Total curriculum hours (per semester)

COURSE RECORD

(70)
BIOPHYSICS AND MEDICAL PHYSICS ENGLISH PROGRAMME

Discipline name
Year of study

Semester *

E
1

Final assessment (E / ME / C)

Course type (Ob obligatory, Op optional, F elective)

Ob

Number of credits

Total curriculum hours

90

Total semester hours

70

Head of discipline

70

Total self-study hours

Professor Cipriana Stefanescu MD PhD

* If the course has several semesters, a record is to be filled in for every semester.

Medicine

Faculty
Department
Field of study
Specialty

Morphofunctional Sciences

Total

C**

70

28

42

Medicine
Medicine

** C course, L lab, P projects, works

Minimal requirements for course/stages/practical works
Notions of physics: optics, thermodynamics, electricity, nuclear physics

Discipline objectives:
-Theoretical objectives: awareness of physical principles of study methods employed in medicine;
understanding biophysical aspects of processes and structures in the body and the action of physical factors on
the body.
- Practical objectives: operating a series of devices used in the medical lab; study (practical and/or
demonstrative) of processes in the body, on biological or physical models or by experimental methods

Lectures - ANNALITICAL PROGRAMME 28 hours

INTRODUCTION. BIOPHYSICS BORDERLINE SCIENCE
2 hours
Biophysics and Medical Physics evolution. Physics role in Medicine evolution. Biophysics and
Medical Physics specific objectives. Biophysics- fundamental science in accomplishing the medical
education. Biophysics domains.
MEDICAL BIOPYSICS.
2 hours
Biophysics and Medical Physics specific objectives and some examples: action of the physical agents
on human body (Chernobyl disaster), base of the biophysical mechanism in molecular diseases (sickle
anemia), fundamentals of the medical imagistic area. Classification of the medical imagistic domains,
physical principles of : X-Ray, ultrasounds, radioisotopes and magnetic nuclear resonance.
PHYSICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL METODS IN MEDICINE
8 hours
Classification of the physical and biophysical methods. General methods: scientific observation and
scientific experiment. Separation and analysis methods. Physical principle of the main biophysics
methods and techniques used in medicine: electro- kinetic methods (electrophoresis,
immunoelectrophoresis, electrophocalisation), kinetic methods, centrifugation, lyophilization, optical
methods, spectroscopic methods and spectrometry, conductometry, patch-clamp, optical and
electronic microscopies, other related techniques (nuclear microanalyses, ionic microscopy, tunnel
effect microscopy, atomic force microscopy). Separation and analysis algorithm for a biological
molecule ( steps and techniques used)
X- Ray protein crystallography and it use in medicine.
Water molecule and it biophysical special proprieties

1 hour
1 hour

CELL BIOPHYSICS.. Membrane fluidity (microviscosity)- biophysical parameter in relation with

membrane molecules. Liquid crystal concept, equation, modulation factors, evaluation methods and
pathology relations. Physics and Biophysics of the molecular interactions for transport and cells
communications. Biophysics of the rest and action biopotential: membrane transport, measuring and
evaluation.
THE THEORY OF SYSTEMS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE; BIOSYSTEMS FROM THE
THERMODYNAMIC POINT OF VIEW
The genesis of the theory of systems. Biosystems classification. Biosystems general characteristics.
The thermodynamic principles in the case of biosystems. Thermodynamics and Biophysics. Actual
trends in medicine for the study of biosystems.

3 hours

2 hours

MODEL SYSTEMS. MODELLING IN SCIENTIFICAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL PRACTICE 2 hours

Model, modeling definitions, trends in medicine. Hodgkin-Huxley model. Models classification.
The modeling stages illustrated in the case of the axon fragment electronically modeling. The main
groups of models: theoretic models; bionic models; cybernetic models; the modeling in
biotechnology; prothetical modeling; biologic models.
THE EFFECTS OF SOME PHYSICAL FACTORS UPON BIOSYSTEMS
2 hours
Temperature variations effects. The organism in hyperbaric or hypobaric medium. Acceleration and
2

imponderability effects on the organism. Biological effects of visible radiations. Laser principles
and applications. The effects of UV radiations. The interaction of magnetic field with biosystems.
Biomagnetism elements. US and their effects. Electric current biological action.
RADIOBIOLOGY ELEMENTS
2 hours
Radioactivity physical basis. The physical mechanisms of radiations interaction with matter.
Characteristics of radiations action at living structure level. Ionizing radiations detection. Dosimetry.
Dose effect relation, characteristic measure units. Radiopatology. Radioprotection. Radioisotopes
applications in biology and medicine.
HUMAN BIOMECHANIC ELEMENTS MACROSCOPIC AND TISSULAR LEVEL
Essential theoretical data, instruments, methods. Human body and cellular mechanic-chemical
phenomena. Mechanical deformation at cellular and tissular level. Medical applications.

1 hour

BIOPHYSICS OF HUMAN BODY BIOSYSTEMS

The blood non-newtonian fluid. Essential hemorheological parameters presentation.
Pulmonary ventilation physical factors. Pulmonary elasticity biophysical parameters.
Physical signals and sensorial messages.

2 hours

Practical and Demonstrative works program 42 hours

1. The objectives of the practical and demonstrative works for the formation of the student in 3 hours
medicine. Measurement types in medical practice. Exercises
2. The International System of Units and its particularities in medicine. Essential data about statistics 3 hours
in medicine . Exercises
3. Osmosis. The cell behaviour in hyper-, hypo-, and isotonic media. Crioscopic method. The use of 3 hours
microscope. The micrometer method. Centrifugation and ultracentrifugation: physical principles and
applications in medicine. Dutrochets osmometer: description of the device, utility. Pfeffers
osmometer: description of the device, utility.
4. Dialysis and conductometry. Dialysis: definition, explanation of the phenomenon. Dialysis 3 hours
application in medicine: artificial kidney. The conductometry of the biological solutions: theoretical
data; mathematical equations and measuring units. Use of the conductometric method for dialysis
efficiency evaluation. Graphical presentation. Kohlrausch's bridge: diagram, its application in the
conductometric method.
5. Ussing's method for demonstrating Na+ active transport at frog skin level: principle of the method. 3 hours
Comparison between the Na+ active transport through the frog skin and through the cell membrane.
Na+ active transport through the frog skin: diagrammatic presentation, main characteristics. Time
dependence of Na+ active transport through the frog skin. Graphical presentation. The dependence
between the intensity of the short-circuiting current and the amount of Na+ which pass through the
frog skin: mathematical equation, and graphical presentation. Demonstration
6. Analysing blood proteins. Theoretical data about refraction phenomenon; refraction laws; refractive 3 hours

index. Pulfrich's refractometer: main constructive parts; principle of the refractometric method.
Electrophoresis: theoretical data; the description of the device. Photocolorimetric method: principle of
the method, Lambert-Beer's law, medical application. The photocolorimeter: main constructive parts.
7. Cell and tissue biopotentials: explanation of the phenomena that occur. Resting and action 3 hours
potentials, depolarization and repolarization processes; single-phase (mono-phase) and biphase waves,
diagrammatic presentation. Description of the ECG recording device; d'Arsonval electrodes.
Measuring the ECG of a frog before and after the heart lesion. Einthoven's law: description of the
physical model, comparison between the model and the biological system being modelled, equation,
medical utilization. Practical ways for verifying Einthoven's law: medical application. Demonstration
8. Density and viscosimetry. Theoretical data about density. Medical application. Densimeter method: 3 hours
principle, sources of errors, work technique. Areometers, description of the device. Theoretical data
about viscosity; medical application. Reynold's number. Ostwald's viscosimeter: principle of the
method, description and diagrammatic presentation of the device. Poiseuille's law and the calculation
formula for Ostwalds viscosimeter method. Surface tension. Surface energy and surface tension
theoretical data. Stalagmometer method for the determination of the surface tension coefficient:
principle of the method, experimental device work technique. Tate's law and the calculation formula
for the surface tension coefficient, in the stalagmometer method.
9. The eye optical system. Theoretical data about optical systems. Spherical lens. Determination of 3 hours
the focal distances for convergent lens. Optical aberrations. Applications in opthical physiology.
10. Spectral analysis. Theoretical data of spectral analysis, electronic energy levels.. Spectra: 3 hours
definition, types of spectra (classification), different ways for obtaining a spectrum. Spectroscopes:
three arms spectroscope and linear spectroscope compounds, types of description of the devices.
Gauging the scale of the three arms spectroscope. Making evidence of Na in biological solutions using
emission spectral analysis. Identification of oxihemoglobin using absorbtion spectral analysis.
11. Optical activity. Theoretical data of optical activity; polarization of light; applications in medical 3 hours
practice. Principle of the polarimeter method; Biot's law, measuring the concentration of an optic
active substance. The polarimeter: diagrammatic presentation, main constructive parts, work
technique. Polarization microscopy: the diagram of the polarization microscope, medical applications.
12. Radioisotopes and radioactivity. Radioisotopes theoretical data: nuclide, isotopes, decay law, 3 hours
activity and specific activity, half-life of a radioisotope. Classification of the ionizing radiations.
Measuring the radioactivity of a nuclear radiation source, principle of the method, the main
constructive compounds of the device. Measuring the half- thickness of different materials; medical
application. Photo-dosimetric method for measuring the absorbed dose: principle of the method, description
of the device.

13. Basic principles of radioisotopes applications. Main characteristics of radio-pharmaceuticals. 6 hours

The production of radioisotopes. The 99Mo-99mTc generator. Scintillation counter: diagrammatic
presentation, description and functioning. The rectilinear scanner and the gamma camera:
diagrammatic presentation, the principle of obtaining images. The principle of the scintigraphic
method. Data aquisition and image treatment in scintigraphic method using gamma camera. Thyroid
radioiodine uptake. Radio-immuno-assay (RIA): principle of the method, diagrammatic presentation.
Radioimunological dosage steps. An exemple: insulin concentration determination.
14. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: principle of the method. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance device: 3 hours
diagrammatic presentation, main constructive parts. Different Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
techniques: classification, biological and medical applications. Electron Spin Resonance: principle of
the method. Biological and medical applications of ESR.

Obligatory and Elective References (bold):

1. Aurengo A., Grmy F., Petitclerc T., Biophysique, Medecine-Sciences Flammarion, Paris 1997.
2. Dimoftache C., Herman S., Principii de Biofizic uman, Ed. UniversitarCarol Davila,Bucureti, 2003.
3. Duncan G, Physics in the Life Sciences, Blackwell Scientific Publications, The Alden Press, Oxford, 1990.
4. Hancock J. T., Cell Signalling, Longman, Edinburgh, 1997.
5. Herman S.Aparatura medical.Principiile fizice ale aparaturii medicale moderne,Ed.Teora,Bucureti,2000.
6. Hoppe W, Lohmann W, Markl H, Ziegler H, Biophysics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 1982.
7. Pascu M., Rusu V., Vasile C., Spectrometria in IR in medicina si farmacie, Editura BIT, 2003.
8. Popescu A., Bazele Opticii, Ed. Universitii Al. I. Cuza, Iai, 1988.
9. Rusu V., Baran T., Brniteanu D.D., Biomembrane i patologie, vol.I, Ed. Medical, Bucureti, 1988.
10. Rusu V. i colab., Lucrari practice i demonstrative de Biofizic i Fizic medical, Ed. Gr.T.Popa 2003.
11. Rusu V. i colab., Note de curs, 2007.
12. Rusu V., Dicionar medical, ed. III, Ed. Medical, Bucureti, 2007.
13. Skoog D. A., Holler F. J., Nieman T. A., Principes danalyse instrumentale, De Boeck Universit, Paris, 2003.
14. tefanescu C., Rusu V. De la fizica si biofizica radiofarmaceuticelor la imagini functionale si metabolice, Ed.
Tehnopress, Iai, 2007.
15. tefanescu C., Rusu V. Medical Biophysics. An introduction for students, Ed. Tehnopress, Iai, 2008.
16. Volkenstein M.V., Biophysics, Mir Publishers, Moscow, 1983.
17. Wantelet M., Les Nanotechnologies, Dunod, Paris, 2003.
18. Weiss TF, Cellular Biophysics, I-II, The MIT Press, Massachusetts, 1996.
19. P.K. Srivastava, Elementary Biophysics- An Introduction, Ed. Alpha Sicience International ltd., Harrow, U. K.,
2005
20. Laurence Bordenave, Jaques de Certaines, Yvon Grall, Ilana Idy- Perett, Biophysique pour les sciences de la vie
et de la sant, Omniscience, 2007

Practical knowledge acquired at the end of the year/semester

-

Operating a series of medical appliances in the clinical lab or in research and understanding the physical
operating principle
Understanding possible errors in interpreting results in relation to the physical principle of the lab method
and the sample preparation method
Awareness of measurement units (in international system of units or as accepted) used in expressing
biochemical parameters and their conversion methods (conversion methods, nomograms).

Percent
Factors for determining the final grade
(Total = 100%)
- answers in exams/colloquia (final assessment):
50%
35%

Multiple-choise tests
Practical work

- final answers in practical lab works

- midterm examinations
- continuous testing along the semester

15%

- homework, papers, translations, projects etc

- other activities (PLEASE SPECIFY) : colloquia
Describe the final assessment type E/ME (i.e.: written paper (descriptive and/or multiple-choice test
and/or problems etc.), oral examination, individual or group colloquia, project etc.)
Estimated total time (hours per semester) of students self-study activities
(fill in 0 for the activities that are not required)
8
1. Study of lecture notes
8. Preparation for oral presentations
0
2. Handbook study, teaching aid
3. Study of the specified minimal
references
4. Additional documentation in the
library
5. SEMINAR and/or LAB activity of
preparation
6. Homework, papers, translations
etc.
7. Preparation for midterm
examinations

12

9. Preparation for the final exam

18

10

10. Consultations

10

10

11. Onsite documentation

10

12. Internet documentation

13. Other activities....

10

14. Other activities....

TOTAL SELF-STUDY HOURS (per semester) =

100
22October 2012

Signature: Professor C. Stefanescu, MD PhD