Annals of internal medicine
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Advances in oncology treatment methods have improved outcomes and quality of life for patients with cancer. However, care of these patients can be complex, and the contribution of physicians from different specialties is crucial. This article highlights important publications from 2023 on topics across a wide spectrum relating to the management of oncology patients. ⋯ Two additional articles address screening considerations in patients at risk for colorectal and lung cancer. Two more articles address safe use of hormone-related therapies to treat symptoms of menopause and prevent disease recurrence or progression in patients diagnosed with noninvasive breast neoplasia. Finally, several articles were included on topics related to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer, use of cannabinoids for cancer pain control, chronic autoimmune adverse effects related to use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the incidence of second primary neoplasms.
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Alcohol is used by more people in the United States than tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems, or illicit drugs. Several health conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease, are associated with excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder. Nearly 30 million people aged 12 years or older in the United States reported past-year alcohol use disorder in 2022, but-despite its prevalence-alcohol use disorder is undertreated. In this policy brief, the American College of Physicians outlines the health effects of excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder, calls for policy changes to increase the availability of treatment of alcohol use disorder and excessive alcohol use, and recommends alcohol-related public health interventions.
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Critical care medicine is a specialty that brings together a truly wide spectrum of patient populations, disease states, and treatment methods. This article highlights 10 important pieces of research from 2023 (and 1 from 2022) in critical care. ⋯ Topics include transfusion medicine, fluid resuscitation, safe intubation practices and respiratory failure, and the management of acute ischemic stroke. Several trials are groundbreaking, forcing clinicians to reconsider preexisting dogma and likely adopt new treatment strategies.
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In 2023, published research on COVID-19 remains prominent. The aim of this article is to highlight important developments in infectious disease evidence unrelated to COVID-19 that were published in 2023. The literature was screened for sound new evidence relevant to internal medicine specialists and subspecialists whose focus of practice is not infectious diseases. ⋯ Several articles address the management of sepsis and bacteremia: comparison of cefepime versus piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics in patients with gram-negative bacteremia. Another article examines differences in all-cause mortality in patients with Clostridioides difficile infection who receive different treatments. Additional articles provide evidence about the treatment of patients with HIV infection: the utility of preexposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection, the efficacy of pitavastatin in reducing cardiovascular disease, and the efficacy of dexamethasone for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in persons with HIV.
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Obesity is a common condition and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, weight loss treatment can reduce obesity-related complications. This review summarizes the evidence-based strategies physicians can employ to identify, prevent, and treat obesity, including best practices to diagnose and counsel patients, to assess and address the burden of weight-related disease including weight stigma, to address secondary causes of weight gain, and to help patients set individualized and realistic weight loss goals and an effective treatment plan. Effective treatments include lifestyle modification and adjunctive therapies such as antiobesity medications and metabolic and bariatric surgery.