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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 - 70

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. 7th Edition, Wiley-VCH, 2010.

- Allan Gaw, Michael J. Murphy, Robert A. Cowan, Denis St. J. O’Reilly, Rajeev Srivastava. Clinical Biochemistry: An Illustrated Colour Text. 5th Edition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2013.

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

THEORETICAL EVALUATION (40% of the final grade):

Test, approaching subjects taught by the three Professors

To pass, you need to have a grade of, at least, 9.5 in this Test. There is no minimal grade for each test. If you miss the test with no medical justification, you will have zero points.

SEMINAR EVALUATION (30% of the final grade)

This grade will take into account the presentation in the form of a seminar, the discussion that follows, including the answers to the questions asked by the Professors, and the Power Point presentation (or other software) delivered by 00:00 on May 7th.

The weight of each component of this assessment is divided as follows:

70% relates to the content of the presentation handed in.

10% relates to the presentation skills by each individual member of the group. There is a grid for this assessment on Moodle.

20% relates to the answers given by the group to the questions posed by the Professors following the Seminar.

EVALUATION ABOUT PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY (30% of the final grade):

This assessment takes place on Moodle at the end of the days of guest seminar presentations (May 14 and June 4), or the day of analysis of recorded interviews with doctors, pharmacists and technicians from the clinical pathology service of the local health unit of western Lisbon (SPC-ULSLO) (April 23). These interviews are an integral part of the Virtual Visit to that service.

The final grade for this component is calculated as the average of the 3 mini-tests. There is no minimum mark for this component. Failure to answer a mini-test without medical justification will result in a mark of zero.

RESEATING EXAMINATION:

Only for students who have failed, or who wish to improve their grade (upon registration) in the theoretical assessment. This exam counts for 70% of the final grade for the course and covers the subjects of the test and the two mini-tests o fthe invited guests. For failed students to pass the course, a mark of 9.5 or more is mandatory in this exam.


Subject matter

  1. 1. Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry. Acquisition and interpretation of biochemical data. The clinical biochemistry laboratory and quality.

    2. The body''s acid-base balance and clinical analyses associated with respiratory and renal functions.

    3. Plasma proteins and the main associated analyses. Acute phase proteins and immunoglobulins

    4. Liver function and its disorders. Liver function tests

    5. Biomarkers in translational biomedical research: case studies of cancer and stroke

    6. Analytical methods and equipment used in clinical pathology laboratories, with an emphasis on biochemistry

    7. Seminars by medical experts on sports doping and neonatal screening, and the association of patients with phenylketonuria and other metabolic diseases (APOFEN).