Ateneo - UPO

Mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diseases, including cell and
tissue damages, inflammation, and cancerogenesis

“Patologia Generale & Fisiopatologia Generale” Mainiero-Misasi-Sorice et
al. VI edizione Piccin Editore (Tomo I) - MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY WB
Coleman-GJ Tsongalis, Academic Press - Elsevier

knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms involved in determining the
cell damage, alterations of tissue and general homeostasis, the
inflammatory response e
the development of neoplasms

Student should possess the fundamental basic knowledge of cell biology,
anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, and medical genetics.

Lectures and seminars; the student is actively involved in the historical
framework and evolution of knowledge on pathogenetic mechanisms. The
student is provided with supplementary didactic material of the reference
texts. Students are encouraged to deepen some issues in group work.

Didactic material for self-study in group work on selected topics.

Oral exam, in which the student must show his/her knowledge on and
understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of most
common diseases.The vote takes into account the knowledge and
understanding of the teaching contents and the ability to frame and
critically discuss all the factors involved in the pathogenesis of the
disease.

Etiology and pathogenesis of diseases. Fundamental causes of disease:
endogenous and exogenous factors. Pathologies from chromosomal
aberrations, from genetic mutations. Genetic factors in the predisposition
to the onset of diseases of different etiology, multifactorial diseases.
Chemical induced damage mechanisms. Endogenous and exogenous
factors that influence the damaging action of chemical agents. Enzymes
involved in the metabolism and detoxification of chemicals.
The concept of acute and chronic toxicity. Mechanisms of damage
induced by chemical agents. Free radicals as a cause of disease.
Pathologies from mechanical, thermal and electrical energy transfers.
Pathologies induced by ionizing and exciting radiation. Environmental
pathologies. Baropathies.
Cellular and tissue adaptations in response to stressful conditions.
Etiology and pathogenesis of hypertrophy and hyperplasia, of atrophy,
and of metaplasias. Aspects of reversible cell damage: Irreversible cell
damage: necrosis and apoptosis. Autophagy. Harm from Hypoxia.
The inflammatory process: characteristics and phases of the
inflammatory process, inflammatory mediators, regulation of
inflammatory processes, leukocyte diapedesis and phagocytosis, role of
cytokines and nonspecific immunity, acute phase proteins. Edema.
Ascites, Anasarca.
Characteristics of inflammatory infiltrates. The processes of inflammation
termination. Systemic inflammatory responses and fever. Disseminated
intravascular coagulation. Chronic inflammatory reaction. Granulomas.
Wound healing. Keloids. Fibrosis. Amyloidosis. Pathologies caused by
microbial agents (main bacteria and viruses causing disease).

Knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms responsible for cell
damage, inflammatory and immune responses and mechanisms of
neoplastic growth as well as of the main pathophysiological processes
underlying the diseases
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding to the study of the
pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for human diseases