Human (CFB) Complement Factor B ELISA Kit

PURPOSE. To study the levels of complement activation in different disease stages of AMD and the influence of genetic polymorphisms in complement genes. METHODS. We included 797 patients with AMD and 945 controls from the European Genetic Database. Patients were grouped into five AMD stages: early AMD, intermediate AMD, central geographic atrophy, active choroidal neovascularization or inactive choroidal neovascularization. Differences in complement activation, as defined by the systemic C3d/C3 ratio, between AMD stages were evaluated using general linear modeling. In addition, we evaluated the influence of 18 genetic AMD polymorphisms in complement genes and their effect on complement activation. Differences in complement activation between stages were evaluated stratifying by complement associated haplotypes. RESULTS. Complement activation levels differed significantly between AMD disease stages. As compared with controls, the C3d/C3 ratio was higher in patients with intermediate AMD (P < 0.001) and central geographic atrophy (P = 0.001). Two polymorphisms in CFH (rs10922109 and rs570618) and one in CFB (rs116503776) were significantly associated with complement activation. The association between AMD disease stage and complement activation was more pronounced in patients with haplotypes associated with the highest complement activation. CONCLUSIONS. In general, consecutive AMD disease stages showed increasing levels of complement activation, especially in individuals with a genetic burden in complement genes. These findings contribute to the discussion on the pathogenesis of AMD in relation to complement activation and might suggest refinement in patient selection and the optimum window of treatment with complement inhibitors. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

In China, a large amount of coal slurry is produced every year as the by-product of coal washing. If all these slurry were utilized, it could not only bring huge economic benefits but also solve the environmental pollution caused by coal slurry storage. As one of the most important devices to burn the coal slurry, circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers needs to improve the control level to consume more slurry. In this paper, the characteristics of CFB boiler with large blending ratio of coal slurry are investigated from both the operation and control aspects. The energy fluctuation caused by long-term coal slurry combustion in CFB boiler is analyzed, which would influence the operating stability of the unit and restrict the blending ratio of coal slurry. Based on the analysis and boiler energy storage theory, a novel control strategy is proposed to improve energy conversion and stabilize energy fluctuation caused by co-combustion of coal slurry. Finally, the control strategy is applied to an actual 300 MW CFB boiler unit. The long-term operation shows that the improved control system can reduce the energy fluctuations, raise the control stability and increase the coal slurry blending ratio, bringing huge economic benefits to power plant.