02359 - General Pathology and Physiopathology

Learning outcomes

The students will learn the etiology and the pathogenetic mechanisms of human diseases, the basic reactions to abnormal stimuli, the morphological changes they induce in cells and tissues, together with the systemic and functional consequences for the organism. The students will acquire the appropriate knowledge of the disease's denomination and of medical terminology.

Course contents

Introduction to Pathology . The concept of health and disease, of aging, of etiology. Basis of medical terminology.

Cellular pathology. Cellular adaptations, reversible cell injury, apoptosis and necrosis.

Inflammatory-reparative response. Etiology and classification of acute inflammation, chemical mediators, vascular changes and exudate formation, cellular events and phagocytosis. Chronic and granulomatous inflammation, tissue repair and wound healing, fibrosis. Systemic manifestations of inflammation: acute phase response and fever.

Diseases of immunity. Cells and tissues of the immune system. The complement system. Antigens and antibodies. Histocompatibility molecules. Hypersensitivity reactions. Transplant rejection. Immunologic tolerance. Mechanisms of autoimmune diseases.  Immunodeficiency diseases.

Neoplasia. Characteristics of benign and malignant neoplasms. Tumour classification. The molecular basis of cancer. The multistep process of  carcinogenesis. Metastasis.

Genetic diseases. Cytogenetic disorders involving autosomes and sex chromosomes. Transmission patterns of single-gene diseases: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked disorders. Disorders with multifactorial inheritance.

Environmental Pathology. Injury by physical agents: thermal and radiation injuries. Injury by chemical agents: tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse, lead intoxication, dust (silicosis, asbestosis, anthracosis).

Physiopathology. Hemodynamic and vascular disorders. Edema. Thrombosis. Embolism. Infarction. Shock. Hypertension. Atherosclerosis. Prion's diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease. Headache.

Readings/Bibliography

Kumar/Abbas/Aster – ROBBINS Basic Pathology– Edra ed. – 9° ed. 2013
F. Celotti- Patologia generale e Fisiopatologia - EdiSES - II Ed

Teaching methods

Lectures (64 hours)

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 diseases and the basics of immunology 
- To be acquainted with the most important effects of pathologies on cell and tissue morphology and organismal functionality.
The final grade is defined, through an oral examination, on the average of the marks obtained in three specific topics covered during the Course. 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 support (http://campus.unibo.it/)

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Pession