Metabolic and Functional Biochemistry

The course provides knowledge relating to the biochemical-molecular principles at the base of the main vital processes of the cells and of the human being in its totality. In particular, the course is focused on the main metabolic pathways that simple and complex biomolecules of greatest relevance to the human being can undergo, and on the allosteric and hormonal mechanisms that allow their regulation. Particular attention is to the tissue/organ specific regulation, to metabolic relationships in and among organs in physiological and pathological conditions, and to metabolic functions and requirements of vitamins.
The aim of exercises in the classroom is to deepen the meaning and the interactions among organs of biochemical processes on human health, with further indications about the endocrine-metabolic structures that are established in conditions post-prandial, fasting and in some of the most common pathological states, including diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.
At the end of the course the most common self-analyses that can be performed in the pharmacy in the context of the Pharmacy of Services are described, framing and placing their analytic value in relation to metabolic and functional biochemistry.

At the end of the course of Metabolic and Functional Biochemistry, the student will have knowledge of the main metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, on their specific tissue/organ regulation and on the need for metabolic relationships in and among organs to keep the human being in a healthy state. Moreover, with the knowledge developed with this course, the student will have become familiar with the aberrant biochemistry of some of the most common pathologies, and will have developed a critical awareness that can be useful for the pharmacist's profession, including the activities that he can perform in analytical services of first instance for the prevention and follow-up of more widespread diseases.