Ateneo - UPO

Basic knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for glomerular, tubulo-interstitial and vascular nephropaties, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), basics of dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Recognition of the main signs and symptoms of syndromes associated with nephropathies and their interpretation in the context of systemic diseases.

Harrison, Medicina Interna: Malattie del rene e delle vie urinarie
Floege, Johnson, Feehally: Comprehensive clinical nephrology
Ronco, Bellomo, Kellum: Critical Care Nephrology
Garibotto, Pontremoli: Manuale di Nefrologia

Knowledge of epidemiologic data, pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches of the most relevant renal diseases.
Recognition of the "main renal syndromes" in the clinical scenario of different nephropathies and of systemic diseases.
Clinical management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Basic knowledge of artificial (dialysis) and natural (transplantation) substitution of kidney function in chronic uremic patients.

Basics of renal anatomy and physiology mainly based on the determination of renal function.

Classical lectures aimed to evaluate acquired knowledge on pathogenesis and diagnosis of main kidney diseases.
Development of practical skills in the Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation Unit (basics of renal ultrasound, urine sediment, management of dialysis and kidney transplantation).
Support with other didactic material available on DIR (slides and film concenrning different topics of nephrology, dialysis and kidney transplantation).

Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit is the main location of the School of Specialization in Nephrology at UPO. We have active clinical and translational research projects and ongoing clinical trials in collaboration with national and international centers and scientific societies such as SIN (Italian Society of Nephrology), SITO (Italian Society for Organ Transplantation), ERA (European Renal Association). Prof. Cantaluppi is the Elect Chair of the ERAKI Working Group, the ERA group aimed at studying Acute Kidney injury (AKI) in european countries.
The following are the main international research partners and topics:
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (USA): Prof. Hamid Rabb. Immune-mediated mechanisms
of AKI and inflammatory organ cross-talk. Studies on immune-mediated rejection in allo- and
xenotransplantation.
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Sweden): Prof. Peter Stenvinkel, Prof. Karolina Kublickiene: studies
on Early Vascolar Aging (EVA) mediated by uremic toxins in AKI and end-stage CKD. Neuroinflamamtion and neurodegeneration processes during uremia.
- University of California San Diego-UCSD, San Diego, CA (USA): Prof. Ravindra L. Mehta. Epidemiologic studies on AKI incidence and clinical relevance in different hospital settings.
- Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham (UK): Prof. Nicholas Selby: research project within ERAKI Working Group on AKI incidence and progression toward CKD.
-University of Pittsburgh, PA (USA): Prof. Hernando Gomez, Prof. John A. Kellum: clinical and translational study on the protective role of metformin on mitochondrial dysfunction in tubular
epithelial cells occurring during sepsis-associated AKI.
-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (USA): Prof. Kianoush Kashani: Epidemiologic studies on AKI incidence and CKD progression through the potential use of AI and Digital Health approaches. -University of Michigan, MI (USA): Prof. H. David Humes: studies on immunomodulation in AKI and multiple organ failure during extarcorporeal therapies with SCD (Selective Cytophoretic Device).
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble (France): Prof. Lionel Rostaing, Dr. Paolo Malvezzi: studies on mechanisms of immune-mediated kidney graft rejection and clinical application of apheresis techniques for immunologic desensitization.

Written test formed by 20 questions on basic knowledge and clinical quiz on Nephrology main topics discussed during the classic lessons integrated with the other modules (Endocrinology, Gastroenterology).
After the written test (al least 18/30 for each module needed), oral test aimed at describing clinical evaluation and diagnostic suggestions for a nephropatic patient with verification of basic knowledge in a specific clincial scenario

Principles of anatomy and physiology of the kidney. Evaluation of renal function: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and Renal Functional Reserve (RFR). Main electrolyte and acid-base disorders. Imaging in clinical nephrology (native and transplanted kidneys). Interpretation of urinary sediment. Renal biopsy: analysis of the most frequent histological lesions in optic, electronic microscopy and immunofluorescence.
Renal syndromes: acute and chronic nephritic syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, isolated urinary abnormalities, rapidly progressive syndrome.
Pathologic meaning of hematuria and proteinuria. Mechanisms of glomerular immunopathology.
Primary glomerulonephritis 1 (associated with nephrotic syndrome): minimal change nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy.
Primary glomerulonephritis 2: IgA nephropathy, post-infective glomerulonephritis, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and vasculitis.
Secondary glomerulonephritis: lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases, diabetic nephropathy, amyloidosis.
Glomerular inherited diseases.
Mechanisms of tubulo-interstitial immunopathology, Acute and chronic. tubulo-interstitial nephritis.
Tubular inherited diseases: Autosomic Dominant Polycistic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and other cystic diseases affecting the tubulo-interstitial
compartment.
Vascular nephropathy.
Metabolic aspects of kidney stones formation.
Renal alterations during pregnancy and hypertensive disorders.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Artificial substitutive therapy for acute and chronic renal failure: basic of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Clinical management and complications of kidney transplantation.

Knowledge and understanding of basic signs, symptoms and clinical/lab alterations of the most relevant kidney diseases, also in the context of systemic diseases affecting the kidney such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, infections and metabolic diseases (diabetes). Application of this knowledge to build a diagnostic and therapeutic path. Knowledge and understanding of the main clinical problems for General Practitioners or non-nephrologist specialists concerning the substitutive treatmetns of renal function such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation). Practical knowledge of the essential elements to diagnose kidney diseases (renal ultrasound, urinary sediment analysis, methods for the evaluation of glomerular and tubular function).