injury, cellular adaptations, and intracellular accumulations
5. Cell cycle regulation, aging, and senescence

Laboratory/Practical Sessions

1. Immunohistochemistry for cleaved caspase-3
2. Immunofluorescence for Annexin V
3. Histopathology: recognition of cellular degeneration, apoptosis, necrosis, metaplasia, and dysplasia
4. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining
   
   

MODULE 2 – Immunity and Inflammation [Silvia Sabattini]

Lecture topics

1. Acute inflammation: mechanisms and histological patterns
2. Chronic inflammation: mechanisms and histological patterns
3. Systemic effects and outcomes of inflammation
4. Wound healing and tissue repair
5. Innate and adaptive immunity
6. Cell-mediated immunity: T-cell responses
7. Humoral immunity: B-cell responses and antibodies
8. Immune dysfunction: hypersensitivity, autoimmunity and immunodeficiency
9. Clinical immunology: transplantation and cancer

Laboratory/Practical Sessions

1. Sandwich ELISA for cytokine quantification
2. Histopathology and cytology of inflammation
3. Flow cytometry of canine lymph node
4. Critical appraisal of scientific articles on laboratory methods

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

Required readings:

• Zachary, J.F. (ed.) Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 7th edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier (Mosby), 2022.

Supplementary readings:

• Kumar, V., Abbas, A.K., Aster, J.C. (ed.) Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2020.

Teaching methods

The course includes both theoretical lectures and practical/laboratory sessions.

Considering the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance for this course requires the successful completion of Modules 1 and 2 via e-learning, and Module 3 on health and safety training in study environments. Information about the schedule and access to Module 3 is available in the dedicated section of the Degree Program website.

Participation in practical and laboratory sessions requires wearing a lab coat and appropriate footwear. Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as disposable latex gloves, will be provided as needed.

Assessment methods

The assessment for the Monodisciplinary Course “General Pathology” consists of a single written examination. The exam includes 20 questions: 10 multiple-choice questions and 10 short-answer questions, covering all topics included in the course syllabus. The examination is designed to assess the achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

Each multiple-choice question is worth 1 point, and each short-answer question is worth 2 points, for a maximum total score of 30 points. No penalty is applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. The duration of the examination is 60 minutes.

A minimum score of 18/30 is required to pass the exam.

No supplementary materials or electronic devices (e.g., calculators, tablets, smartwatches, computers) may be used during the exam, except for those explicitly allowed by the instructor.

The results of the written exam will be published within 5 working days on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ) by the designated course contact.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within 5 working days of the date of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade up to 3 times, by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Silvia Sabattini.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

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.

With regard to the learning assessment, limited, declared, and non-substantive use of AI is permitted for support activities, such as summarization and rephrasing. Use of AI to complete parts of the assessment task is not permitted.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slide presentations made available to students on the Virtuale Learning Environment; in-class quizzes; case-based discussions; and digital microscopy slides used during practical sessions.

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Sabattini