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The Complement System in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Overview and Outlook

The Complement system is a participant in many diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), hereditary angioedema (HAE), etc. Among these rheumatic diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is proved to have the closest relationship with the complement system.

In 1896, Jules Bordet discovered the complement system, and related research earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1919. At that time, it happened that World War I caused the Nobel Prize to cease for four consecutive years. Jules Bordet became the first recipient of the Physiology Award after the re-award.

After this, complement-related research has experienced many developments and even subversions. Compared to Jules Bordet’s study back then, today’s understanding of complement system is beyond recognition. This article will discuss the relationship between complement and SLE.

Defects in the Complement System Lead to SLE

Congenital defects in the complement system make people more vulnerable to bacterial viruses. This is a major category of congenital immunodeficiency. Interestingly, this not only leads to a decline in resistance to pathogens, but also brings autoimmune diseases.

About 93% of C1q-deficient people will suffer from SLE. Similarly, 75% of those with C4 deficiency and over 30% of those with C2 defects also lead to SLE. Most of the C1r and C1s defecting will also result in SLE. However, due to their low prevalence, it is not appropriate to accurately determine the strength of their association. No stronger innate factors related to SLE have been found. Fortunately, the incidence of such birth defects is low.

Secondary Complement Deficiency and SLE

Bacterial infections, SLE, etc. will cause the level of complement to drop. SLE brings a lot of immune complexes, which combine with complement to cause damage to the body. This is particularly evident in lupus nephritis.

Except that the combination of immune complex and complement leads to the decrease of complement, there are also antibodies against complement. The most widely used is anti-C1q antibody. About 30% of patients with SLE have anti-C1q antibodies, and it is 68% of patients with lupus nephritis. Therefore, a positive anti-C1q antibody indicates a high possibility of lupus nephritis.

Complement-related Drugs and SLE Treatment

The complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The pharmaceutical industry has also developed many drugs in a targeted manner.

(1) Eculizumab

Eculizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody. The antibody binds to complement component 5 and prevents it from cleaving into C5a and C5b, and C5b is necessary to form a membrane attack complex (MAC), which is an important link for complement to participate in body damage, so eculizumab can be used to treat PNH and HUS. However, it is a pity that the clinical practical significance has not been seen in the clinical drug experiments for the treatment of SLE.

(2) Avacopan

The latest major breakthrough in the rheumatology research is Avacopan, a small molecule compound that targets the complement C5a receptor.

Recent clinical randomized double-blind controlled trials have confirmed that Avacopan can successfully replace hormones in combination with other drugs. The biggest problem of this experiment is that the number of cases participating in the experiment is not enough, and the observation time is not long enough. Can Avacopan replace hormones during SLE treatment? There is no reliable clinical controlled trial to verify.

Clinical experience tells us that compared with SLE, ANCA-associated vasculitis tends to rely more on hormones. Since ANCA-associated vasculitis can get out of hormones during treatment, it is possible to look forward to hormone replacement during SLE treatment. The complement therapeutics might the hope of the hormonal-free era of lupus treatment.

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Keys to Mobile Application Development

Here is a precise list of things which one needs to consider while going for mobile app development.

Areas of Mobile Development
Mobile phone works on three different platforms. So one needs to develop the application which is compatible with all the below listed platforms. The application owner can either go from one platform to another (which is the most preferred way) or he can launch the application on all the platforms simultaneously.

iOs App Development: An iOs is a special kind of platform developed for the Apple iPhone users. There are many users under this category. Thus, it becomes necessary taking them into consideration while mobile app development.

Android App Development: With the help of this platform one can develop the application which can run on the Android mobiles. There are a significant number of Android mobile users who are eager to download the mobile application.

Cross Platform Development: This platform lets one form an application as per their requirement for any kind of niche. Whether it is gaming or data security of the business. In this platform, the developer can take help of tools like Corona.

Basics of Providing Mobile Application Development
It is essential for the developer that his mobile application reaches out to the maximum number of customers. In order for increasing the reach of the application, the developer has to pick up a right approach for developing the application. As it is the main factor which might affect the business. Here is a list of some of the common factors which might affect the performance of the mobile application.

Quick Results: In order to get the results quickly, it is required to develop the application in such a manner that the time to market is reduced. To stay in competition with the other competitors, one must enforce on the incremental software development and rapid prototyping. In this way, one can get quicker results from their mobile application.
Clarity: It is necessary for the developer to be crystal clear in his approach while dealing with the clients. He must keep the client updated about every minute detail of his application. About how his project is going, Recording back his feedback and making the changes in the application according to the requirement of their client. He is making the application for the client so it is necessary he develops it according to the needs of the client.
Quality: Quality is the most important aspect while mobile development services. It is necessary checking out all the aspects of the mobile application before it is launched in the market. He has to remove all the bugs and errors which the application might be facing. Prior to release, there shouldn’t be any kind of issue and proper testing must be carried out before launching the mobile application.
Business Value: The developer must provide his client with the appropriate business value. There are lots of changes to be done while developing any application. Apart from that, customer feedback is a critical component. So the developer must develop the essential features first, and the later one can be done accordingly.
Guarantee: Guarantee here relates to the resolving of any defect which might occur after handing over the application to the client. After finishing the project completely and handing over the application to the client, the application developer must provide the client with a warranty period in which if any kind of defect occurs he will resolve them. Each project should me made risk-free it is the job of the application developer.
Conclusion:

In the present article on Keys to Mobile Application Development, we’d explain you about the various platforms on which you can launch your mobile application. We also briefed you out on some of the key considerations to be kept while getting mobile development services.

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5 Tips for Home Insurance Discounts

Once you are aware of this, it will certainly ease your premium payments to know when you are paying too much and areas where you can easily get big discounts. Here are some tips to get discounts on your home insurance.

1. Old to New: Insurers are always wary of the ‘old’. Older buildings, old wiring or non-weather proof roofing means that they may not be as effective at holding strong through extreme weather, storms, theft or other accidents. Hence, if you have your house renovated, or get new wiring done for the entire home, you should get a discount of up to ten percent. Stats from the Fire department show a high number of accidents due to old wiring, weak roofing, old fire-places etc.

2. Neighborhood safety: Insurance companies feel comfortable when they know you’re doing everything you can to keep your home safe. A safe home, keeps money in the insurer’s pocket. Thus, they like to encourage their policy holders by providing discounts whenever they take steps to reduce possible claims. Initiating or becoming a part of a home owner’s association can mean that as neighbor’s watch out for each other, the risk of loss through theft is greatly reduced. Additionally, having a home in a gated community also reduces risk. Hence great discounts can be obtained simply by informing your insurer about these facts.

3. Automatic Payments: As simple as it sounds, setting up recurring payment for your premium will also provide you a small discount, with the added benefit of not having to manually pay your insurer every time your premium is due.

4. Multi-policy discount: Many insurers provide discounts up to thirty percent, if you buy all your insurance (Automotive, home, business etc.,) from them. The discounts offered are a sort of reward for being loyal clients. The policies need not be of the same type, however, the insurance company does need to be the same. This discount may not always be possible if you’re buying your insurance from an insurance agent.

5. Discount on being claims-free: As mentioned earlier, insurance companies are delighted by anyone who reduces their risks and by those who have not claimed insurance anywhere from five years or more. Each insurer will have a different time period stated to avail this discount, so ask around, and you’re sure to get a discount of up to twenty percent, when you’re claims-free.
These are just five great ways to save on your premium payments, talk to your Insurer and you’re sure to get more discounts you never knew was possible.

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