Course outline Code: MLS211 Title: Medical Biochemistry Faculty of: Science, Health, Education and Engineering Teaching Session: Semester 2 Year: 2015 Course Coordinator: Dr Mark Holmes Tel: 5430 2844 Email: mholmes@usc.edu.au Course Moderator: Dr Fraser Russell Tel: 5459 4665 Email: frussell@usc.edu.au 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description Medical biochemistry is the area of general pathology that performs analyses on human specimens such as blood plasma and serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, serous fluids and tissue biopsies. The course describes common tests used to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. On completion of this course, you will be able to demonstrate and evaluate current knowledge in the basic principles and practices of the medical biochemistry laboratory, including disorders of amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, dyslipidaemias, and routine chemistries for major organ system functions. 1.2 Course content Basic principles and practices in the medical biochemistry laboratory Human specimen collection for diagnostic testing in clinical chemistry Critical correlations and analytical procedures in medical biochemistry Biochemistry of disorders of carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid and protein metabolism Common analytes used to assess human organ system functions, including diagnosis of renal, cardiac and liver function Analytical techniques in medical biochemistry, including spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, blood ph and gas analysis, and immunoassay Evaluation of analytical data and scientific report writing skills Critical review of scientific literature 2. Unit value 12 units Version Semester 2 2015 Recfind File Number: F17570
Page 2 3. How does this course contribute to my learning? On successful completion of this course you should be able to: Critically analyse and evaluate concepts in medical biochemistry that are relevant to the pathology services industry. Capably and confidently demonstrate skills and competencies in medical biochemistry required to enter the pathology services industry. Communicate scientifically in the form of individual reports. Demonstrate current knowledge of the medical biochemistry discipline of laboratory medicine You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: Task 1. Practical Reports Task 3. Final exam Task 1. Practical reports Task 1: Practical reports Task 2. Review quiz Task 3. Final exam Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: Creative and critical thinkers. Empowered. Empowered Knowledgeable 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Undergraduate Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of prerequisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Nil 4.2 Pre-requisites LFS251 Biochemistry 4.3 Co-requisites Nil 4.4 Anti-requisites Nil 4.5 Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (optional) It is recommended that students have prior knowledge and skills in chemistry, biochemistry and human physiology. 5. How am I going to be assessed? 5.1 Grading scale Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
Page 3 5.2 Assessment tasks Task Assessment No. Tasks MLS211 1 Practical Reports Individual or Group Weight-ing % 40% total What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it? Practical 1 Report (Task 1a) Individual Not graded Provided report sheet Week 1 Practical class Practical 2 & 4 Reports (Tasks 1b & 1c) Individual or as a pair 20% each 1500 words each Saturday of Weeks 5 & 10, respectively Submitted online via SafeAssign 2 Review Quiz Individual 20% 1-hour Week 8 In class 3 End-of-Semester Individual 40% 2-hours + 10 Central Not applicable Exam mins perusal Examination Period Assessment Task 1: Practical Reports (40%) 100% (<1000 words) Goal: Product: Format: Criteria In this assessment task, you will demonstrate your developing skills and competencies in practical medical biochemistry, and analyse and evaluate your practical knowledge gained by communicating in the format of individual reports. Scientific practical report. For Task 1a, you will complete a set of basic laboratory competencies and skills in medical biochemistry during Practical 1 and submit a report sheet provided by the course coordinator that will outline your own results. For Tasks 1b and 1c, you will complete the practical work required in Practical 2 and 4, respectively, and prepare a scientific report (1500 words) detailing the experimental results achieved, showing all necessary calculations, and having interpretation of the results in terms of the aims of each practical. Your scientific report will contain a title, abstract, introduction, aims, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, patient case studies, and appendices. You may submit your reports individually or as a pair of students. For the Practical 1 Report (Task 1a), you will be expected to complete the work to a predetermined degree of accuracy and precision. For the Practical 2 and 4 Reports (Tasks 1b and 1c), you will be assessed on your ability to: adhere to the correct format and presentation (e.g. structure, spelling, grammar, referencing, written expression) for a scientific report interpret the individual and class findings obtained during each practical relate the practical findings to peer-reviewed articles (NOT internet sites) in the medical biochemistry literature. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Applying technologies
Assessment Task 2: Review Quiz (20%) Page 4 Goal: In this assessment task, you will be able to demonstrate, apply and evaluate your theoretical knowledge associated with the biochemistry of basic principles and practices in medical biochemistry, and the biochemistry of disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Product: You will need to complete a one (1) hour review quiz in week 8 of semester. Format: The review quiz will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions and will be based on the material covered in the lectures and tutorials held during weeks 1 to 5 of semester. Criteria You will be assessed on your ability to: demonstrate and apply knowledge of the basic principles and practices of medical biochemistry, and the biochemistry of disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; use evidence-based reasoning to provide correct answers to the multiple choice questions. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Information literacy Assessment Task 3: End-of-Semester Exam (40%) Goal: In this assessment task, you will be able to demonstrate, apply and evaluate your theoretical and practical knowledge associated with the biochemistry of disorders of amino acid and protein metabolism; enzymes used in clinical diagnosis; body water and electrolyte homeostasis; blood gases, ph and buffers; and assessment of renal, cardiac and liver function. Product: You will need to complete a two (2) hour (<1000 words) exam. Format: The exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions based on the material covered in the lecture, tutorial and practical classes held during weeks 6 to 13 of the semester. Criteria You will be assessed on your ability to: demonstrate and apply knowledge of the principles and concepts of medical biochemistry; analyse information and explain important elements of the theories which underpin the concepts in medical biochemistry covered during the course; solve problems based on theoretical material and information covered in lectures, tutorials and practicals use evidence-based reasoning to provide complete and correct answers to the multiplechoice and short-answer questions Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Information literacy 5.3 Additional assessment requirements Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment A student s eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale c) The student has not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Page 5 5.4 Submission penalties Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: 5% (of the assessment task s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 10% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the third day 20% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours Lectures 2 hours per week Tutorials 1 hour every fortnight (even weeks) Practicals 3 hours every fortnight (odd weeks) 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 2 each year 6.3 Course activities Teaching Week / Module What key concepts/content will I learn? 1 Principles and practices in medical biochemistry (Part A) Laboratory basics in medical biochemistry Specimen considerations Overview of instrumentation 2 Principles and practice in medical biochemistry (Part B) Overview of laboratory statistics Analytical performance parameters and decision limits Reference ranges Quality assurance and quality control 3 Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism Hyperglycaemia and diabetes Hypoglycaemia Glucose tolerance tests Other carbohydrate-related analytes What activities will I engage in to learn the concepts/content? Directed Study Activities Independent Study Activities Practical 1: Assessment of accuracy and precision for techniques in medical Chemistry. Chapters 1, 2 & biochemistry 3. Tutorial 1: Guidelines for the preparation of scientific reports Practical 2: Glucose tolerance testing. Determination of glucose in timed blood plasma samples using the glucose oxidase method Chemistry. Chapter 4, and the course handout on preparing scientific reports Chemistry. Chapter 6.
Page 6 4 Lipids, lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease (Part A) Basic lipid biochemistry Lipoprotein structure and function 5 Lipids, lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease (Part B) Dyslipidaemias and atherosclerosis Blood lipid methodologies 6 Amino acids and proteins Basic amino acid and protein chemistry Aminoacidopathies Total protein abnormalities Protein methodologies 7 Enzymes of clinical significance Revision on enzyme biochemistry, including kinetics, classification and isoenzymes Clinically important enzymes for cardiac, liver, biliary tract, digestive and pancreatic diagnosis (including common laboratory methodologies) 8 Assessment of renal function Analytes associated with renal function (nonprotein nitrogen, urea, creatinine, uric acid) Measurements of renal clearance Screening for renal disease ( 2- microglobulin, microalbuminaemia) 9 Body water and electrolyte homeostatis Body fluid composition Osmolarity and osmolality Regulation of water and electrolytes Electrolyte analysis Anion gap 10 Blood gases, ph and buffer systems Acid-base balance role of lungs and kidneys The bicarbonate buffering system Acidosis and alkalosis Blood gas analysers Measurement of oxygen saturation, ph, PO2 and PCO2 11 Assessment of cardiac function Classification of cardiac diseases Considerations for selecting cardiac biomarkers Troponins, creatine kinase Tutorial 2: Carbohydrate biochemistry Practical 3: Determination of total serum protein using the Biuret method Tutorial 3: Interpretation of serum protein electrophoretograms Practical 4: Determination and interpretation of blood serum lipid profiles Tutorial 4 and Assessment Task 2: Review Quiz Practical 5: Assessment of iron status Tutorial 5: Interpreting test results for blood acid-base disorders Practical 6: Clinical analyte detection using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Chemistry. Chapters 6 and7. Chemistry. Chapter 7. Chemistry. Chapter 8. Chemistry. Chapter 7 and 9. Chemistry. Chapter 11. Chemistry. Chapters 12 and 20. Chemistry. Chapter 13. Chemistry. Chapters 5 and 18.
Page 7 isoenzymes, myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, C- reactive protein, oxidized LDL and lipoprotein (a) 12 Assessment of liver function The liver and bilirubin metabolism Common disorders of the liver Liver function tests Hepatic enzymes 13 Point-of-care testing (POCT) in medical biochemistry Types of POCT equipment POCT versus the central lab. Future developments in POCT Exam preparation Overview of the end-of-semester exam for the MLS211 course Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation. Tutorial 6: Interpreting test results for cardiac and liver function Practical 7: Liver function tests: Determination of total and direct bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase in blood serum Chemistry. Chapters 18 and 19. Chemistry. Chapters 2 and 19. additional readings provided on POCT. 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Prescribed text(s) Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below: Author Year Title Publisher RL Sunheimer & L Graves 2011 Clinical Laboratory Chemistry Pearson Education 7.2 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. 7.3 Specific requirements You will be expected to purchase the MLS211 Course Practical Manual from USC Mail and Print Services (MaPS). In addition, you will be required to bring along a laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed non-slip footwear to the course practical classes. 7.4 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.
Page 8 8. How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email: studentlifeandlearning@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching 10. Faculty specific information General enquiries and student support Faculty Student Support Office Tel: +61 7 5430 2869 Fax: +61 7 5456 5010 Email: SHEinfo@usc.edu.au