Becky McCall

South East District

Medical Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

Waist Circumference Predicts Obesity-Related Cancer in Men

1 month ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

TOPLINE:Waist circumference was shown to be a stronger marker than body mass index (BMI) for the risk of developing obesity-related cancers in men but not in women, a Swedish study showed. METHODOLOGY:Data on BMI and waist circumference from 339,190 individuals (average age, 51.4 years) were drawn from various Swedish populations; cancer diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Register.
Subcutaneous Guselkumab Proves Efficacious for IBD

1 month ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

BERLIN — Induction therapy with subcutaneous guselkumab demonstrated significant efficacy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), according to results from the phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ASTRO study. Importantly, the study also showed that subcutaneous induction is consistent with intravenous (IV) induction of guselkumab in UC.
The forgotten social and emotional toll of rare diseases

1 month ago | re-solveglobalhealth.com | Becky McCall

For people with rare diseases, living in a high- or low-income country shapes their experience, but all can face stigma, isolation, and neglect. Tackling the social and emotional impacts is crucial for better support. Across Asia, a rare disease diagnosis often carries an additional burden of stigma. Photo: Nicola BartsExpert clinicians and specialised therapies for people living with rare diseases are few and far between.
Not All Plant-based Diets Are Equal in IBD Risk Mitigation

1 month ago | mdedge.com | Becky McCall

FROM ECCO 2025 — Adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), whereas an unhealthy plant-based diet is linked to an increased disease risk and worse outcomes, according to the results of a large cohort study. The study, which included both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), also showed that diet quality may affect disease progression and surgery risk for individuals already diagnosed with IBD.
New IL-7 Antagonist Lusvertikimab Shows UC Efficacy

1 month ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

BERLIN —Lusvertikimab, a first-in-class interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor antagonist, demonstrated clinical and endoscopic efficacy in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) in the 10-week induction period of a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 clinical trial. Lusvertikimab is unique in targeting the IL-7 receptor, a key player in immune-mediated inflammation.
AI Improves Lesion Detection in IBD Over Standard Methods

1 month ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

BERLIN, Germany — Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted capsule endoscopy (CE) readings showed higher sensitivity and accuracy in detecting ulcers and erosions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than did conventional readings in a first-of-its-kind, multicenter study. In addition to the model’s superior diagnostic performance than standard of care, it also achieved a significant reduction in the mean reading time per exam.
New Biomarkers Identified for Treatment Response in IBD

2 months ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

BERLIN — A multi-omics approach has identified a range of biomarkers associated with treatment response in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to the results of a new study (OP04) presented here at the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) 2025 Congress.
Not All Plant-based Diets Are Equal in IBD Risk Mitigation

2 months ago | medscape.com | Becky McCall

BERLIN — Adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), whereas an unhealthy plant-based diet is linked to an increased disease risk and worse outcomes, according to the results of a large cohort study. The study, which included both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), also showed that diet quality may affect disease progression and surgery risk for individuals already diagnosed with IBD.
Guselkumab Efficacy in Crohn’s Disease Unaffected by Prior Biologic Use

Nov 5, 2024 | mdedge.com | Becky McCall

FROM UEG 2024 — Guselkumab has been shown to be efficacious vs placebo in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD), regardless of prior biologic therapy exposure, according to a pooled analysis of the two phase 3 double-blind GALAXI 2 and 3 studies. “We found that guselkumab was effective in both biologic-naive and biologic-inadequate subpopulations,” said coinvestigator Bruce E.
Patients With IBD More Likely to Develop, or Have Prior, T1D

Nov 5, 2024 | mdedge.com | Becky McCall

FROM UEG 2024 — Researchers have determined a bidirectional relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), using both a cohort and case-control approach to analysis. Their findings showed that patients with IBD had a moderately increased risk for T1D and higher odds of having prior T1D than the general population. These bidirectional associations were partially independent of shared familial factors.