LEARNING OUTCOMES

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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

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.

TEACHING METHODS

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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Nicola Traverso (2 CFU)

General principles of clinical pathology

Concepts of accuracy, precision, specificity and diagnostic sensitivity, methodological specificity and sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values. Biological variability. Variability of the measure. Interferences. Mistakes. Quality control.

Cell damage markers

Main enzymes and serum proteins of diagnostic interest in the diagnosis of cell damage and death.

Liver function test

Enzymes of diagnostic interest for hepatocellular pathologies and biliary stasis. Bilirubin metabolism and jaundice.

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

Renal function test: indicators of glomerular and tubular malfunction

Hydro-electrolyte balance: sodium, water, potassium

Acid-base balance (blood gas analysis). Etiology of acid-base disorder and changes in values ​​in metabolic and respiratory acidosis and alkalosis conditions. Compensation mechanisms and forecast tables of expected EGA values

Urinalysis

Extemporaneous sample examination and timed collection examination. Physico-chemical examination of urine. Urinary sediment examination

Anna Lisa Furfaro (3 CFU)

Laboratory diagnostics of inflammation

Electrophoretic profile of proteins and acute phase proteins. Sepsis markers.

Cardiac laboratory diagnostics

Laboratory diagnosis of myocardial infarction and heart failure.

Oncological laboratory diagnostics

Classification of tumor markers, clinical applications and diagnostic methodologies. Circulating tumor markers. Tissue and molecular tumor markers. Liquid biopsy. Faecal Occult Blood Assay (FOBT)

The laboratory in the evaluation of the nutritional status

Nutritional status indicators. Serum vitamins and their diagnostic significance

The laboratory in the evaluation of substances of abuse

Biological substances and matrices. Analysis of the main psychoactive substances

Giampaola Pesce (1 CFU)

The laboratory in autoimmune and transplant pathology

Laboratory diagnostics in autoimmune diseases.

Additional seminar:

Histocompatibility test (Invited lecturer, prof Alessandro Poggi, 2 hours)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

Useful manuals can be:

Antonozzi. Gulletta. Laboratory medicine. Piccin

Ciaccio. Lippi. Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Edises