Physiology of the cell membrane:
-Transport of ions and molecules through the cell membrane
- Membrane potential and Action Potential

Muscle Physiology:
-Excitation and contraction of skeletal muscle tissue.
- Neuromuscular transmission and excitation-contraction coupling.
- Motor unit

Physiology of the Nervous System:
-The sensory system: decoding and processing of sensory information.
-The motor system: general characteristics of the motor system: involuntary, voluntary and automatic movements; spinal reflexes; the brain-encephalic control of the movement: posture and balance. Cortical control of voluntary movements. The cerebellum: general features, functions of the cerebellum. The basal ganglia: functional role.
-The autonomic nervous system.
- Supplementary functions of the nervous system.

Cardiovascular physiology:
- Myocardial physiology: functional myocardial anatomy, myocardial action potentials, contraction of the heart muscle.
- Cardiac cycle
- Nervous control of cardiac activity.

- General principles of hemodynamics.
-Adjustment of circulation, blood pressure and blood flow.
- Cardiac output: principles of regulation of cardiac output.
- Cardiac tones.

The Respiratory System:
- Pulmonary ventilation: respiratory mechanics, volumes and lung capacity. Respiratory tract
- Gaseous exchanges: diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the respiratory membrane.
-Transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood and body fluids ..
-Regulation of breathing: general principles.
-Regulation of acid-base balance: general principles.

Body fluids and renal function:
- Functional anatomy of the kidney, function of the nephron. Glomerular filtration: general principles.
- Elaboration of glomerular filtrate: resorption and tubular secretion,
-Control of osmolarity and sodium concentration of extracellular fluid: general principles.
-Renal regulation of blood volume: general principles


The endocrine system:
General principles of endocrinology: nature of a hormone; general picture of the endocrine glands and their hormones. Principles of general functioning of hormones.

-“Berne & Levy Physiology”, Sixth Updated Edition
-“Sherwood” ninth edition
-“Guyton-Hall"

CHEMICAL ELEMENTS :
Atoms and molecules
Chemical reactions
Ionic equilibrium in solution
Water
Elements of organic chemistry

BIOCHEMISTRY :
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Digestion

INTRODUCTION TO METASBOLISM :
Generality
Catabolism
Anabolism

Appunti di biochimica. Per le lauree triennali
M.V.Catani, V.Gasperi, A.Di Venere , I.Savini , P.Guerrieri , L.Avigliano
Piccin editore

Amino acids: general structure and classification. Proteins: structure and function. Structural levels. Protein folding. Fibrous proteins: structure of alpha-keratin, collagen and fibroin of silk. Globular proteins: structure and function of myoglobin and hemoglobin; the EME group; saturation curve; regulation of the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. Enzymes: general characteristics; activation energy and reaction rate; general concepts on enzyme kinetics. Regulatory mechanisms: competitive and non-competitive inhibitors; allosteric enzymes and enzymes regulated by covalent modifications. Catalytic strategies. Serine-protease catalysis. The blood coagulation cascade as an example to clarify specificity determinants (exositional concept), the role of cofactors and the formation of macromolecular complexes. Bioenergetics and Metabolism Principles of bioenergetics. The transfer of phosphate groups. Structure and function of the ATP. The electron transporters (NADH, NADPH and FADH2). Coenzyme A. General concepts on carbohydrates. Use of glucose. Glycolysis: phases and regulation. Gluconeogenesis. Allosteric and hormonal regulation. General concepts on the way of pentose phosphate. Glycogen. Degradation and synthesis, and coordinated regulation. Pyruvate fate in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Synthesis of Acetyl-CoA: pyruvate dehydrogenase. Lactic fermentation (Cori cycle) and alcoholic. Citric acid cycle: Functions, energy balance and regulation. Oxidative phosphorylation: electron transporters. Electron flow and ATP synthesis.

Appunti di biochimica. Per le lauree triennali
M.V.Catani, V.Gasperi, A.Di Venere , I.Savini , P.Guerrieri , L.Avigliano
Piccin editore

Solutions: Concentration, molarity, molality, molar ratio, dilution, stoichiometry.
Immunochemistry: General aspects of the immune system, production of antibodies, immunochemical assays, Elisa, immunohistochemistry.
Electrophoretic techniques: General principles, supports used in electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), SDS-PAGE, Western blot.
Molecular biology techniques: General aspects of the genetic, mutations and clinical significance, PCR, sequencing, principle of genomic and NGS sequencing.

- ”Biochemistery”, Terry A. Brown; Scion Publishing.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Basic principles of microbiology
Morphology and structure of the bacterial cell
Structure of bacterial spores and sporulation process
Gram coloring and coloring for acid resistance
Metabolism, growth and bacterial replication
Sterilization, disinfection, asepsis
Structure, replication and mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity
Morphology of viral particles
Cellular Tropism and Host Spectrum
Viral Enzymes
Virus classification
Phases of viral replication
Basic concepts of immune response
Natural immune response of host
Humoral acquired immune response
Cell-mediated acquired immune response
Immune responses against infectious agents
Interferon mechanisms of action
Vaccines and passive immunoprophylaxis
Mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis
Demonstration of causal nature between pathogen and disease: Koch postulates
Normal microbial flora of our organism
Host-microorganism" interactions: Commensalism - Mutualism - Parasitism
Factors influencing the "host - microorganism" balance
Modes of transmission of the infection
Steps in the infectious process
Bacterial virulence factors
Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and interaction with the host
Transmission mode
Steps in the infectious process
Localized and disseminated infection
State of persistence and latency
Viral Oncogenesis
Virus-induced cytopathic effect
Alteration of expression of genes and/or cellular proteins

Title: The basics of Microbiology
Authors: Richard A. Harvey, Pamela C. Champe Bruce D. Fisher

-Organization of a laboratory

-Knowledge of the main laboratory instruments

-Types of tubes (with and without anticoagulants) used in analytical investigations

-Blood count and basic concepts on blood tests

-The various stages of an analytic process

The student will be provided with educational material, such as notes and presentations