Recensión de “Carabaña, J. (2015): La inutilidad de PISA para las escuelas. Madrid: Catarata”

El autor realiza en el libro analizado un amplio análisis acerca de los informes PISA (hasta el 2012) y reflexiona acerca de sus características principales: qué es PISA, qué mide PISA y qué enseña PISA

Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurement Is Not Useful for Predicting the Response to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Subjects With Chronic Cough

Background Increased concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) are identified predominantly in subjects with chronic cough due to conditions that habitually respond well to therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of ENO in predicting the response to ICS therapy in subjects with chronic cough and to determine the relationship between either methacholine or adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) responsiveness and the response to ICS therapy. Methods A total of 43 patients with chronic cough were studied. During the baseline period, ENO measurement, spirometry, and concentration-response studies with both methacholine and AMP were performed…

Allergen-specific Immunotherapy with Purified nAlt a1: Effects on AMP Responsiveness, Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Exhaled Breath Condensate pH

Effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy with purified Alt a1 on AMP responsiveness, exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensate pH: a randomized double blind study

Abstract Background Little information is available on the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy on airway responsiveness and markers in exhaled air. The aims of this study were to assess the safety of immunotherapy with purified natural Alt a1 and its effect on airway responsiveness to direct and indirect bronchoconstrictor agents and markers in exhaled air. Methods This was a randomized double-blind trial. Subjects with allergic rhinitis with or without mild/moderate asthma sensitized to A alternata and who also had a positive skin prick test to Alt a1 were randomized to treatment with placebo (n = 18) or purified natural Alt a1 (n = 22) subcutaneously for 12 months. Bronchial respons…

Predictive factors for Enterococcus faecalis in complicated community‐acquired urinary tract infections in older patients

AIM Risk factors for complicated community acquired Enterococcus faecalis urinary tract infection (UTI) in older patients are not well known. METHODS We identified the predictive factors for E. faecalis on a cohort of 659 older patients admitted to hospital with complicated UTI. We also examined the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy and outcomes in E. faecalis UTI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of E. faecalis UTI. RESULTS A total of 87 (13.2%) patients had E. faecalis UTI; of these 63.2% were men, their mean age was 82.3 years and they had a great number of comorbidities. Severe sepsis or septic shock was present in 50.5%, and bacteremia was pre…