Clinical Medicine II (Radiology, Clinical Immunology and Genetics, Forensic Medicine, Psychosomatics)
Study Course Implementer
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, bmk@rsu.lv, +371 67061584
About Study Course
Objective
Provide insight and acquire knowledge of clinical immunology and genetics, forensic medicine, psychosomatics and radiology. principles of clinical expression, potential complications, patient treatment and care
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.Clinical immunology and genetics: After completing the study course, students will be able to characterize the most important types of immunopathology, their clinical and immunological manifestations, methods of immunological examination of patients, manifestations of humoral, cellular, complement system and phagocytosis disorders, and possibilities of immunocorrection. As a result of completing the study course, they will know the basic principles of genetic counseling, the most commonly used examination methods. They will understand the most common metabolic diseases and dysmorphic features. They will learn about the peculiarities of preimplantation and prenatal counseling and diagnosis.
Individual work
2.Forensic medicine: Students acquire basic knowledge of the consequences of exposure to various types of traumatic and toxic factors on the human body and their diagnosis, of non-violent and violent death, their investigation possibilities; the regulatory framework binding on forensic medicine.
Independent work
3.Psychosomatics: Will be able to analyse the nuances of the doctor-patient relationship from a therapeutic and ethical point of view; will be able to analyse psychotherapeutic treatment methods and possibilities; will be able to interpret different types of psychotherapy - indications, contraindications.
Independent work
4.Radiology: The study course develops students' ability to interpret radiological images in clinical scenarios. Abdominal, neuro, musculoskeletal, interventional, urogenital and thoracic radiology will be covered, focusing on common pathologies and diagnostic principles. Interactive clinical cases will provide a practical approach to image analysis and decision-making in clinical practice.
Independent work
Skills
1.Clinical immunology and genetics: As a result of the study course, students are able to assess the functioning of the immune system in normal and in various pathologies of the immune system; clinically evaluate a simple immunogram and determine indications for in-depth special immunological examination; use immunity parameters in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various diseases. Students are able to recognize the most common genetically determined diseases and refer to genetic counseling. Students gain skills in the basics of infertility and prenatal counseling. Analyze the simplest clinical cases and indications for referral to a medical geneticist Able to coordinate and treat the most common emergency situations related to metabolic diseases. Able to describe the most common syndromes associated with mental retardation.
Examination
2.Forensic medicine: Recognise and describe in the medical records various types of bodily injuries from a forensic medical point of view; if necessary, prepare a Medical Certificate of Death.
Independent work
3.Psychosomatic: Students will be able to demonstrate skills in building supportive therapeutic relationships.
Test
4.Radiology: The study course develops the ability to analyze and interpret radiological images, apply them to the diagnosis of clinical cases, and understand the principles of invasive radiology.
The test
Competences
1.Clinical immunology and genetics: Students, combining theoretical and practical knowledge, will be able to determine immunopathological changes, evaluate a simple immunogram. At the end of the course, students will be oriented in genetic counseling, the most common metabolic diseases and the latest treatment methods. Will be able to assess the need for genetic counseling. Will gain the ability to analyze the applicability of genetic methods in practice.
Examination
2.Forensic medicine: Apply the acquired knowledge and skills in medical practice to recognise physical violence against a person and to involve law enforcement agencies in a timely manner and to subsequently determine forensic medical examination, as well as to recognise risks of medical errors.
Independent work
3.Psychosomatic: To analyze the therapeutic aspects of the doctor-patient relationship and apply them in clinical practice
Test
4.Radiology: The study course develops students' competence to independently analyze radiological images, perform clinical diagnostics, make examination selection decisions, and interpret results in collaboration with physicians. Students will gain basic knowledge of invasive radiology methods and radiation safety, ensuring effective and safe imaging in clinical practice.
The test
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
Clinical immunology and genetics: as part of the study course, students are provided with information in e-studies in different formats (Panopto, PDF, etc.) for independent learning of the teaching substance. As well as student independent work is organised in classes during which students deal with clinical cases, learn to use the available resources independently to ensure diagnosis, patient care and treatment. During three genetics and five immunology classes, each student must present twice with a pre-prepared presentation (one presentation in each part, 1 presentation in clinical immunology, 1 in clinical genetics, respectively) whose subjects are specified in e-studies. The length of the presentation is 8 to 10 minutes. The presentation passes as a solo job and contributes 20% of the colloquia’s assessment. Each case where plagiarism exceeds 70% will be considered individually and if plagiarism is confirmed, the student will receive an assessment of 0%. If the presentation is not uploaded to e-studies at the time of the presenter, the student also receives an assessment of 0%. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must complete the study course evaluation questionnaire on the student portal. |
||
|
2.
Independent work |
-
|
-
|
|
Forensic Medicine: E-learning material, clinical tasks; the Study Questionnaire must be completed. |
||
|
3.
Independent work |
-
|
-
|
|
Psychosomatics: Case analysis in class 2. |
||
|
4.
Independent work |
-
|
-
|
|
Radiology: Interactive case analysis. |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Clinical immunology and genetics: a student must take part in classes to obtain permission to desire a cumulative assessment. Acquisition of cumulative assessment - at the end of the study course, the student may receive a cumulative assessment, where 80% is composed of a single colloquia of the study course and 20% independent work (presentation), 10% in clinical immunology and 10% in genetics respectively. Single colloquia for both parts of the study 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 a possibility that the colloquia only publishes part of the topic of the question specified. Clinical cases will not be known in advance, but will be consistent with themes of theoretical issues. If an unsuccessful assessment is received, the student must rearrange the colloquia. The format of the colloquia process does not change. If the final assessment of the study course is not an integer, then the grade is rounded up. |
||
|
2.
Test |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Psychosomatics: I. Test. |
||
|
3.
Independent work |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Forensic Medicine: Assessment criteria: full attendance and successful completion of clinical tasks in the classes. |
||
|
4.
The test |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Radiology: Test. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Main primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, mostly antibodies deficiencies, their causes, clinical signs, immunological diagnosis and principles of therapy. Clinical cases.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Immunological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of autoimmune and immune complex diseases. Clinical cases. Detection and clinical interpretation of autoantibodies.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Inborn errors of immunity: T- and B-cell, combain, fagocytosis and complement system immunity defects. Clinical cases.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Immunological diagnosis of allergic diseases and immunotherapy.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Immunomodulatory therapy. Immunosuppression and immunostimulation. Immunoglobulin therapy.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Genetic Counseling and Testing in Clinical Practice
Indications for genetic testing and counseling. Types of genetic tests – karyotyping, microarray analysis, panel sequencing, whole-exome/genome sequencing. Ethical aspects of genetic testing. Clinical case analysis – how to select the most appropriate genetic test. Intellectual disability and other common indications for genetic counseling. The role of dysmorphology in genetics.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Genetics in Reproductive Medicine and Prenatal Diagnostics
Genetic factors in infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and congenital anomalies. Preconception genetic testing and carrier screening. Prenatal diagnostic methods – NIPT, invasive diagnostics (chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis). Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Teratology and the impact of environmental factors on fetal development. Clinical case analysis and the role of genetic counseling in
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Clinical Immunology and Genetics: Genetic Disorders in Clinical Practice
Mechanisms of inheritance – monogenic, polygenic, and multifactorial diseases. The latest diagnostic methods and their application in different medical specialties. Metabolic disorders as a model for genetic diseases: newborn screening, diagnostic challenges, and treatment principles. Clinical case analysis in different medical fields – neur
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
4
|
Topics
|
Forensic medicine: The 1st class:
1) Introduction to specialty (objectives, methods, forensic expertise, including examinations if there is a suspicion regarding improper performance of professional duties of medical practitioners; binding regulatory enactments;
2) Forensic medical examination of living persons (indications, issues to be addressed in examinations; types of bodily injuries, their descriptions and assessment of severity; principles of preparation of expert opinion documentation).
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
4
|
Topics
|
Forensic medicine: The 2nd class:
1) General thanatology: signs of the corpse and medical assessment of their forensics, including determination of the time of death, examination of the corpse at the scene; types of death - non-violent and violent death;
2) Forensic medical examination of deceased persons (indications, issues to be resolved in examination, principles of preparation of documentation - expert opinion and medical certificate on the cause of death).
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
4
|
Topics
|
Forensic medicine: The 3rd class:
1) Forensic traumatology (types of injuries, damage caused by various objects, mechanical and physical factors, mechanisms of their occurrence; damage and death due to chemical factors);
2) Asphyxia and its types, diagnosis and interpretation of results.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
4
|
Topics
|
Forensic medicine: The 4th class:
1) Forensic medical diagnostics of the effects of toxic substances on the human body;
2) Sudden death, its causes, forensic examination and diagnostics.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Psychosomatics: Psychotherapy: concept, indications, contraindications. Types and techniques of medical psychotherapy. Phases of psychotherapy. Transference, countertransference, resistance. Developmental levels of personality organization - criteria and psychic defense mechanisms.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Psychosomatics: Psychosomatics, history of development. Somatization, theories of somatization. Clinical case study.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Psychosomatics: Types of emotional crises. Doctor’s tactics in crisis situations, crisis intervention. Posttraumatic stress disorder.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Psychosomatics: Therapeutic relationship between doctor and patient. Therapeutic alliance. Role play: conflict solving, first visit, ending therapy, contact with patient’s relatives.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Radiology: Clinical cases in abdominal radiology and urogenital radiology.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Radiology: Clinical cases in invasive and neuroradiology
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Radiology: Clinical cases in musculosceletal and thoracic radiology.
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Radiology: Interactive Clinical cases 1
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Radiology: Interactive Clinical cases 2
|
Bibliography
Required Reading
Chapel and Haeney's Essentials of Clinical Immunology, 7th Edition, 2023Suitable for English stream
Hanna IJspeert, Emily S.J. Edwards, Robyn E. O’Hehir, Virgil A.S.H. Dalm, Menno C. van Zelm. Update on inborn errors of immunity. JACI, 2024Suitable for English stream
The Autoimmune Diseases. 6th edition by M. Eric Gershwin MD (Editor), George Tsokos (Editor) 2020Suitable for English stream
A newborn with unusual morphology: some practical aspects. Hennekam, Raoul C.M.Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Volume 16, Issue 2, 109 - 113Suitable for English stream
Carey JC, Allanson JE, Hennekam RC, Biesecker LG. Standard terminology for phenotypic variations: the Elements of Morphology project, its current progress, and future directions. Hum Mutat. 2012 May;33(5):781-6 (akceptējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
Helen V. Firth Oxford Desk Reference: Clinical Genetics and Genomics (Oxford Desk Reference Series). OUP Oxford; 2nd edition, 2017Suitable for English stream
Smith's Recognizable Patterns Of Human Malformation. Saunders; 8th edition, 2022.Suitable for English stream
Reardon, William. The Bedside Dysmorphologist. Oxford University Press; 2nd edition, 2016.Suitable for English stream
El-Shebiny, E.M., Zahran, E.S., Shoeib, S.A. et al. Bridging autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Egypt J Intern Med 33, 11 (2021)Suitable for English stream
Neiroimunoloģija klīniskajā praksē. V. Ķēniņa, N. Kurjāne 2021
Kim, V.H.D., Upton, J.E.M., Derfalvi, B. et al. Inborn errors of immunity (primary immunodeficiencies). Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 20 (Suppl 3), 76 (2025)Suitable for English stream
Helen V. Firth Oxford Desk Reference: Clinical Genetics and Genomics (Oxford Desk Reference Series). OUP Oxford; 2 edition2017Suitable for English stream
Autoantivielas un autoimūnas slimības. I. Mihailova 2023