The learning objectives of the course include:
1) KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate knowledge of the main clinical biochemistry laboratory tests and understand the clinical significance of the test result;
2) APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. Know the actions to be taken in terms of in-depth diagnostics but also of therapy/behavioral advice, secondary to the test result;
3) AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT. Reach independent judgment on the discernment of test alterations relevant to the patient's health from those that are not/little relevant;
4) COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Knowing how to communicate and explain to the patient the meaning of the test result
5) LEARNING CAPACITY. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate to be able to apply the knowledge, skills and competences described in this syllabus.

Knowledge of biochemistry concepts and basic physiology

1-Introduction to clinical biochemistry
2-Laboratory tests in inflammation
3-Laboratory tests in haematology
4-Laboratory tests in haemostasis
5- Serum markers of acute myocardial infarction
6- Laboratory tests in extra-hepatic gastrointestinal pathologies
7- Laboratory tests of liver function
8- Laboratory tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of the diabetic patient
9- Description of the main tumour markers
10-Protidogram
11-Serum electrolytes dosage
12-Laboratory tests of renal function
13-Laboratory tests of thyroid function
14-Laboratory tests of adrenal function
15-Laboratory tests in the diagnosis of COVID 19

MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO third edition Mc Graw Hill by Giorgio Federici

1-Introduction to clinical biochemistry (reference intervals, sensitivity/specificity of the test, accuracy/precision of the test, decision values);
2-Laboratory tests in inflammation (VES, PCR, fibrinogen, leucocytosis, cytofluorimetry);
3-Laboratory tests in haematology (number of red blood cells, Hb, haematocrit, reticulocytotis, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, HDW, number of neutrophils/eosinophils/basophils/lymphocytes/monocytes, ferritinemia, serum iron, transferrin saturation, levels of intrinsic factor and vit B12, main types of anemia, Hb electrophoresis);
4-Haemostasis laboratory tests (Bleeding time, Evaluation of platelet function, Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Thromboplastin Time (aPTT), Thrombin time, Coagulation factor dosage, Fibrinogen dosage, Antithrombin III dosage, D-Dimer Assay);
5- Serum markers of acute myocardial infarction (troponins, CPK, myosin, LDH)
6- Laboratory tests in extra-hepatic gastrointestinal pathologies (search for occult blood in the stool, calprotectin test, M2-PK test, lipasemia, amylasemia, amylasuria, hints of coproculture, hints of research for undigested substances);
7- Laboratory tests of liver function (total and fractionated bilirubinaemia, types of jaundice, bilirubinuria, transaminases, gamma-GT, ALP, albuminemia, blood levels of fibrinogen and thrombin, circulating levels of bile acids/Urea/ammonium ions, the laboratory in the main viral hepatitis, polymerase chain reaction, plasma levels of LDL/HDL/VLDL/chylomicrons/triglycerides);
8- Laboratory tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetic patients (glycemia, glycosuria, glycated Hb, glycated albumin, insulinemia, oral glucose tolerance test);
9- Description of the main tumour markers (PSA, AFP, CA-15.3, TPA, CEA, CYFRA21-1, CA 125, non-coding RNAs);
10-Protidogram (visible proteins: pre-albumin, albumin, bis-albuminemia, proteins a-1, a-2, b-1, b-2, gamma; pathologies associated with the decrease in the indicated proteins but also with the increase);
11-Serum electrolytes dosage (Na, Cl, K, Mg dosage, clinical significance of the variations of the aforementioned ions, ion quantification methods);
12-Laboratory tests of renal function (chemical-physical urine examination, urine microscopic examination, hints of microbiological examination, inulin clearance, creatinine clearance, tubular function test).
13-Laboratory tests of thyroid function (synthesis of thyroid hormones, transport in the circulation, meaning of fT3, fT4, TSH, TRH levels in pathological conditions, auto-antibodies, anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, anti-TSH receptor antibodies, thyroglobulin levels) ;
14-Laboratory tests of adrenal function (evaluation of circulating levels of cortisol, aldosterone, ACTH, renin, catecholamines) and neuropituitary (ADH levels)
15-Laboratory tests in the diagnosis of COVID 19 (techniques for identifying the genome of the virus, viral proteins, intact particles of the virus, anti-viral antibodies, diagnostic kits).

The teaching methods consist of frontal lessons with presentation via power point files; in the lessons the various types of clinical biochemistry tests will be illustrated together with the presentation of selected clinical cases in which the interpretation of the laboratory data is not immediately interpretable. The power point files will be distributed to students the previous lesson so that students can view them before the teacher's explanation. The teacher will encourage students to ask questions on the topics covered before, but also during the lesson

The teacher is available, upon request of the students, to provide clarifications/further information on the topics covered in class outside of class hours.

Learning will be verified through an oral exam coordinated with the medical and surgical semeiotics parts. The questions may concern the description of the methodologies used to detect the levels of the various compounds of interest in clinical biochemistry, the discussion of the laboratory data of a clinical case, the normal range of the various compounds of interest in clinical biochemistry. The oral exam for the clinical biochemistry part will last approximately 15 minutes and will start from a topic and then move on to topics related to it. Clarity in exposition, reasoning ability, precision in terminology will be evaluated.
The evaluation grid adopted is the following:
- Excellent (30 - 30 cum laude): excellent knowledge of the topics, excellent language skills, excellent analytical skills; brilliant application of theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.
- Very good (27 - 29): good knowledge of the subjects, remarkable language proficiency,
good analytical skills; correct application of theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.
- Good (24-26): good knowledge of the main topics, good command of the language; good ability to apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.
- Satisfactory (21-23): partial mastery of the main teaching topics, while possessing the fundamental knowledge; satisfactory command of language and sufficient ability to apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.
- Sufficient (18-20): minimal knowledge of the main teaching topics and technical language, limited ability to adequately apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.
- Insufficient: lack of acceptable knowledge of the contents of the different topics of the program.
The vote will be expressed in thirtieths and will go on average with the votes received in the medical and surgical semiotics tests.

This teaching explores topics closely related to one or more objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations