Unit information: Pathological Responses of Cells in 2013/14

Unit name	Pathological Responses of Cells
Unit code	PANM12052
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Kafienah
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Basic principles of pathogenesis and how these relate to the development of specific human diseases. Use of gross pathology and histopathology in the investigation of human disease.

The unit demonstrates the basic principles of pathogenesis and how studies of gross pathology and histopathology are used in the investigation of human disease. It will give practical experience of some experimental approaches to understanding pathological processes and provide a foundation for higher level studies of disease processes. The unit introduces the components of the immune system and the immune response. It is delivered using a series of integrated lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions supported by on line resources.

Unit aims:

To provide students with information about:

1. the basic principles of pathogenesis and how these relate to the development of specific human diseases,
2. how experimental studies have defined the mechanisms underlying pathological processes,
3. the structure and function of the immune system,
4. how studies of gross pathology and histopathology are used in the investigation of human disease.

To teach students skills including:

1. experimental techniques in immunology,
2. data interpretation,
3. the ability to recognise pathological processes at the gross and cellular level,
4. written and oral presentation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:

1. define classes of disease,
2. describe the structure and function of the immune system,
3. define genetic disease,
4. recognise environmental disease,
5. describe cell damage,
6. describe inflammation and repair,
7. describe thrombosis and blood coagulation,
8. list examples of how these processes relate to specific human diseases,
9. recognise pathological processes at the gross and cellular level,
10. explain how these processes relate to the development of specific human diseases,
11. carry out experimental methods in immunology,
12. interpret data,
13. present scientific information and arguments in written and oral form,
14. undertake the further study of disease processes at Level 5 and 6.

Teaching Information

Lectures

Tutorials

Practicals

e-learning to support laboratory practicals via eBiolabs

Assessment Information

Oral presentation (5%)

eBiolabs pre-lab quizzes, post-lab assignments and completed practical sheets (5%)

1-hour written mid-unit assessment including multiple choice questions and one essay (15%)

2-hour written exam (summer) including multiple choice questions and two essays (75%)

The exams will cover learning outcomes 1-10, 12-13.

The assessment via eBiolabs and the practical book will assess learning outcomes 9-13.

The oral presentation will cover learning outcome 13 and any from 1-10.

Formative assessment:

For formative purposes students will receive feedback as follows:

• Oral presentations will be marked and subject to verbal feedback during the tutorial and a written feedback sheet provided.

• Electronic feedback will be provided for the pre-lab and post-lab work via eBiolabs.

• Feedback during practical classes will be provided by staff and demonstrators.

• Unit assessment marks will be provided and feedback session will be given by the Unit Director.

• A breakdown of marks for the summer exams will be provided and additional feedback will be provided by the Unit Director on request.

Reading and References

The most useful general reference books are:

Cell, tissue and disease: the basis of pathology by N Woolf, 3rd edn. (2000)

or

An introduction to general pathology by TD Spector and JS Axford, 4th edn (1999)

For immunology, good smaller books are:

Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System by AK Abbas & AH Lichtman, 3rd edn, (2008)

or

Roitt's Essential Immunology by P Delves et al, 11th edn. (2006).

More substantial immunology textbooks are:

Janeway's Immunobiology, 8th edn. (2012) by K Murphy.

or

The Immune System by P Parham, 3rd edn., (2009).

If students have problems with medical terminology then they can read a small medical dictionary (one for nurses is fine) or consult the following web site: Multilingual Glossary of technical and popular medical terms in nine European Languages: http://users.ugent.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html

All textbooks are available in the Medical Sciences library.