[What's new in internal medecine?]

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Dermatology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Rheumatology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Identifying key advancements in internal medicine for 2016 is crucial for clinical practice.
• A comprehensive review of recent literature is needed to highlight significant findings.
• Selection bias must be minimized through rigorous article selection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the most impactful discoveries in internal medicine from 2016.
• To provide an overview of novel treatments and diagnostic insights across various subspecialties.
• To inform practitioners about emerging trends and therapeutic options.

Main Methods:

• A multi-pronged approach was used for article selection, including expert review and systematic analysis.
• Three authors and several internal medicine practitioners identified key publications.
• Articles discussed in a weekly bibliographic meeting were systematically reviewed.

Main Results:

• Cholesterol reduction, not blood pressure, impacts cardiovascular outcomes in intermediate-risk patients.
• Treat-to-target strategies are effective for psoriatric arthritis; genetic correlations aid in classifying inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Tocilizumab shows efficacy in giant cell arteritis; combination therapy is the gold standard for juvenile dermatomyositis.
• Dupilumab benefits atopic dermatitis and asthma; eosinophilic esophagitis should be considered in specific patient profiles.
• Novel therapies are emerging for autoimmune diseases, including nanoparticle-based treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors for certain cancers.

Conclusions:

• 2016 was a landmark year for internal medicine, with breakthroughs in understanding and treating diverse conditions.
• New biotherapies and targeted treatments offer significant promise for autoimmune disorders and malignancies.
• Continued vigilance and open-mindedness are essential for integrating these advancements into patient care.