Departments > Biochemistry

Courses 

First: Undergraduate Courses
Second : Post graduate Courses
Other Related Courses Under Supervision of Biochemistry Department

 First: Undergraduate Courses

1.BIOCHEMISTRY

Code: 341/5
Credit hours (2+1)
Position: Second year, First Semester
I- Lectures: (2 hours lecture /week, for 15 weeks) *Cell Biology: (nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondria ,cytosol & cytoskeleton, plasma membrane) (2 hours)
*Enzymes. (nature, specificity, co-enzymes, classification ,isoenzymes, mechanism of action, factors affecting enzymes activity, inhibitors) (5 hours)
*Carbohydrates Chemistry. (classification, chemical structure, biological importance). (4 hours)
*Amino acids and protein. (chemistry, classification, chemicals structure, plasma proteins) (5 hours)
*Porphyrins (Classification, heme biosynthesis and catabolism, porphyria) (4 hours)
*Biological Oxidation (Sources of ATP, electron transport chain, components and organization of the respiratory chain, coupling of reactions, , control of respiratory chain, , inhibitors. (2 hours)
*Nucleic acids and protein synthesis (purines and pyrimidines metabolism, uric acid, nucleotides of biological importance)
(5 hours
*Digestion of carbohydrates, lipids and protein. (1 hour)

II- Practical Part (3 hours section /week, for 15 weeks):
Introduction to urine formation:
Urinary system -Kidney structure and function – Nephron structure – Process of urine formation –Normal urine constituents – renal threshold –Types of urine samples.
Physical characters of urine:
-Volume – Color –Odor – Aspect –Reaction –Deposit.
Biochemical screening of urine:
-Normal and abnormal urine constituents (Protein, glucose, ketone bodies, bile pigments, bile salts, blood).
Microscopical examination of urine samples:
-Preparation of urine sample –What to see under the microscope.
Quantitative determination of urine acidity:
-Definition of acid, base. –Acid base balance –How is blood pH kept constant
- Acidosis and Alkalosis –How is proton eliminated from the body –Fate of ammonia –Principle of determination of titrable acidity (Follin’s method) - Principle of determination of combined acidity.
Determination of urinary glucose:
-Glucose homeostasis –Blood glucose -Sources and Fate of sugar -Regulation of blood glucose –Types of Diabetes -Determination of glucose in urine (quantitative Bendict’s) –Interpretation of glucosuria..
Determination of urinary creatinine:
-NPNs –Creatinine biosynthesis –Creatinine clearance – Determination of creatinine in urine (Jaffe’s method: principle and precautions).
Determination of urinary urea:
-Diagnostic importance of serum and urinary urea determination –Biosynthesis of urea –Hyperammonemia –Fate of ammonia -Principle of urinary urea determination: chemical method (DAM method).
Determination of urinary uric acid:
-Sources, normal value, control of uric acid biosynthesis – Excretion of uric acid
-Gout: Treatment of gout -Principle of urinary uric acid determination (Caraway method).



2.BIOCHEMISTRY

Code: 332/5
Credit hours (2+1)
Position: Second year, Second Semester

I- Lectures: (2 hours lecture /week, for 15 weeks) Carbohydrate metabolism (8 hours):
- Glycolysis -Aerobic oxidation (oxidative decarboxylation &citric acid cycle)-HMP shunt-Uronic acid pathway-Metabolism of galactose -Metabolism of fructose -Gluconeogenesis-Glycogen metabolism -Blood glucose level &its regulation-Diabetes mellitus-Glucosuria

Protein metabolism (8 hours):
-Removal of amino group (transamination & deamination)-Sources and transport of ammonia-Urea cycle &its regulation-Ammonia intoxication, symptoms and treatment-Nitrogen balance-Transmethylation
Metaboism of individual amino acids: -Glycine, Serine, Methionine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine ,Tryptophan, Glutamic acid ,Aspartic acid metabolism , Branched amino acids metabolism, Proline and hydroxyproline , Arginine, Ornithine, Histidine.-Abnormalities in protein metabolism.

Lipid metabolism (8 hours):
-Lipoproteins (Types, Functions, Metabolism- Fatty acid oxidation-Fatty acid synthesis-Synthesis of triglycerides-Cholesterol (sources, functions, metabolism-atherosclerosis- Ketone bodies (ketogenesis, ketolysis, ketosis)-Acetyl- CoA metabolism-Fatty liver & lipotropic factors-Adipose tissue metabolism-Eicosanoids & related compounds

Nucleic acids (4 hours):
-Nucleic acids (DNA &RNA)- Free nucleotides of biological importance-Purine and pyrimidine metabolism-Blood uric acid-Replication-Protein synthesis-Recombinant DNA and genetic engineering

