SCIENZE BIOMEDICHE

Module BIOCHIMICA CLINICA

1 - Knowledge and Understanding - The student shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the medical terminology related to laboratory examinations and the different types of clinical biochemistry analyses; the principal functional and organ-specific damage parameters used in laboratory investigations; and the analytical profiles required to interpret the significance of laboratory test results in the characterization of the major human diseases. Such knowledge is aimed at understanding the biological and pathophysiological processes relevant to rehabilitation practice.

2 - Applying Knowledge and Understanding - The student shall be able to apply and integrate theoretical knowledge in order to assess and interpret biological and biochemical parameters, both structural and dynamic, and to recognize indicators of alterations underlying some of the most common diseases in the population, with reference to the biological processes involved in the assessment and planning of rehabilitation interventions.

3 - Making Judgements - The student shall demonstrate the ability to independently apply, evaluate, and interpret the results obtained from different laboratory analyses within the rehabilitation context.

4 - Communication Skills - The student shall be able to communicate clearly and effectively, using technical and scientific language appropriate to the field of the main laboratory analyses and adapting communication to different professional contexts in the biomedical field.

5 - Learning Skills - The student shall demonstrate the ability to independently acquire and re-elaborate disciplinary knowledge and to develop continuous updating skills in relation to advances in laboratory technologies within rehabilitation settings.

The course is delivered through lectures. Interactive teaching activities are also planned, including participation in working groups and active quizzes, through the use of web-based platforms and open-source software.

To ensure equal opportunities and compliance with current legislation, students requiring specific support may request an individual meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, according to the learning objectives and their specific needs. Students may also contact the CInAP representative (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) of the Department to which the Degree Programme belongs (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

Should the course be delivered in a blended-learning or distance-learning format, any necessary modifications may be introduced with respect to the arrangements described above in order to ensure compliance with the programme outlined in the syllabus.

1 Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry: handling of biological samples and causes of sample alteration; biological fluids; analytical and statistical concepts in data analysis, including diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and the predictive value of a test.

2 Cardiac and stroke biomarkers.

3 Laboratory investigations in gastrointestinal disorders. Laboratory assessment of liver and biliary tract diseases. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Serum protein electrophoresis (protein profile) and lipid profile.

4 Indices of renal function. Laboratory investigations in disorders of water–electrolyte balance and acid–base balance.

5 Laboratory investigations of nutritional status and malnutrition. Biomarkers of inflammation and sepsis.

6 Laboratory investigations in hematological disorders. Hemostasis.

7 Laboratory investigations of vitamin status and bone metabolism profiles.

1) Biochimica clinica essenziale. E. Albi, T. Beccari, S. Cataldi. Zanichelli.

2) Biochimica Clinica. Il quadro d'insieme. Lee W. Janson , Marc E. Tischler. Piccin.

3) Elementi di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio. M. Ciaccio. EdiSES.

Assessment of learning may be carried out, at the discretion of the instructor, through an oral examination and/or a written examination, or a combination of both. The examination consists of at least three questions covering the topics included in the course syllabus. The examination is intended to assess the understanding of the fundamental concepts and the principal methodological approaches of the discipline, including the evaluation of results obtained from biochemical and molecular diagnostic investigations performed on biological samples for the characterization and assessment of pathophysiological and pathological conditions affecting organs and tissues. The examination aims to verify the knowledge acquired during the course and to assess the competencies developed by the student. In the overall assessment, the instructor will take into account both the appropriateness and completeness of the content and the coherence and clarity of presentation. Assessment criteria: relevance of the answers to the questions asked; appropriate use of scientific terminology; critical analytical skills; quality of content; ability to establish connections with other topics included in the syllabus; and overall communication skills.

Final Grading Criteria

Grade 29–30 cum laude: the student demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of environmental pollutants in the atmosphere, soil, and water; the management of the different phases of the analytical testing process; and quality and safety monitoring in the laboratory. The student promptly and correctly integrates and critically analyses the situations presented, independently solving diagnostic and analytical problems, including highly complex ones. The student demonstrates excellent communication skills and full command of the scientific terminology of the discipline.

Grade 26–28: the student demonstrates a good knowledge of environmental pollutants in the atmosphere, soil, and water; the management of the different phases of the analytical testing process; and quality and safety monitoring in the laboratory. The student is able to integrate and critically analyse the situations presented in a coherent and logical manner, solve complex analytical problems with a satisfactory degree of autonomy, and present the topics clearly using appropriate scientific terminology.

Grade 22–25: the student demonstrates a satisfactory knowledge of environmental pollutants in the atmosphere, soil, and water; the management of the different phases of the analytical testing process; and quality and safety monitoring in the laboratory, although mainly limited to the principal topics. The student is able to integrate and critically analyse the situations presented, though not always in a fully coherent manner, and presents the topics with reasonable clarity and adequate scientific language.

Grade 18–21: the student demonstrates the minimum knowledge required regarding environmental pollutants in the atmosphere, soil, and water; the management of the different phases of the analytical testing process; and quality and safety monitoring in the laboratory. The student shows limited ability to integrate and critically analyse the situations presented and discusses the topics with sufficient clarity, although the use of scientific terminology remains underdeveloped.

Fail: the student does not possess the minimum knowledge required of the core contents of the course. The ability to use the specific terminology of the discipline is extremely limited or absent, and the student is unable to apply the acquired knowledge independently.

Renal clearance

Early biomarkers of myocardial infarction

Hyperbilirubinemias