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Pathophysiology of Heart and Circulation
6
Dr. P. Koolwijk, Dr T. van Lambalgen, Prof. Dr G.J.M. Stienen
period 1 (sept – oct)

To gain knowledge on the most important cardiovascular
concepts, theories, techniques, research questions and journals.

To gain and to apply knowledge and insight in relevant
(sub)disciplines: anatomy, physiology, biophysics, cardiology and
cardiac surgery.

To learn how to acquire, analyse and evaluate information on
cardiovascular and related medical subjects and to relate those to
basal and clinical issues.
This course focuses on the fundamental aspects of normal cardiac
function, cardiac dysfunction and the development of heart failure.
Basic information will be presented regarding anatomy, physiology
and biophysics of the heart and the circulation during health and
disease.
The following topics will be addressed:

cardiac function assessment

signal transduction during cardiac development and hypertrophy

cardiac diagnosis and therapy

cardiac arrhythmia

cardiac necrosis and

cardiac apoptosis.
The course contains the following practical elements:

echocardiography and

in vivo assessment of cardiac function in animal models of heart
failure.
lectures, working groups, assignments
book: Cardiology, Crawford-Di Marco-Paulus 3rd Ed.; syllabus
including relevant articles
written exam
Master students with biomedical background and basic knowledge of
the relevant cardiovascular subjects.
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co-ordinators
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Clinical and biophysical aspects of heart and circulation
6
dr. J.G.F. Bronzwaer, dr. J.T. Marcus, Prof. Dr. W.J. Paulus
year 1; period 1 (sept – oct)
To gain knowledge on the most important cardiovascular concepts,
theories, techniques, research questions and journals.
To gain experience with and to apply computer software used in the
cardiac research.
To apply the basics of Good Laboratory Practice.
To learn how to acquire, analyse and evaluate information on
cardiovascular and related medical subjects and to relate those to
basal and clinical issues.
This course focuses on the basic principles and clinical aspects of
normal cardiac and circulatory function and dysfunction and the
development of heart failure. Special attention will be given to the
biophysical and clinical aspects of imaging.
The following topics will be addressed:
 Cardiac excitation and contraction, physics of heart and
circulation, hemorheology and fluid dynamics
 Coronary artery disease: ischemic syndromes
 Heart failure: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis
 Hypertension and other risk factors of Coronary Artery
Disease: Clinical diagnosis, treatment and complications
 Inflammation of the heart: Pericarditis, myocarditis and
endocarditis
 Mitral & aortic valve disease
 Aortic and peripheral vascular disease: Clinical spectrum,
diagnosis and treatment
 Pulmonary hypertension
 Clinical recognition of supra- and ventricular arrhythmias
 Cardiovascular positron emission tomography, MRI,
Ultrasound
 Implants: pacemakers/defibrillators
 Cardiac Resynchonisation Therapy (CRT).
This course contains the following practical elements/demonstrations:
 Catheterisation room
 MRI
 Echocardiography
 Echo-doppler Carotis
lectures, working groups, assignments
book: Cardiology, Crawford-Di Marco-Paulus 3rd Ed.; syllabus
including relevant articles
written exam
Master students with biomedical background and basic knowledge of
the relevant cardiovascular subjects.
subject Remodelling of the Circulatory system
code
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co-ordinators
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6
Prof. dr. H. Niessen, dr. A. Vonk Noordegraaf
Year 1; period 2
To gain knowledge on the most important concepts, theories,
techniques, research questions and scientific journals related with
remodelling of the circulation.
To gain experience with and to apply computer software used in the
remodelling of the circulation.
To gain and to apply knowledge and insight in relevant
(sub)disciplines: anatomy, physiology, pathology, biophysics,
cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.
To learn how to acquire, analyse and evaluate information on
cardiovascular and general medical subjects and to relate those to
basal and clinical issues.
This course focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms of
vascular remodelling in pulmonary disease and ischemia.
The following topics will be addressed:
pathophysiology of angiogenesis
vascular and cardiac effects of pulmonary hypertension
the role of fat tissue in vascular regulation
the effect of mechanical ventilation on the cardiovascular system.
The course contains the following practical elements:
3D-life cell imaging of vascular cells
isolation and culture of vascular smooth muscle cells
protein analysis & proteomics in vascular disease/stress
pressure measurements of blood vessels ex-vivo
preparation of animal and human tissue.
lectures, working groups, assignments
book: to be announced; syllabus including relevant articles
written exam
Master students with biomedical background and basic knowledge of
the relevant cardiovascular subjects.
subject
code
credits
co-ordinators
period
aim
content
form of tuition
literature
mode of assessment
target audience
remarks
Vascular function and metabolic diseases
6
dr. H. Blom, dr. E. Serné
Year 1; period 2

