The module provides the fundamental knowledge to evaluate the results of the main laboratory diagnostic analyses. In addition to the general methodological skills and to the knowledge of the most important instruments, the module provides the general clinical pathology expertises (accuracy and precision, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, methodological sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive value, normal range , decision-making levels) and investigates their clinical significance related to the various pathological conditions (e.g. inflammatory pathologies, cell damage and tumors, ect.). This module and the Clinical Biochemistry module will provide students with the fundamental skills of Laboratory Medicine.
The teaching of Clinical Pathology will integrate with the teaching of Clinical Biochemistry to provide students with medium-advanced knowledge on all fields of laboratory medicine, to prepare students for a possible career in this direction, subject to the achievement of the Specialization Dilpoma in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry.
The student will have to demonstrate to be able to know all the main diagnostic tests and their applications, their meaning and their limitations, and also to choose which tests are indicated in the various human pathologies. The student at the highest level of preparation will have to reach the ability to decide which exams and in what order should be performed according to the pathology considered.
The teaching will be essentially delivered through lectures, during which however the teacher will try to interactively involve the students.
NON-certification formative tests are possible during the course. They will NOT be taken into account for the outcome of the final exam.
In case of persistence of the COVID-19 emergency, the lessons can be delivered online, preferably through the TEAMS platform.
Nicola Traverso (2 CFU)
General principles of clinical pathology (part 1)
Concepts of accuracy, precision, specificity and diagnostic sensitivity, methodological specificity and sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values; quality control
Cell damage markers
Main enzymes and serum proteins of diagnostic interest
Liver function test
Enzymes of diagnostic interest for hepatocellular pathologies and biliary stasis
Bilirubin metabolism and jaundice
Diagnostic markers in viral hepatitis
Diagnostic markers in chronic alcoholism
Test for lipid metabolism
Lipoprotein and apolipoprotein classification
Reference and atherosclerotic risk values
Dyslipidemic phenotypes
Cardiovascular and homocysteine risk
Renal function and balance of body fluids
Kidney function test: indicators of glomerular and tubular malfunction
Hydro-electrolyte balance: sodium, water, potassium, calcium, phosphorus
Acid base balance (blood gas analysis)
Etiology of the disorders and changes in values in the conditions of metabolic and respiratory acidosis and alkalosis. Compensation mechanisms and forecast tables of expected EGA values
Anna Lisa Furfaro (2 CFU)
LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS OF INFLAMMATION
Electrophoretic profile of proteins, and acute phase proteins
PCR and ESR
Sepsis markers
Cardiac diagnostics
Laboratory diagnosis of myocardial infarction
Laboratory diagnosis of heart failure
Laboratory ONCOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS
Serum tumor markers
Liquid biopsy
Faecal Occult Blood Assay (FOBT)
THE LABORATORY IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATE
Nutritional status indicators
Serum vitamins and their diagnostic significance
Anna Maria Bassi (1CFU)
General principles of clinical disease (part 2)
Meaning of the laboratory test request. Exams performed in routine or in an emergency regime
Biological and physical causes of variations in results
URINALYSIS
Extemporaneous sample examination and timed collection examination.
Physico-chemical examination of urine
Urinary sediment examination
Measurement of physiological and pathological chemical components (ions, salts, proteins, glucose, ketone bodies, amino acids, enzymes, bilirubin)
LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection
Serum markers of pancreatitis
Giampaola Pesce (1 CFU)
THE LABORATORY IN AUTOIMMUNE AND TRANSPLANT PATHOLOGIES
Laboratory diagnostics in autoimmune diseases.
Additional seminar:
Histocompatibility test (Invited lecturer, prof Alessandro Poggi, 2 hours)
All the material that the teachers will use during the lessons will be made available to the students of the course for study purposes through aulaweb.
A useful and comprehensive treatise on laboratory medicine is
Henry's, Clinical diagnosis and managements by Laboratory methods, Elsevier
Ricevimento: By appointment by email: annalisa.furfaro@unige.it
Ricevimento: For appointments, contact the Professor via email at: Nicola.Traverso@unige.it. The teacher's office is located in the General Pathology Section of DIMES, Via Leon Battista Alberti 2, 1st floor, 16132 Genoa Nicola Traverso is the Coordinator of the Integrated Course of Clinical Pathology and Immunohematology
Ricevimento: students can send email to make an appointment; anna.maria.bassi@unige.it
ELENA ZOCCHI (President)
ANNA MARIA BASSI
ANNA LISA FURFARO
GIAMPAOLA PESCE
NICOLA TRAVERSO (President Substitute)
Second semester of the academic year of reference (indicatively beginning of March)
CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
