Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2019
Health Sciences and Technology Master | ||||||
Major in Human Health, Nutrition and Environment | ||||||
Electives | ||||||
Elective Courses II | ||||||
Module: Infectious Diseases | ||||||
Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
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701-1708-00L | Infectious Disease Dynamics | W | 4 credits | 2V | S. Bonhoeffer, R. D. Kouyos, R. R. Regös, T. Stadler | |
Abstract | This course introduces into current research on the population biology of infectious diseases. The course discusses the most important mathematical tools and their application to relevant diseases of human, natural or managed populations. | |||||
Objective | Attendees will learn about: * the impact of important infectious pathogens and their evolution on human, natural and managed populations * the population biological impact of interventions such as treatment or vaccination * the impact of population structure on disease transmission Attendees will learn how: * the emergence spread of infectious diseases is described mathematically * the impact of interventions can be predicted and optimized with mathematical models * population biological models are parameterized from empirical data * genetic information can be used to infer the population biology of the infectious disease The course will focus on how the formal methods ("how") can be used to derive biological insights about the host-pathogen system ("about"). | |||||
Content | After an introduction into the history of infectious diseases and epidemiology the course will discuss basic epidemiological models and the mathematical methods of their analysis. We will then discuss the population dynamical effects of intervention strategies such as vaccination and treatment. In the second part of the course we will introduce into more advanced topics such as the effect of spatial population structure, explicit contact structure, host heterogeneity, and stochasticity. In the final part of the course we will introduce basic concepts of phylogenetic analysis in the context of infectious diseases. | |||||
Lecture notes | Slides and script of the lecture will be available online. | |||||
Literature | The course is not based on any of the textbooks below, but they are excellent choices as accompanying material: * Keeling & Rohani, Modeling Infectious Diseases in Humans and Animals, Princeton Univ Press 2008 * Anderson & May, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Oxford Univ Press 1990 * Murray, Mathematical Biology, Springer 2002/3 * Nowak & May, Virus Dynamics, Oxford Univ Press 2000 * Holmes, The Evolution and Emergence of RNA Viruses, Oxford Univ Press 2009 | |||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Basic knowledge of population dynamics and population genetics as well as linear algebra and analysis will be an advantage. | |||||
Module: Nutrition and Health | ||||||
Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
752-1300-00L | Introduction to Toxicology | W | 3 credits | 2V | R. Eggen, S. J. Sturla | |
Abstract | Introduction to how chemical properties and biological interactions govern the disposition and influences of toxicants. | |||||
Objective | The objectives are for the student to establish a framework for examining adverse effects resulting from exposures to toxicants by understanding key mechanisms that give rise to toxic responses and disease processes. | |||||
Content | This course will introduce mechanisms governing the chemical disposition and biological influences of toxicants. The course is geared toward advanced bachelors students in food science, environmental science, and related disciplines, such as chemistry, biology and pharmaceutical sciences. Examples of topics include: dose-response relationships and risk assessment, absorption, transport, and biotransformation of xenobiotic chemicals; Carcinogenesis; DNA damage, repair, and mutation; Immunotoxicity; Neurotoxicity; and modern toxicity testing strategies. These fundamental concepts in Mechanistic Toxicology will be integrated with examples of toxicants relevant to food, drugs and the environment. | |||||
Literature | Casarett & Doull's Toxicology, The Basic Science of Poisons. Seventh Edition. Editor: Curtis D. Klaassen, 2008, McGraw-Hill. (available on-line) | |||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Basic knowledge of organic chemistry and biochemistry is required. | |||||
752-1300-01L | Food Toxicology | W | 2 credits | 1V | S. J. Sturla, N. Antczak | |
Abstract | Builds on a foundation in Toxicology fundamentals to address situations and toxins relevant to Food Science, Nutrition, and Food Safety & Quality. | |||||
Objective | Course objectives are for the student to have a broad awareness of toxicant classes and toxicants relevant to food, and to know their identities (i.e. chemical structure or biological nature), origins, relevance of human exposures, general mode of biological action, and potential mitigation strategies. | |||||
