The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

The student must acquire knowledge of the mechanisms of cellular and molecular damage and of the pathogenetic processes and mechanisms of reaction to restore health. The main training objectives are:
• understanding of the mechanisms of cellular and molecular damage;
• learn about reactions to biological damage which are crucial in the process of healing/repair or pathology, with an emphasis on mechanisms of immunity, inflammation, wound healing and chronic biological processes;
• gain knowledge of scientific terms and language that are used in medical practice in order to effectively communicate with other health care professionals.

Program

I. Introduction:
- general concepts
- the pathological process as an alteration of homeostasis
- adaptation, compensation and responsiveness
- pathogenesis
- etiology
II. Cellular Pathology:
-cell death: necrosis and apoptosis
- pathogenetic processes implicated in cellular damage
III. Natural immunity and acquired immunity:
- innate immune cells
- adaptive immune cells
IV. Tissue responses to cell damage:
- acute inflammation: changes in flow and vascular permeability;
- inflammatory exudates (types, composition, localization);
- mechanisms controlling phagocyte migration to the inflammatory sites
- effector functions of phagocytes: oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent bactericidal mechanisms, phagocytosis
V. Mediators of acute inflammation: plasma-derived mediators and cell-derived mediators
- coagulation system, complement system, vasoactive amines
- cytokines
VI. Evolution of the acute inflammatory response:
-tissue repair, regeneration and fibrosis
-chronic inflammation: chronic systemic diseases that affect the joints and connective tissues
VII. Neoplasms

Bibliography

Examination Methods

The evaluation consists of three written assignments (one for each Unit: General Pathology, Pharmacology and Microbiology) with multiple choice questions. The specific evaluation criteria for each assignment are shown on the web page of each single Unit. The exam is considered valid if a positive evaluation is achieved in each assignment. The final grade is calculated as a weighted average of the grades achieved in each Unit.