NASH/NAFLD Clinical Care Pathway App
A Clinical Care Pathway providing guidance on the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been developed by the American Gastroenterological Association.
According to the AGA, the guidance was developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts and is intended to be applicable in any setting where care for patients with NAFLD is provided, including primary care, endocrine, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology practices.
The pathway is available as an app for iOS and Android mobile devices at nash.gastro.org.
Former AMA leader describes ‘gluten brain’
Gluten may trigger neurological problems such as headache and even ataxia in people with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, according to former AMA president Dr Kerryn Phelps.
Speaking on a women’s health podcast to promote new book How to Keep Your Brain Young, Dr Phelps said gluten was not only a cause of gut disorder but could also lead problems with brain and nerve function.
This might show up as headache, brain fog, problems with memory, or attention or cognitive function, she said.
“There are all sorts of things that can show themselves as behavioural problems or cognitive or thinking problems when somebody has a brain sensitivity to gluten. So this is something that we need to think about when we’re looking at things like behavioural problems in children or cognitive issues in younger adults,” she told the podcast Healthy-ish.
Dr Phelps recommended elimination diets that emphasised minimal red meat, processed sugars, lots of plant based foods with a high vegetable and fruit intake and healthy fats such as olive oil.
RACP calls for urgent action on COVID-19 vaccination for people with disability
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has serious concerns that people living with disability have not been prioritised for COVID-19 vaccinations, as states prepare to ease restriction in a matter of days.
The RACP has repeatedly raised concerns about the slow rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines to people with disability and the need to urgently prioritise this group. Disability care residents and staff were in the highest priority group for vaccination yet only 67% of residents and 59% disability screened workers are vaccinated.
People with disability are at increased risk of adverse outcomes if they are infected by COVID-19. A study in the UK reported that 58% of COVID-19 deaths were among people who had a disability, whilst another UK study found people with intellectual disability were eight times more likely to die of COVID-19 than the general population.
Dr Jacqueline Small, RACP President-elect and developmental paediatrician said: “The DRC report that people living with disability were deprioritised in the vaccine rollout is deeply concerning. We have had months to get this right. Now we are days away from states easing restrictions with less than half of NDIS participants aged 16 years and over fully vaccinated – that is really troubling.
“A coordinated connected response with inclusion of people with disability, local health districts, primary health networks and non-government organisations is needed urgently.”
A report released by the national organisation Children and Young People with Disability Australia has shown that over 70% of respondents experienced difficulties in securing vaccinations.
The RACP said the federal government must publish data on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for people with disability to enable a quick response at a local level where gaps in accessibility are identified. This must include regular, up-to-date disaggregated data on the vaccination numbers for all people with disability, as at present only NDIS participant data is available publicly. It must also include the rates of COVID-19 infection and death amongst all people with disability.