LEARNING OUTCOMES

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the clinical biochemistry module of the course is to allow the student to acquire basic knowledge on the clinical-diagnostic significance of the laboratory tests that explore the function of specific organs/apparatuses. 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. Students will realize the extent and severity of deviation from the normal range of the laboratory test discussed in the module during pathological conditions. Students will be able to identify the most appropriate laboratory tests to address specific diagnostic hypotheses and evaluate the results in terms of confirming or disproving these hypotheses. 

TEACHING METHODS

Face-to-face or video-recorded lessons (in presence), available on aulaweb, depending on University anti-covid guidelines

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

The lecturer will present the various laboratory tests and simple case studies will be used to exemplify the clinical use of the tests for diagnosis, prognosis or disease exclusion.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Hematologic diagnostics

The CBC

Iron metabolism

Anemias (morfological and eziological classification)

Hemoglobinopathies  (thalassemia syndromes and structural hemoglobin variants)

Hemostasis

Markers of hemorragic/thrombotic risk

Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis

Hormones regulating glycemia

Causes of hyper- and hypo-glycemia

Diagnostic criteria for DM and GDM

Lab tests in diabetic ketoacidosis; OGTT; HbA1c; ketone bodies

Clinical cases of metabolic acidosis

The endocrinological lab

Steroid, peptide and aminoacid-derived hormones: functions, basal levels and conditions of increased and reduced secretion

Lab tests exploring hormonal production:  the hypothalamus/pituitary axis; thyroid function, surrenal and sex hormones

The lab in pediatric diseases

The neonatal extended screening

Differential diagnosis in childhood obesity

The lab in digestive diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease, breath tests, acute and chronic pancreatitis, FOB

The lab in CNS diseases  

The CSF, production, functions, CSF test (normal and abnormal results of the cytometric and biochemical tests), markers of AD and C-J diseases, CSF leakage.

The lab in respiratory diseases.

Pneumonia, COPD, pulmonary embolism.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

on-line available (aula web) slides

Common laboratory tests - Vaughn G. Appleton & Lange

Medicina di laboratorio, M. Ciaccio et al., Edises