ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Areas: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Center Faculty of Pharmacy
Call: First Semester
Teaching: Sin docencia (Extinguida)
Enrolment: No Matriculable
The purpose of this course is to enable a new Pharmacist to extrapolate the general health status of a patient using clinical laboratory test results to:
a) Provide information to the patient so that he/she can understand their health problem.
b) Guide the patient to a correct method to achieve a speedy recovery.
c) When appropriate, recommend visiting a doctor/specialist.
Therefore, the topics discussed in this course will focus on the value, limitations and interpretation of the results for several biochemical tests, including what is the correct specimen utilized by these tests and how these tests are useful as tools for the detection, diagnosis, and/or monitoring of common diseases.
Expository Classes:
In whichever of the possible scenarios (1, 2, or 3) laid out in the “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching” agreed upon in the Government Council of the USC June 19, 2020 the class will cover the following subject groups and units.
Subject Group I: General Principles of Operation of the Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry
This subject group will introduce the fundamentals necessary for realization and the correct interpretation of clinical analysis. The process of requesting an analysis, the biological material to be tested, as well as the fundaments of interpreting results will be covered.
Unit 1. Requesting Analysis Application. Blood and urine specimens.
Unit 2. Sources of Analytical Variation. Laboratory Reports.
Unit 3. Point-of-care Testing.
Subject Group II: Functional Assessment of Organs and Systems,
In this block, the principal organs and physiological systems will be covered, including what biological indicators and material are the most adequate, the analysis’ fundamental principles and limitations, diagnostic methodology and clinical significance of the results.
Unit 4. Blood gases: Investigation of Acid-Base homeostasis
Unit 5. Water and Electrolytes.
Unit 6. Evaluation of Renal Function.
Unit 7. Evaluation of Liver Function and Integrity.
Unit 8. The Clinical Utility of Plasma Proteins.
Unit 9. Diagnosis and Monitoring of Diabetes Mellitus.
Unit 10. Investigation of Dyslipidemias.
Unit 11. Exploring Heart Disease
Unit 12. Biochemical Exploration of Bone Disease. Mineral Metabolism.
Unit 13. Exploring Pancreatic and Intestinal Diseases
Unit 14. Program for Early Detection of Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases.
Seminars or Interactive Classes
In whichever of the possible scenarios laid out in the “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching” agreed upon in the Government Council of the USC June 19, 2020 the topics that will be covered are:
CI-1: Presentation of Material and Specimen Collection. Clinical Case: Unexpected results
CI-2: A) Clinical Evaluation of Acid-Base Status. B) Electrolytes in Clinical Practice.
CI-3: A) Clinical Scenarios of Renal Disease. B) of Liver Disease.
CI-4: A) Normal and Altered Electrophoretic Profiles. B) Isoenzyme profiles.
Training or Practical Laboratory Classes:
The lab classes will necessarily be different depending on the type of teaching that will be undertaken as laid out in “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching” for the 2020-2021 school year. The planned lessons are:
Practice 1. Implementation and Interpretation of Urinalysis.
Practice 2. Quantification of enzyme activity: Alkaline Phosphatase as an example
Practice 3. Lipids. Phenotypic Assignation of Dyslipidemias
Practice 4. HbA1c. Diabetic patient monitoring
These sessions will necessarily be adapted to the schedule programed by the Dean’s Office of the School of Pharmacy which includes the student groups, date and time of the sessions. It is foreseeable that the realization of exercises 1 and 4 can be adapted to a distanced learning scenario, while exercises 2 and 3 require specialized equipment for their execution. In the event of distance learning, necessary calculations and analysis interpretation will be taught using simulated readings.
