The course will provide the molecular basis of diseases that most frequently affect the adult population of the industrialized societies . It will also  provide  guidance regarding prevention of such diseases through appropriate physical activity and healthy eating habits.

The course will address the following topics in the order below. Etiologic agents.

Elements of environmental disease.

Mechanisms of cellular damage. Cell death: apoptosis and necrosis. Innate immunity: cells, receptors and mechanisms of action.

Acute and chronic inflammation, chemical mediators of inflammation, systemic manifestations of inflammation.   

Acquired immunity: lymphocytes and cellular basis of adaptive immunity, B cells and antibodies, the generation of antibody diversity. T cells and MHC proteins.

Relations between metabolic organs in various nutritional and hormonal  states .

Diabetes mellitus:  diabetes type 1 and 2; Insulin: structure, function and mechanism of action; Biochemical alterations of the tissues resulting hyperglycemia.

Obesity: white and brown adipose tissue;

biochemical composition of adipocyte; Termogenesis, Adipose tissue as secretory organ.

Synthesis, structure and function of LDL and HDL.

Atherosclerosis as chronic inflammatory response

Metabolic syndrome

Osteoporosis: bone biochemical composition; relations with calcium, estrogen and physical activity.

Cancer: Molecular basis of the behavior of neoplastic cells

none

Students have to prove the acquirement of the basic knowledge of defensive mechanisms put in place by human organism in response to harmful stimuli of various nature. Students have to prove the understanding of the concepts and have the ability to transfer such acquisitions in practice of patients's rehabilitation.It must show the possession of communication skills , using a correct terminology and they must be able to interface with other professional figures  working in healthcare.  Students must show the possession of the ability to use knowledges and concepts in the programming of customized programs for functional rehabilitation of patients affected by different clinical conditions.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

front lessons

Attendance

no

Course books

Patologia generale  Pontieri , Russo, Frati Ed. Piccin Nuova Libraria  2010

Immunologia  Coico, Sunshine and Benjamini Edises 2005

Other additional material will be available in the platform moodle

Assessment

Oral examination

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.