Degree Programmes
Programmes: MBBS, B.Sc. Anatomy, B.Sc. Physiology
Course Requirements
Direct Entry: GCE A/L; IJMB First Degree (1st class or 2nd Class Upper) Success (with Grades) in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
U.M.E.: Minimum credit in SSCE or equivalent in:- English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
U.M.E. Subjects: English, Biology Chemistry and Physics.
Course Objective:
The Course comprises mainly three parts:
(a) Introduction to General Chemical Pathology and Immunology principles at 400 level.
(b) Clinical application of these principles in confirming provisional clinical diagnosis
(c) Interpretation of results of disease states with particular reference to those common in Nigeria at 500 level.
Instructional Objectives
At the end of the three courses, a student should be able to:-
- Demonstration knowledge of the bio-chemical basis of disease states with particularly reference to those common in Nigeria.
- Select relevant biochemical tests that will confirm or refute provisional clinical diagnosis of disease states.
- Interpret and apply these results in deciding therapy and follow up of these disease states.
- Perform simple measurements of constituents of urine, CSF, plasma using simple but reliable methods.
Instructional Methods
These
methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, use of self
instructional packages, participation in practical classes and
demonstrations
Course Content:
A. Introduction to Chemical Pathology posting at 400 Level
This
consists of 10 hours of lectures, and tutorials and 65 hours of
practical classes and demonstration. This would cover the following
areas:
Introduction to biochemistry of common clinical diseases
The scope, methods of separation including use of various anticoagulants blood containers.
Collection and preservation of various body fluids, request of laboratory investigation.
Establishment of Reference values and uses of laboratory data
Traditional and System International (S.I.) Units,
Quality Assurance and Quality control with the concept of Accuracy and Precision.
Significance of abnormal biochemical constituents of body fluids with emphasis on plasma/serum and cerebrospinal fluids
Homeostasis in clinical Chemistry and Significance laboratory results-Importance of using side-room laboratories:-
B. Principles of Chemical Pathology: Block I Posting at 400 Level.
This consists of 22 hours of lectures and tutorials and 15 hours of practical classes and demonstrations.
The following topics will be covered.
Water and electrolyte Homeostasis and disorders
Concepts of PH, Hydrogen ion homeostasis and clinical disorders
Normal liver functions and biochemical changes in liver diseases.
Plasma proteins – Electrophoresis, and changes in disease state
Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate homeostasis and its disorders
Iron and Haem metabolism including its disorders
Biochemical basis of diabetes mellitus-Diagnosis, assessment and follow up during therapy
Plasma lipids and lipoprotein metabolism and disorders
Composition of urine, Basis of glomerular and renal tubular function tests-Detection of proteinuria and its significance
Biochemical basis of uric acid metabolism and disorder disorders – principles of its detection and treatment
Endocrinology
1. Mechanism regulating hormone secretions
2. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis
3. Hypothalamic-pituitary-Thyroid axis.
4. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian-tests axis.
Gastrointestinal disorders-Basis of gastric, pancreatic and intestinal function tests
Biochemical basis of Malnutrition, Avitaminosis and Hypervitaminosis
Clinical enzymology and its diagnostic significance
Biochemistry of the cerebrospinal fluid
C. Clinical Application of Chemical Pathology:- Block II posting at 500 Level.
This
consists of 22 hours of lectures, tutorials, interdepartmental seminars
and 15 hours of practical classes and demonstration.
The details are as follows:
Biochemical screening in detection of sub-clinical disease states:-
Computerization and Automation in clinical chemistry
Biochemical investigation of malabsorptive and malnourished states
Clinical significance of lipid disorders
Clinical significance and detection of Hypercalcaemia,
Osteomalacia, Rickets, Osteoporosis and Renal calculi
Biochemical investigation of carbohydrate metabolism
Glucose tolerance test – Indications, performance and interpretation of results
Screening for inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism
Clinical significance of disordered immunoglobulin production
Trace elements in disease
Toxicology and Drug assays.
D. Practical Classes and Demonstrations:-
There are a total of 36 hours of practical classes and demonstrations made up as follows:-
Importance of urine collection, Urine analysis and clinical interpretation of clinical significance
Demonstration of differences between whole bloods, plasma, and serum
Demonstration
of the basis for the use of colorimeter and estimation of simple
substances in plasma/serum e.g. Glucose, urea and protein by standard
methods
Estimation of protein and sugar in cerebrospinal fluid
Detection of occult blood in stool
Demonstration of principles of flame photometry and spectrophotometer
EVALUATION: Assessment Criteria is as follows:
Progressive
assessment at the end of each of the three postings. Each progressive
assessment consists of multiple choice questions (MCQ) and Long Answer
Questions (LAQ) jointly examined with other major disciplines of
Pathology.
The final assessment is prescribed University professional
examination which consists of MCQ, LAQ, Practical and Vival. The
weighting should be total of all progressive assessments – 50% and final
professional assessment 50%.The prescribed University examination
regulations will apply.
IMMUNOLOGY
Cell and Body Defense:
This
programme is part of the introductory series given to medical students
at the 200 level. The immunology component comprises four learning
sessions; each session consists not only of didactic lectures but also
the practical aspect of the science. Relevant clinical examples are
frequently made use of. The details of the sessions are as follows:-
Session 1: The Immune System
At the end of this session, the student should be able to:
Narrate the early history of immunology.
Understand
the concept of immunity and the relationship of an animal to other
organisms in its environment. Be able to define an antigen, and an
antibody; understand and differentiate between non-specific immunity and
specific acquire immunity.
Session II: Humoral Immunity
Objective:
At
the end of this session, the student should be able to describe the
theories of antibody formation production and structure. Classify
immunoglobulin.
Session III: Cell Mediated Immunity
Objective: At the end of this session, the student should be able to:
o Understand the concepts of hypersensitivity and cell mediated immunity.
o Understand the difference between primary and secondary immunity.
o Classify the concept of graft versus host reaction
Session IV Vaccination
At
the end of this session, the student should be able to understand the
principles of vaccination, the uses of antisera the type of vaccines.
The concept of passive immunity and therapeutic antisera.
The content and pre-reading materials are given to the students at the beginning of the semester.
The Respiratory System:
In
the respiratory system, this department has a session with the students
on mucosal immunology and the general principles of how the lungs are
protected- role of Ig.A.
The Blood
Students are taught the
functions of the blood, the role of small lymphocytes, especially the T
and B cell types and the role of the thymus in immunity.
The
Urogenital System (UGS) -In the UGS the department highlights: The basic
immunological mechanism underlying renal function and dysfunction.
Symposia:
In special symposia of the College and Faculty, the department deals with aspects relevant to the discipline.
The GIT and Nutrition:
In
the gastrointestinal system and nutrition programme, basic GIT,
immunology is taught. The Department is thus fully involved in the
planning and teaching of all body system programme in the pre-clinical
years.
Clinical Immunology:
In the clinical years the immunology
courses of the University of Ilorin are designed to create opportunity
for learning about immunology while maintaining the broad perspective
that immunology is an integral part of the wider field of biology and
medicine
The students are acquainted with as many aspects of basic
and applied immunology as possible. At the 200L Cell and body defense
course, the students were taught basic concepts of immunology that
enable them to appreciate the relevance of the subject and its
applicability to other disciplines in medicine.
In the clinical
years, the students will be taught specific and more detailed concepts
in the field of immunology, highlighting its applicability to the
clinical discipline and also to diagnostic services.
Cells of the
Blood and Lymphoid Tissues: Origin, lifespan, fate, structure and
function of myeloid cells, Neutrophils and Basophils. Elementary
introduction to origin, lifespan, structure and function of lymphoid
cells T and N cells
Tumours:
Introduction to Immunology 1: Distribution and function of immune cells
Anatomy
of lymphoid system, Central and peripheral lymphoid organs-Thymus,
bursa, lymph node, T and B lymphocytes, immune, response,
characteristics (adaptive, specific) Lymphocyte transformation and
plasma cells.
Introduction to immunology II: Immunochemistry
Definition
of antigen, Immunogen and hapten. Antibody introduction-Ig structure
and the molecular basis for specificity. Biological activities of
antibodies complements, cell-surface binding sites.
Practical:
Practical diagnostic immunological techniques will be shown and demonstrated as follows:-
Collection of serum and plasma
Total and differential while cell counting.
Separation of blood leucocytes
Cell motility and viability
Passive agglutination tests
Tanned red cell test
Ouchterlony gel diffusion test
Skin testing for both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity
Immunofluorescent techniques, immunoelectrophoresis, radio
immunodiffusion, etc.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT
1. Pattern of Drugs and Poisons in North Central Nigeria,– Case for a Drug and Poison centre
2. Erectile dysfunction and plasma lipids in hypertension
3. Prevalence, socio demographic and biochemical lifestyle risk factors that may be associated with erectile dysfunction.
4. Interaction of infection and ageing and surveillance of immunity to Vaccine antigens.
5. Community Based Medical Education.
6 Association between previously diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus, Undiagnosed hyperglycemia and erectile dysfunction.
7
Biochemical features of patients with open angle glaucoma- Supported by
the Senate Research Grant of University of Ilorin.
8. Effect of repeated health education on the metabolic control of diabetic patients
Acquire
a metal coat hanger for which you have permission
to destroy. Pull the coat hanger apart.
Using duct tape, attach two tennis balls to
opposite ends of the coat hanger as shown in the
diagram at the right. Bend the hanger so that there
is a flat part that balances on the head of a
person. The ends of the hanger with the tennis
balls should hang low (below the balancing point).
Place the hanger on your head and balance it. Then
quickly spin in a circle. What do the tennis balls
do?