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Anatomical Pathology

Code: 101884 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2501230 Biomedical Sciences OB 3

Contact

Name:
Gustavo Tapia Melendo
Email:
gustavo.tapia@uab.cat

Teachers

Enrique Lerma Puertas
Ines Maria de Torres Ramirez
José Luis Mate Sanz
Maria Rosa Bella Cueto
Sílvia Bagué Rosell
Santiago Jose Ramon Y Cajal Agüeras
Alberto Gallardo Alcañiz
Ana Maria Muñoz Marmol
Joan Carles Ferreres Piñas
Armando Reques Llanos
Josep Castellvi Anguera
Raquel Lopez Martos
Laura Lopez Vilaro
Vicente Peg Camara
Justyna Adolfina Szafranska
Pedro Luis Fernandez Ruiz
Natalia Papaleo
Gianni Ippoliti
Gustavo Tapia Melendo
Maria Rosa Escoda Giralt
Tamara Parra Parente
Rubén Carrera Salas
Cleofe Romagosa Perez-Portabella
Maria Victoria Fuste Chimisana

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

It is highly recommended that the student has achieved some basic skills in:

Biochemistry
Biostatistics
Molecular biology
Cellular biology
English

It is absolutely necessary to have achieved sufficient knowledge in:

1. General and specific anatomy of the different organs and systems;

2. General and specific histology of the different organs and systems;

The student will acquire the commitment of preserving the confidentiality and professional secrecy of the data that may have access due to the learning to the assistance services, as well as in maintaining an attitude of professional ethics in all its actions.

 


Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject is scheduled in the third year of the Degree in Biomedical Sciences, within the period of stay in the Hospital Teaching Units, once basic knowledge about the structure and function of the human body has been reached and at the same time they are introduced in the study of the bases of clinical pathology.

Pathological Anatomy is a medical specialty that aims to determine the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases and predict their response to therapies, through morphological and molecular studies of tissues, cells or their products. The anatomopathological diagnosis integrates clinical, macroscopic, microscopic and molecular information, and provides the scientific basis for understanding the etiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of pathological processes.

The specific objectives will be:

1. To provide the student with a global knowledge of the morphological and molecular bases of the pathology of organs and systems.

- The student must be able to recognize the fundamental morphological alterations of the different tissues of the organism and interpret them appropriately.

- In addition, the student should become familiar with the histopathology of the most frequent diseases.

2. To know the role of the pathologist in the staging of the disease, the evaluation of its prognosis and the taking of therapeutic decisions, as well as the use of the clinical-pathological correlation.

3. Achieve basic skills in the performance of the techniques of the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory and its interpretation and know the role of industry in technological innovation applied to Pathology.

4. Know the possibilities provided by Pathology in basic and applied research.

 


Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Apply knowledge acquired to the planning and implementation of research, development and innovation projects in a biomedical research laboratory, a clinical department laboratory or the biomedical industry.
  • Describe biomedical problems in terms of causes, mechanisms and treatments.
  • Display knowledge of the bases and elements applicable to the development and validation of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
  • Display knowledge of the concepts and language of biomedical sciences in order to follow biomedical literature correctly.
  • Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
  • Read and critically analyse original and review papers on biomedical issues and assess and choose the appropriate methodological descriptions for biomedical laboratory research work.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Work as part of a group with members of other professions, understanding their viewpoint and establishing a constructive collaboration.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  2. Analyse the functional mechanisms of the organism's response to the principal causes of diseases.
  3. Correctly use the terminology of medicine and its text and reference books
  4. Display practical skills in the anatomopathological study of samples corresponding to different tissues and pathological processes.
  5. Display understanding of changes in the organism and in its responses to disease with age.
  6. Display understanding of the the basic mechanisms of cell and tissue responses to injury.
  7. Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
  8. Perform common study techniques in biomedical diagnosis.
  9. Propose research projects that are relevant to human pathology.
  10. Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  11. Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  12. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  13. Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  14. Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  15. Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  16. Understand scientific texts on pathology of the different systems and write review papers on these.
  17. Work as part of a group with members of other professions, understanding their viewpoint and establishing a constructive collaboration.

Content

Theoretical classes:

The theoretical classes must provide knowledge of the morphological and molecular bases of the diseases and help the student to acquire specific knowledge about the etiology, histopathological diagnosis, gradation and prognosis of the most frequent diseases.

The classes will be taught by the teachers of the Teaching Unit Parc Taulí, according to the schedule prepared by Coordination and available on the website of the Degree.

