PATOLOGIA GENERALE ED ELEMENTI DI TERMINOLOGIA MEDICA - BIOCHIMICA CLINICA E BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE

Module BIOCHIMICA CLINICA E BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE

Educational goals:

-stimulate and enhance the new roles of pharmacists in the transition from dispenser to counselor and to prescriber of supplements and nutraceuticals;

- provide a theoretical knowledge of the main biochemical and biomolecular methodologies aimed at the research and measurement of physiological, pathological and above all predictive biomarkers;

- provide the theoretical knowledge of modern methodologies useful for scientific investigation, for the management of existing technologies and those deriving from scientific innovation in the field of biology applied to the study of cellular and animal systems in physio-pathological conditions

- stimulate the acquisition of the epistemological method that allows to reach critical and reflective skills on language, in the analysis of research projects, experimental protocols and results, organization of methods and scientific knowledge, as well as teamworking

Frontal lectures with in-class practical exercises (59 hours in total), often interactive, using slides and videos on pharmacy services, clinical biochemistry in the pharmacy setting, and clinical applications of molecular technologies.Links to Web sites and lectures will be provided

Should teaching be carried out in hybrid mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in agreement with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus

GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY,General chemistry, biology and pathology. Knowledge of cellular metabolic processes, cell biology, structure and function of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, replication, transcription, translation. Knowledge of: splicing and alternative splicing mechanisms, restriction enzymes and their role, cloning vectors, enzymes and isoforms. For the preparatory disciplines, please refer to the regulations of the degree course of your cohort entry year

The rights of working students and students with disabilities are protected. (https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/regolamento-didattico)

The new role of the Pharmacist and the Pharmacy of services in Italy.
The analytical cycle. Biological samples and their use in the laboratory: pre-analytical, analytical and reporting variability.
Diagnostic analysis and enzymatic activities in Pharmacy.
Organ disease, malnutrition diseases (maldigestion, malabsorption, obesity), metabolic diseases (diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic disease) and related biomarkers.
Oxidative stress and related pathologies, clinical biomarkers and diagnostic analysis.
POCT (Point-Of-Care Testing): principle and clinical applications

Microbiota and Dysbiosis. Analysis of the microbiome and markers of impaired intestinal permeability.
Inflammatory pathologies. Vitamin D and its metabolome in different pathologies. Vitamin B6 and B12. Methylation and transulfuration cycle: physiological and pathological roles
Omics Technologies: Classical and next-generation sequencing (NGS; whole-exome and clinical exome study) and clinical applications. One- and two-dimensional proteomics and metabolomics.Lipidomics
DNA damage and repair: Comet assay. Immunochemical and electrophoretic techniques, PCR, RFLP and applications. Analysis of SNPs and genetic susceptibility to complex diseases.

According to the Academic Regulations (RDA), Article 12 – University Educational Credits (CFU), within the standard workload of 25 hours of overall student engagement corresponding to one credit, the following may be included:

a) 7 hours devoted to lectures or equivalent teaching activities, with the remaining hours dedicated to individual study;

b) at least 12 and no more than 15 hours devoted to classroom exercises or equivalent supervised activities (laboratory work), with the remaining hours dedicated to individual study and personal review and elaboration.

Theaching materials provided by the lecturer on the Studium portal (lecture slides and fact sheets)

Egnlish version

1)Marcello Ciaccio - Clinical and Laboratory Medicine Textbook-Publisher: Springer Cham, 2024 - Hardcover ISBN978-3-031-24957-0 

Italian textbooks

•Ciaccio-Lippi, Biochimica clinica e medicina di laboratorio. EDISES Eds 2017

•Janson-Tischler, Biochimica Clinica-  (Ed Italiana di m. Plebani)- Ediz. Piccin 2015

•Antonozzi, Gulletta, Medicina di Laboratorio Logica e patologia Clinica Piccin

•Michael Laposata. MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO NEL LABORATORIO CLINICO. Ediz. Piccin, 2012 (italian version); III edition in English

•R.R. Holmes, J,Weyers, A.,Jones: METODOLOGIE DI BASE PER LE SCIENZE BIOMOLECOLARI,Ed. Zanichelli 2008;
Dai J Dale, et al Geni ai Genomi . Edises 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkdRdik73kU&feature=rel

The final exam will be oral or written test with multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions (the exam will last 90 minutes and will be valid until the end of the academic year). Both will be  based on lectures, slides and textbooks. Assessment will consider the correctness and completeness of the answers, the student’s ability to understand and discuss the topics covered, as well as clarity and appropriate use of scientific terminology. Particular attention will be given to the ability to apply knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology to specific questions, relating biochemical and molecular processes to pathophysiological and clinical aspects. There will be two midterm assessments: one halfway through the course and the other at the end.

Assessment criteria

Fail
Insufficient preparation, with significant gaps in the knowledge and understanding of the course contents. Limited ability to analyse the proposed topics and to present them accurately and coherently.

18–20
Basic and partial knowledge of the main topics. Limited ability to analyse the issues addressed and establish connections between different topics, with a simple and sometimes imprecise presentation.

21–23
Adequate overall knowledge of the course contents. Satisfactory ability to analyse the topics and establish connections between them, with generally clear and coherent presentation.

24–26
Good knowledge and understanding of the topics. Good ability to analyse, connect and apply the acquired knowledge to biochemical and clinical contexts.

27–29
Thorough and well-structured knowledge of the course contents. Strong analytical and integrative skills, with the ability to connect biochemical and molecular concepts and present them clearly, accurately and effectively.

30–30 cum laude
Excellent preparation, demonstrating full command of the topics and outstanding skills in critical analysis, integration and application of knowledge to clinical contexts. The distinction cum laude is awarded to students who demonstrate particularly comprehensive and in-depth knowledge, together with the ability to establish relevant connections across different areas of the discipline.

Verification of learning can also be an online assessment, if conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and / or LSD

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs.

Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti) and referring teacher (prof.ssa Santina Chiechio email: santina.chiechio@unict.it) within of department.

Examination dates are published on the Degree Programme website: https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/calendario-esami