Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry

Code: QUI11483L

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Biochemistry

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

The aim of this Curricular Unity is to provide the students with the necessary knowledge to understand the contribution of Biochemistry for the study of mechanisms of diseases and recognize the Clinical Biochemistry as a valuable tool for the diagnosis in disease screening, in prognosis or in monitoring the disease, after treatment.
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.

Basic concepts in Clinical Biochemistry. The problematic of a Clinical Biochemistry Lab. Quality management. Biological specimens. Collection and handling of biological samples. Quality control. Techniques and methods of analysis used individually or in automatic analyzers. Reference values and their clinical significance.
Main biochemical markers used in diagnosis and monitoring of these diseases. Plasmatic proteins.Water and electrolytes balance. Disorders of renal and liver function. Main serum biochemical markers on diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic disease, acute myocardial infarction and pancreatic. Plasmatic lipoproteins metabolism, metabolic disorders and risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Teaching Methods

The teaching-learning process will be based in the individual work of the student supported by theoretical and practical classes and recommended bibliography.
Lectures will be supported by audiovisual techniques and recommended bibliography. Practical laboratorial classes will be planning and executed by experimental work and articulated with theoretical concepts.
The evaluation process will be based on the individual work and on the progress in the theoretical and practical components of this curricular unit. Practical component will be evaluated continuously by the student assiduity, previous preparation and planning of experimental work and laboratorial reports. The final classification (NF) will be calculated on base of laboratory practical classification (PL), and the classification of the write component (NT): NF=0.3*PL+0.7*NT.