AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide the fundamental knowledge needed to understand the meaning of the main laboratory parameters covered in the lectures. Acquire basic knowledge of the units of measurement for these parameters and their dynamic range in pathological conditions. Be able to interpret deviations from normality in the described parameters and propose new tests for further diagnostic investigation and/or to rule out pathology. 

TEACHING METHODS

Face-to-face or video-recorded lessons (in presence), available on aulaweb

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

The lecture 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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Consult the detailed timetable at the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist of a written test (multiple-choice quiz) taken in-person.

The test is passed with at least 18/30.

The final grade will be averaged (weighted) with those of the other modules.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will verify the achievement of the learning outcomes; in particular, it will ascertain the student's knowledge of the clinical meaning of the biochemical-clinical parameters presented during the lessons, of the unit of measure in which they are expressed and of their dynamic range in the main pathologies for which they represent a diagnostic-prognostic tool. The ability to choose, among some proposed tests, those suitable to solve a specific diagnostic question, and the ability to identify deviations from the norm indicative of pathology, will be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a certification of physical or learning disability filed at the University can find information about support services on the web page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, prepared by the "Sector for Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with Learning Disabilities".