Theoretical contents:

1. Introduction to Pathological Anatomy.

2. Subcellular alterations. Intracellular deposits and pigments.

3. Pathology of Inflammation.

4. Mechanisms of regeneration and tissue repair.

5. Hemodynamic disorders.

6. Cardiovascular pathology.

7. Pathology of immune disorders and transplant pathology.

8. Immunodeficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

9. Neoplasms: definitions and terminology. Cancer epidemiology.

10. Pathology of cancer. Generalities.

11. Hematopathology I.

12. Hematopathology II.

13. Respiratory Apparatus.

14. Osteoarticular System and Soft Parts.

15. Arteriosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Nephropathology.

16. Uropathology.

17. Digestive System I: gastrointestinal tract (1).

18. Digestive System II: gastrointestinal tract (2).

19. Digestive System III. Liver and exocrine pancreas.

20. Endocrine system.

21. Female reproductive system and breast.

22. Cutaneous pathology.

23. Nervous system I.

24. Nervous system II.

 

Seminars:

The seminars will show with practical examples the role of the pathologist in the staging of the disease, the evaluation of its prognosis and the taking of therapeutic decisions, as well as the use of the clinical-pathological correlation. They will also help to know the possibilities provided by Pathology in basic and applied research.

 

Objectives of the teamwork and its presentation:

The work will consist of designing a research project based on anatomic pathology with human pathological samples, applying special or molecular techniques (histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, FISH, CISH ..), using an adequate methodology for the objective evaluation of the probable results.

 

Study through the teaching web:

The preparation of seminars and practices through the teaching web will aim to facilitate the comprehension of the topics dealt with in these activities. Also on the teaching website you will find an extension of the information provided to the classes that will allow you to deepen and expand on the theoretical knowledge acquired.

 

Laboratory practices:

In the laboratory practices students will see the operation of the different areas and laboratories that are part of the departments of Pathology: Macroscopy, Biobank, General Laboratory, Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry Laboratory and Molecular Biology Laboratory.

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Laboratory 15 0.6 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Masterclass 24 0.96 2, 3, 5, 6
Seminars 6 0.24 3
Type: Supervised      
preparation of seminars and laboratory 22 0.88 2, 5, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Autostudy 56 2.24 2, 3, 5, 6, 16
Groupwork 20 0.8 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 16, 17

The objectives of the subject, the teaching methodology and the training activities of the course are based on the following activities:

 

Directed activities:

Master classes (TE typology): The student acquires the knowledge of the subject by attending master classes and complementing them with personal study of the topics explained. The lectures are conceived as an essentially expository method, of transmission of knowledge from the teacher to the student. There are programmed 24 hours of master classes that can be taught in Spanish, Catalan and English.

Seminars: Seminars for the presentation of practical examples of application of the knowledge of the Pathological Anatomy in the fields of diagnosis, research and obtaining prognostic data or with repercussion in the treatment or the Genetic Counsel. They are topics presented in a more interactive way than the lectures so that an open discussion on the subject can be created.

Previously, students should work autonomously a few dossiers that will contain the basic information to adequately follow the contents of the dissertation.

Six seminars are scheduled. This activity includes the preparation of seminars and practices through the teaching web that will aim to facilitate the understanding of the topics addressed in these activities.

Laboratory practices: In small groups (standard size of about 15 students) they will go to the Pathological Anatomy services where 15 hours of practices and 1 hour of continuous evaluation will be done, distributed as follows:

1.- General laboratory: Students will achieve basic skills in the realization of the techniques that are part of the general laboratory of Pathological Anatomy and its interpretation and will know the role of theindustry in the technological innovation applied to the Pathological Anatomy.

2.- Macroscopy Room and Biobank: Through these practices students should know the technique of inclusion of samples, as well as the importance of assessing the macroscopic findings and selecting samples, establishing an appropriate clinical-pathological correlation. They should know the main procedures to perform depending on the types of samples (intraoperative studies, sentinel lymph node, renal biopsies, skin samples by immunofluorescence, etc.) They will also see the procedure for obtaining samples for Biobank and how it works.

3.- Microscopy: These practices should enable students to become familiar with the microscope and know its operation and its possibilities. They must also ensure that the student is able to recognize the different tissues microscopically, evaluate different histopathological and cytological alterations, know the functioning of intraoperative studies and the importance of performing an adequate clinical-pathological correlation.

4. Immunohistochemistry Laboratory: In addition to instructing the functioning of the Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, students should learn the immunohistochemical profiles of the main neoplasms and the application of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of non-neoplastic diseases.

5. Molecular Biology Laboratory: In addition to training in the operation of this laboratory, students will have to learn which molecular biology techniques are most used in Pathology (FISH, PCR, etc.). They will also learn the basics of the interpretation of these techniques and the most relevant alterations to the main pathologies. 

6. Autopsies: If an autopsy will be carried out during the practices stage in the Pathological Anatomy Services, students will be allowed to attend, as long as it does not involve the loss of any important activity. It will not be mandatory for the student or the teachers.

