Module Title
Clinical Biochemistry
Keywords
Inherited Metabolic Disease, Endocrine Disorders, Endocrine Related Metabolic Disorders, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Diagnosis, Health Monitoring. |
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Prerequisites for Module
Students should be familiar with analytical techniques, biochemistry and physiology.
Corequisite Modules
None.
Precluded Modules
None.
Aims of Module
To provide students with the ability to apply the principles of clinical biochemistry to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease.
Learning Outcomes for Module
On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
| 1. |
Identify the factors which can lead to the development of cardiovascular gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine and liver disorders and explain how these can be diagnosed and subsequently treated.
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| 2. |
Explain how pregnancy can be confirmed and how maternal and foetal health can be monitored.
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| 3. |
Explain the principles of biochemical investigations used in the diagnosis, treatment and management of inborn errers of metabolism and/or hereditary malignant disease.
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| 4. |
Discuss the principles and uses of therapeutic drug monitoring and how substances of abuse can be investigated.
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Indicative Module Content
Inborn errors of metabolism and hereditary disease: genetic and biochemical basis of inherited disease, clinical consequences of common inherited diseases, management of inherited disease, mass screening programmes and laboratory investigations.
Therapeutic Drug monitoring (TDM) and toxicology: pharmacokinetic principles as applied to TDM, therapeutic benefits and adverse side effects, drugs of abuse screening programmes, pre-employment and industrial health screening, legal implications, laboratory investigations in emergency toxicology and forensic science.
Clinical Endocrinology: diagnosis of selected endocrine disorders (eg. thyroid and steroid hormones), thyroid function tests.
| Cardiovascular disease: platelet functions, thromboses and atherosclerosis.
Liver disease: liver function tests, jaundice. Gastroenterology: gastric and duodenal function tests, malabsorption syndromes.
Clinical chemistry of the kidney and related disorders: role of kidney in homeostasis of nitrogen, renal function tests, creatinine, gout and aminoacidurias.
Clinical chemistry of pregnancy and lactation: pregnancy tests, prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, hormonal monitoring of foetal and maternal health, postnatal screening tests.
Indicative Student Workload
Contact Hours
| Full Time | Lectures
| 30 | Tutorials/Case Studies
| 10 |
Directed Study
| | Directed Study
| 50 |
Private Study
| | Private Study
| 60 |
Mode of Delivery
This is a lecture and case study oriented course supplemented with directed reading, seminars from visiting speakers and tutorial sessions.
Assessment Plan
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Learning Outcomes Assessed
| | Coursework | 3
| | Examination | 1,2,3,4
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The examination which will be closed book, will consist of two sections: Section A will be one of three pre-seen case studies, Section B will consist of essay questions.
Indicative Bibliography
| 1. | MARSHALL, W.J., 2000. Marshall "Clinical Chemistry" . 4th ed. Mosby.
| | 2. | BURTIS, C.A. AND ASHWOOD, E.R., 2001. Tietz: Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. 5th ed. Saunders.
| | 3. | KARCH, S.B. Karch's Pathology of Drug Abuse. CRC Press.
| | 4. | WATSON AND PROUDFOOT. Poisoning & Laboratory Medicine. ACB Venture Publication.
| | 5. | GREENSPAN AND GARDINER. Basic & Clinical Endocrinology. Appleton & Lange.
| | 6. | SCHRIVER, BAEUDET, SLY AND VALLE. The Metabolic & Basis of Inherited Disease. Volumes 1,2,3. McGraw Hill
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