OVERVIEW

Clinical biochemistry studies the clinical significance of laboratory tests. During the course we will systematically address the study of laboratory medicine of the main organs and functions, which is a a key part of the diagnostic reasoning process.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

"The course aims at providing the students basic knowledge on analytical and diagnostic instruments used today in clinical laboratory.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the clinical biochemistry part of the course is to allow the student to acquire basic knowledge on the clinical-diagnostic significance of the laboratory tests of the “clinical chemistry profile” and of tests exploring the function of specific organs/tissues. This knowledge will be applied to the discussion of simple case-studies, allowing the students to put into practice the basic knowledge acquired and test their understanding of laboratory tests and how their interpretation can guide the diagnostic process.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of the basic principles of metabolic biochemistry is required.

TEACHING METHODS

During the lessons, frontal or video-recorded in presence and available on aulaweb, the "normal" values of the common laboratory tests will be discussed, their dynamic range together with their modifications under conditions of tissue or organ disease. Simple clinical cases will be discussed to exemplify how the results of laboratory tests can be used in a clinical reasoning to confirm or rule out a diagnostic hypothesis.

Please refer to the AulaWeb instance specific to the teaching for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

A minimal attendance  to 70% of the plenary lectures is strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1-BLOOD

The complete blood count

Electrophoretic profile of serum proteins and its diagnostic interpretation

Principal serum enzymes of diagnostic interest

Non-protein nitrogen

Iron metabolism, quantitative and qualitative defects of hemoglobin

Electrolytes

2-LIVER FUNCTION

Enzymes, bilirubin and jaundice, modifications of serum proteins in selected liver diseases, coagulation factors, diagnosis of selected liver diseases

3-GLUCOSE METABOLISM

Hormones regulating glycemia

Causes of hyper- and hypo-glycemia

Lab tests in diabetes mellitus

Lab tests in chetoacidosis, glucose tolerance test, gestational diabetes.

4-LIPID METABOLISM

Lipoprotein classification and function

Reference values for blood lipids

Hyperlipidemic profiles and cardiovascular risk

5-URINE ANALYSIS AND TESTS OF RENAL FUNCTION

The physical-chemical urineanalysis

Renal functional tests: indicators of glomerular and tubular malfunction

6-TESTS FOR ENDOCRINE DISORDERS

Steroid, peptide and aminoacid-derived hormones: basal levels and pathologic conditions of hyper/hypo-secretion

Lab tests in the diagnosis of endocrinological disorders

7- LAB CONFIRMATION OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

8-TESTS OF PANCREATIC FUNCTION

9-ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND ACID-BASE BALANCE

10-VITAMINS

11-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

online available slides (aula-web)

Common laboratory tests, Vaughn, Appleton&Lange

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ELENA ZOCCHI (President)

SANTINA BRUZZONE

LAURA STURLA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

the course starts in the second semester; starting date and schedule arranged with the students 

Class schedule

CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Knowledge acquired by the students will be verified with a written, multiple choice test.

The tests aim at verifying whether the clinical significance of the clinical chemistry tests has been understood and whether the student can apply this information to confirm or rule out specific clinical hypotheses, the essence of a clinical reasoning.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Multiple choice tests will ascertain whether the student will have acquired a sufficient knowledge ragarding the topics dealt with during the course. The tests will encompass the normal range of clinical chemistry values, the degree to which an "abnormal" value is suggestive of disease and which tests are indicated for a speficic diagnostic hypothesis. 

Exam schedule