The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

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MM: BIOCHIMICA
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Basic knowledge of general and organic chemistry preparatory for biochemistry. Structure-function relationship of the most important biological macromolecules and of the metabolic regulation at the molecular level. Cross-talk between the different biochemical pathways and the energy level changes associated.
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MM: FISICA APPLICATA
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To understand the fundamental concepts of Mechanics in order to be able to describe and analyze a body movement (tipically the human body) in terms of its kinematics and kinetics behaviour.
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MM: STATISTICA MEDICA
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To collect and sinthesize data from a clinical or epidemiological research, give a summary measure and be able to interpret the main statistical results, knowing how to construct and interpret a graphical representation of the summary of the results. Knowing how to interpret confidence intervals and major statistical tests.
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MM: BIOLOGIA APPLICATA
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The course purposes are to give basic knowledge about living organism characteristic (procariots, eucariots, viruses), through the acquisition of the fundamental concepts of a) biology and of the structural, functional and molecular principles of cellular processes and of b) human genetics (mode of transmission of hereditary characters and molecular basis of genetic diseases).

Program

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MM: BIOCHIMICA
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PREPARATORY CHEMISTRY (several notions are included in the basic knowledge required) 1. Atomic structure and periodic properties of the elements: matter composition, atom, atomic particles; atomic theory; quantum numbers, and orbitals; electronic configuration, periodic table and chemical reactivity of the elements; electronic affinity, electronegativity. 2. The chemical bond: molecules and ions; ionic and covalent bond; intermolecular forces; hydrogen bond. 3. Solutions and acid-base reactions: concentration of the solutions, acid-base theories of Arrhenius and Brőnsted-Lowry; hydracids, hydroxides, oxyacids; acid-base reactions; pH and buffer solutions. 4. Organic chemistry notions: carbon atom properties; hybrid orbitals; organic compounds classification: functional groups; hydrocarbons; alcohols, ethers, thiols, amines, aldehydes and ketones; carboxylic acids, esters, anhydrides. BIOCHEMISTRY 1. Constitutive elements of the living matter: polymeric structure of the biological macromolecules. 2. Protein structure and function: aminoacid classification, buffering power, peptide bond, levels of protein structure; fibrous and globular proteins; hemoglobin and myoglobin: structure, function, factors influencing the oxygen bond; hemoglobin variants; enzymes: classification, role in the chemical reactions, regulation of the enzymatic activity. 3. Vitamins: hydro- and lypo-soluble vitamins; co-enzymes. 4. Bio-energetics: metabolism; chemical transformations in the cell; spontaneous and non-spontaneous reactions of the metabolic reactions; ATP as “energy exchange coin”; biologically relevant redox reactions. 5. Carbohydrates structure and metabolism: mono- and disaccharides; polysaccharides; glycoconjugates; glycolysis and its regulation; gluconeogenesis; hints of the penthose phosphate pathway; synthesis of the glycogen. 6. Citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation: mitochondria; acetyl-CoA synthesis; citric acid cycle control; respiratory chain and electron transport; ATP synthesis. 7. Lipids structure and metabolism: structural lipids and biological membranes; cholesterol; stock-reserve lipids; lipids digestion and fatty acid β-oxydation; keton bodies formation; hints of fatty acids biosynthesis. 8. Aminoacid metabolism: hints of gluco- and keto-forming aminoacids; transamination and oxidative deamination; the urea cycle.
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MM: FISICA APPLICATA
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INTRODUCTION examples, measurement units POINT KINEMATICS position, displacement, velocity, acceleration linear motion, circular motion vectors POINT KINETICS Forces, Newton's laws Power, work, kinetic energy, potential energy, mechanical energy Conservative and not-conservative forces examples ROTATIONAL DYNAMICS AND EQUILIBRIUM rigid body definition, translation and rotation Moment of Inertia Torques Static equilibrium of a rigid body examples
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MM: STATISTICA MEDICA
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Use of statistics in health data Collection and presentation Measurement procedure and Variable types Precision and accuracy of a measurement procedure Tables 1 and 2 entries Absolute and relative frequencies Cumulative frequencies Graphical representation of the data Position and dispersion measures Mode Quantiles and median Simple and weighted mean Range and standard deviation Coefficient of variation Introduction to probability Definition of probability Rule of addition and multiplication Independent and conditional probability Introduction to statistical inference The concept of statistical inference Inference techniques: Binomial and Gauss distribution, confidence intervals and Hypothesis testing Diagnostic and screening test:Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value of screening
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MM: BIOLOGIA APPLICATA
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- Characteristics of the living beings. Organization levels of living organisms. Symbiosis. Autotrophy and heterotrophy. - Water: characteristics and biological importance. - Structure, function, replication of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell. Role of the cell compartmentalisation. - Biological membrane: structure, properties and function. Passage of materials across cell membranes. Cell junctions. - Cell communication. - Cell cycle and its regulation, mitosis, meiosis, cell death. Sexual and asexual reproduction. - The human genome. Organisation of DNA in chromosome. Chromatin structure and composition. - DNA: structure, function, replication. DNA and its role in heredity. Definition of gene. Informational pathway: transcription, RNA maturation, genetic code, translation and protein synthesis. - DNA mutation and repair. - Chromosomal bases of inheritance: Normal and pathological human karyotype. - Hereditary character transmission and Mendel’s laws. Mode of genetic information transmission: autosomal and sex-linked heredity. Introduction to transmission of complex characters. - Hereditary and genetic diseases. Examples. Somatic mutations and cancer.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

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MM: BIOCHIMICA
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Written test: 10 multiple choice questions (2 ponits each), plus 2 open questions (0 to 5 points each).
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MM: FISICA APPLICATA
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Written test with questions about theoric concepts and exercises
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MM: STATISTICA MEDICA
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The exam consists of a written test consisting of multiple-choice tests and exercises with answer.
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MM: BIOLOGIA APPLICATA
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Written test (multiple choice quiz and open questions) based on the educational content of the course. Contextual to the other teachings of the integrated course.