II- Practical Part (3 hours section /week, for 15 weeks):
Introduction to blood:
-Collection of blood specimen -Serum and plasma-Anticoagulants- Prothrombin time ( PTT )-Haemoglobin assay (Sahli method, cyanomet Hb method, alkaline hematin method )-Osmotic fragility of RBCs , Effect of hemolytic agents, Hematocrit value & ESR (factors affecting ESR , causes of increased ESR )
Investigation of renal function:
-Tests of glomerular function (GFR, creatinine clearance)
-Determination of serum creatinine by Jaffe's method
Determination of serum urea:
-Acute and chronic renal failure -Principle of serum urea determination: enzymatic assay (Urease & berthelot methods)- chemical method (DAM method)
Determination of serum uric acid:
-Sources, normal value, control of uric acid biosynthesis -Hyperuricemea and Gout -Monitoring of serum uric acid in pregnancy -Principle of serum uric acid determination (Caraway method)
Determination of serum glucose:
-Glucose homeostasis, Fate of absorbed sugar, regulation of blood glucose -Diabetes Mellitus (type І& Џ)-Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-Glycosylated haemoglobin -Methods of determination (glucose oxidase & o-toluidine methods)
Determination of serum total protein and albumin:
-Plasma proteins, Para-proteins (multiple myeloma), Acute phase proteins-Electrophoresis-Principle of determination (Kjeldahl &Biuret methods)-Causes of hypoalbuminemia & A/G ratio -Principle of albumin determination
Minerals:
-Macrominerals of calcification of bones (sources, daily requirements, factors affecting blood calcium and phosphorus levels) -Principle of determination of inorganic phosphate




3.CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Code: 432/5
Credit hours (2+1)
Position: Third year, Second Semester
I- Lectures: (2 hours lecture /week, for 15 weeks) *Clinical Enzymology (2 hours)
-Enzymes activity in plasma & assessment of cell damage & proliferation
- Factors affecting raised plasma enzyme assays.
-Abnormal plasma enzymes activities (ALT / AST /LD / CK / alpha amylase / ALP / ACP / GGT) including their isoenzymes , physiologic & pathologic causes of marked & moderate elevation.
* Cardiac Markers: - (4 hours)
- Cardiac diseases (AMI / Cardiac Hypertrophy / Cardiomyopathy / Arrhythmia / Congenital & Valvular Heart Diseases / Heart Failure)
- Enzyme markers
(AST / LD & isoenzymes / CK & CK-MB isoenzyme / Nitric Oxide Synthase / ACE / Endothelin Converting enzyme-1 / Paraxonases / RHO-associated kinase /Matrix Metalloproteinases 1& 2 / Semicarbazide Sensitive Amino Oxides / G protein coupled Receptor Kinase-2 ).
- Protein markers
(Myoglobin / C reactive protein / Cardiac troponin I &T / Heart Shock Protein 60 / human heart type cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein)
-Peptide & Neurohormone markers
(Endothelin-1 / Angiotensin II /Naturetic peptide / N-terminal pro BNP)
-Amino acid markers (homocysteine)
- Cytokine markers (I L-6 /TNF alpha / INF gamma )
- Lipid & lipoprotein markers
-Coagulation markers
-Genetic markers
-Carbohydrate markers
* The Liver: (2 hours)
-Liver Functions (metabolic / synthetic /excretion & detoxification)
-Biochemical tests for liver functions
Cell damage (AST /ALT)
Synthetic function (albumin / prothrombin )
Excretory function ( bilirubin & jaundice )
-Liver diseases
Cholestasis / Acute & Chronic hepatitis / Cirrhosis / Hepatocellular failure / Hepatic infiltration)
* Lipids & Lipoproteins disorders :- ( 3 hours)
- Plasma lipids
-Lipoproteins metabolism (endogenous & exogenous lipid pathways)
-Separation of plasma lipoproteins
-Clinical manifestations of hyperlipidemia
-Causes & Classification of hyperlipoproteinemia
(Type I / type II a & b / type III / type IV / type V )
- Hypolipoproteinemia ( Tangier disease / Apo B deficiency / LCAT deficiency )
-Principles of treatment of hyperlipidemia
General measures & Drug treatment

