Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Clinical Immunology and Genetics

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
BUMK_068
Branch of Science
Biological sciences; Environmental biotechnology; Medical biotechnology
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Contacts

Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, bmk@rsu.lv, +371 67061584

About Study Course

Objective

To provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the main types of immune pathology and related diseases (immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity, allergies, etc.); the most important parameters characterising human immunity, possibilities to establish them, indications, clinical interpretation and use in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various diseases; immune correction and immune prophylaxis techniques, agents, indications of use and side effects, as well as practical skills in the use of immunological parameters in the diagnosis of various diseases. To provide students with basic knowledge in clinical genetics, genetic counselling to develop the necessary skills to apply this knowledge in temporal diagnostics and treatment.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basics of Immunology, Pathophysiology, Pathological Anatomy, clinical medicine courses: Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Haematology, Rheumatology, Nephrology. Knowledge of medical genetics acquired during previous study process.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.After completing the study course, students will be able to describe the most important types of immunopathology, their clinical and immunological manifestations, methods of immunological examination of patients, manifestations of humoral, cellular, complement system and phagocytic disorders, and the possibilities of immune correction. Students will be able to describe most important genetic diseases and methods of genetic examination.

Skills

1.As a result of completing the study course, students are able to evaluate normal functioning of the immune system and functioning in case of various immune system pathologies; clinically evaluate a simple immunogram and determine indications for in-depth special immunoassay; to use immunity parameters in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various diseases. They can be able to differentiate most important genetic disorders and sent patients to specialist. Students gain skills in the basics of infertility and prenatal counselling.

Competences

1.By combining theoretical and practical knowledge, students will be able to detect immunopathological and genetic changes, evaluate a simple immunogram. At the end of the course students will be familiar with genetic counselling, the most common metabolic diseases and the latest treatment methods. Will be able to assess the need for genetic counselling. Gain the ability to analyze the applicability of genetic methods.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
Within the study course, the information is provided to students by different sources (panopto, pdf, etc.). As well as students' independent work is organized in online classes, during which students solve clinical cases, as well as learn how to independently use the available resources to provide diagnostics, patient care and treatment. During the three genetics and five immunology classes, each student must give a prepared presentation twice (one presentation in each part, respectively 1 presentation in clinical immunology, 1 in clinical genetics) on the topics specified in the e-studies. The length of the presentation is 8 to 10 minutes. The presentation is counted as independent work and gives 20% of the colloquium assessment. Each case where plagiarism exceeds 70% will be considered individually and the student will receive a 0% rating if plagiarism is confirmed. If your presentation has not been uploaded to e-studies at the specified time, the student also gets a grade of 0%. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
Students should attend and take part in online classes to have a chance to receive a cumulative grade. Acquisition of cumulative grade - at the end of the study course, a student may receive cumulative grade, where 80% is drawn up by a single colloquium of the study course and 20% of independent work (presentation), 10% in clinical immunology, and 10% in genetics, respectively. A single colloquium for both parts of the course (10 questions in total): Immunology: 6 questions in total (4 open-type questions and 2 clinical cases). In genetics: 4 questions in total (3 open-type questions and 1 clinical case). All theoretical question topics are available in e-studies. There is the possibility that only part of the topic will be published in the colloquium. Clinical cases will not be known in advance but will be consistent with theoretical topics. If a student fails the colloquium, it has to be retaken. The format of the colloquium does not change. If the final grade of the study course is not a whole number, the grade will be rounded up.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Main primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, their causes, clinical signs, immunological diagnosis and principles of therapy.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Immunological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of immune complex diseases, clinical examples.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Immunological diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. Systemic autoimmune diseases. Clinical examples. Detection and clinical interpretation of autoantibodies.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Immunological diagnosis of allergic diseases and immunotherapy.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Immunomodulatory therapy. Immunosuppression and immunostimulation. Immunoglobulin therapy.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Genetic counseling, indications, specificity of genetic counseling. Types of genetic investigations. Diagnostic methods in genetics. Clinical case solving. Genetics and ethics. Mental retardation as clinical example for genetic counseling. Dysmorphology
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Genetic aspects of reproductive problems. Preconception, preimplatation and prenatal diagnostics. Teratology.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Specialized room
4

Topics

Classification of inborn errors of metabolism. Treatable metabolic disease. Hyperammonemia. Homocysteine metabolisms disorders. Common lysosomal disorders. Modern treatment possibilities in clinical genetics.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

2.

The Autoimmune Diseases. 6th edition by M. Eric Gershwin MD (Editor), George Tsokos (Editor) 2020

6.

Rezaei N., et al. Primary immunodeficiency Diseases. Springer Verlag Berlin, 2019

Additional Reading

2.

GeneReviews

3.

Helen V. Firth Oxford Desk Reference: Clinical Genetics and Genomics (Oxford Desk Reference Series). OUP Oxford; 2nd edition, 2017

4.

Smith's Recognizable Patterns Of Human Malformation. Saunders; 8th edition, 2022.

5.

Reardon, William. The Bedside Dysmorphologist. Oxford University Press; 2nd edition, 2016.

7.

Neiroimunoloģija klīniskajā praksē. V. Ķēniņa, N. Kurjāne 2021

8.

Chinn J.K et al. Primary immunodeficiencies: An Overview, 2020

9.

Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students:

10.

Chinn J.K et al. Primary immunodeficiencies: An Overview, 2020

11.

Helen V. Firth Oxford Desk Reference: Clinical Genetics and Genomics (Oxford Desk Reference Series). OUP Oxford; 2 edition2017

12.

Reardon, William. The Bedside Dysmorphologist. Oxford University Press; 2nd edition, 2016