OVERVIEW

Clinical biochemistry studies the clinical significance of laboratory tests. During the course of Biochemistry 2, we will start to address some of the topics in clinical biochemistry which will be further dealt with in more depth in the course of Medical Semiotics (3rd year). This is your first impact with laboratory medicine, which represents a key part of the diagnostic reasoning process.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will provide the basic knowledge to understand the meaning of the main laboratory parameters that constitute the "chemical-clinical profile", a kind of "physical examination" by means of laboratory tests. The student will acquire basic knowledge about the units of measurement of these parameters and their dynamic range in pathological conditions. Identify deviations from the norm indicative of pathology.

In particular, the student will acquire knowledge regarding the "normal range" of the clinical chemistry values described during the course and how these values can be modified in the tissue and organ diseases exemplified in the lessons. Moreover, the student should be able to apply this knowledge to develop simple diagnostic reasoning, starting from the results of the clinical chemistry parameters described during the course.

TEACHING METHODS

Plenary lessons (provided on the Teams platform) will provide information on the normal values of the basic parameters of the "clinical chemistry profile" and on the dynamic range of some of these values under conditions of tissue or organ disease. Simple clinical cases will be discussed to allow students to understand the role of laboratory medicine in the clinical reasoning underlying a diagnostic process.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The topics covered in the clinical biochemistry part of the biochemistry 2 course concern clinical aspects of glucose, lipid and nitrogen metabolisms covered in the course; in particular, the following topics will be explored: the chemistry-clinical profile (complete blood count, serum protein electrophoresis, non-protein nitrogen, serum enzymes), liver function and necrosis tests, general markers of inflammation, laboratory tests in dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus, muscle biochemistry, indicators of nutritional status.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

on-line available slides and Biochemistry with clinical aspects, Devlin, Edises

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SANTINA BRUZZONE (President)

GIANLUCA DAMONTE (President)

MIRKO BENVENUTI

MICHELA TONETTI

ELENA ZOCCHI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

as on calendar

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will verify the attainment of the teaching objectives, by means of a written, multiple choice test (31 questions), performed live in the classroom or on a digital platform, depending on the prescriptions imposed by the SARS-CoV2 emergency. The final grade is expressed in degrees (up to 30, with the possibility of the "cum laude"), and the exam will be passed with at least 18/30 points.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will verify the achievement of the formative objectives; in particular, it will ascertain the student's knowledge of the clinical meaning of the biochemical-clinical parameters presented during the lessons, of the unit of measure in which they are expressed and of their dynamic range in the main pathologies for which they represent a diagnostic-prognostic tool. The ability to choose, among some proposed tests, those suitable to solve a specific diagnostic question, and the ability to identify deviations from the norm indicative of pathology, will be evaluated.

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

Exam schedule