#36 - 🔬 AI reads biopsies at 97% accuracy

Hey readers! 👋

What a week for celiac news! We've got AI diagnosing biopsies with impressive accuracy, Massachusetts stepping up with legislation that could change how we screen kids, and some honest conversations about whether chatbots should be giving dietary advice. Plus, the FDA has a shiny new complaint portal, but will they actually use it? Let's dive in!

Massachusetts Legislators Introduce Two Bills to Improve Celiac Disease Screening and School Meal Access is the headline story this week, and it deserves attention from anyone who cares about early diagnosis and school safety. The CAPE Act would add routine celiac screening to the existing 12-year-old cholesterol check, addressing the persistent problem of underdiagnosis in children. Meanwhile, the SNACCK Act requires schools and universities to maintain clear, centralized online portals detailing gluten-free policies, menus, and contact information. – Celiac Disease Foundation

These bills emerged from collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and families. Dr. Maureen Leonard noted that celiac disease remains significantly underdiagnosed in children because symptoms are often subtle or atypical. If you're in Massachusetts, this is worth following closely. If you're elsewhere, consider whether similar legislation might benefit your state.

Is the FDA enforcing the gluten-free labeling rule: You be the judge! takes a skeptical look at the FDA's new centralized complaint system. Since October 2024, food-related complaints now go through the Human Foods Program portal rather than individual consumer complaint coordinators. The procedural improvement sounds promising, but Gluten Free Watchdog notes that no enforcement actions or recalls have been recorded against manufacturers of gluten-free products reported since the change. – Gluten Free Watchdog

The streamlined process should theoretically expedite delivery of complaints to the right experts. Whether that translates to actual enforcement remains to be seen.

Celiac Disease and Gluten Free in the News Apr 2025 from the National Celiac Association packs a substantial amount of research into one roundup. The standout finding involves a Cambridge-based AI tool that now diagnoses celiac disease from biopsy images with over 97% accuracy, matching expert pathologists. This could mean faster, more accessible care, particularly in areas without specialized pathologists. – National Celiac Association

Several other findings deserve attention. Children diagnosed via serology alone heal more slowly than those confirmed by biopsy, which reinforces the value of tissue confirmation despite the inconvenience. Ultra-short celiac disease affects 9.2% of patients globally and is often missed when only a single duodenal bulb biopsy is taken. Multiple bulb samples can identify 60% more cases.

The roundup also covers osteoporosis prevalence in celiac patients, recommending bone density screening from age 45, and explores emerging treatments including metabolic modeling and regulatory T-cell therapy.

Mayo Clinic Celiac Disease Clinical Trials lists 19 ongoing studies exploring novel enzymes, antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors. Researchers are also developing a new gut-permeability test using rhamnose and building biobanks to support future investigations. – Mayo Clinic

Can AI Be Trusted For Celiac Disease Education? examines whether chatbots can reliably educate patients about celiac disease. A multinational research team tested ChatGPT-4, Claude 3.7, and Gemini 2.0, finding that Google's Gemini scored highest in accuracy and clarity. However, all three models exceeded the recommended sixth-to-eighth-grade reading level for health education, which could lead to misunderstandings about managing a strict gluten-free diet. – Celiac Disease Foundation

Practical dietary guidance, especially cross-contact prevention, was the weakest area across all models. The takeaway? AI could reduce provider burden and improve patient access to information, but healthcare providers should critically review AI-generated advice before patients rely on it.

Factors Associated with Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet in Adolescents with Celiac Disease studied 118 adolescents and found generally low adherence to the gluten-free diet. Higher adherence correlated with better physical self-care, stronger self-care management, greater perceived family support, and a family history of celiac disease. The authors emphasize school nursing as crucial for promoting health and preventing complications. – PubMed

iCureCeliac® Studies & Statistics highlights recent findings from the patient registry, including links between social adversity and poorer disease control in children, how symptom patterns affect diet adherence and mental health, and common postpartum symptom flares. – Celiac Disease Foundation

Raising Our Celiac Kids (ROCK) offers downloadable school packets, peer mentorship through Celiac Chat, webinars on nutrition and back-to-school strategies, and guidance for summer camps and college transitions. – National Celiac Association

Birthday cake mishap sparks conversation about friend group dynamics when a well-meaning friend brought a non-gluten-free Costco cake to a gathering despite the group's usual awareness of dietary restrictions. The poster handled it gracefully, noting it was awkward rather than upsetting. – BeautifulBunny_209 on Reddit

A good reminder that even supportive communities need ongoing communication about dietary needs.

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