Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica - Asti

At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Explain the various environmental causes: i.e., chemical, physical and biological (bacteria, viruses, mycetes, protozoa, metazoan parasites), that lead to the main diseases.
- Describe the basic pathological phenomena that occur in the cells and tissues, and which consequently cause the various diseases.
- Elucidate the effects of nutritional disorders (such as fasting, obesity, vitamin deficiency, alcoholism).
- Describe the pathophysiologic alterations of the hematologic and cardiovascular system (anemia, bleeding, shock, ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, embolism)
- Describe the pathophysiologic alterations of the liver, and endocrine pancreas, as well as of the pulmonary and renal systems.
- describe the causes and the biology of cancer.
- Elucidate the inflammatory response.
- Describe which molecules and cells are involved in immune response (this is important for protecting the host against foreign agents, particularly infectious agents).
- describe the mechanisms through wich the immune system recognizes foreign agents.
- describe the effects of alterations in the immune system.
- describe the meaning of infection and infectious diseases.
- Explain the methods of disinfection and sterilization, and the strategies that are needed to prevent the spread of infection.
- describe the culture and microscope techniques used in Microbiology laboratory.
- Describe the proper procedures for the collection, transportation and preservation of microbiological samples.
- Elucidate the mechanisms of antibiotic therapy.
- Explain the main infectious complications, related to nursing procedures (injections, catheterization, medications).
- Elucidate the causes that may lead to hospital related infections and the appropriate methods of prevention to reduce the incidence of disease.
- Prove they know how to correctly carry out the laboratory diagnosis-prescription so as to prevent diseases and to provide the patients with the proper health care.

The following topics will be discussed in the course:
» ETIOLOGY (injury – prevention):
   - biological agents: bacteria, viruses, mycetes, protozoa, metazoan parasites (morphology, structure, metabolism, function, host-parasite interaction, pathogenic mechanisms, replication and growth, classification)
   - physical agents: radiation, temperature
   - chemical agents: toxic substances (metals, free radicals, drugs, smoking) 
   - diet: fasting, obesity, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, alcoholism
   - immigration: imported diseases, immunocompromising conditions
» STUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL REACTIONS OF CELLS AND TISSUES TO DAMAGING AGENTS
   - Concept of homeostasis
   - Altered cellular and tissue biology (general mechanisms):
     o cellular adaptation (atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia)
     o reversible cellular injury
     o irreversible cellular injury: cellular death by necrosis (for example infarction) or apoptosis 
     o storage diseases (abnormal accumulation of endogenous substances or harmful exogenous materials in the cells or in extracellular matrix)
     o aging
» INFECTIONS:
   - infectious organisms (bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoa)
   - prevention of infections (asepsis, disinfection and sterilization procedures)
   - transmission of infections, contact with pathogens during hospitalization
   - infections associated with immunosuppression and with pregnancy
   - treatment (antibiotics, resistance to antibiotic)
» INFLAMMATION: 
   - acute inflammation
   - chronic inflammation
   - systemic manifestations of acute inflammation
   - resolution and repair
» IMMUNITY:
   - Characteristics of the immune system. Organs and cells of the immune system. Major histocompatibilty complex. T and B lymphocytes (maturation and ativation)
   - tolerance
   - structure and function of antibodies
   - antigens. Antigen-antibody complex. Vaccination and immunization
   - regulation of the immune response. Cytokines. Complement system
   - hypersensitivity
   - autoimmunity, autoimmune diseases
   - immunodeficiency diseases (AIDS etc)
   - monoclonal antibodies
» CANCER:
   - etiology (chemical, physical, biological agents)
   - cell biology of cancer
   - theory of carcinogenesis (initiation, promotion, progression)
   - invasion and metastasis
   - classification
» PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC ALTERATIONS OF ORGANS:
   - Liver: cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis
   - Hematopoietic system: anemia, alteration of hemostatic function
   - Cardiovascular system: atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombus formation, embolism, alteration of blood volume
   - Pancreas: diabetes
   - Pulmonary system (alteration of ventilation and gas transport)
   - Renal system (glomerular disorders)
   - Central Nervous system (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases)
» DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES: 
   - security and quality control in the clinical Pathology and Microbiology laboratories
   - the pre-analytical phase and the biological, environmental and methodological variability
   - organization of the blood sample withdrawal service; preparing the patient; blood sample withdrawal
   - drawing various biological materials; transportation and conservation of biological samples
   - collection of bacterial samples, bacteria cultures, techniques of bacterial staining and diagnosis
   - virus and serum diagnosis; guidelines For the prevention of blood transmitted diseases
   - a short account of the variability and precision of the intra-analytical phase; post-analytical phase and meaning of analytic data
   - urine test; hemochrome test
   - biochemical markers of organ damage
   - diagnosis and Characteristics of allergy
   - Renal function tests and electrolytes
   - principles of immuno-hematology
   - blood groups, hemolytic diseases of the newborn, donations from blood donor
   - blood transfusion and its complications, health regulated legislation
   - instructions For the use of anticoagulants
   - therapy with plasmapheresis