Face to Face:

Teaching of “Clinical Biochemistry” consists of lectures and laboratory practicals.

Presence in 2/3 of theLectures is mandatory.

Information and Communication Technologies are used for the preparation of the lecture material, the online information and provision of supplementary learning material to students.

Specifically:

• Common software (e.g. MS powerpoint) is used to prepare lecture material and display slides and videos.

• The slides of each lecture as well as scientific articles made available electronically and online to students through the e-class system of our university.
• Common software (e.g. MS excel) is used to statistically process student assessment.

Announcements, information etc are available online via e-class.

Communication is also done via e-mail.

• Information about the course, instructors and their research interests and in general the Laboratory of Biochemistry of the Faculty of Medicine are available online on the Laboratory website http://www.med.uth.gr/biochemistry/index.html

The language of assessment is English.

Evaluation methods.

Each student undertakes the preparation and presentation of a scientific subject. Topics are suggested by the instructors and are related to chapters of the course material.

Final Grade

The final grade for the course is the score of the evaluation of the presentation  made by each student.

Aims of the course

The course of Clinical Biochemistry is an essential tool for studying the main human organs and systems that every physician needs to know in daily practice. This course presents the practical biochemical tests, how to use and process biochemical data as well as the diagnostic value of the biochemical analyses in specific clinical situations. Finally, it helps to understand the basic mechanisms of biochemical disorders so that they can be utilized by the physician for diagnosis and treatment.

The course is the main link between the theoretical knowledge acquired by the Student by thw Biochemistry courses in the 2^nd and 3^rd semester and the application of this knowledge in clinical practice. It also prepares the student for medical specialties such as Biopathology, Endocrinology, Pathology, Pediatrics and Oncology.

 After the successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• understand the regulation of the biochemical functions of the human body at the molecular, cellular and systemic level.
• know the biochemical specific characteristics of various tissues and systems.
• distinguish the pathological laboratory examination results from the physiological ones and based on them, suggest a diagnosis for the treatment of basic metabolic diseases.
• analyze and process the results of basic biochemical and other laboratory analyses

General Abilities

• Research, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using the necessary technologies Adaptation to new situations
• Decision making
• Autonomous work Teamwork
• Working in an international environment
• Work in an interdisciplinary environment
• Exercise criticism and self-criticism
• Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking

Lecture contents

Lecture 1: Biochemical tests: reliability, diagnostic value, quality control and interpretation (2 hours)

Lecture 2: Enzymes of diagnostic purpose and biochemical control of organ function (2 hour)

Lectures 3: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Chemical Aspects of Toxicology (2 hours)

Lectures 4: Inherited Metabolic Diseases (2 hours)

Lectures 5: Disorders of Hemoproteins, Porphyrins and Iron (2 hours)

Lectures 6: Plasma proteins: metabolism, definition, disorders, hereditary diseases (2 hours)

Lecture 7: Biochemical control of hormone function (2 hours)

Lectures 8: Carbohydrates: metabolism, definition, disorders, diabetes mellitus (2 hours)

Lectures 9: Lipids, Lipoproteins: definition, hyperlipoproteinaemia, coronary disease (2 hours)

Lecture 10: Sodium, Potassium-homeostasis and definition (2 hours)

Lecture 11: Biochemical changes of malignant disease: tumour markers (2 hours)

Lectures 12: Biochemical control of kidney function (2 hours)

Lecture 13: Analytical methods and operation of the Biochemistry laboratory

(Visit General University Hospital of Larissa)

Lecture Material

Main suggested textbooks:

1. Nessar Ahmed: Clinical Biochemistry, 2nd edition
2. Gaw Allan, Cowan Robert A., O’ Reilly Dennis S. J., Stewart Michael J., Shephard James. Clinical Biochemistry, 4^th edition
3. Marshall W.J. & S.K. Bangert: Clinical Chemistry, 6th edition

Further reading:

– Baynes J. W. & M. H. Dominiczak: Medical Biochemistry (4η Έκδοση)

– M. A. Lieberman & A. Marks: Marks’ basic medical biochemistry: a clinical approach.2009

– Devlin Τ. Μ.: Textbook of biochemistry with clinical correlations  2010

– Karslon, Doenecke, Koolman & Fuchs: Karlsons Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry,

Relevant Scientific Journals:

Annual Review of Biochemistry

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Biochemical Journal

Biochemistry

Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta

Biochimie

Biological Chemistry

Cell

Cell Metabolism

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry

Cellular Signalling

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

Clinical Biochemistry

Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

EMBO Journal

FEBS Letters

Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Free Radical Research

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

Journal of Biochemistry

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Journal of Cell Science

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry

Journal of Lipid Research

Journal of Medical Biochemistry

Journal of Molecular Biology

Journal of Molecular Medicine

Methods in Enzymology

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Molecular Cell

Nucleic Acids Research

Protein Science

RNA

The FEBS Journal

Trends in Biochemical Sciences