BIOCHIMICA E PATOLOGIA CLINICAModule BIOCHIMICA CLINICA E BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE CLINICA
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: VINCENZA BARRESIExpected Learning Outcomes
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.
Course Structure
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.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
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.
Textbook Information
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
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic chemistry concepts. Chemical bonds. Chemical reactions | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap 3, 4 o 2) Samaja e Paroni paragrafi 1.7, 1.8, 1.12, 1.15; 3) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 2 | Amino acids and proteins: structure and function. The enzymes. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap. 14,15 o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 4, 8; 3) Albi et al. cap. 3. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 3 | Carbohydrates: structure and function. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap. 12 o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 11; 3 Albi et al. cap 2. 3) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 4 | Monosaccharides. Disaccharides: the glycosidic bond. Polysaccharides: starch, cellulose, glycogen. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap. 12 o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 11; 3 Albi et al. cap 2. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 5 | Lipids: structure and function. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Triglycerides. Phospholipids. Steroids: structure and functions of cholesterol. Vitamins | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap. 13, 15 o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 12, 16; 3) Albi et al. cap. 4. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 6 | Nucleic acids: nucleosides and nucleotides. Structure of the ATP coenzymes, acetylCoA | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap. 16. o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 14; 3) Albi et al. cap -. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 7 | 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. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap 11, 17-21 ; o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21; 3) Albi et al. cap parte C cap. 1-5. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher. |
| 8 | Biological membranes: structure and function. Signal transduction pathways, types of receptors. Pathophysiological role of ligand-receptor interactions focusing attention on the nervous system and the endocrine system. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap 22, o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap. 3, 15; 3) Albi et al. parte E cap 3. Additional material supplied by the teacher. |
| 9 | Metabolic disorders | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap 22, o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap. 3, 15; 3) Albi et al. parte E. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 10 | The use of the main laboratory tests required in clinical practice. | 1) Stefani e Taddei cap- o 2) Samaja e Paroni cap -; 3) Albi et al. parte A cap 3. 4) Additional material supplied by the teacher |
| 11 | Molecular Diagnostic Tests Overview. | Albi e Beccari e Cataldi. Additional material supplied by the teacher. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Oral examination. Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.
The evaluation of the knowledge acquired takes place through an oral exam. The grade is expressed on a scale of thirty, up to a maximum of 30/30 cum laude.
The following parameters will be taken into account to assign the final grade:
• Score 29-30 with honors: The student demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the topics, promptly and correctly integrates and critically analyzes the situations presented, independently solving even very complex problems. He has excellent communication skills and competently masters the language adopted in clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology.
• Score 26-28: The student has a good understanding of the topics, is able to integrate and analyze the situations presented critically and logically, explains the topics clearly using appropriate scientific language.
• Score 22-25: The student has a fair understanding of the topics, even if limited to the main areas. He is able to integrate and critically analyze the situations presented, although not always in a linear way, and presents the topics quite clearly with moderate linguistic competence.
• Score 18-21: The student has minimal knowledge of the topics, has a modest ability to integrate and critically analyze the situations presented and presents the topics clearly enough, although his/her linguistic competence may be poorly developed.
• Exam not passed: The student does not have the minimum required knowledge of the fundamental contents of the course. The ability to use a specific language is minimal or non-existent and the student is not able to independently apply the knowledge acquired.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.