2025
Clinical Biochemistry
Name: Clinical Biochemistry
Code: QUI13659M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Biochemistry
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The aim of this Unity is to provide the students with the necessary knowledge to understand the contribution of Clinical Biochemistry for the study of mechanisms of diseases and recognize the Clinical Biochemistry as a valuable tool in diagnosis and treatment monitoring, in disease screening and diagnosis or in the prognosis.
This curricular course should develop instrumental, interpersonal and systemic competences, including competences for research, selected and interpreting scientific contents in Clinical Biochemistry in order to identify, quantify and interpreting the main metabolic markers in metabolic disorders, which allow the students to talk and write on coherent and logical way about these ideas and scientific knowledge in Clinical Biochemistry.
This curricular course should develop instrumental, interpersonal and systemic competences, including competences for research, selected and interpreting scientific contents in Clinical Biochemistry in order to identify, quantify and interpreting the main metabolic markers in metabolic disorders, which allow the students to talk and write on coherent and logical way about these ideas and scientific knowledge in Clinical Biochemistry.
Contents
Basic concepts in Clinical Biochemistry. The problematic of a Clinical Biochemistry Lab. Biological specimens. Collection and handling of biological samples. Quality control. Techniques and methods of analysis used individually or in automatic analysers. Reference values and their clinical significance.
Physiology and pathophysiology of several organs and systems. Biochemical markers. Plasmatic proteins. Nutritional markers. Liver, function and main disorders. Serum enzymes markers on hepatic disease, acute myocardial infarction, pancreatic and muscular disease. Plasmatic lipoproteins, metabolic disorders and risk of cardiovascular disease. Carbohydrate metabolism and glucose homeostasis. Diabetes mellitus. Hypoglycemia and inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism. Renal function and electrolytes balance. Endocrine function and hormonal disorders. Tumoral markers. Data analysis in Clinical Biochemistry. Interpretation of case studies.
Physiology and pathophysiology of several organs and systems. Biochemical markers. Plasmatic proteins. Nutritional markers. Liver, function and main disorders. Serum enzymes markers on hepatic disease, acute myocardial infarction, pancreatic and muscular disease. Plasmatic lipoproteins, metabolic disorders and risk of cardiovascular disease. Carbohydrate metabolism and glucose homeostasis. Diabetes mellitus. Hypoglycemia and inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism. Renal function and electrolytes balance. Endocrine function and hormonal disorders. Tumoral markers. Data analysis in Clinical Biochemistry. Interpretation of case studies.
Teaching Methods
The teaching-learning process will be based on the individual work supported by theoretical and practical classes and recommended bibliography, in order to develop skills to recognize the importance and diagnostic value of biochemical markers and apply the knowledge to the new situations.
Lectures are delivered in a plenary format and will be supported by audiovisual resources and specialized software for the simulation of applied concepts, combine the presentation of the syllabus topics with the solving of application exercises and the discussion of clinical cases, where student participation is encouraged through topic discussion. Practical laboratory classes are developed in articulation and complementarity with the theoretical-practical sessions, involving the planning and execution of laboratorial work that illustrates theorical syllabus. Laboratorial activities involve autonomous and team work in research, biomarkers quantification and interpretation and discussion of results, complemented by the interpretation of applied clinical cases. Additionally, students should develop an integrated oral presentation of the practical work, including the interpretation of biomarkers data with the reference internal quality control and biomarker reference intervals. Moreover, students should develop a research project focused on the principal biomarkers employed in the diagnosis and monitoring of a selected pathology, previously selected, that will be presented and discussed in a plenary session.
The complementarity of the theoretical and laboratory components aims to promote the consolidation of scientific competences and their application to the resolution of concrete problems in the field of Clinical Biochemistry. This interactive strategy aims to develop skills in performing laboratory work under safe conditions, the development of critical thinking and applied problem-solving abilities as well as the application in translational research projects.
Students are also encouraged to use Moodle as a resource for organizing and accessing learning materials, as well as for communication with the professor and colleagues.
Lectures are delivered in a plenary format and will be supported by audiovisual resources and specialized software for the simulation of applied concepts, combine the presentation of the syllabus topics with the solving of application exercises and the discussion of clinical cases, where student participation is encouraged through topic discussion. Practical laboratory classes are developed in articulation and complementarity with the theoretical-practical sessions, involving the planning and execution of laboratorial work that illustrates theorical syllabus. Laboratorial activities involve autonomous and team work in research, biomarkers quantification and interpretation and discussion of results, complemented by the interpretation of applied clinical cases. Additionally, students should develop an integrated oral presentation of the practical work, including the interpretation of biomarkers data with the reference internal quality control and biomarker reference intervals. Moreover, students should develop a research project focused on the principal biomarkers employed in the diagnosis and monitoring of a selected pathology, previously selected, that will be presented and discussed in a plenary session.
The complementarity of the theoretical and laboratory components aims to promote the consolidation of scientific competences and their application to the resolution of concrete problems in the field of Clinical Biochemistry. This interactive strategy aims to develop skills in performing laboratory work under safe conditions, the development of critical thinking and applied problem-solving abilities as well as the application in translational research projects.
Students are also encouraged to use Moodle as a resource for organizing and accessing learning materials, as well as for communication with the professor and colleagues.
Assessment
The laboratory practical component is continuously evaluated based on attendance, planning of experimental work and interpretation and discussion of the results obtained. Additionally, students should present a research project based on the main biochemical markers for diagnosis or monitoring a selected pathology. The theoretical component can be assessed by continuous assessment, with 2 written tests, or by final exam.
To obtain approval under the continuous assessment scheme, students must achieve a minimum grade of 8 values in each test, with an overall average equal to or greater than 10 values. Under the final examination, approval requires a grade equal to or greater than 10 values.
The final grade will be calculated according to the following weightings:
NF = 0.35 PL + 0.15 RP + 0.5 NT,
where PL corresponds to the mark obtained in the laboratory practical component and oral presentation of results, RP corresponds to the mark obtained in the research project and its oral presentation, and NT corresponds to the average mark of the two written tests or the final written exam.
Students who pass in any modality can improve their classification in the recourse examination period
To obtain approval under the continuous assessment scheme, students must achieve a minimum grade of 8 values in each test, with an overall average equal to or greater than 10 values. Under the final examination, approval requires a grade equal to or greater than 10 values.
The final grade will be calculated according to the following weightings:
NF = 0.35 PL + 0.15 RP + 0.5 NT,
where PL corresponds to the mark obtained in the laboratory practical component and oral presentation of results, RP corresponds to the mark obtained in the research project and its oral presentation, and NT corresponds to the average mark of the two written tests or the final written exam.
Students who pass in any modality can improve their classification in the recourse examination period
Teaching Staff
Accreditations and Certifications
