BIOCHIMICA E PATOLOGIA CLINICA

Learning Objectives

• Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

  The course is designed to provide students with a good foundation of knowledge in all aspects of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology. Knowledge of the component molecules of living organisms, the essential molecular and biochemical mechanisms that characterize the vital processes and metabolic activities connected with particular reference to the nervous system, principles and characteristics of biosignaling, knowledge of biological samples and the main techniques used to reveal analytes in biological samples.

  At the end of the course the student will have to have adequate preparation for understanding the structure and function of molecules of biological interest, to know the main biochemical, metabolic and molecular mechanisms with particular attention to the nervous system and its integration with other organs in pathophysiological conditions. Knowledge of the main analytes to be evaluated in some pathophysiological conditions.

• Clinical Pathology

  The course develops skills in the Clinical Pathology aiming to teach the student to apply, evaluate and interpret the laboratory tests used to study of the main diseases of the blood, alterations of the coagulative-fibrinolytic system, changes in liver and kidney function, some endocrinopathies.

  1. Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, students will acquire the knowlodge of the main laboratory tests to the study the blood diseases, the coagulative-fibrinolytic system, liver and kidney function alterations andsome endocrinopathies.

  2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: once the knowledge of the main laboratory tests has been acquired, the students will be able to evaluate and interpret the aforementioned tests.

  3. Making judgments: through the executions, the students will be able, independently, to apply, evaluate and interpret different laboratory tests.

  4. Communication skills: the student will acquire the necessary communication skills within the main laboratory tests.

  5. Learning skills: the aim of the course is to provide the student with the basic knowledge to autonomously interpret the main laboratory tests.

Course Structure

• Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

  Frontal teaching, Individual study.

  If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote way, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously reported, in order to carry out the program reported in the syllabus.

• Clinical Pathology

  Lessons are held in the classroom with the help of PDF presentations made available to students on the Studium portal. The presentations do not replace the reference texts, but serve as educational support for the program carried out. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
  

Detailed Course Content

• Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

  1) Basic chemistry concepts. Chemical bonds. Chemical reactions.
  2) Biochemistry concepts. A-Simple and conjugated amino acids and proteins: structure and function. The enzymes.
  B-Carbohydrates: structure and function.
  C-Monosaccharides. Disaccharides: the glycosidic bond. Polysaccharides: starch, cellulose, glycogen.
  D-Lipids: structure and function. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Triglycerides. Phospholipids. Steroids: structure and functions of cholesterol. E-Nucleic acids: nucleosides and nucleotides. Structure of ATP, acetylCoA and adenine coenzymes.
  3) General principles of metabolism and implications in clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology: Catabolic and anabolic pathways. principles of bioenergetics. Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis; destinies of pyruvate. Citric acid cycle. Protein metabolism, urea cycle. Lipid metabolism: triglyceride metabolism; metabolic fates of acetyl-CoA; β-oxidation, ketone bodies; biosynthesis of fatty acids.
  4) Biological membranes: structure and function. Pathways of signal transduction, types of receptors. Pathophysiological role of ligand-receptor interactions focusing attention on the nervous system and endocrine system.
  5) The use of the main laboratory tests required in clinical practice.
  6) Molecular diagnostic tests overview.

• Clinical Pathology

  The course is organized in theoretical lessons combined with exercises aimed at interpreting the results of different types of laboratory analysis

  Program:

  Laboratory analysis: definition, typology

  Collection and conservation of biological samples

  Preanalytical, analytical and biological variability

  Complete blood count test

  Plasma proteins and electrophoresis

  Hemostasis test

  Urine analysis and functional kidney test

  The functional liver test

  Diabetes: diagnosis and follow up test

  Thyroid Hormones

Textbook Information

• Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

  1) Chimica e Biochimica di Massimo Stefani, Niccolò Taddei - Zanichelli editore
  2) Chimica e Biochimica per le lauree triennali dell'area biomedica di Michele Samaja, Rita Paroni - Piccin
  3) Biochimica clinica essenziale dal laboratorio ai quadri di patologia clinica di Elisabetta Albi, Tommaso Beccari, Samuela Cataldi - Zanichelli editore

• Clinical Pathology

  1. Federici G. Medicina di Laboratorio. Mc Graw-Hill Companies.

  2. Sacchetti L., Cavalcanti P. et. al. Medicina di laboratorio e diagnostica genetica. Sorbona

  3. Laposata M. Medicina di Laboratorio. Piccin

  4. Antonozzi I. Medicina di Laboratorio. Picci