Content | Builds on a foundation in Toxicology fundamentals to address situations relevant to Food Science, Nutrition, and Food Safety & Quality. Representative topics: Toxic Phytochemicals and Mycotoxins, Industrial Contaminants and Packaging Materials, Toxicants formed During Food Processing, Alcohol and Tobacco. The class is comprised of bi-weekly lectures, independent reading, and preparation of an independent evaluation of a food-related toxin. | |||||
Literature | Reading from the primary literature will be referenced in class and posted to the course website. | |||||
Prerequisites / Notice | The course "Introduction to Toxicology" (752-1300-00V) is a prerequisite for the students who want to take this course. Equivalent course may be accepted; contact the instructor. | |||||
752-6102-00L | The Role of Food and Nutrition for Disease Prevention | W | 3 credits | 2V | M. Andersson | |
Abstract | The course teaches the links between the diet and the etiology and progression of chronic diseases. | |||||
Objective | To examine and understand the protective effects of foods and food ingredients in the maintenance of health and the prevention of chronic disease, as well as the progression of complications of chronic diseases. | |||||
Content | The course evaluates food and nutrition in relation to primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases. | |||||
Lecture notes | There is no script. Powerpoint presentations and relevant literature will be made available online to students. | |||||
Literature | Obligatory course literature to be provided by the responsible lecturer and the individual invited lecturers. | |||||
Prerequisites / Notice | No compulsory prerequisites, but prior completion of Introduction to Nutritional Science (752-6001-00L) and Advanced Topics in Nutritional Science (752-6002-00L) is strongly adviced. | |||||
752-6302-00L | Physiology of Eating | W | 3 credits | 2V | W. Langhans | |
Abstract | Introduction to the basic knowledge necessary for an understanding of the physiology and pathology of hunger, satiety, and body weight control, how this knowledge is generated, and how it helps improve nutritional advice for healthy people as well as nutritional guidelines for patients. | |||||
Objective | This course requires basic knowledge in physiology and is designed to build on course HE03 “Selected Topics in Physiology Related to Nutrition.” The course covers psychological and physiological determinants of food selection and amount eaten. The aim is to introduce the students to (a) the basic knowledge necessary for an understanding of the physiology and pathology of hunger, satiety, and body weight control, (b) how new scientific knowledge in this area is generated, (c) how this basic knowledge helps improve nutritional advice for healthy people as well as nutritional guidelines for patients. Major topics are: Basic scientific concepts for the physiological study of eating in animals and humans; the psychopharmacology of reward; endocrine and metabolic controls of eating; the neural control of eating; psychological aspects of eating; eating behavior and energy balance; exercise, eating and body weight; popular diets and their evaluation; epidemiology, clinical features and the treatment of psychiatric eating disorders; epidemiology, clinical features and the treatment of obesity, including related aspects of non-insulin dependent diabetes; mechanisms of cachexia and anorexia during illness; exogenous factors that influence eating, including pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, coffee, etc. | |||||
Lecture notes | Handouts will be provided | |||||
Literature | Literature will be discussed in class | |||||
Module: Environment and Health | ||||||
Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
701-0662-00L | Environmental Impacts, Threshold Levels and Health Effects | W | 3 credits | 2V | C.‑T. Monn, M. Brink | |
Abstract | Environmental impacts on human health and well-being will be discussed. Concepts and methods for exposure measurements and assessments will be shown. In the first part of the semester, air pollutants (for example for ozone, and fine particles). In the second part, noise, its effects and control, will be covered. | |||||
Objective | - to understand the basic concepts of an exposure assessment (air, noise) - to know methods used in health effect research - to know criteria and methods for setting threshold levels | |||||
Content | Air Pollutants - sources of pollutants (indoors and outdoors) - concepts of an exposure assessment - measurement methods for gases and particles - health effect of pollutants (methods, most important pollutants, such as fine particles and ozone) Noise - Introduction to acoustics, Measurement, Hearing - Auditory processing - Exposure assessment of noise - Noise effects, Exposure-effect relationships - Basics of noise control and abatement, exposure limits - Noise abatement policy | |||||
Lecture notes | Presentations (ppt, pdf) will be sent by email. | |||||
Literature | see references in the scripts. | |||||
701-1312-00L | Advanced Ecotoxicology | W | 3 credits | 2V | R. Eggen, E. Janssen, K. Schirmer, M. Suter | |
Abstract | This course will take up the principles of environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology from the bachelor courses and deepen the understanding on selected topics. Linkages will be made between i) bioavailability and effects, ii) structures of compounds and modes of toxic action, iii) effects over various biological levels, moderated by environmental factors, iv) chemical and biological assessments | |||||