The students will be distributed in 4 groups, which will carry out the Laboratory Practices in one of the4Hospital Teaching Units (UD Vall d'Hebron, UD Sant Pau, UD Germans Trias i Pujol, and UD Parc Taulí).

The reference teachers for laboratory practices will be:

- UD Vall d'Hhebron: Inés De Torres      InesMariade.Torres@uab.cat

- UD Sant Pau: Alberto Gallardo      Alberto.Gallardo@uab.cat

- UD Germans Trias i Pujol: Gustavo Tapia      Gustavo.Tapia@uab.cat

- UD Parc Taulí: Maria Rosa Bella      MariaRosa.Bella@uab.cat

 

Autonomous activities:

Autonomous study: Review of classes and comprehensive reading of texts and articles. Personal study, realization of diagrams and summaries, conceptual assimilation of the contents of the subject. On the teaching website you will find an extension of the information provided to the classes that will allow you to deepen and expand on the theoretical knowledge acquired.

Teamwork: It will be done in groups of about 5 students. The dossier written and edited must be submitted before January 15.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Completion of a test exam at the end of the practice period, with a maximum of 20 questions. 10% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15
Research work 10% 0 0 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17
Test 80% 6 0.24 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14

The competences of the subject will be evaluated continuously by:

1.- Objective test, type test, of the knowledge acquired in the lectures and seminars (80%).

The subject will have a FIRST PARTIAL at the end of approximately the first half of the theoretical classes and a SECOND PARTIAL at the end, according to the official Coordination calendar:

- The questions will deal with the contents taught (theoretical classes and seminars) until the date of the call, and will consist of an objective test type exam with 5 answer options of which only 1 will be correct (answers answered incorrectly discount 0.25).

- The minimum qualification necessary to overcome the partial exams is 5 out of 10.

The procedure for reviewing the test will be in accordance with current UAB regulations (the Virtual Campus will be informed of the date, time and place to review the exam).

2. Evaluation of the research work (10%):

The research group work will be scored from 0 to 10 and supossarà 10% of the overall score.

3. Evaluation of the contents acquired in the laboratory practices (10%):

- The laboratory practices will be evaluated with a test at the end of the practices that will be carried out in the Teaching Unit where they are carried out. It will consist of a test exam of a maximum of 20 questions, with the same format as the theoretical exams. A minimum attendance of 80% of the practices scheduled hours is mandatory. The final practice test will be scored from 0 to 10 and will account for 10% of the overall grade.

In case the student takes the single assessment option, he must do the laboratory practices (PLAB) and a practical exam on the same day with the option to make up for it.

Students who have not passed the subject / module by means of partial exams, may take a final exam, according to the official Coordination calendar.

Final grade = average mark of thepartial exams (80%) + note of evaluation of the dossier of the research work (10%) + note of  the practices (10%).

 

SINGLE ASSESSMENT

In the case that opt for the single evaluation, they must carry out the practicals together with the students of continuous evaluation. The practical (10%) and theoretical (80%) skills will be evaluated with a single exam that will coincide with the last partial exam of the continuous assessment. In case of not passing, there will be the option of a recovery exam, on the same date as the final exam of the continuous assessment.


Bibliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Specific bibliography

 - Kumar V, Abbas A, Aster J; Kumar V, Abbas A, Aster J Ed. Robbins y Cotran. Patología Estructural y Funcional (10ª edición + students consult). Elsevier. 2021. ISBN 9788491139119. 

 

Reference bibliography

-  Strayer D, Saffitz J, Rubin E. Rubin's Pathology. Mechanisms of Human Disease.  8th Ed. Wolters Kluver. 2019. ISBN 9781975141028. 

- Strachan T, Read A. Human Molecular Genetics, 5th edition. Garland Science. 2018. ISBN 9780815345893. 

Weinberg R. The Biology of Cancer. 2nd Edition. Taylor & Francis, Inc. 2014. ISBN: 9780815345282.

  

Internet resources

http: / www.acmcb.es/societats/anatomia

This address allows you to get in touch with numerous www related to Pathology.

https://accessmedicina-mhmedical-com.are.uab.cat/content.aspx  By this link you can find: Patología. PF Valencia Mayoral, J Ancer Rodriguez.

https://www.seap.es

http://www.telepatologia.es

https://webpath.med.utah.edu/

https://www.voxel-man.com/gallery/visible-human

https://www.le.ac.uk/pathology/teach/va/titlpag1.html

http://www.pathologylearning.org/trig/about

https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/

 


Software

There is no specific software required for this subject.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 501 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 502 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 201 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 301 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 501 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 502 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 651 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 53 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed