Jagiellonian University

About: Jagiellonian University is a education organization based out in Krakow, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 17438 authors who have published 44092 publications receiving 862633 citations. The organization is also known as: Academia Cracoviensis & Akademia Krakowska.

The International Database of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDACO) : protocol and research perspectives

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The International Database on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (1993-1994) lacked a prospective dimension. We are constructing a new resource of longitudinal population studies to investigate with great precision to what extent the ambulatory blood pressure improves risk stratification. METHODS: The acronym IDACO refers to the new International Database of Ambulatory blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome. Eligible studies are population based, have fatal as well as nonfatal outcomes available for analysis, comply with ethical standards, and have been previously published in peer-reviewed journals. In a meta-analysis based on individual patient data, composite and cause-specific cardiovascular events will be related to various indexes derived by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The analyses will be stratified by cohort and adjusted for the conventional blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: To date, the international database includes 7609 patients from four cohorts recruited in Copenhagen, Denmark (n=2311), Noorderkempen, Belgium (n=2542), Ohasama, Japan (n=1535), and Uppsala, Sweden (n=1221). In these four cohorts, during a total of 69,295 person-years of follow-up (median 9.3 years), 1026 patients died and 929 participants experienced a fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event. Follow-up in five other eligible cohorts, involving a total of 4027 participants, is still in progress. We expect that this follow-up will be completed by the end of 2007. CONCLUSION: The international database of ambulatory blood pressure in relation to cardiovascular outcome will provide a shared resource to investigate risk stratification by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to an extent not possible in any earlier individual study.

A prospective randomized trial on comparison of low-pressure (LP) and standard-pressure (SP) pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Abstract: Aim: This study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of LP (7 mmHg) in comparison to SP (12 mm Hg) pneumoperitoneum in a prospective randomized clinical trial. Materials and Methods: 148 consecutive patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) due to uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were randomized to either SPLC or LPLC. All the procedures were performed by the same experienced team of surgeons. The statistical analysis included sex, mean age, body mass index, ASA grade, operative time, complication rate, conversion rate, postoperative pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS) including the incidence of shoulder-tip pain, postoperative hospital stay, recovery time, and the quality of life (QOL) within 7 days following the operation. p <0.05 was considered as indicative of significance. Results: Neither conversion to an open procedure nor major complications occurred in either group. The operative time was similar in both groups (LP 55.7 ± 8.6 min vs SP 51.9 ± 8.3 min). The mean postoperative pain score was 6.18 ± 3.48 lower after LP than SPLC and the difference amounted to 22.2% (p <0.005). The incidence of shoulder-tip pain was 2.1 times lower after LP than SPLC (p <0.05). QOL within 7 days following the operation was remarkably better after LPLC than after SPLC (p <0.01). Conclusions: LP pneumoperitoneum is superior to SP pneumoperitoneum in terms of lower postoperative pain, a lower incidence of shoulder-tip pain, and a better QOL within 5 days following the operation. LP should be used for LC in cases of uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones as a recommended procedure as long as an adequate exposure is obtained with this technique.

Addicted to answers: Need for cognitive closure and the endorsement of conspiracy beliefs

Abstract: Conspiracy theories offer simple answers to complex problems by providing explanations for uncertain situations. Thus, they should be attractive to individuals who are intolerant of uncertainty and seek cognitive closure. We hypothesized that need for cognitive closure (NFCC) should foster conspiracy beliefs about events that lack clear official explanations, especially when conspiracy theories are temporarily salient. In Experiment 1 NFCC positively predicted the endorsement of a conspiracy theory behind the refugee crisis, especially when conspiratorial explanations were made salient. Experiment 2 showed that when conspiratorial explanations were made salient, NFCC positively predicted beliefs in conspiracies behind a mysterious plane crash. However, the link between NFCC and beliefs in conspiratorial explanations was reversed in the case of a plane crash with an official, non-conspiratorial, explanation for the accident. In conclusion, people high (vs. low) in NFCC seize on conspiratorial explanations for uncertain events when such explanations are situationally accessible.