Reflections on internal medicine in Poland on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Polish Archives of Internal Medicine.

Dynamic development of medicine in the 20th and 21st centuries has only been possible due to its split into narrow specialties. The increasingly complicated and costly technologies used in clinical practice can only be mastered by small groups of highly­ qualified specialists; however, diagnosis and treatment are not about matching a patient with the latest and most sophisticated technologies but about finding an optimal patient­ oriented solution, as it is the human being as a whole that needs help. To achieve this goal, a close collaboration of different specialists is required, but the key role rests with a physician with good general internal medicine skills and the right motivation to act. Management of patients presenting to internal medicine departments requires not only the skill of appropriate pathophysiological reasoning based on extensive knowledge and acquired experience, but many times also the civil courage of the physician. The task is further complicated by chronic underfunding of these wards. The aim of the present review is to reflect on the current state and prospects of Polish internal medicine as well as to attempt a definition of an internist and their role in the integration of different medical specialties. It also stresses the importance of a master in the teaching and practice of medicine and presents profiles of 4 eminent Polish internists.

A journal as a mirror of continued progress in internal medicine. A century of Polish Archives of Internal Medicine.

Internal medicine emerged as a new medical specialty in the second half of the 19th century. It was based on a novel diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm, and included pathophysiologic interpretation of physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging techniques, in contrast with previous descriptive approach to clinical problems. Professor Edward J. Sas-Korczynski in 1891 proposed to organize Polish meetings on internal medicine. The proposal was implemented only in 1906 by Antoni W. Gluzinski, a famous Polish internist. Despite obstacles set by the partitioning powers, the Society of Internists of the Polish Lands was founded. The name of the association was changed to the Polish Society of Internal Medicine during the congress held in Vilna (now Vilnius) in 1923, the first one organized in the independent Poland. The journal of the Society, Polish Archives of Internal Medicine, was founded and Antoni W. Gluzinski was its first editor-in-chief. Later, the journal was edited by Wladyslaw Janowski, Witold E. Orlowski, Andrzej Biernacki, Tadeusz Orlowski, Artur Czyzyk, and Anetta Undas. Witold E. Orlowski was a father of modern Polish internal medicine, and contributed to the development of its subspecialties and their societies. Most of them had roots in the specialist sections of the Polish Society of Internal Medicine. The journal supported the newly founded societies by publication of issues focused on selected subspecialties. Despite the development of subspecialties, the role of internal medicine as a holistic discipline covering the diagnosis and therapy of many organs does not decrease.

Homenaje a la Revista Médica de Chile en sus 150 años de vida (1872-2022) / A tribute to Revista Médica de Chile on its 150th Anniversary (1872-2022)

Revista Médica de Chile was founded in 1872 by Sociedad Médica de Santiago (currently Chilean Society of Internal Medicine) and it is one out of twenty five medical journals founded during the XIX Century that still remain active. In monthly issues it presents clinical and biomedical research articles, as well as research and position papers dealing with medical education, public health or medical ethics. Special attention receive the impact on health care given by the emergence of new private medical schools in Chile, the relevance of methodologies to assess clinical competences in graduates, the certification of specialty programs and specialists, the appropiate use of simulators in clinical training, telemedicine, organ transplants, and current issues in medical ethics, such as abortions and euthanasia. Institutional and international collaboration in medical research is clearly reflected in recent years. Articles are subjected to external peer review and ICMJE Recommendations are carefully considered throughout the review process. Most articles are published in Spanish but English abstracts are mandatory and a growing number of articles are currently published in English. An Open Access electronic version is published by SciELO. Revista Médica de Chile is indexed in the most important international data bases and it is a member of the ICMJE ruling committee. The long life and prestige of this journal can be considered a testimony of the cultural heritage and progress in Chilean medicine.

[A tribute to Revista Médica de Chile on its 150th Anniversary (1872-2022)]. / Homenaje a la Revista Médica de Chile en sus 150 años de vida (1872-2022).

Revista Médica de Chile was founded in 1872 by Sociedad Médica de Santiago (currently Chilean Society of Internal Medicine) and it is one out of twenty five medical journals founded during the XIX Century that still remain active. In monthly issues it presents clinical and biomedical research articles, as well as research and position papers dealing with medical education, public health or medical ethics. Special attention receive the impact on health care given by the emergence of new private medical schools in Chile, the relevance of methodologies to assess clinical competences in graduates, the certification of specialty programs and specialists, the appropiate use of simulators in clinical training, telemedicine, organ transplants, and current issues in medical ethics, such as abortions and euthanasia. Institutional and international collaboration in medical research is clearly reflected in recent years. Articles are subjected to external peer review and ICMJE Recommendations are carefully considered throughout the review process. Most articles are published in Spanish but English abstracts are mandatory and a growing number of articles are currently published in English. An Open Access electronic version is published by SciELO. Revista Médica de Chile is indexed in the most important international data bases and it is a member of the ICMJE ruling committee. The long life and prestige of this journal can be considered a testimony of the cultural heritage and progress in Chilean medicine.

