Synthetic and computational studies on the tricarboxylate core of 6,7-dideoxysqualestatin H5 involving a carbonyl ylide cycloaddition–rearrangement

Reaction of diazodiketoesters 17 and 28 with methyl glyoxylate in the presence of catalytic rhodium(II) acetate generates predominantly the 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes 29 and 30, respectively. Acid-catalysed rearrangement of the corresponding alcohol 31 favours, at equilibrium, the 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton 33 of the squalestatins–zaragozic acids. Force field calculations on the position of the equilibrium gave misleading results. DFT calculations were correct in suggesting that the energy difference between 31 and 33 should be small, but did not always suggest the right major product. Calculation of the NMR spectra of the similar structures could be used to assign the isomers with a high level of confidence

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2–4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Female Institutional Directors on Boards and Firm Value

The aim of this research is to examine what impact female institutional directors on boards have on corporate performance. Previous research shows that institutional female directors cannot be considered as a homogeneous group since they represent investors who may or may not maintain business relations with the companies on whose corporate boards they sit. Thus, it is not only the effect of female institutional directors as a whole on firm value that has been analysed, but also the impact of pressure-resistant female directors, who represent institutional investors (investment, pension and mutual funds) that only invest in the company, and do not maintain a business relation with the firm. We hypothesize that there is a non-linear association, specifically quadratic, between institutional and pressure-resistant female directors on boards and corporate performance. Our results report that female institutional directors on boards enhance corporate performance, but when they reach a certain threshold on boards (11.72 %), firm value decreases. In line with female institutional directors, pressure-resistant female directors on boards also increase firm value, but only up to a certain figure (12.71 % on boards), above which they have a negative impact on firm performance. These findings are consistent with an inverted U-shaped relationship between female institutional directors and pressure-resistant female directors and firm performance

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Studies towards a stereocontrolled synthesis of the tricarboxylate core of the zaragozic acids-squalestatins by a cycloaddition-rearrangement strategy

Reaction of diazoketodiester 11 with methyl glyoxylate in toluene in the presence of catalytic rhodium(II) acetate gives predominantly the 6,8- dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane 13. Acid-catalysed rearrangement of the corresponding alcohol 14 favours at equilibrium the 2,8- dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton 15 of the zaragozic acids-squalestatins. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd

Dendrimers as biopharmaceuticals: Synthesis and properties

Two general aspects which need to be considered for the successful application of dendrimers for biomedical purposes are their availability at an acceptable cost and their suitability as regards their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. These two aspects are covered in this review. In the first part, synthetic strategies for the preparation of dendrimers are outlined and emphasis is given to recent work on methodologies whose aim is the development of more efficient routes to dendrimers in terms of the materials used for their synthesis as well as in terms of the procedures required for their purification. These include procedures involving double-stage and double exponential synthesis, orthogonal coupling strategies, self-assembly and solid-phase approaches, as well as particularly useful synthetic protocols such as those used in "click chemistry". The second part of the review deals with the way in which the size, chemical constitution and physicochemical properties of dendrimers used for drug delivery may affect pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters which are important considerations for drug bioavailability. This is illustrated by an overview of examples from recent work involving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticancer drugs and antibacterials. © 2008 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd