LEARNING OUTCOMES

The integrated course aims to provide the student with the necessary knowledge to operate in a modern biomedical laboratory. The part of systematic biochemistry deals with biochemical-metabolic aspects preparatory to the understanding of the part of clinical biochemistry, which will focus on the clinical significance of the main laboratory tests that explore the function of organ/apparatus and inform modern medical diagnostics. Lectures in radioimmunology and chemical-clinical techniques will provide theoretical and practical information on their respective fields of application in clinical diagnostics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course of clinical biochemistry is to provide tools suitable to allow the student to understand the link between the new scientific  knowledge on human metabolism regulation, enzymology, mechanism of action of local and systemic cell signaling, control of acid/base equilibrium, and the ongoing development of the Clinical Biochemistry. The student will be informed about the criteria for the selection of new markers of function and tissue damage that can be assayed to improve the diagnostics, the prognostics and the follow-up of diseases. The limits of the markers currently used in the clinical lab, the problems of cost/benefit ratio associated with the selection of markers with improved specificity or sensitivity will be also discussed. Discussion about the clinical significance of the  current clinical chemistry tests will  focus mainly on liver, lung, muscle, pancreas and kydney function. The outcomes of Clinical Biochemistry learning, well integrated with other classes, should help the student to acquire awareness about the importance of this discipline, its rapid evolution and the need for a continuous professional up-grading. At the end of this class, the student will be able to describe, using technically correct scientific terms, the types of routine assays carried out in the clinical lab, to detect altered parameters in different human diseases, to associate a specific marker with a biochemical feature of a cell phenotype and to identify the laboratory test(s) indicated to investigate specific tissue or organ functions.

TEACHING METHODS

Plenary lectures (delivered live or on the Teams platform according to University guidelines due to the SARS-CoV2 emergency) will present the principal laboratory tests used to explore organ and tissue function and simple case studies will be discussed, to illustrate the use of laboratory tests in the clinical setting.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Clinical Biochemistry: clinical informations that could be obtained from altered  electrolytic and acid/base equilibria. Markers of  tissue-specific functional dysregulation and damage.  Glycemic profile: criteria for evaluating the occurrence and progression of diabetes mellitus; ematochemical and urinary parameters in diabetic ketoacidosis and in the  hypoglycemic coma. Oral glucose tolerance test, glycated haemoglobin. Serum non-protein nitrogen  and  indications provided by alteration of their normal hematic  concentration: urea,  uric acid, creatinine, creatine, ammonium.  Tests of liver function and their modifications in various types of hepatic disease. Acute ande chronic pancreatitis  and specific markers. Markers and tests of renal function. Blood gas analysis.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Online available slides provided by the teacher (aula-web).

Biochimica clinica by Allan Gaw, Michael J. Murphy, Robert A. Cowan, M. Lobello, L. Rossi- Elsevier Editor