This paper summarizes several important studies published during the previous year that have an impact on the practice of inpatient internal medicine, because they either modify or reinforce current practices. The selected domains include cardiovascular disease, for example the management of hypertension in very old patients, the effects of blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the use of biomarkers in cardiology; neurovascular pathology, specifically the prognosis of transient ischemic attacks and some aspects of cardioembolic stroke due to atrial fibrillation. Other topics include pneumonia prognosis, the management of ascitis fluid or of septic shock, and methodology.