Breve historia de la interconsulta médica / A brief history of medical cross-consultations

Desde la Antigüedad los médicos han necesitado, y solicitado, el apoyo y consejo de colegas experimentados. Esta práctica fue refrendada por Hipócrates y Galeno, permaneciendo sin cambios hasta la Ilustración. En ese período, la interconsulta alcanzó un gran auge. Se escribieron libros monográficos, se estudiaron las características y cualidades que debía poseer el médico consultor y los problemas que podía originar, y se establecieron reglas y pautas a seguir durante su desarrollo. Esta situación se mantuvo estable hasta finales del siglo xix, cuando la aparición de diversas especialidades médicas ofreció la posibilidad de buscar ayuda especializada. Esta especialización originó una fragmentación de la asistencia médica, lo que favoreció la aparición del internista como «consultor universal». En el último cuarto del siglo xx, ante la importancia y problemas de la interconsulta, se comienza a desarrollar su estudio, se crean servicios especializados en su resolución y, finalmente, aparece la asistencia compartida (AU)

Physicians have long needed and sought out the support and advice of experienced colleagues. This practice, endorse by Hippocrates and Galen, remaining unchanged until the Enlightenment. During that age, cross-consultations boomed. Monographic works were written, the characteristics and qualities that consulting physician had to possess were studied the problems that it could cause were examined, and rules and guidelines to follow during a cross-consultation were established. It remained unchanged until the end of the 19th century, when the emergence of various medical specialties offered the possibility of seeking specialized assistance. This specialization gave rise to a fragmentation of medical care which favored the emergence of the internist as a “universal consultant.” In the last quarter of the 20th century, in light of the importance of and problems arising from cross-consultation, it began to be studied on its own, specialized services were created to attend to them, and, finally, comanagement appeared (AU)

Winner's curse: The sad aftermath of the discovery of insulin.

Every young researcher dreams of making a great discovery, but few achieve it. If they do, success does not guarantee happiness. There is little satisfaction in discovering something if others get the credit, and those who achieve fame must face the 'winner's curse' of living up to their reputation. Few discoveries have been more dramatic than the isolation of insulin which, as Michael Bliss said, resembled a secular miracle. And yet, as he also pointed out, this great discovery brought little happiness to those who made it. Some were sidelined, and Banting and Best were saddled with the winner's curse. Here, we look at the ways in which a great discovery can haunt its discoverers.

100 years of physiology, discrimination and wonder.

There has been 100 years of research detailing the role of insulin in glucose, protein and free fatty acid metabolism. We explore the learnings though evolution and changes in management with an understanding of how it has impacted the care of people with diabetes. The discrimination endured is described and recent advances to empower and counter this are highlighted.

[On Soviet therapeutic elite: Miron Semenovich Vovsi, the head therapist of the Red Army - portrait without retouch].

The article is devoted to the biography and scientific contribution of Miron Semyonovich Vovsi, the eminent Soviet internist, organizer of army internal medicine. For the first time, the materials of his personal records from the Yuriev (Tartu) University and verified date of his birth are publicly introduced. Miron Semyonovich (Meer Simonovic) Vovsi was born on May 12 (24) 1897, in the township of Kreslavka (actually Kraslava, Latvia). In 1915, he entered the medical faculty of Yuriev (actually Tartu) University. In 1918 he was transferred to the Moscow University. He, after serving as military doctor, studied and worked under the guidance of D. D. Pletnev, I. M. Wiechert and V. F. Zelenin. In 1934, he moved to the Botkin hospital and after defending his doctoral thesis, became the head of the Department of internal medicine in the Central institute of advanced medical training, where he worked for more than 30 years. During the Second World War, he was the chief internist of the Red Army. He was engaged in the organization and improvement of army internal medicine. In 1952, during the so-called "physicians case", he was arrested and tortured for 5 months. After his release, he returned to teaching, medical and scientific activities. He died in 1960. His major areas of scientific contribution to medicine are nephrology, cardiology and army internal medicine.

Toward Historical Accountability and Remembrance: The German Society for Internal Medicine and Its Legacies From the Nazi Past.

After decades of silence, the German Society for Internal Medicine (DGIM) has made considerable efforts to come to terms with its role and actions during the Nazi era (1933 to 1945). This is particularly important because, with more than 27 000 members, the DGIM is the largest medical society in present-day Germany. Since 1882, the society's annual congress in Wiesbaden has provided a forum and focus for the key medical topics of the day. Based on ongoing historical research, this article is organized in 2 parts. The first describes how the DGIM willingly adapted to the ideology and politics of the Nazi regime, showing no solidarity with its persecuted Jewish members. To illustrate their fates, the cases of Leopold Lichtwitz, who was forced to resign as elected chairman in 1933, and committee member Julius Bauer are investigated. Both men emigrated to the United States. Light is also shed on the decisions of those who led the society during the Nazi era and on the involvement of high-ranking members in medical crimes. The second part of the article analyzes developments in the postwar period and considers why it took so long to hold up a mirror to the past. Although critical voices could be heard from both outside and within the society, they remained isolated and without consequence. Only the past 2 decades have brought about both general and specific developments toward historical accountability and an active culture of remembrance. With a declaration first published in 2015, a new website bringing history and memory together, and a strong commitment to the norms and values of liberal democracy, the DGIM has found its way to a clear position-and has lessons to teach.