Undergraduate Course: Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology 3 (MSBM09001)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Clinical assessment of Biochemical and Endocrine processes enables distinction between the normality of health and the disordered function of disease in a wide range of organ systems to be made by carefully chosen, quality controlled testing/assessment. The course aims at giving students a good grounding in theoretical and practical aspects of clinical biochemistry with an emphasis on aspects of endocrinology. During the course a range of important disorders are covered including diabetes, obesity, lipid dysfunction, renal, liver, thyroid, adrenal and bone disorders.
This course emphasises a problem solving approach integrating information from prior life history, behaviour, symptoms, signs to optimise biochemical testing and interpretation: a universal approach in healthcare and indeed in animal welfare and interpretation of models of disease. Healthcare approaches to populations is also dealt with in covering current approaches to the very common metabolic syndrome disorders (diabetes, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia) utilising evidence-based risk factors and testing to target resources and treatment where benefits of treatment are greatest. The wide perspective from molecules to populations is of considerable interest and provides valuable background to Honours programmes in Medical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences. |
| Course description |
Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology 3 is a Junior Honours course designed to prepare BSc (Medical Sciences) for the Honours programme in Medical Sciences and BSc (Biomedical Sciences) students for Honours programmes including Infectious Diseases, Medical Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology and Reproductive Biology. The course aims at giving students a good grounding in theoretical and practical aspects of Clinical Biochemistry with an emphasis on aspects of Endocrinology. During the course common important disorders especially those associated with metabolic syndrome will be studied. The course includes sections on diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, lipid dysfunction, thyroid and adrenal disorders and the clinical biochemistry of hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, acid-base and calcium/balance/bone disorders. There is an emphasis on both on normal biochemical and endocrine function and the utility of biochemical analytes and marker analysis to define and monitor disease progression or resolution.
The course seeks to:-
develop a detailed awareness of specific Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology topics studying from the cellular to whole body levels, in particular exploring the utility of biomarkers in diagnosis and monitoring disease process; providing a solid basis of knowledge and skills for progress to appropriate Honours courses.
enhance interpretative, communicative, practical and data processing skills through problem-based learning, presentations and laboratory experiences.
develop a constructive and critical appraisal of Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology and the research that underlies it, while encouraging interaction between staff and students and stimulating independent study and research.
The course lecture programme runs for 10 weeks, with week 11/12 (Dec 1st-until the exam diet starts on Dec 10th) for revision and consolidation. Lectures are complemented and extended with class practical presentations and tutorials, a tutorial workshop on therapeutic drug monitoring problem solving, and smaller group problem-based learning exercises.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 26,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 7,
External Visit Hours 1,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
148 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
35 %,
Coursework
65 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course assessments:
Essay [30%] and Assignment Report [35%]
Degree examination
Examination in December with a mixture of essay and analytical questions. [35%] |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided for the in-course assessments and, upon request, the degree examination. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Degree Examination | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- On completion of this course, the student should have:- 1. Detailed knowledge (or information on where to find it) on the major systems of the body and how they function, and also advanced pathophysiological topics which prepare the student for Honours Medical Sciences and allied subjects.
- 2. * Knowledge about how changes to the normal physiology of cells and systems can underlie human diseases and disorders.
- 3. * Knowledge primarily of clinical biochemistry and endocrinology in humans.
- 4. * Improvement of data interpretation, practical and presentational skills, including efficiently completing assignments [assimilating new information] for report at regular (e.g. weekly) meeting cycles, and abilities to work as a team member.
- 5. * Improvement of computer skills and written information presentation skills, including ability to research a topic and produce a well-constructed manuscript.
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Reading List
There is no general textbook that covers the whole Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology 3 course. You should read lecture handouts (provided electronically on Learn) in conjunction with recommended references given during lectures etc., and assume that all material formally presented in the course is examinable. However, the following textbooks contain basic information on much of the course and are available in the library often in multiple copies although the most recent editions (below) may not yet be held in the library yet:
Lecture Notes: Clinical Biochemistry:-
Walker S, Beckett G, Rae P, and Ashby P (Sept 2013). Lecture Notes: Clinical Biochemistry (9th Edition) Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Chicester, West Sussex. ISBN 978-1-118-27213-8
Marshall Clinical Chemistry:-
Marshall W.J., Bangert S.K. and Lapsley M. (2012). Clinical Chemistry 7th Edition. Mosby ISBN-10: 0723437033, ISBN-13: 978-0723437031
Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine:-
Walker BR, Colledge NR, Ralston SH and Penman I (2014) Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 22nd Edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, ISBN: 0702051039 EAN: 9780702051036 [+ Electronic Book Text, 1392 pages].
The Endocrine System at a Glance:-
Greenstein B, Wood D (2011) The Endocrine System at a Glance 3rd Edition Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. ISBN10: 1444332155 ISBN13: 9781444332155
Individual lecturers will also recommend parts of other textbooks, general reviews or interesting articles for you to consult for more specific detail. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On completion of this course, the student should have:-
1. * Be familiar and skilled at integrating information reflecting a number of different aspects of a complex case to then apply critical analysis to arrive at a conclusion (or best diagnosis)
2. *Skills to interpret and use numerical and graphical data to reach conclusions/achieve goals
3. *Experience and skills taking part in a team jointly working on a novel task, making progress and jointly approving a record of this (action points, minutes) |
| Keywords | CB&E3 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Roger Brown
Tel: (0131) 242 6741
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Philip Horey
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: |
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