Pharmacological Characterization of IW-1973, a Novel Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator with Extensive Tissue Distribution, Antihypertensive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antifibrotic Effects in Preclinical Models of Disease.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), a key signal-transduction enzyme, increases the conversion of guanosine-5'-triphosphate to cGMP upon binding of nitric oxide (NO). Endothelial dysfunction and/or reduced NO signaling have been implicated in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and complications of diabetes and have been associated with other disease states and aging. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators are small-molecule drugs that bind sGC and enhance NO-mediated cGMP signaling. The pharmacological characterization of IW-1973 [1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(((5-fluoro-2-(1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-(isoxazol-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)methyl)propan-2-ol], a novel clinical-stage sGC stimulator under clinical investigation for treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and diabetic nephropathy, is described. In the presence of NO, IW-1973 stimulated sGC in a human purified enzyme assay and a HEK-293 whole cell assay. sGC stimulation by IW-1973 in cells was associated with increased phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein. IW-1973, at doses of 1-10 mg/kg, significantly lowered blood pressure in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. In a Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension model, IW-1973 significantly reduced blood pressure, inflammatory cytokine levels, and renal disease markers, including proteinuria and renal fibrotic gene expression. The results were affirmed in mouse lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and rat unilateral ureteral obstruction renal fibrosis models. A quantitative whole-body autoradiography study of IW-1973 revealed extensive tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic studies showed a large volume of distribution and a profile consistent with predicted once-a-day dosing in humans. In summary, IW-1973 is a potent, orally available sGC stimulator that exhibits renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects in nonclinical models.

Generative Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Teaching Communication in Nutrition and Dietetics Education-A Novel Education Innovation.

Although effective communication is fundamental to nutrition and dietetics practice, providing novice practitioners with efficacious training remains a challenge. Traditionally, human simulated patients have been utilised in health professions training, however their use and development can be cost and time prohibitive. Presented here is a platform the authors have created that allows students to interact with virtual simulated patients to practise and develop their communication skills. Leveraging the structured incorporation of large language models, it is designed by pedagogical content experts and comprises individual cases based on curricula and student needs. It is targeted towards the practice of rapport building, asking of difficult questions, paraphrasing and mistake making, all of which are essential to learning. Students appreciate the individualised and immediate feedback based on validated communication tools that encourage self-reflection and improvement. Early trials have shown students are enthusiastic about this platform, however further investigations are required to determine its impact as an experiential communication skills tool. This platform harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to bridge the gap between theory and practice in communication skills training, requiring significantly reduced costs and resources than traditional simulated patient encounters.

Multivalent activation in temporary phosphate tethers: a new tether for small molecule synthesis.

[reaction: see text]. A new tether for small molecule synthesis is reported. This functionally active tether mediates the desymmetrization of a pseudo-C(2)-symmetric tris-allylic phosphate triester to generate a P-chiral bicyclo[4.3.1]phosphate containing ample steric and stereoelectronic differentiation for investigating chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective transformations. Overall, the method reported herein demonstrates a fundamentally new role of phosphates in synthesis and provides differentiated polyol building blocks for use in natural product synthesis.

Development of high-load, soluble oligomeric sulfonate esters via ROM polymerization: application to the benzylation of amines.

The development of high-load, soluble oligomeric sulfonate esters, generated via ROM polymerization, and their utility in the facile benzylation of an array of amines is reported. These polymeric sulfonate esters exist as free-flowing powders, are stable at refrigerated temperatures, and are readily dissolved in CH(2)Cl(2). Following the benzylation event, purification is attained via simple filtration, followed by solvent removal to deliver the desired benzylated product in good to excellent yield and high purity. [structure: see text]

Scavenge-ROMP-filter: a facile strategy for soluble scavenging via norbornenyl tagging of electrophilic Reagents.

[reaction: see text] A new "chemical tagging" method for homogeneous electrophilic scavenging is described. The method utilizes 5-norbornene-2-methanol to scavenge/tag a variety of electrophiles that are present in excess. Once tagging is complete, the crude reaction mixture is subjected to a rapid ROM polymerization event utilizing the second generation Grubbs catalyst. This process yields a polymer that can be precipitated with methanol or ether/hexane, leaving products in excellent yield and purity.

ROMP-generated oligomeric sulfonyl chlorides as versatile soluble scavenging agents.

[reaction: see text] A new method for homogeneous nucleophilic scavenging employing oligomeric sulfonyl chloride (OSC) reagents is described. The method utilizes OSC to rapidly scavenge a variety of amines that are present in excess. The OSC reagents are generated from ROM polymerization of 2-chlorosulfonyl-5-norbornene utilizing the second generation Grubbs catalyst to produce oligomers of varying size as stable, free-flowing powders. Following the scavenging event, these oligomers are precipitated with ethyl acetate leaving products in excellent yield and purity.

Double diastereoselective intramolecular cyclopropanation to P-chiral [3.1.0]-bicyclic phosphonates.

[reaction: see text] A double diastereotopic differentiation strategy on a phosphonoacetate template is described. The approach utilizes Rh(2)(OAc)(4)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation (ICP) employing the (R)-pantolactone auxiliary in the ester functionality of the phosphonoacetate. The olefinic diastereofacial selectivity is governed by inherent electronic and steric interactions in the reacting carbene intermediate, while the group selectivity is dictated by the chiral auxiliary. This approach is being developed as an effective method to access bicyclic P-chiral phosphonates.

High-load, ROMP-generated oligomeric bis-acid chlorides: design of soluble and insoluble nucleophile scavengers.

[reaction: see text] An efficient strategy for scavenging a host of nucleophiles utilizing an oligomeric bis-acid chloride (OBAC), generated from the ROM polymerization of trans-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarbonyl dichloride, is described. The reactivity and high load of the OBAC reagent is exploited in the scavenging of amines, alcohols, and thiols that are present in excess following a common benzoylation event. Following the scavenging event, these oligomers can be precipitated with EtOAc and filtered (SiO(2)), leaving benzoylated nucleophiles in excellent yield and purity.

Conformationally constrained alpha-boc-aminophosphonates via transition metal-catalyzed/curtius rearrangement strategies.

A transition metal-catalyzed/Curtius rearrangement sequence toward the development of conformationally constrained alpha-Boc-aminophosphonates 2-6 is described. An approach using the versatile tert-butylphosphonoacetate moieties 1a and 1b to derive an array of mono- and bicyclic alpha-Boc-aminophosphonate systems is presented. Conformational constraint is incorporated using either the ring-closing metathesis reaction catalyzed by the first generation Grubbs catalyst or intramolecular cyclopropanation mediated by Rh2(OAc)4. Using the tert-butyl ester functionality in 1a or 1b as a potential amino group, the Curtius rearrangement provides an efficient route toward the target alpha-Boc-aminophosphonates.