TYPE: Elective module
CREDITS: 6
COORDINATOR: Mª Jesús Cruz, PhD

This module aims to show the principal respiratory, immune, systemic and endocrine system diseases and the molecular approaches used for understanding the pathophysiological processes underlying these diseases.

CONTENT

SECTION  I:  RESPIRATORY DISEASES

  1. New advances in the pathology of asthma and COPD
  2. Occupational and environmental respiratory diseases
  3. Non-invasive methods for studying pulmonary inflammation
  4. Laboratory techniques for research in respiratory diseases

SECTION II: ENDOCRINE DISEASES

  1. Overview of endocrine related diseases: basic concepts and clinical features
  2. Diabetes and its complications: the clinical point of view
  3. Obesity: etiology and therapeutic strategies.
  4. Etiology of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance: lipotoxicity
  5. Etiology of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance: Inflammation
  6. Etiology of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance: role of mitochondrial dysfunction.
  7. Brown adipose tissue and energy homeostasis: a new therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.
  8. New therapeutic target against obesity: Introduction to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and sex steroids
  9. New functions of SHBG in human physiology
  10. PRACTICAL SESSION
  11. Type 1 diabetes: beta cell replacement and regeneration for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus
  12. Different sex development (DSD): genetic and hormonal regulation of sex development during fetal life, genetic diagnosis and functional studies.

SECTION III: IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES

  1. Review of the immune response in health and disease. New and evolving concepts relevant to the immunopathology.
  2. Review of immune mediated diseases
  3. Mechanisms of tolerance and autoimmunity
  4. Etiology of Primary Immunodeficiencies
  5. Mechanisms of hypersensitivity and allergy.
  6. Laboratory techniques for research in immune mediated diseases.

 TEACHERS

M Jesús Cruz Carmona, PhD – mj.cruz@vhir.org

Laura Viñas Giménez, PhD – laura.vinas@vallhebron.cat

Josep A. Villena, PhD – josep.villena@vhir.org