08956 - Clinical Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the module, thanks to the knowledge of the fundamental principles of chemistry and organic molecules of biological interest, is able to evaluate biological and biochemical parameters in biological samples and in vivo, also in relation to pathophysiological states, at different levels of structural organization, from single molecules to cells, tissues, organs, up to the whole organism.

Course contents

• • Course contents:

    • Course introduction
    • Laboratory medicine: the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases
    • Variability and standardization of laboratory testing
    • Performance of a laboratory test: sensitivity, specificity, predicting values, ROC curves, clinical validation.
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    • In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR)
    • Personalized medicine: new diagnostic and bioinformatic approaches that provide understanding of the molecular basis of disease and stratify related patients
    • DNA sequencing methods: from Sanger Sequencing to second, third and 4th generation sequencing
    • Useful data obtained from NGS experiments
    • Principle of epigenetics
    • The use of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in oncology and neurological disorders
    • The assessment of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive tests with examples from new assays based on Next Generation and nanopore Sequencing
    • Liquid biopsy to monitor the evolution of the cancer genome through a minimally invasive technique
    • Diagnostics of cerebrospinal fluid

Readings/Bibliography

• Teaching materials in pdf
• M. Ciaccio e G. Lippi, Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio, EDISES

Teaching methods

Lectures with powerpoint presentations

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the knowledge acquired by the students is based on an single written exam for the Integrated Course of Pathological Sciences consisting of 60 questions with multiple choice (30 questions regarding the teaching of Pathology and Immunology, 10 questions for Clinical Pathology, 10 questions for Clinical Biochemistry and 10 questions for General Pharmacology). The total time allowed for the examination is 50 minutes. The test is considered passed positively from 37 correct answers, corresponding to 18/30 vote.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, video, assessment tests using .quizizz platform

Office hours

See the website of Luca Morandi