In 2024, Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine built and expanded clinical programs, showcased groundbreaking research, launched innovative educational opportunities, and more.
In case you missed it, below are some of the top stories in Internal Medicine for 2024:
Internal Medicine Residency: What Medical Students Should Know
Yale faculty and trainees answer questions about internal medicine residency. Read the full story here.
Why Are Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases Rising?
Andrew Wang, MD, PhD, associate professor of internal medicine (rheumatology, allergy and immunology) and immunobiology, studies autoimmune and allergic diseases. His lab seeks to understand the impact of the modern environment on human health. In a Q&A, Wang discusses the increase in autoimmune and allergic diseases, the effects of the modern environment on our immune system, and how his research can help patients. Read the full story here.
Poor Sleep May Increase Markers of Poor Brain Health, New Study Finds
Sleeping too much or too little is associated with changes in the brain that are known to precede and increase the risk of stroke and dementia later in life, a new study suggests. In one of the largest neuroimaging studies of its kind, researchers at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) examined the brain images of nearly 40,000 asymptomatic middle-aged adults to understand how their sleep habits may impact their brain health. Read the full story here.
Protein in Mosquito Saliva Inhibits Host Immune Response
Mosquito saliva is known to play a significant role in the transmission of viruses such as yellow fever, Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, yet many of its functions remain to be understood. In a new study, researchers revealed that a mosquito salivary protein binds to an immune molecule in humans, facilitating infection in human skin caused by the transmitted virus. Read the full story here.
5 Things to Know About Colon Cancer Prevention and Screening
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, and more than 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. For Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Xavier Llor, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (digestive diseases), shared some things everyone should know about colorectal cancer. Read the full story here.
How to Reverse Insulin Resistance
Gerald I. Shulman, MD, PhD, George R. Cowgill Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Investigator Emeritus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and co-director of the Yale Diabetes Research Center, discusses the basics of insulin resistance, how the condition impacts our health, and the steps we can take to reverse it. Read the full story here.
Beyond Weight Loss: Five Yale Experts on the Benefits of Exercise
Most of us know that regular physical activity can strengthen muscles, burn fat, and lower our risk of heart disease. But many advantages of exercise go beyond physical fitness and cardiovascular health, according to YSM experts. Five Yale Department of Internal Medicine specialists in areas ranging from infectious diseases to allergy and immunology discuss why exercise is key to optimal health. Read the full story here.
Liver Cancer Screening: A New Tool for Improved Detection
Researchers at Yale and University of Pennsylvania have developed and validated a new risk score for hepatocellular carcinoma that considers these factors. Their work, “Risk Score for Hepatocellular Cancer in Adults Without Viral Hepatitis or Cirrhosis” was published on November 6, 2024, in JAMA Network Open. Read the full story here.
Sleep Deprivation in the ICU
If you’ve ever stayed overnight in a hospital, you may have had trouble sleeping amidst the beeps, bright lights, and nighttime interruptions. Melissa Knauert, MD, PhD, associate professor in Yale’s Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, understands the challenge. For the past 12 years, she’s been working to make the ICU less disruptive to sleep. Read the full story here.
Internal Tremors: Adding to the List of Long COVID Symptoms
Long COVID has a laundry list of symptoms — and a lesser-known but troubling one is the sensation of having internal tremors, often with no outward evidence that this is happening. In a new, Yale-based Long COVID study, over one-third of participants report experiencing this strange symptom, which feels as if tremors are occurring inside their bodies. Read the full story here.
How to Age in Place
More than three-quarters of people age 50 and older prefer to remain in their own homes and communities as they age, according to the AARP. Known as “aging in place,” living at home during one’s later years can provide many benefits, including increased independence, comfort, and quality of life. YSM experts offer tips for those who choose to grow old at home rather than move into an assisted living facility or retirement home. Read the full story here.
Can a ‘Kidney Action Team’ Improve Patient Outcomes?
In a new study, Yale School of Medicine researchers set out to discover if personalized recommendations given by a kidney action team could improve the outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury. Their findings could have significant implications for patient care, the researchers said. The study was published in JAMA and selected by the American Society of Nephrology as a “high-impact clinical trial” at Kidney Week 2024. Read the full story here.
Immunotherapy for Metastatic Cancer on the Rise, Even Near End of Life
More and more people living with cancer are being prescribed immunotherapy as an effective treatment option. But can it be administered too late? A new study led by Yale Cancer Center researchers at YSM found that while the initiation of immunotherapy near the end of life has increased over time, a closer look at the benefit and value of these therapies in patients with advanced-stage disease is needed. The findings were published in JAMA Oncology. Read the full story here.
AI-Based Biomarker for Aortic Stenosis Found by Yale Researchers
Yale investigators from the section of cardiovascular medicine have identified a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based video biomarker that is able to identify those who might develop and have rapidly worsening aortic stenosis. This research was highlighted in a new paper, “A Multimodality Video-Based AI Biomarker for Aortic Stenosis Development and Progression,” which was published in JAMA Cardiology. Read the full story here.
The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators, educators, and staff in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.