Unit APPLIED HYGEN

Course
Biology
Study-unit Code
GP004089
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Roberto Fabiani
Teachers
  • Roberto Fabiani
Hours
  • 47 ore - Roberto Fabiani
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2022
Offered
2023/24
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline del settore biomedico
Academic discipline
MED/42
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian
Contents
From traditional epidemiology to molecular epidemiology. Type of
epidemiological studies. Categories of biomarkers. The use of biomarkers
in risk assessment. Role of molecular epidemiology in the prevention of
chronic degenerative diseases. Applications of classical and molecular
epidemiology to risk assessment associated with exposure to
environmental and food xenobiotics. The role of protective factors
Reference texts
-Molecular Epidemiology, principles and practics. Schulte A.A., Perera F.P.
Ed. Academic press
-Molecular Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases. Wild C., Vineis P., Garte S.
Ed. Wiley
Educational objectives
At the end of the course students will have acquired extensive knowledge
about the benefits and limits the use of biomarkers can make to
epidemiological study. They will also acquire knowledge about some of
the most common experimental methods for the determination and
validation of biomarkers. They will also acquire the methodology for
assessing environmental and food risks.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching methods
Face-to-face
Other information
Frequency is strongly recommended
Learning verification modality
The examination involves only the final oral test, which consists of a discussion-colloquium relating exclusively to the topics covered during the course and, if necessary, expanded upon by means of the recommended texts. The test serves to ascertain the level of knowledge, language and expository properties, and comprehension skills achieved by the student. The duration of the exam varies depending on the progress of the test itself but generally does not exceed 30 minutes. It begins, as a rule, with any question on a topic chosen by the student in order to put the student at ease.
Overall, 3 main questions will be asked, covering different areas covered during the lectures to which 10 points each will be awarded in case of a comprehensive answer.
Extended program
Lectures
General informations on the epidemiological method. Descriptive
epidemiology. Incidence, prevalence, mortality rates. Standardization by
age. Overview of analytic epidemiology and intervention studies. Risk
assessment. Relative risk, odds ratio, attributable risk. Advantages and
disadvantages of prospective and retrospective studies. Use of
biomarkers in epidemiological studies. Molecular epidemiology.
Classification of biomarkers. Biomarkers of exposure, effect and
susceptibility. Example of biomarkers used for risk assessment following
exposure to cigarette smoke. Advantages of using biomarkers in
epidemiological studies. Selection, validation and predictive significance
of biomarkers. Internal and external validity. Sensitivity and specificity.
Biomarkers of exposure: exposure pathways, lifetime, kinetics,
pharmacokinetic modeling. Use of biomarkers in the case-control studies
and cohort studies: advantages and disadvantages. Examples of
analytical studies conducted on humans through the use of different
classes of biomarkers. Molecular epidemiology in cancer research.
Methods for assessment of DNA damage: comet assay, p32 post-labeling,
micronuclei. Oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage, antioxidants,
biomarkers of oxidative stress. Adducts to proteins. Mutagenicity tests in
vitro. Spectra of mutation, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Biomarkers of susceptibility. Cancer biomarkers. Molecular epidemiology
of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Application of classical
and molecular epidemiology for the risk assessment associated with
exposure to environmental and food xeno-biotics. The role of protective
factors.
Laboratory exercises
Flow cytometry
Methods for the DNA damage evaluation
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
health and well-being
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