To gain knowledge on the most important concepts, theories,
techniques, research questions and journals related with vascular
function and metabolic diseases.

To gain experience with and to apply computer software used in
the cardiovascular research.

To gain and to apply knowledge and insight in relevant
(sub)disciplines: anatomy, physiology, pathology, biophysics,
cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.

To learn how to acquire, analyse and evaluate information on
cardiovascular and related medical subjects and to relate those to
basal and clinical issues.
This course focuses on the fundamental role of inflammation,
diabetes and hyperhomocysteinemia in vascular disease.
Pathophysiology, new diagnostics and development of new therapies
will be presented.
The following topics will be addressed:

diabetes and vascular disease

diabetes and cardiac disease

hyperhomocysteinemia and vascular disease

inflammation and vascular disease: the role of sepsis

diagnostics of vascular complications
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endovascular surgery as a new therapy in vascular disease.
The course contains the following practical elements:

in vivo assessment of vascular function in humans

flow-cytometry of inflammatory cells / mediators

isolation and culture of endothelial cells

protein analysis & proteomics in vascular disease.
lectures, working groups, assignments
book: to be announced; syllabus including relevant articles
written exam
Master students with biomedical background and basic knowledge of
the relevant cardiovascular subjects.
subject
code
credits
co-ordinators
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aim
Biostatistics
3
Dr. B.M.J. Uitdehaag
Year 1; semester 2
 To gain knowledge of basic concepts of statistical analysis
 To gain insight in the interpretation of the results of statistical
analyses
 To gain insight in possibilities and limitations of statistical
analyses
 To apply this knowledge when performing statistical analyses
content This course focuses on the practical application of statistical analyses
and clinical epidemiology
The following topics will be addressed:
 study design in diagnosis and treatment
 confounding and interaction
 analysis of continuous and dichotomous outcome variables
 linear and logistic regression analysis
 multiple regression analysis: prediction and association
models
 analysis of survival data: Kaplan Meier curves and Cox
regression analysis
 power, including sample size calculations.
The course contains the following practical elements:
 active analyses of data (provided by the coordinator) using
standard statistical computer software during working groups.
form of tuition lectures, working groups, assignments
literature Book (to be announced)
syllabus including relevant articles
mode of assessment written exam
target audience
remarks
subject
code
credits
co-ordinator
period
aim
content
form of tuition
literature
mode of assessment
target audience
remarks
Scientific writing and presenting in English
Drs J.K.A. Meijer
Drs J.K.A. Meijer
3
To provide the students with the essential linguistic means for
producing English academic texts which are effective, idiomatically
and stylistically appropriate and grammatically correct.
To practice scientific presentations in English.
Year 1; semester 1
This course focuses on the various types of scientific texts, the
associated text structures and on the parts played by the introduction
and conclusion of a scientific text.
The following topics will also be addressed:

stating research goals

describing research goals
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how to write a good English paragraph and
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how to compare and to contrast.
The course contains the following practical elements:

homework

phased series of exercises and

scientific presentation in English.
The course is focussed on self-tuition. The plenary sessions
concentrate on the process of writing, the product of writing and the
design of a Power point presentation in English. With each topic,
participants work through a phased series of exercises that usually
conclude with the requirement to write a short piece of text. The
instructor will append extensive written remarks to the texts and
group members as well as the instructor will comment on the English
presentation.
The reader ‘Writing a Scientific article’ and instruction on ‘How to
present in English’ obtainable at the Taalcentrum VU, room 9A-42.
Written exam. In addition, students will receive their credits only
when they have participated in the classes and also have fulfilled all
requirements.