PHSI3012: Semester 2, 2020

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Units PHSI3012 Semester 2 2020 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

PHSI3012: Physiology of Disease

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

The aim of this unit is to provide students with advanced knowledge of whole body physiology. Lectures will provide insight into the mechanisms that regulate normal homeostasis throughout the whole body and how defects in these processes can lead to significant human disease. The emphasis in this unit is on recent advances at the frontiers of human physiology. The processes leading to cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic disease will be explored at the molecular, cellular and whole body level. Problem-based learning will focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease and practical classes will utilise both wet lab and online resources to dissect the processes by which normal physiological processes become aberrant leading to human disease.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(PHSI2X05 and PHSI2X06) or (PHSI2X07 or MEDS2001) or 12cp from (BMED2402 or BMED2403 or BMED2404 or BMED2406)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PHSI3007 or PHSI3008 or PHSI3907 or PHSI3908 or PHSI3912
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Matthew Naylor, matthew.naylor@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Andrew Hoy, andrew.hoy@sydney.edu.au
	Stuart Fraser, stuart.fraser@sydney.edu.au
	Matthew Naylor, matthew.naylor@sydney.edu.au
	Simone Schoenwaelder, simone.schoenwaelder@sydney.edu.au
	Shaun Jackson, shaun.jackson@sydney.edu.au
	Steven Wise, steven.wise@sydney.edu.au
	Amanda Brandon, amanda.brandon@sydney.edu.au
	Mary Kavurma, mary.kavurma@sydney.edu.au
	Rebecca Mason, rebecca.mason@sydney.edu.au
	Tara Speranza, tara.speranza@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Craig Campbell, c.campbell@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Final exam n/a	45%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	PBL- cancer Written and oral presentation	15%	Week 05	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Mid-semester quiz MCQ	10%	Week 06	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	PBL- atherosclerosis Written and oral presentation	15%	Week 10	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group report Report	15%	Week 12	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Problem-based learning: Cancer	Project (6 hr)
	Problem-based learning: Atherosclerosis	Project (6 hr)
	Contractility of the myocardium	Practical (6 hr)
Week 01	Introduction to PHSI3012 & 3912	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Carcinogenesis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Experimental modelling of carcinogenesis in vivo	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Physiology of metastasis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Tumour angiogenesis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Leukemia	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Epithelial tumours	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Skin cancer	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Endocrine regulation of the CV system	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Pathophysiology of Atherosclerosis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Hypertension	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Endothelium and Cardiovascular Physiology	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Vascular inflammation	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Atherothrombosis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Cardiac Failure	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Therapeutics for cardiovascular disease	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Disorders of Lipid Metabolism 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Disorders of Lipid Metabolism 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Pathogenesis of insulin resistance & Type 2 Diabetes	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Pathogenesis of Obesity	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Diabetes & Medical Complications	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Osteoporosis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Osteoporosis & Sarcopenia	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Practical attendance: All students enrolled in PHSI3012 or PHSI3912 are to attend and engage in the practical classes. Attendance is compulsory and will be recorded. Failure to attend without the granting of special consideration or evidence of disruption due to COVID will adversely affect your mark. Live recordings and data from the practical will be made available to students who have been granted special consideration.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. describe the physiological systems that maintain normal tissue function and have implications for the physiology of the body during disease
LO2. provide examples explaining how genetic and other abnormalities can alter the normal physiology of such systems
LO3. explain how mutations in genes important in regulating elements of whole-body physiology result in specific symptoms of diseases
LO4. apply your understanding of normal cellular and molecular function to explain current treatments for disease
LO5. search for information from scientific journals, synthesise data and use the knowledge obtained to answer specific questions in cellular physiology and pathophysiology of human diseases that you are studying
LO6. work as part of a team to plan and organise scientific experiments and confidently communicate your scientific findings
LO7. understand the principles underlying commonly used experimental methods in whole-body physiology
LO8. synthesise relevant findings from original research articles
LO9. prepare a short oral presentation from a scientific article outlining relevant information to a current problem faced by the group
LO10. work cooperatively in organising and sharing intellectual tasks with your group members to construct and present a coherent talk or presentation that explains the current findings in a given research field
LO11. design and interpret cellular biological experiments to investigate a problem
LO12. design and apply electrophysiological analysis to a living tissue preparation and interpreting and presenting your own experimental results in terms of the underlying theory.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Some new lecturers have been introduced and others removed.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

Students are required to review X-lab safety guidelines before completing the practical. This will be available on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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