At the end of the course, students will have the basic knowledge to define the diagnosis and treatment principles of the main cardiovascular diseases. Particular emphasis will be placed on the pathophysiology of diseases which are the basis for understanding the mechanisms of action of drugs and therapies in general currently used in cardiology, as well as of fundamental importance for the discovery of new therapies. Students must also know and be able to discuss the following topics: basics of the main models of cardiovascular pathologies both in vitro (cellular models), in vivo (animal models), and ex-vivo (isolated hearts); notions of cell therapies; gene therapies and applications in cardiology; use of biomaterials; use of secretome and extracellular vesicles for therapeutic purposes; models with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes; examples of precision cardiology; ethical principles governing animal testing; what clinical studies are and the principles that govern their design and implementation; what are the guidelines.
Course Prerequisites
Knowledge of the basics of molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and physiology/anatomy of the cardiovascular system.
Teaching Methods
The course is organized into frontal lessons, carried out with presentations (PowerPoint projected on the screen) through which the learner will acquire the theoretical notions necessary for the knowledge of the main cardiac pathologies, their pathophysiology and therapy. Basic and translational cardiology topics are also addressed.
Assessment Methods
Oral exam at the end of the course with questions relevant to the program and the teaching material indicated. Grading scale: 0-30
Texts
- Main chapters of the book: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine: Volumes 1 and 2, 18th Edition - Braunwald's Heart Disease: 9th edition - Main chapters of the book: Rugarli. Systematic internal medicine. Extract: Diseases of the circulatory system - Students are also provided with literature articles on topics of translational cardiology, precision cardiology, and cardiovascular molecular biology.
Contents
Ischemic heart disease Heart failure Clinical arrhythmology Elements of Cardiovascular Physiology Precision cardiology Acquired and hereditary channelopathies Notes on cardiovascular biology Stem cells in cardiology Extracellular vesicles and exosomes in cardiology Biomaterials and bioengineering in the cardiovascular field Basic arrhythmology iPSCs in cardiology Applications of cellular and molecular biology for the study of cardiovascular diseases Experimental animal models in cardiology Gene therapy in the cardiovascular field