Basic:
a) Principios de Bioquímica Clínica y Patología Molecular. Alvaro González Hernández. 3ª edición. Elsevier. Barcelona-2019. ISBN 978-84-9113-389-6. This is the textbook that best suits this course as well as the optional continuation of this class, Clinical Biochemistry.
b) Laboratorio Clínico: Indicaciones e Interpretación de los resultados. Kathleen Pagana, Timothy Pagana. Primera Edición en Español. Traducido por Martha Elena Buschbeck para Editorial El Manual Moderno S.A. Mexico-2015. ISBN 978-607-448-508-0
This is the Spanish version of “Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests”, 5th edition. Elsevier-2014.
c) Lab Tests Online (http://www.labtestonline.es)
Website of the Spanish Society of Clinical Chemistry (SEQC) which is the Spanish equivalent of the homonymous organization, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. This website contains updated and relevant information on physiology and pathological conditions, as well as clinical guidelines and laboratory diagnostic tests, and is designed as a helpful reference for medical professionals as well as patients.
Complementary.
a) Bioquímica Clínica Texto y Atlas en Color. Allan Gaw y col. 5ª Edición. Elsevier. Barcelona-2015. ISBN 978-0-7020-5179-1.
b) Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd Ed. Richard A. McPherson & Matthew R. Pincus. Elsevier-Saunders, 2017. ISBN 978-0-323-29568-0
c) Bioquímica Médica. John W. Baynes y Marek H. Dominiczak. 5ª Edición. Elsevier. –Barcelona-2019. ISBN 978-84-9113-406-0.
A good book for reviewing general Biochemical concepts
d) Best & Taylor: Bases Fisiológicas de la Práctica Médica. MA Dvorkin, PD Cardinali y RH Iermoli. 14ª edición. ED. Médica Panamericana. Buenos Aires-2010. ISBN: 978-950-06-0253-2
A good book for reviewing physiology and pathophysiology
This subject has a clinical-care approach. It teaches you how to interpret the information contained in the analytical results in order to understand the physiological and pathological health status. This subject is designed to provide training in the general and specific skills CIN/2137/2008 Order, in the manner detailed below:
General skills (code GC1 and CG2 in the MF module) focus on:
• To understand the underlying methodology of laboratory tests and to be able to interpret their results to provide the corresponding diagnostic options.
• To understand the human body structure and the general mechanisms of disease, molecular and functional alterations, syndromic alterations and therapeutic tools to restore health.
• To develop communication skills and the capacity to relay information to other health professionals or patients.
• To carry out pharmaceutical care activities.
• To recognize what your own limitations are, and the need to keep your professional competence up to date.
Specific skills.
• Design, implement and evaluate reagents, analytical methods and techniques of clinical use. To understand the principles and fundamentals of biochemical analyzes (B01; Q02, MF02; MF03).
• Learn the analytical techniques for laboratory approaches to diseases (Q03, Q10, MF02, MF03, MF14) .
• Participate in activities for promotion of health and prevention of disease at the following levels: individual, family and community (LS01).
• To develop the skills necessary for oral and written communication with patients and health care professionals (LS08).
Transversal skills.
Among all of the possible generic skills being developed, more emphasis will be given to the following:
• Information management and organization (CI08).
• Troubleshooting (CI09).
• Skills to communicate with experts in other areas (CP05)
• Skills to work autonomously (CS08).
The “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching” agreed upon in the Government Council of the USC June 19, 2020 foresees the need to adapt the 2020-2021 academic year for three possible outcomes
a) Large Group Lectures; duration, about 55 minutes scheduled on the general calendar prepared by the Dean’s Office of the School of Pharmacy (hereafter referred to as “Dean’s Calendar”). Scenario 1 (face-to-face) –classroom activity during which the teacher makes a presentation of the contents of the units. Scenario 2 & 3 (distanced learning) – when the students assist a “distance learning” class, the classes will be transmitted via MS Teams synchronous with the Dean’s Calendar. Taping will not be permitted. The professor is assisted by computerized projections and/or use of the blackboard to explain the material. Students participate by paying attention to the explanations and, when posed, giving individual writing answers to questions available for a limited time period during class. The student will be able to look at his/her notes.
b) Small Group Interactive Classes: duration, 2 hour or as adapted to in the Dean’s Calendar. In each class, the professor will introduce the students to a professional scene: sometimes introducing lab items, other times analyzing information critical for making a diagnosis; a practical application of the material discussed in the large group lectures. Presentations will be made in the classrooms or via MS Teams, according to the “Safe Teaching Scenario” being implemented. Classes will be synchronous with the Dean’s Calendar. Students will be presented with relevant clinical data for practicing diagnosis of the case being presented. It is probable that students will need to provide individual written answers to questions posed during these sessions, in person or by using the Virtual Campus or MS Forms in the case of distanced learning.
c) Laboratory Training Classes: These classes are conceived to be realized in person in the Biochemistry Department of the Pharmacy School and lab manual will be available in the virtual classroom detailing each session. In the eventuality that the USC enters into stage 2 of “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching”, the number of students allowed in the laboratory will be reduced, causing the reduction of on-hand learning and the substitution of student generated data for generic data for exercises 2 & 3 that will allow the students to practice the analysis and interpretation of this data. If stage 3 is entered, (100% distance learning), exercises 1 & 4 can be adapted for POCT (point-of-care testing) for students to perform in their homes, although it will be necessary for the students to receive the necessary equipment from the teachers. In this case, the classes will be supervised, synchronically, on MS Teams which will also be the via for general communication and questions regarding calculations and analysis. A specific exam will be held at the end of the practical sessions to allow the students to demonstrate their dexterity. Laboratory or practical classes are organized by the Pharmacy School (Dean’s Calendar). If a student is not on the Dean’s Calendar list, they need to talk to the coordinator of the class to remedy the situation.
d) Very Small Group Tutorial Classes: Tutorials scheduled in the Dean’s Calendar. These sessions are useful for clarifying questions about the theoretical classes and the practical classes. Tutorials also allow for a personalized interaction between the student and a teacher, allowing the student to increase his/her academic performance. Initially, the tutorials are in person, for a reduced number of students, but depending on the stage of “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching”, will be realized virtually in MS Teams. Students may also request (in person or via e-mail) individual tutorials with a professor in their office or in the case of distance learning, MS Teams.
In all three scenarios laid out in “Guidelines for the Development for Safe Face-to-Face Teaching”, the final grade for this subject will be based on three formative blocks.
a) Continuous Assessment (FC). During class activities, lectures or interactive classes, face-to-face or virtual, the students will be asked to respond to a series of questions. A correct answer to a question will allow the student to accumulate one point, while an incorrect answer will not add to a student’s point total and the student will be informed why their answer was incorrect. At the end of the semester, the accumulated points in FC will be transformed into a numerical grade in the following manner: correctly responding to 60% of FC = 5.0, 100% FC = 10.0, and intermediate marks will be extrapolated accordingly. Students who have successfully passed the course (≥ 60% FC) may opt to take the Acquired Knowledge (CA) test to improve their grade.
b) Acquired Knowledge (CA) test is designed as an alternative evaluation method available in the first evaluation period for students who have received an Presentiality Exemption from the Pharmacy School Dean’s Office. The test is also available to students who have ≥ 60% FC and wish to improve their grade in the first evaluation period. The CA test is the only method of evaluation available in the second evaluation period. In the best case, the test will occur face-to-face, but it will be held synchronously and via virtual methods if that is advised. The test will consist in the analysis and resolution of clinical cases by answering specific questions relative to the obtainment and interpretation of the results. The test will have a duration of 30-45 minutes and be scored numerically between 0-10 points.
c) Practical Skills (HP). The practical skills acquired during the laboratory training sessions will be evaluated with a specific, individual test in which the student will be asked to reproduce and/or interpret part of the process realized during the training session. It is allowed and highly recommendable, for the student to bring his/her revised protocols and calculator. The score will be “Approved/APTO” or “FAIL/NO APTO”. The exam can be repeated during the next official exam period in the event of receiving a “NO APTO” mark. It is necessary to pass the practical test in order to satisfactorily finish the course.
