Drug Repositioning for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG)

R.F. and acknowledge the funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal. S.B. was supported by CDG & Allies—PAIN funding. M.A. acknowledges PhD program at the DISTABIF, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, PhD fellowship POR Campania FSE 2014/2020 “Dottorati di Ricerca Con Caratterizzazione Industriale”.Advances in research have boosted therapy development for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), a group of rare genetic disorders affecting protein and lipid glycosylation and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis. The (re)use of known drugs for novel medical purposes, known as drug repositioning, is growing for both common and rare disorders. The latest innovation concerns the rational search for repositioned molecules which also benefits from artificial intelligence (AI). Compared to traditional methods, drug repositioning accelerates the overall drug discovery process while saving costs. This is particularly valuable for rare diseases. AI tools have proven their worth in diagnosis, in disease classification and characterization, and ultimately in therapy discovery in rare diseases. The availability of biomarkers and reliable disease models is critical for research and development of new drugs, especially for rare and heterogeneous diseases such as CDG. This work reviews the literature related to repositioned drugs for CDG, discovered by serendipity or through a systemic approach. Recent advances in biomarkers and disease models are also outlined as well as stakeholders' views on AI for therapy discovery in CDG.publishersversionpublishe

The Influence of Sulphur Slime on the Properties of Alkali Binding Material from Biomass Bottom Ashes

Alkali-activated materials are potential alternatives for Portland cement. Their use leads to reductions in CO2 emissions and recycling of various industry by-products. These new alternative binders have a wide range of uses and high technological properties. In the research presented in this paper, the influence of additional sulphur slime powder (as accelerator) was investigated. The biomass bottom ash (BBA) was used as raw material and sodium hydroxide was used as the alkaline activator. The sulphur slime is a by-product in a fertilizer production plant. The samples were prepared with different amounts of sulphur slime; the levels of sulphur slime additive were 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 3.0% and 5.0% by weight in the raw material mixtures. Alkali activated binders were mixed and conditioned at a temperature of 60 °C for 48 h, followed by curing at room temperature for 26 days. . The microstructure of the material was analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the composition of the materials was analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The compressive strength of hardened alkali activated paste was measured after 28 days. In the all cases investigated, the compressive strength of hardened cement paste samples increases with the presence of Sulphur slime powder. It was found that during the hardening process sulphur reacts with sodium hydroxide forming Na2SO4 which acts as an accelerator. According to some researchers Na2SO4 has shown a significant accelerating influence in the alkali activated binder systems. The optimal amount of sulphur slime in raw materials mixtures was also evaluatedKauno technologijos universitetasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Synergistic effect of dry sludge from waste wash water of concreteplants and zeolitic by-product on the properties of ternary blendedordinary Portland cements

art. no 118493This paper analyses the use of two types of supplementary cementing materials,edry sludge from wastewash water of concrete plants and zeolitic by-productefor producing hardened cement paste speci-mens. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,and thermal analysis were used as investigation methods. Test results showed that the addition of drysludge reduced the compressive strength of hardened cement paste at both 7 and 28 days. In hardenedcement paste specimens where Portland cement was substituted with 5 %e30% of dry sludge thecompressive strength decreased significantly after 7 and 28 at days. After 28 days blended Portlandcement containing up to 10% of supplementary cementing materials ((SCM) - dry sludge and zeolitic by-product) demonstrated higher compressive strength than the reference specimen as a result of syner-gistic interactions, whereas higher replacement levels led to reduction in compressive strengthKauno technologijos universitetasVilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Concrete Production Using Technogenical, Constructional and Domestic Waste

<p>The article describes investigations carried out by the scientists from various countries in order to improve the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. The grained rubber of tyres, modified sawdust, crushed ceramic bricks, plastic waste and remains of glass are utilised to produce concrete mixtures. The results of research conducted by the scientists show that in the process of producing concrete we can use different types of waste to change natural aggregates and to get concrete with specific properties. Currently, waste handling and utilization are burning ecological problems. Therefore, intensive investigations are carried out in order to utilise technogenical, constructional and domestic waste for concrete mixtures. </p><div class="nav_keywords"><p>Article in Lithuanian</p></div