Role of CT Enterography in Crohn’s Disease Mx

11th August 2024, NIA Diagnostic Imaging

CT enterography (CTE) plays a vital role in the management of Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease is the most common indication for a CTE, primarily used to determine diagnosis and complications (5) to guide effective treatment, and for monitoring disease progression and response to treatment.

WHAT IS CROHN’S DISEASE?

Hypertriglyceridaemia – is it really bad?

11th August 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

Hypertriglyceridaemia

Treating the CV risk factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and smoking have led to significant reductions in cardiovascular disease and mortality. However, up to 25% of first-time patients with myocardial infarction are SMuRF-less. We explored the issue last fortnight. Essentially, SMuRF-less patients are patients who do not have the usual standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRF).…

Does low salt really reduce BP and CVD?

More salt?

High salt intake is said to independently contribute to high blood pressure and ultimately, increase cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are also many other diseases that are similarly associated with high salt intake. How robust is the evidence though? As we ponder about the associations, we may or may not push the message of salt reduction as strongly as we should.…

HbA1c in early pregnancy – is it a good screening test for GDM?

25th July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

The current gold standard for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for women with no risk factors for hyperglycaemia is an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks’ gestation. Women with risk factors are recommended to have an OGTT in the first trimester. Unfortunately, many women are nauseous during the first trimester and performing an OGTT during that time can be very unpalatable.…

Does salt reduction really reduce BP and CVD?

21st July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

Salt intake

I know this what we were all led to believe – high salt intake independently contributes to high blood pressure and ultimately, increases cardiovascular disease (CVD). Further, reducing salt intake will reduce blood pressure and thence, cardiovascular disease. We may sometimes wonder how strong the evidence for both statements is. As we ponder about the associations, we may or may not push the message of salt reduction as strongly as we should.…

Type 2 inflammation in COPD – is it important?

20th July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not just a disease of obstructed airways. In a significant proportion of COPD sufferers, there is an inflammatory component to the disease. This not only affects the aetiology of the disease and its exacerbations but also its management. We are used to using all sorts of bronchodilators to keep the obstructed airways opened and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to tackle the inflammatory component.…

Intravenous iron for iron deficiency – can you give too much?

13th July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

Iron infusion

Iron deficiency can occur in a number of scenarios. It can arise from blood loss (gastrointestinal, gynaecological), inadequate dietary sources or limited absorption in inflammatory conditions (e.g CKD, heart failure or diabetes). Oral iron supplements not only can have annoying GI side effects but absorption is poor under the best of conditions.…

Transvaginal vs Transperineal US in Obstetric Imaging

Transperineal US

13th July 2024, NIA Diagnostic Imaging

Preterm birth/labour (PTL) is the most common cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Preterm birth is defined as delivery prior to 37 weeks of gestation (1). In Australia, the preterm birth rate ranges from 8.3% in 2011 and 8.2% in 2021 with the highest in recent years at 8.7% in 2018 (2). Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) is considered as the gold standard in the measurement of cervical length (CL) and is routinely used as part of preterm labour’s risk assessment (4).…

SMuRF-less myocardial infarctions – what are they?

12th July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

Myocardial Infarction

We are always on the look out for the traditional cardiovascular risk factors – hypertension, diabetes, lipids and smoking to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. These are termed standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs). Unfortunately, there are a significant number of patients that present with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who has none of the SMuRFs.…

Management of fatty liver disease – what works?

30th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

MASLD

Just in case you are not aware, there will be a tsunami of patients with metabolic dysfunction associate fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) coming to you over the next few years. Part of the reason is to do with the better recognition of the condition and we are now detecting them more with biomarkers, imaging and a high index of suspicion.…

The deadly exacerbations of COPD

30th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

CVD in COPD

We are all aware of the exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) especially when they are discharged from hospital back to primary care. We tend to forget that each time a patient with COPD have flare up or chest infection, that represent an exacerbation of COPD. Now, you may think it’s just a matter of semantics and coding but it’s more than that.…

Childhood dyslipidaemia – what happens to these kids?

30th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo

childhood dyslipidaemia

We advocate applying protective sunscreens for little babies onwards because most of the sun damage starts from young and often, we fight a losing battle trying to rescue severe sun damaged skin in later life. It wouldn’t be any different in dyslipidaemia in children and adults. When you think about it, it really doesn’t matter what age you are.…