The role of the editorial board of a scientific journal goes beyond deciding what should or should not be published on the basis of scientific merit; it must include identifying needs in the area of interest so that the journal can serve as a major channel of communication, raising discussions and highlighting trends that will aid in achieving a better understanding of the field. This is perhaps a point that needs to be explored further in the JBP in the year we are now entering.

At the beginning of a new cycle, it is important to look back on failures and successes, always keeping in mind the goals set forth for the entire journey.(1) As we look back on 2015, we can see that it was a special year for the JBP. We celebrated our 40th anniversary! That is no trifle, nor has it been easy! From the accounts of former JBP editors, it is evident that the success of the journal is the direct result of the maturing of pulmonology as a specialty in Brazil and that the internationalization of the journal is a consequence of the increasing international visibility of a number of researchers working in the country.(2,3)

Another point for consideration is the pattern of citations to articles published in the JBP. In the past two years, the most-cited original articles were those related to diseases that are less prevalent, such as lymphangioleiomyomato-sis,(4) pulmonary hypertension,(5) and congenital muscular dystrophy.(6) In contrast, the most-cited review articles were those related to clinical conditions that are more prevalent. This only underscores the ultimate goal of bringing the JBP ever closer to its readers, taking into account their diversity, including not only researchers interested in topics that are more specific but also those who have had a general education and use the JBP as a vehicle for con-tinuing education. Therefore, in this past year, we placed an emphasis on review topics that are more general, such as the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,(7) the role of PET/CT in lung cancer,(8) and indications for lung transplantation.(9) In the same vein, there has been growing interest in the continuing education series on imaging in pulmonary medicine and on scientific methodology, both of which were initiated in 2015. The discussion of various radiological patterns(10) has been extremely educational and can be used as a reference by residents and graduate students. The same can be said about the series on methodology, which is intended to disseminate knowledge on the topics that are most relevant to the correct interpretation of a scientific article.(11)

These factors should contribute to increasing the number of citations to our journal in various databases, as well as to increasing the number of views and downloads of articles published on our website. That, in fact, will be one of the focal points of our activities during 2016. One means of improving access to the information conveyed in the JBP is to organize it in a way that will meet the expectations of its varied readership. Obviously, most readers access our articles via PubMed or PubMed Central. However, for our readers in Brazil, there is the possibility of organizing ac-cess by topics of interest or even via a program of continuing education based on the content published in the JBP. Such initiatives can be developed through our website.

Communication with the readership as a whole can be strengthened by focusing on individual interest in certain topics. This increases the visibility of articles that are specific to each topic, which has particular relevance for clinical conditions that are less prevalent.

Another very important point is that of publishing updates to several of the Brazilian Thoracic Association guide-lines. This year, the journal will be publishing new COPD guidelines, with the aim of reflecting the great advance-ments that have been made in the field since the latest guidelines were published. Guidelines on other topics are also being developed, which makes the outlook for the coming months very positive.

Certain topics, such as instruction in general medicine and in medical specialties, as well as the profile of graduate programs in pulmonology in Brazil, deserve more attention and have been poorly covered by the various journals in the field of respiratory medicine. At a time when many medical schools are reformulating their curricula, it is appro-priate to establish a forum for discussion about what should be considered the minimum requirements for a degree in general medicine. In parallel, it is necessary to revisit the discussion of what is the minimum knowledge required to be a specialist in respiratory medicine, in terms of fields of study as well as practical skills. The JBP can host such discussions and remain a permanent forum for the exchange of opinions and teaching strategies.

Because of the evolution of the various graduate programs in pulmonology that are currently available in Brazil, there is a need for more in-depth analysis so that it is possible to discuss potential collaborations and changes. There is a potential change in student and professor expectations in view of the current crisis in research funding. It is nec-essary to adapt to this situation, and, once again, the JBP can serve as a forum for the exchange of views on the current and future state of research in the field of respiratory medicine.

We expect that, by setting up discussion forums, the JBP will assume an increasingly important role as a channel of communication in the field of respiratory diseases. It is our hope that, in the near future, we can open those discus-sions to the international community, as a means of broadening the parameters of comparison and allowing diversity to be a source of constant evolution in the concepts medical education that are applied in Brazil. Finally, let us hope that 2016 will take the JBP one step further in disseminating knowledge regarding respiratory medicine at all of its levels.

REFERENCES

1. Souza R. 2015--another step along the road in a 40-year journey. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(1):1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000100001
2. Carvalho CR. My time at the JBP. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000500007
3. Santos ML. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia: forty years of history. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000500001
4. Pimenta SP, Baldi BG, Kairalla RA, Carvalho CR. Doxycycline use in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: biomarkers and pulmonary function response. J Bras Pneumol. 2013;39(1):5-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132013000100002
5. Gavilanes F, Alves Jr JL, Fernandes C, Prada LF, Jardim CV, Morinaga LT, et al. Left ventricular dysfunction in patients with suspected pulmonary arterial hypertension. J Bras Pneumol. 2014;40(6):609-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132014000600004
6. Marques TB, Neves Jde C, Portes LA, Salge JM, Zanoteli E, Reed UC. Air stacking: effects on pulmonary function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy and in patients with congenital muscular dystrophy. J Bras Pneumol. 2014;40(5):528-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132014000500009
7. Baddini-Martinez J, Baldi BG, Costa CH, Jezler S, Lima MS, Rufino R. Update on diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):454-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000152
8. Hochhegger B, Alves GR, Irion KL, Fritscher CC, Fritscher LG, Concatto NH, et al. PET/CT imaging in lung cancer: indications and findings. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(3):264-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000004479
9. Camargo PC, Teixeira RH, Carraro RM, Campos SV, Afonso Junior JE, Costa AN, et al. Lung transplantation: overall approach regarding its major aspects. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(6):547-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562015000000100
10. Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Hochhegger B. Dense consolidations. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(4):388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000076
11. Ferreira JC, Patino CM. What does the p value really mean? J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000215