* Prenatal Diagnosis: - (1 hour)
-Noninvasive techniques (maternal blood sampling / ultrasound examination)
-Invasive techniques (amniocentesis / chorion villus sampling)
-Neural tube defects (AFP / amniotic fluid acetyl cholinesterase)
-Assessment of fetal lung maturity (L/S ratio)
*Inborn Errors of Metabolism (4hours)
1- Inherited disorders of cellular transport mechanisms:-
cystinuria / hartnup disease / familial iminoglycinuria / hereditary nephrotic diabetes insipidus / inherited hyperbilirubinemia [Gilbert , Crigler Najjar , Dubin Johnson , Rotor`s syndrome ]
2- Disorders of amino & imino acid metabolism:-
phenylketonuria / alkaptonuria / albinism / maple syrup urine disease / histidinemia / cystinosis .
3- Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism:-
* Hyperglycemia (Diabetes Mellitus)
* Hypoglycemia ( Glycogenoses / Galactosemia / Hereditary fructose intolerance ) .
4- Disorders of lysosomal metabolism:-
Mucopolysaccharidoses / Hunter syndrome
5- Disorders of metal metabolism:-
Hemochromatosis / Willson disease
6- Drugs & inherited metabolic disorders:-
Suxamethonium sensitivity / G6PD deficiency
7- Disorders of steroid metabolism:-
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
*Tumor Markers: - (2 hours)
-Clinical aspects of cancer.
-Factors affecting tumor marker level.
-Assessment of usefulness of tumor marker (sensitivity / specificity / positive & negative predictive value)
-Classification of tumor markers:-
tumor related antigens / enzymes / hormones / proliferation markers
* Endocrine Disorders :- ( 4 hours)
-Thyroid hormone (synthesis / action /metabolism / transport)
-Adrenal cortex & medulla hormones ( cortisol / aldosterone / congenital adrenal hyperplasia )
-Hypothalamic & pituitary hormones
GH / Prolactin / ACTH / FSH & LH / TSH / Vasopressin / Male & female sex hormones.
-Disorders of gonadal function.(infertility / amenorrhoea / hirsutism
/ virilism)
* Evaluation of Renal Function :- (1.5 hours)
-Role of the kidney.
- Urine formation.
-Laboratory tests
(serum creatinine / creatinine clearance / serum urea nitrogen / serum uric acid )
* Electrolytes , Blood Gases & Acid-Base Balance :- (1.5 hours)
body water , serum sodium ; potassium & chloride , buffer system.
- Disturbances of acid-base status ( respiratory acidosis & alkalosis / metabolic acidosis & alkalosis )
* Molecular Biology in Clinical Biochemistry :- ( 3 hours)
Gene cloning / PCR / DNA sequencing / Southern Blotting / Gene
Mapping / Transgenic Animals / Site Directed Mutagenesis .
-Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology
basic research / medical applications / forensics / environmental.

II- Practical Part (3 hours section /week, for 15 weeks):
-INTRODUCTION: Types of blood samples -Arterial blood-Venous blood-Capillary blood-How to collect venous blood sample?
-CLINICAL ENZYMOLOGY: Types of plasma enzymes.-Factors affecting-normal range of plasma enzymes -Enzymes as tumor marker.
-MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION(MI): Definition of MI-Diagnosis of MI.-Cardiac enzymes used for diagnosis: (Creatine kinase (CK ), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Myoglobin, Troponin T). Determination of LDH activity (LDH isoenzymes )
-LIVER FUNCTION TEST (LFTs):-
-Determination of serum (albumin- globulin.- prothrombin time).
-Determination of serum aminotrasnferases: -( SGOT and SGPT activity), and ALP, GGT activities. Determination of serum Bilirubin (Total &Direct).
-LIPIDS ANALYSIS;-
-Determination of plasma total lipids & Triglyceride
-Determination of serum cholesterol-
-Determination of HDL-C &HDL-C by Friedwald`s equation.
-STONES ANALYSIS:-Stone classification-Type of stones Chemical composition of stones-Treatment of stones-Causes and factors that promote stone formation-Scheme for stone analysis.



4.ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Code 151/m
Credit hours (2+0)
Position: Prepharmacy year, First Semester

Improves student’s ability for writing and speaking English language.



 Second : Post graduate Courses 

1- Biochemistry (862)      3 credit hours

This advanced course deals with the study of basic biochemistry including enzymes , biomembranes ,  amino acids & proteins , nucleic acid , porphyrins & bile pigments , vitamins , minerals , hormones , metabolism of carbohydrates , lipids & proteins , purines & pyrimidines , biological oxidation & digestion & absorption of nutrients . This course represents the core information required to proceed for master or ph.D. degree fulfillment .

 2- Methods of Biological Research (867)     2 credit hours

Study of different techniques serving biochemistry , clinical biochemistry & molecular biology sciences such as ultracentrifugation , subcellular fractionation , electrophoresis , polymerase chain reaction , DNA & protein sequencing , ELIZA , radioimmunoassay , & protein purification techniques .

 3- Molecular Biology (868)      2 credit hours

Advanced knowledge on different aspects of molecular biology including chemistry of nucleotides & nucleic acids , replication of DNA , transcription of RNA , protein synthesis , recombinant DNA technology , tools & applications of genetic engineering & gene therapy .

 4- Chemical Pathology (869)   2 credit hours

Comprehensive study of the medical tests required for diagnosis & monitoring of diseases . It includes study of hormone disturbances , liver , kidney & cardiac markers , investigation of carbohydrate , lipid & protein metabolic disorders , tumor markers & acid-base balance .

 5- Selected Topics (819)       3 credit hours

Include courses designed to meet the candidate demand for his master or ph.D. study . Examples are stress & free radicals , markers of cardiovascular disease , cancer , nitric oxide biology & pathophysiology .

Other Related Courses Under Supervision of Biochemistry Department :

 Forensic Chemistry (864) : 3 credit hours . Tools & techniques required for forensic medicine .

Pharmacology (863) : 3 credit hours . Study of kinetics & effects of drugs on human body .

 Toxicology (865) : 2 credit hours . Study of the deleterious effects of toxic chemicals & drug overdose on human body .

 Hematology ( 870) : 3 credit hours . Composition , characters & disorders of human blood .

Tissue Chemistry & Genetics ( 871) : 3 credit hours . Study of genetics & genetic disorders .

Pharmacokinetics (866) : 3 credit hours . Study of absorption , distribution , metabolism & elimination of drugs in human body .