In order to complete the material in the first exam period, a student mush have “APTO” in the HP block and a minimum score of 60% of the FC offered. The final score recorded in the official transcript of the student will be the higher mark between FC and the CA test. Students who have a Presentiality Exemption from the Pharmacy School Dean’s Office, or students who are taking this class for the second or more time, will need to have “APTO” in the HP block (within the last five academic years for repeating students) and a score of 5.0 on the CA test.
Second Exam Period: the material will be completed with “APTO” in HP and a score of 5.0 or greater in the CA test, which will be face-to-face or telematic depending on the scenario at that time and subjected to the Dean’s Calendar. If the student has “NO APTO” for HP or the training classes have expired, a new HP exam will be realized the same day as the CA test at an alternate time.
At any time, a student who commits fraud in any of the exercises or tests will be punished as according to the regulation available in “Normativa de Evaluación del Rendimiento Académico de los Estudiantes y de la Revisión de Cualificacións” of the University of Santiago de Compostela.
Whatever the skills be (General, Specific or Traversal) everyone can be grade by a combination test as follows:
Assessment_____________ Kind of skill___________ Competence code___________________________
Continuous assessment ...... General CG1; CG2
......................................... Specific B01; MF02; MF03; MF14; LS01; LS08
......................................... Transversal CI08; CI09; CP05; CS08
Practical skills.................... General CG1; CG2
........................................ Specific MF02; MF03; MF11; MF14; LS01; Q03; Q10
........................................ Transversal CI08; CI09; CP05; CS08
Acquired Knowledge (CA) test... General CG1; CG2
............................................ Specific MF02; MF03; MF14; LS01; B01; B03; Q10
............................................ Transversal CI08; CI09; CP05; CS08
WORK IN THE CLASSROOM or SYNCHRONOUS TELEMATICS CLASSES,…HOURS
Large Group Lectures,..........30
Small Group Interactive Classes,.....8
Very Small Group Tutorial Classes,...3
Laboratory Training Classes,.......16
Exam and revisions,.................3
Total hours of classroom work,..60
PERSONAL WORK BY STUDENT,….......HOURS
Individual self-study or group study,........66
Solving exercises, or other non-synchronous homework,.....5
Solving exercises and working on the computer,.....10
Guidance and resolution of doubts,.....4
Preparing for practical training classes and reporting results,..2
Taking exams and revisions,..............3
Total hours of personal work,............90
Proper knowledge of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Techniques are recommended, as well as an understanding of Biochemistry I and II, Human Physiology I and II, and also Physio-pathology.
Attendance to all the scheduled classes is highly recommended in all scenarios, and, whenever possible, to review class notes each day or at least on a weekly basis in order to be prepared for the continuous assessment (FC), and to identify problem areas and seek help resolving them. Professors may be approached before, during and after class, as well as virtually through e-mail, the campus virtual, or MS Teams.
It is advisable to visit the virtual complement to this course in the Campus Virtual to access much of the information presented in lectures. Any possible updates in class schedule will be communicated through the Campus Virtual and/or MS Teams.
Learning to interpret analytical results to assess the clinical status in a patient is something like learning a new language, in which the vocabulary is the different lab tests which can have different meanings, and the algorithms and strategies for combining results serve as the grammar, permitting us to identify useful information. The analysis allows us to recognize a health problem or to orient our search towards identifying it.
To be successful in this subject you need to understand the "why" of each test and its useful, so it will be easier to remember when to use it and what information it can provide.
If you fail to pass this subject, you should go to review your exams with the teacher. It will allow you to identify the topics in which you were successful and those you weren’t. It is possible to identify the issues that need some more work and those where you already have an overall knowledge.
Manuel Felix Camiña Darriba
Coordinador/a- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Phone
- 881814933
- felix.camina [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Lisa Kay Busch
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- lisa.busch [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
Cristina De La Parte Rodríguez
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- c.delaparte [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo B/CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo A/CLE_01 | Spanish, Galician | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| Tuesday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo B/CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo A/CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| Wednesday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo B/CLE_02 | Spanish, Galician | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo A/CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo B/CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo A/CLE_01 | Spanish, Galician | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| Friday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo B/CLE_02 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo A/CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | 5035 Virtual classroom |