The course will provide knowledge on:

1) the  main metabolic pathways and the main biomarkers involved in the transition from health to pathology

2) the role and potential of the main markers for diagnostic and/or prognostic use used in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

3) the application of automation in Laboratory Medicine

The Course will allow you to learn the function of the main biomarkers with diagnostic-prognostic utility, fundamental elements in the skills of Laboratory Medicine, and general information on automation applications in the Laboratory.

The role of Clinical Biochemistry in the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of diseases.
Interpretation of laboratory data: sources of variability, pre-analytical variability (variables related to the patient and to the collection method, transport and storage of the sample); analytical variability: laboratory analytical errors; quality assurance; choice and evaluation of analytical methods (sensitivity, specificity, optimization, standardization, reliability, accuracy); biological variability; diagnostic reliability of laboratory tests, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity; post-analytical phase (analytical results, reporting, reporting methods and transmission).
Chemical-physical and functional characteristics of the main biomarkers.

Biological samples (blood, urine, feces, serous fluids, etc.)
The role of clinical biochemistry in the diagnostics of organs and systems (hematological, hepatic, cardiac, renal, pancreatic diagnostics, bone remodelling, inflammation, etc.).

The Clinical Biochemistry of Nutrition: Adequate Nutrition. Nutritional standards. Requirements of a diet. Essential nutrients. Energy requirement. Variability of need. Determination of energy consumption. Factors influencing diet. Celiac disease, intolerances and dyslipidemia, and obesity.

The role of clinical biochemistry in pregnancy.

General information on the main analytical methods applied in clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology: spectroscopy, spectrofluorimetry, turbidimetry, nephelometry, electrophoresis, immunometric methods, clinical molecular biology techniques.

Laboratory techniques and tests for the molecular diagnosis of hereditary or acquired genetic diseases. General overview of molecular defects, mutations, deletions, insertions. Chromosomal, monogenic, polygenic disorders. Main diagnostic strategies used for the analysis of a molecular defect.

Automation in the clinical chemical laboratory: automatic analyzers; analytical procedures in the automated laboratory (sample identification, reagents, cuvettes and containers, fluid transfer, mixing, analysis formats, detection); total automation. Examples of automation in Clinical Biochemistry, in Clinical Molecular Biology, and in Hematological Microscopy.

Portable systems for diagnostics and telemedicine: concept of Point of care testing POCT, diffusion and problems of POCT (lateral flow immunoassay, biosensors, systems based on disposable cartridges).

In order to allow an adequate learning process, students are encouraged to have passed the Biochemistry exam before taking the Clinical Biochemistry and automation in the diagnostic laboratory exam.

D1. Knowledge and understanding: Students must demonstrate adequate mastery of basic knowledge related to the main metabolic pathways of interest in Laboratory Medicine, to understand the main etiopathogenetic mechanisms of initiation, evolution and progression of acute and chronic organ diseases and to identify and define the the clinical utility of biomarkers.

D2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Students must be able to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts and theories included in the course, and will have to be able to describe the main topics covered in class, and explain the clinical utility of biomarkers in specific settings, to evaluate and contextualize the pathophysiological conditions in which alterations of biomarkers occur.

D3. Autonomy of judgment: Students will have to demonstrate their ability to use knowledge and concepts that allow them to reason independently according to the specific logic of the discipline. In particular, Students must be able to understand and identify how to study a specific sample or parameter, and will also have to acquire critical skills on issues related to the loss of homeostasis and the prevention of organ pathologies.

D4. Communication skills: Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate their knowledge in a thorough, precise, and comprehensive manner to people already competent in the field of Clinical Biochemistry, as well as demonstrate that they can summarize and simplify the topics in a popular way so as to be understandable even to those who are not experts in the sector, always adopting an adequate and precise terminology.

D5. Learning skills: Students will have to demonstrate the ability to reach conclusions, examples, or parallels autonomously, on the basis of what they have learned from the program and on the basis of what they have learned using their own initiatives, by autonomously finding additional sources on clinical biochemistry methods and on critical evaluation of laboratory biomarkers for diagnostic/prognostic purposes. Students will acquire the ability to interpret and autonomously judge the laboratory data, in order to apply the acquired knowledge in the practice of the profession.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Not Provided

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Attendance

Attendance of frontal lessons is strongly recommended.

Course books

•  Albi, Beccari, Cataldi: Biochimica Clinica Essemnziale, Zanichelli Editore.
• Ciaccio, Lippi: Biochimica clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio, EdiSES.
• Sacchetti, e coll.: Medicina di Laboratorio & Diagnostica Genetica. Ed. Sorbona
• Bizzarri, e coll.: Interpretazione clinica degli esami di laboratorio, Piccin Ed.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Assessment

The assessment of the achievement of the course objectives (according to the Dublin descriptors) is based on an oral exam, carried out through at least 4 questions concerning the topics of the course to assess the knowledge, understanding of the scientific discipline, and ability to apply the acquired knowledge.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

The non-attending student must refer to the program indicated in the course sheet in the part relating to attending students and face the study independently.

Attendance

Identical to that of attending students.

Course books

The study program and books are identical to that of attending students.

Assessment

Identical to that of attending students.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.