Human Metabolism

Code:

MI125

Acronym:

MH

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Biomedicina
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	364	Plano Oficial 2021	1	-	9	75	243

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

It is expected that students acquire detailed knowledge on the metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism, in humans, of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, aminoacids, aminoacid derivatives of biological interest, heme group, purines and pyrimidines and xenobiotics.

Students must also understand human metabolism as a whole, by learning important aspects of integration of metabolism (regulation of oxidative metabolism and energetic balance, hormonal regulation of metabolism) and by learning the metabolic changes associated with different aspects of our lifecycle (metabolic changes during the feeding/fasting cycle, metabolism in different cells and tissues, in the pregnant and newborn, in aging, during physical exercise and in some extreme situations).

Students must acquire knowledge on some factors affecting human metabolism, namely: vitamins, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms, aging, nutrition and alcohol and alcoholic drinks.

Finally, students must acquire knowledge on some human pathologies related to metabolism or associated with metabolic disturbances: obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemias, diseases of fructose and galactose metabolism, diseases of beta oxidation of fatty acids, diseases of glycogen metabolism, megaloblastic anemias, diseases of aminoacid metabolism, cachexia, jaundice and metabolism in cancer cells.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge on the main metabolic pathways occurring in the human body: carbohydrate metabolism, the Krebs cycle, respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation, lipid, aminoacid and protein metabolism, synthesis of aminoacid derivatives of biological interest, metabolism of heme, of purine and pyrimidines and of xenobiotics.

Knowledge on integration of metabolism: regulation of oxidative metabolism and energetic balance, hormonal regulation of metabolism, metabolism during the fasting/feeding cycle, metabolism in different organs and tissues, in the pregnant and the newborn, during physical exercise, in aging and in extreme situations.

Knowledge on factors affecting human metabolism: vitamins and their important role in metabolism, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms, nutrition and alcohol and alcoholic drinks.

Knowledge on some human pathologies related to changes in metabolic pathways: obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemias, diseases of fructose and galactose metabolism, diseases of beta oxidation of fatty acids, diseases of glycogen metabolism, megaloblastic anemias, diseases of aminoacid metabolism, cachexia, jaundice and metabolism in cancer cells.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The main metabolic pathways occurring in the human body: carbohydrate metabolism, the Krebs cycle, respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation, lipid, aminoacid and protein metabolism, synthesis of aminoacid derivatives of biological interest, metabolism of heme, of  purine and pyrimidines and of xenobiotics.

Integration of metabolism: regulation of oxidative metabolism and energetic balance, hormonal regulation of metabolism, metabolism during the fasting/feeding cycle, metabolism in different organs, in the pregnant and the newborn, during physical exercise, during aging and in extreme situations.

Factors affecting human metabolism: vitamins and their important role in metabolism, oxidative stress and defense mechanisms, nutrition and alcohol and alcoholic drinks.

Some human pathologies related to changes in metabolic pathways: obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemias, diseases of fructose and galactose metabolism, diseases of beta oxidation of fatty acids, diseases of glycogen metabolism, megaloblastic anemias, diseases of aminoacid metabolism, cachexia, jaundice and metabolism in cancer cells.

Mandatory literature

Baynes JW, Dominiczak MH; Medical Biochemistry
Frayn KN; Regulação metabólica
Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Gatto GJ, Stryer L; Biochemistry, 2015
Rodwell VW, Bender DA, Botham KM, Kennelly PJ, Weil PA; Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 2015
Nelson DL, Cox MM; Lehningher Principles of Biochemistry, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

The contents of this curricular unit will be organized in theoretical classes (T) of 1h each (in a total of 22h), seminars (S) of 2h each (in a total of 18h) and classes with a small group of students (G) of 2h30 each (in a total of 35h).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Teste	90,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	168,00
Frequência das aulas	75,00
Total:	243,00

Eligibility for exams

Frequency is obtained if the number of group classes missed does not exceed 25% of the total of group classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

1º-The final classification has 2 components: a written evaluation (weighted mean of the classification obtained in the two partial evaluations (AP), or the result of the final appeal exam (ER)) and the continuous assessment in the small group classes (G).

2º-The partial evaluation nº 1 will take place during the semester and the partial evaluation nº2 will take place after the semester finishes. The partial evaluation nº 1 will focus on subjects covered until a certain date. The partial evaluation nº2 will focus on subjects covered from that date onwards.

3º-The partial evaluation nº1 (AP1; 1h) is constituted by two groups of questions: Group I, with 30 multiple-choice questions (the student chooses one from 5 possible answers, no discount made), and Group II, with 3 open answer questions and/or short essay questions, of which the student chooses one to answer.

4º-The partial evaluation nº2 (AP2; 1h15) is constituted by two groups of questions: Group I, with 32 multiple-choice questions (the student chooses one from 5 possible answers, no discount made), and Groups II and III, with 3 open answer questions and/or short essay questions, of which the student chooses one to answer in each group.

5º-Students that do not perform all the partial evaluations, or that, having performed all the partial evaluations, have no approval (ie, a final classification equal or higher than 10 values), will have to make the final appeal exam.

6º-The final appeal exam (ER; 2h) is constituted by two groups of questions: Group I, with 62 multiple-choice questions (the student chooses one from 5 possible answers, no discount made), and Groups II, II and IV, with 3 open answer questions and/or short essay questions, of which the student chooses one to answer in each group. The final appeal exam will focus on all the subjects covered in the curricular unit.

7º-The final classification (FC) is given by the formula:

FC=(AP1 x 0.35) + (AP2 x 0.55) + (G x 0.1), in the case of partial evaluations

FC= (ER x 0.9) + (G x 0.1), in the case of the final appeal exam

 

The continuous assessment in the small group classes (G) reflects the student’ participation, previous preparation of the theme, biochemical knowledge, interest and punctuality.

8º-Students may ask for revision of the partial evaluations or final appeal exam, but there is the possibility of a decrease in the classification.

9º-Students may perform the final appeal exam (ER) in order to make improvement of the classification to this UC. In this case, the final classification will be given exclusively by the classification obtained in the ER.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The Special Evaluation will take place during the periods defined by the Pedagogic Regulation of FMUP. The exam will have the same characteristics as the Final appeal Exam (ie. 62 multiple choice questions (Grupo I) and 3 open answer questions (groups II, III and IV)).

The final classification (FC) is given by the formula:

FC= (E x 0.9) + (G x 0.1)

E- classification in the exam, G-continuous assessment in the small group classes (G).

If the student has no continuous assessesment in the small group classes, because it is dispensed from these classes, the FC will be the classification obtained in E.

Classification improvement

Students may perform the final appeal exam (ER) in order to make improvement of the classification to this UC. In this case, the final classification will be given exclusively by the classification obtained in the ER.