Objective | - Understanding the key processes involved in fate, behavior and the bioaccumulation of (mainly) organic contaminants - Overview on and understanding of mechanisms of toxicity - linking structures and characteristics of compounds with effects - processes in hazard assessment and risk assessment - get insight in integrative approaches in ecotoxicology | |||||
Content | Units 1-3: Fate of contaminants, dynamic interactions with the (a)biotic environment, toxikokinetics - physico-chemical properties - partitioning processes in environmental compartments - partitioning to biota - bioavailability and bioaccumulation concepts - partitioning in biota Units 4-6: Toxicodynamics (effect of contaminants on biota) - internal concentrations; dose-response concept - molecular mechanisms of toxic actions - classification - Exercise: databases and estimation of toxicity Unit 7-10: Toxic effects: from molecular to ecosystems - complex mechanisms and feedback loops - mixtures and multiple stressors - stress- and adaptive responses - dynamic exposures - confounding factors, food web interactions - Exercise: linking compounds with modes of toxic action Unit 11: metal ecotoxicology Unit 12-14: integrative approaches and case studies - bioassays, -omics, systems ecotoxicology, phenotypic anchoring - in vivo versus in vitro biotesting - linking chemical with biological analytics - bioassay-directed fractionation and identification - (inter) national case studies and linkage of learned with approaches in practice | |||||
Lecture notes | Parts of scripts will be distributed, otherwise copies of overheads and selected publications | |||||
Literature | R.P. Schwarzenbach, P.M. Gschwend, D.M. Imboden, Environmental Organic Chemistry, third edition, Wiley, 2005 C.J. van Leeuwen, J.L.M. Hermens (Editoren), Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction, Kluwer, 1995 Principles of ecotoxicology, CH Walker, RM Sibly, SP Hopkin, DB Peakall, fourth edition, CRC Press, 2012 | |||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Required: 1. Basics in environmental chemistry 2. Basics in environmental toxicology | |||||
701-1350-00L | Case Studies in Environment and Health | W | 4 credits | 2V | K. McNeill, N. Borduas-Dedekind, T. Julian | |
Abstract | This course will focus on a few individual chemicals and pathogens from different standpoints: their basic chemistry or biology, their environmental behavior, (eco)toxicology, and human health impacts. The course will draw out the common points in each chemical or pathogen's history. | |||||
Objective | This course aims to illustrate how the individual properties of chemicals and pathogens along with societal pressures lead to environmental and human health crises. The ultimate goal of the course is to identify common aspects that will improve prediction of environmental crises before they occur. Students are expected to participate actively in the course, which includes the critical reading of the pertinent literature and class presentations. | |||||
Content | Each semester will feature case studies of chemicals and pathogens that have had a profound effect on human health and the environment. The instructors will present eight of these and the students will present approx. six in groups of three or four. Students will be expected to contribute to the discussion and, on selected topics, to lead the discussion. | |||||
Lecture notes | Handouts will be provided as needed. | |||||
Literature | Handouts will be provided as needed. | |||||
701-1704-01L | Health Impact Assessment: Concepts and Case Studies | W | 3 credits | 2V | M. Winkler, C. Guéladio, M. Röösli, J. M. Utzinger | |
Abstract | This course introduces the concept of health impact assessment (HIA) and discusses a suite of case studies in industrialised and developing countries. HIA pursues an inter- and multidisciplinary approach, employs qualitative and quantitative methods with the overarching goal to influence decision-making. | |||||
Objective | After successful completion of the course, students should be able to: o critically reflect on the concept of HIA and the different steps from screening to implementation and monitoring; and o apply specific tools and methodologies for HIA of policies, programmes and projects in different social, ecological and epidemiological settings. | |||||
Content | The course will present a broad set of tools and methods for the systematic and evidence-based judgment of potential health effects related to policies, programmes and projects. Methodological features will be introduced and applied to a variety of case studies in the public sector (e.g. traffic-related air pollution, passive smoking and waste water management) and private sector (e.g. water resource developments and extractive industries) all over the world. | |||||
Lecture notes | Handouts will be distributed. | |||||
Literature | Whenever possible, at least one peer-reviewed paper will be made available for each session. |
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