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Abstract: Understanding the risk factors leading to severe systemic sting reactions (SSRs) is crucial for initiating venom immunotherapy (VIT) and for educating affected individuals and their families. Some of these risk factors are well established, some are no longer considered risk factors, and some remain controversial. Well-established risk factors for severe SSRs include clonal mast cell disease, high baseline serum tryptase, and advanced age. The absence of skin symptoms and the rapid onset of symptoms are indicators of severe SSRs. Recent publications indicate that antihypertensive treatment and stings in the head and neck area are not risk factors for severe SSRs. VIT is the only available treatment that can potentially prevent further anaphylactic reactions. Although rare and generally manageable, individuals undergoing VIT may experience systemic adverse events (sAEs). More sAEs are expected in patients undergoing bee VIT compared with vespid VIT. The role of elevated baseline serum tryptase as a risk factor for sAEs remains debated, but if it is a factor, the risk is increased by only about 1.5-fold. Rapid updosing protocols, depending on the specific regimen, can also be associated with more sAEs. Severe initial SSRs, antihypertensive medication, high skin test reactivity, and high specific IgE levels are not risk factors for sAEs.
Keywords: immunology, anaphylaxis, Hymenoptera venom allergy, risk factors, severe systemic sting reactions, side effects, venom immunotherapy
Published in DiRROS: 02.07.2025; Views: 126; Downloads: 74
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Abstract: Introduction: Sarcopenia is a multifaceted condition affecting between 10 and 16% of the global population, and although multiple classification algorithms exist, no prevalence has been reported for a representative sample of the Slovenian population. Furthermore, multiple behavioural factors, such as malnutrition, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle and lower cognitive function, can contribute to the risk of sarcopenia. This study aims to: a) determine sarcopenia prevalence among Slovenian older adults according to different classification algorithms, b) compare the agreement among the algorithms and c) evaluate the relationship between proposed risk factors and sarcopenia. Methods: 654 participants (≥60 years, 30.4% males) have been classified into sarcopenia groups according to eight algorithms, and agreement (Fleiss K) between them was calculated. Additionally, age, sex, nutritional status, physical activity, sedentary levels and cognitive function were assessed as sarcopenia risk/protective factors. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 was 4.1%, ranging from 2.1% to 15.3%, when classified by all eight algorithms. Overall agreement between algorithms was weak (K=.429; 95% CI .414 to .444) with 0.6% of participants classified as sarcopenic by all eight algorithms. Adequate nutrition and physical activity were identified as protective factors, while age, lower cognitive function and sedentary lifestyle were considered risk factors. Conclusion: Sarcopenia prevalence among the Slovenian general population was lower than in the global population. We can conclude that different sarcopenia algorithms lead to a different prevalence of sarcopenia. It is of great importance to be cautious when comparing prevalences among studies and to further validate the classification algorithms.
Keywords: sarcopenia, prevalence, epidemiology, classification algorithms, risk factors
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2025; Views: 307; Downloads: 151
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Abstract: The effects of data governance (as a means to maximize big data value creation in fire risk management) performance on fire risk was analyzed based on multi-source statistical data of 105 cities in China from 2016 to 2018. Specifically, data governance was first quantified with ten detailed indicators, which were then selected for explaining urban fire risk through correlation analysis. Next, the sample cities were clustered in terms of major socio-economic characteristics, and then the effects of data governance were examined by constructing multivariate regression models for each city cluster with ordinary least squares (OLS). The results showed that the constructed regression models produced good interpretation of fire risk in different types of cities, with coefficient of determination (R2) in each model exceeding 0.65. Among the indicators, the development of infrastructures (e.g. data collection devices and data analysis platforms), the level of data use, and the updating of fire risk related data were proved to produce significant effects on the reduction of fire frequency and fire consequence. Moreover, the organizational maturity of data governance was proved to be helpful in reducing fire frequency. For the cities with large population, the cross-department sharing of high-value data was found to be another important determinant of urban fire frequency. In comparison with existing statistical models which interpreted fire risk with general social factors (with the highest R2 = 0.60), these new regression models presented a better statistical performance (with the average R2 = 0.72). These findings are expected to provide decision support for the local governments of China and other jurisdictions to facilitate big data projects in improving fire risk management.
Keywords: urban fire risk, fire risk management, big data technologies, data governance, socio-economic factors, city-wide analysis
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2024; Views: 833; Downloads: 414
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Abstract: Background: Allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings can have varying levels of severity, according to the Müller grading system. Methods: By an epidemiological concept, this is a retrospective cohort study. The observed cohort was represented by patients referred to the University Clinic Golnik due to Hymenoptera allergic reaction in the period from 1997 to 2015. From the immunological database of the University Clinic Golnik, we obtained laboratory data (sIgE, skin tests and basophil activation test). The clinical characteristics of patients were obtained from BIRPIS. With the help of a questionnaire, which was sent to each patient in the period from May 2019 to April 2021, we obtained epidemiological data. For the assessment of the association between the severity of allergic reaction for the observed outcome, the severity of the first allergic reaction after Hymenoptera sting was used. Other variables were grouped according to risk factors. Discussion: We will identify the risk factors that could play an important role in a severe systemic reaction: the aetiology of the Hymenoptera sting, sex, age, history and severity of previous systemic reactions, being re-stung in an interval of two months, the frequency of re-stings, atopy, genetic predisposition, preventive medication use, other medication use, beekeeping or living next to beehives and why immunotherapy was not taken. Laboratory data will also be analysed to determine if there is any association with laboratory tests and the severity of the allergic reactions after Hymenoptera stings. Conclusions: Several new approaches are introduced in the study design. The most important is that the protocol covers epidemiological data gained from the questionnaire, as well as clinical data gained from the Immunological database and BIRPIS database. We expect to obtain significant results that will explain the risk factors for the natural history of Hymenoptera sting allergic reactions and will help allergologists, as well as general doctors, when facing those patients allergic to Hymenoptera venom without immunotherapy.
Keywords: hymenoptera venom allergy, risk factors, epidemiological association
Published in DiRROS: 06.04.2022; Views: 1654; Downloads: 639
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