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Clinical Biochemistry

Objectives

To acquire knowledge and skills in Clinical Biochemistry.

To be familiar with the basic aspects of quality control in this area.

To understand the importamnce of biomarkers and their role in translational research.

To know the experimental methods used to quantitatively and/or qualitatively determine the molecules associated with metabolic disorders.

To be able to search and interpret critically the literature, namely from the point of view of Cases Studies.

General characterization

Code

10783

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

José Ricardo Ramos Franco Tavares

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 92

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

General knowledge of physiology, chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology

Bibliography

- William J. Marshall, Marta Lapsley, Ruth M. Ayling Clinical Biochemistry: Metabolic and Clinical aspects 3th Edition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014

- R. Swaminathan Handbook of Clinical Biochemistry, Oxford University Press, 2004.

- Thomas Devlin. Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations. 6th Edition, Wiley-Liss, 2006.

- Allan Gaw, Michael J. Murphy, Robert A. Cowan, Denis St. J. O''''''''Reilly, Michael J. Stewart, James Shepherd. Clinical Biochemistry: An Illustrated Colour Text. 4th Edition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008.

Teaching method

The course includes lectures and problem-solving classes. Lectures will be taught using "data show", accompanied by supplementary bibliography previously available on the website of the curricular unit. In the presentation, a diagnostic test will be distributed, which will focus on subjects considered essential for the student to grasp the concepts presented in this course. Five theoretical classes will be Seminars by experts in areas of Clinical Biochemistry.

The problem-solving classes will focus on discussion of experimental techniques used in clinical laboratories. The students will present a seminar on this topic followed by a discussion period including the whole class.

 

 

Evaluation method

Evaluation will be by two tests (30% of the final grade each): one of the tests approaches subjects taught by the Professors and the other test approaches subjects presented in the five Seminars given by experts. The Techniques Seminars presented by the students count as 25% of the final grade; a short report of the study visit to Hospital Garcia da Orta counts as 5% of the final grade, and finally, the participation in the discussion period after each Seminar given by the students counts as 10% of the final grade.

Subject matter

  1. Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry. Acquisition and interpretation of biochemical data. The laboratory in Clinical Biochemistry and Quality aspects.
  2. Acid-base and electrolytic balance in the body and clinical tests related to respiratory and renal functions.
  3. Plasma proteins and related Clinical tests. Acute Phase Proteins and immunoglobulins.
  4. Liver function and Liver Function Tests (LFTs) and their interpretation.
  5. Biomarkers in translational biomedical research: case studies on cancer and Stroke.
  6. Current analytical methods in Clinical Pathology laboratories, with emphasis in the Biochemical side.
  7. Seminars by Portuguese and foreign experts in important and upcoming Research and translation areas in Clinical Biochemistry research.