BASIC SCIENCES

Integrated educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

CRD11A2

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2022/2023

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in CARDIOCIRCULATORY AND CARDIOVASCULAR PERFUSION TECHNIQUES

Moduls:

BIOCHEMISTRY - 1 credits
CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - 2 credits
MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY - 1 credits
GENERAL AND APPLIED HYGIENE - 2 credits

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

According to learning regulations

Objectives

BIOCHEMISTRY is the science that studies the molecules that make up living matter and in particular the incessant transformations (metabolism) to which living matter is subjected and the energy transformations that accompany the molecular ones. It is the branch of chemistry that studies the complex chemical reactions that give rise to life.
The aim of the course is to provide the student with the theoretical basis for understanding:
- the laws of chemistry and the properties of the main inorganic and organic compounds of biological interest,
- the relationship between structure and function of macromolecules of biomedical relevance;
- of the most important human biochemical processes for correct cellular functionality and in particular energy metabolism.

CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY: Knowledge of the metabolic specializations of the main organs and systems and related biochemical tests used for diagnosis.

MICROBIOLOGY: Acquisition of knowledge concerning the structural and physiological characteristics of microorganisms, concepts of pathogenicity and microbial epidemiology, of host-microorganism interactions.

HEALTH HYGIENE: At the end of the lessons of the course the student will have to:
- understand the determinants of health, hazards and risk factors, prevention strategies, both collective and individual protection systems and interventions aimed at protecting the health and safety of workers and users.

Contents

BIOCHEMISTRY: Elements of Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Stucture and function of Biomolecules. Enzymes. Bioenergetics and Metabolism of Biomolecules.

CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY: Fundamentals of laboratory medicine;
Clinical biochemistry Analysis with particular reference to the alterations of the biochemical picture in organs and systems diseases .
Analytical techniques in clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine

MICROBIOLOGY: Structure, metabolism and reproduction of the bacterial cell and fungal cell. Structure, classification and reproduction of viruses.
Antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals).
Physical and chemical agents in the control of microorganisms: disinfection and sterilization
Nosocomial infections.

HEALTH HYGIENE
General principles of epidemiology and prevention
- General prophylaxis of infectious diseases
- Etiology, epidemiology and prophylaxis of infectious diseases
- Public Health

Extended Syllabus

BIOCHEMISTRY:
PART I: Introduction to Chemistry
Description of Matter:
The Atom. Isotopes and Atomic Masses. Introduction to the Periodic Table. Atomic Orbitals and Their Energies. Chemical Bonding: An Overview of Chemical Bonding. Ionic Bonding. Lewis Electron Dot Symbols. Lewis Structures and Covalent Bonding. Properties of Covalent Bonds, Polar Covalent Bonds. Ionic and hydrogen bonds.

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions and Chemical Thermodynamics:
Thermodynamics and Work. The First and The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Enthalpy and Entropy Free Energy. Spontaneity and Equilibrium. Thermodynamics and Life.
Enzymes: classification, kinetics, and control

Molecules, Ions and Chemical Formulas:
Chemical Compounds. Acids and Bases and Ionic Compounds. The Chemical Equilibrium: Concept of Chemical Equilibrium. The Equilibrium Constant. Factors That Affect Equilibrium. Solution Concentrations. Acid–Base Reactions. A Qualitative Description of Acid–Base Equilibriums. Molecular Structure and Acid–Base Strength. Acid–Base Reaction.

Reactions in Aqueous Solution:
Aqueous Solutions. The Autoionization of Water. Solubility and pH.

Elements of Organic Chemistry:
General Overview of Carbon Compounds. Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, Benzene. Overview of Functional Groups: Alcohols, Ethers and Phenols. Aldehydes and Ketones. Amines and Heterocycles.

PART II: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BIOMOLECULES

- Carbohydrate: General aspects and classification. Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides.
- Lipids: General aspects and classification. Fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Phospholipids, Sterols and Cholesterol.
- Proteins: Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins. Covalent structures and three-dimensional structures of proteins. Protein Folding and Dynamics. Hemoglobin and Mioblobin. Protein Function
Pathological Hemoglobin.

Nucleic Acids: structure, fuction and general aspects. Nucleotides and Nucleosides

PART III: METABOLISM
Introduction to Metabolism:
- Carbohydrate metabolism I: major metabolic pathways and their control. Glycolysis. Citric Acid Cycle. Electron Transport and Oxidative Phosphorylation. Carbohydrate metabolism II: special pathways and glycoconjugates. Glycogen Metabolism, Gluconeogenesis and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway.
- Lipid Metabolism: utilization and storage of energy in lipid form. Pathways of metabolism of special lipids: β-oxidation and ketogenesis.
- Protein Metabolism: Amino acid metabolism and Urea cycle.

CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
General concepts of clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine: reference range, diagnostic threshold, sensitivity and specificity, ROC curves, Positive and Negative predictive values. Biological, pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical variables. Biomarker concept: specific and general biomarkers.
Statistical tools . Analytical performance evaluation (Accuracy, Precision, LOD, LOQ), Diagnostic tests and ROC Curves analysis. “Brain-to-Brain loop” process. Pre-analytical step, Biological Variability, Sample Variability, Indicators of Quality.
The Blood: Arterial, Venous and Capillary. Arterial blood gas (ABG) test: pathophysiology, oxygenation status and acid–base balance. Diagnostic Haematology: Red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Blood Smear, Hematocrit (Hct), Hemoglobin (Hgb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscolar Haemoglobin (MCH ), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW). Platelet indices (PI): mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT).
Hemoglobin: structure, oxygen bonding, binding cooperativity, carbon dioxide transport and Bohr effect, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, allosteric regulation. Pathological hemoglobins.
Dyslipidaemias. Plasma lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL, Chylomicrons, HDL, Lp (a)), LDL Receptor, LPL. Lipoprotein metabolism, exogenous and endogenous. Dyslipidemias, Fredrickson classification, Pathogenetic classification. Lipid profile and diagnosis.
Diagnostic Enzyme. Plasma concentration of enzymes (Release and Clearance). Muscle, Liver, Pancreatic, Bone and Cardiac Enzymes. Techniques for measuring the enzymatic activity of the main enzymes of diagnostic interest.
Serum protein electrophoresis. Electrophoretic techniques and application to plasma cell dyscrasias.
Kidney: urine formation and laboratory diagnostics, biomarkers of kidney diseases, acid-base balance, classification of kidney diseases. Chemical-physical and morphological examination of urine.
Diabetes. Classification, Blood sugar, diagnosis and complications.

MICROBIOLOGY
• Organization and structure of the bacterial cell.
• Bacterial reproduction and spore production (sporogenesis and germination)
• Microbial growth and culture media
• Pathogenic action of bacteria
• Antibacterial drugs
• Fungal cell structure
• Fungal growth, metabolism and reproduction
• Pathogenic action of mycetes
• Antifungal drugs
• Structure and classification of viruses
• Growth and reproduction of viruses
• Pathogenesis of viral infection
• Antiviral drugs
• Physical and chemical agents in the control of microorganisms: disinfection and sterilization
• Hospital infections

HEALTH HYGIENE
Introduction to the study of hygiene
- Scientific, educational and operational objectives
- Concept of health, risk and disease

Overview of epidemiology
- Definition and purpose of epidemiology
- Overview of epidemiological studies

Epidemiology and prophylaxis of infectious diseases
- Etiology of infectious diseases
- Transmission of infections
- Routes of penetration and development of infections
- Factors favoring infections
- General prophylaxis of infectious diseases
- Active immune prophylaxis
- Passive immune prophylaxis

Epidemiology and prophylaxis of the following infectious diseases
- Viral hepatitis
- AIDS
- Influenza
- Tetanus
- Meningitis c.s.e.

Overview of Public Health
- The importance of lifestyles for public health
- The main risk factors for individual health

Recommended Bibliography

The student will find and study the topics covered in class (listed in detail in the extended program) in several books available on the market. Additional teaching material: slide projected in class and provided by the teacher.
Below some of the textbooks among which the student could choose:

- Chimica e Biochimica (lauree brevi), M.Samaja-R.Paroni. PICCIN Editore
- Nelson & Cox - Introduzione alla biochimica di Lenhinger – Zanichelli

- M. Ciaccio, G. Lippi- Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio. Edises
- Medicina di laboratorio Giorgio Federici McGraw-Hill

- Harvey et al.: Le basi della microbiologia. ZANICHELLI ed.
- De Grazia et al.: Microbiologia e microbiologia clinica per le professioni sanitarie e Odontoiatria. PEARSON ed.

- Meloni C. Igiene per le lauree delle professioni sanitarie. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Teaching Methods

The four courses are structured in 60 hours of frontal teaching, divided into 30 lessons of 2 hours each according to the teaching calendar. The frontal teaching will be supported by the projection of slides (prepared by the teacher) and movie-animations related to the topics covered.
Attendance is mandatory and verified by collection of signatures in each lesson. The students to be admitted at the exam must have attended a minimum of 70% of classes.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The student level of preparation will be verified through an oral exam that will focus exclusively on topics covered in the lectures (listed in detail in the extended program, see below).

The exam method is an oral test designed to verify the results of the expected learning, in accordance with the educational and specific objectives of the course. The oral examination is placed at the end of the course, after having achieved the attendance to the same, according to a schedule established and published on the University web page at the beginning of the academic year. The outcome of the test is evaluated as the result of learning the specific and training objectives, such as knowledge and understanding, capacity for logical integration and application. At the end of the test the teacher will form an opinion expressed in terms of Italian grades and their correspondent European Credit Transfer System grade (In Italian Universities grades are given on the basis of 30 points).

1) Rating 30 - 30 cum laude (corresponding to ECTS grade A): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the subjects, ability to reason and logical integration of the acquired knowledge. If the student, who has achieved this evaluation, demonstrates autonomy of judgment, high communication skills and autonomous learning skills, a laude can be added by the commision.
2) Rating 27 - 29 (corresponding to ECTS grade B): Good knowledge and understanding of the topics with some non-serious inaccuracies and with a good capacity for logical integration and judgment.
3) Rating: 23 - 26 (corresponding to ECTS grade C): Discrete knowledge and understanding of the topics and, despite some gaps in the ability to integrate and apply knowledge.
4) Rating 20 - 22 (corresponding to ECTS grade D): Knowledge and understanding of the arguments fully sufficient, although there are clear gaps, which are reflected in a reduced capacity for integration, logic and application.
5) Rating 18 - 19 (corresponding to ECTS grade E): Knowledge and understanding of the topics with serious and evident gaps, with limited integrative and applicative skills, but which also allow the passing of the exam.

Contacts/More Information

Meeting the teacher will require scheduling an appointment by e-mail:

erminia.carletti@unich.it
damiana.pieragostino@unich.it
arianna.pompilio@unich.it
pamela.digiovanni@unich.it

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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