OVERVIEW

The clinical biochemistry part of the course deals with the systematic analysis of the laboratory tests for the main organs and functions. The course comprises 10 hours of plenary lessons and 15 hours of discussions of simple case studies with small groups of students. This part of the course will allow the students to put into practice the information received during the plenary lectures.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course comprises plenary lectures and discussions of simple case-studies with small groups of students. The plenary lectures will systematically address the study of laboratory medicine of the main organs and bodily functions. The case-studies will allow the students to put into practice the basic knowledge acquired and test their understanding of laboratory tests and the capacity to use the evidence provided by laboratory medicine in a diagnostic process.

The aim of the clinical biochemistry part of the course is to allow the student to acquire basic knowledge on the clinical-diagnostic significance of the laboratory tests of the “clinical chemistry profile” and of the laboratory test 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 course 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

During the face-to-face lectures (or online on Teams platform in case of  SARS-CoV2 emergency) information will be provided regarding the major laboratory tests that explore organ and tissue function as listed in the program. Of each parameter, the following will be indicated: the range of normality and the dynamic range in some of the most common organ and tissue pathologies. In addition, some simple clinical cases discussed during student group exercises will provide an example of how clinical biochemistry aids and guides the process of clinical diagnosis.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Blood and coagulation disorders, Tumor markers, Metabolic disorders, Endocrine disorders, Inflammation, Renal function, Blood gas analysis, Cardiovascular function, Hepatic function, Pancreas and digestive disorders.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

on-line available (aula web) slides by the teacher

Common laboratory tests - Vaughn G. Appleton & Lange

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARCO CASACCIA (President)

ROBERTA GONELLA (President)

GIOVANNA LEONCINI (President)

MICHELE MINUTO (President)

SIMONE NEGRINI (President)

EMANUELA VARALDO (President)

ELENA ZOCCHI (President)

PIETRO AMERI

ANNAMARIA BAGNASCO

MARCELLO BAGNASCO

FRANCESCO BOCCARDO

ANDREA BRUGNOLO

ROSAGEMMA CILIBERTI

FABIO FERRANDO

FABIO ENZO GIANIORIO

NICOLA GIOVANNI GIRTLER

LUCA LIBERALE

GABRIELE ZOPPOLI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable go to the link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Please check the module Aulaweb page for timetable updates dependent on the sanitary and epidemic situation

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The module of clinical biochemistry is part of the multistep integrated teaching examination with written and oral verification.

In particular, a multiple-choice test, delivered either on site or on-line depending on anti-covid guidelines, will assess the achievement of the training objectives of the clinical biochemistry module.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

A multiple choice test will investigate knowledge of the parameters of the "clinical chemistry profile", regarding both the normal range and the dynamic excursion during the organ and tissue diseases described during the module. The test will also explore the ability of the student to derive diagnostic hypotheses from the results of the laboratory tests, putting into practice the clinical case studies discussed during the module.