Publications by authors named "Coker J"

Introduction: WDR5 is an epigenetic scaffolding protein that has attracted significant interest as an anti-cancer drug target, especially in MLL-rearranged leukemias. The most druggable 'WIN-site' on WDR5, which tethers WDR5 to chromatin, has been successfully targeted with multiple classes of exquisitely potent small-molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitors. Earlier progress has also been made on the development of WDR5 degraders and inhibitors at the 'WBM-site' on the opposite face of WDR5.

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Importance: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among people aged 50 years or older worldwide. There is a need for new strategies for the prevention and treatment of AMD. There is some limited evidence to suggest the possibility of a protective association of dementia medications with the development of some types of AMD, but the evidence is weak.

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Macrophages contribute to the induction and resolution of inflammation and play a central role in chronic low-grade inflammation in cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex unconjugated glycans unique to human milk that benefit infant health and act as innate immune modulators. Here, we identify the HMO 3'sialyllactose (3'SL) as a natural inhibitor of TLR4-induced low-grade inflammation in macrophages and endothelium.

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The nature of interchain π-system contacts, and their relationship to hole transport, are elucidated for the high-mobility, noncrystalline conjugated polymer C16-IDTBT by the application of scanning tunneling microscopy, molecular dynamics, and quantum chemical calculations. The microstructure is shown to favor an unusual packing motif in which paired chains cross-over one another at near-perpendicular angles. By linking to mesoscale microstructural features, revealed by coarse-grained molecular dynamics and previous studies, and performing simulations of charge transport, it is demonstrated that the high mobility of C16-IDTBT can be explained by the promotion of a highly interconnected transport network, stemming from the adoption of perpendicular contacts at the nanoscale, in combination with fast intrachain transport.

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Article Synopsis
  • New immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) assays, including FreeLite and Sebia, can be used interchangeably for diagnosing multiple myeloma and assessing risk in patients with MGUS, despite differing methodologies.
  • A study of 923 MGUS patients showed that both assays had comparable effectiveness in predicting progression to plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD) over a median follow-up of 38 years.
  • The Sebia assay offered improved risk stratification with a lower clinical decision point for patients with low FLC ratios, demonstrating the potential for its application alongside traditional models.
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Existing models of the human skin have aided our understanding of skin health and disease. However, they currently lack a microbial component, despite microbes' demonstrated connections to various skin diseases. Here, we present a robust, standardized model of the skin microbial community (SkinCom) to support in vitro and in vivo investigations.

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Background: Despite the potential foetal and maternal risks of self-medication, studies on self-medication practice and the safety profile of medicines used during pregnancy are scarce in our setting. This study determined the self-medication practice and safety profile of medicines used among pregnant women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in face-to-face interviews among 345 pregnant women at three hospitals in Sierra Leone.

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Purpose: There are no effective treatment options for patients with aggressive epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) driven by the TAZ-CAMTA1 (TC) fusion gene. Here, we aimed to understand the regulation of TC using pharmacologic tools and identify vulnerabilities that can potentially be exploited for the treatment of EHE.

Experimental Design: TC is a transcriptional coregulator; we hypothesized that compounds that reduce TC nuclear levels, either through translocation of TC to the cytoplasm, or through degradation, would render TC less oncogenic.

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Aims: This article focuses on how local authorities in England are tackling wider determinants of health and inequalities in their population's outcomes while budgets for public services are diminishing.

Methods: It reports the experience from one case study engaged in rolling out a devolved, place- and asset-based strategy over multiple tiers of local government. Relating these findings to relevant social theory, we draw out aspects of context and mechanisms of change.

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Background: Pediatric patients are prone to medicine-related problems like medication errors (MEs), which can potentially cause harm. Yet, this has not been studied in this population in Sierra Leone. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence and nature of MEs, including potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs), in pediatric patients.

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Objective: Despite significant advances in clinical care and understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-a major cause of global blindness-lacks effective treatment to prevent the irreversible degeneration of photoreceptors leading to central vision loss. Limited studies suggest phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil, may prevent AMD by increasing retinal blood flow. This study explores the potential association between sildenafil use and AMD risk in men with erectile dysfunction using UK data.

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Molecular tellurium (Te) has long been regarded as a promising candidate for a variety of spectroscopic applications, especially as a frequency reference. Absorption lines of Te were published extensively in the past few decades, however, the spectral resolution was not sufficiently high to be considered a precision spectroscopic reference. Here, a high resolution spectral atlas of Te Doppler-free saturated absorption transitions is reported, and used to assign multiple ro-vibrational bands in the B(Σu-3)0←X(Σu-3)0 electronic transition via the Dunham model, giving updated Dunham parameters and diatomic constants for the B(Σu-3)0 state at an unprecedented level of precision.

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Citron kinase (CITK) is an AGC-family serine/threonine kinase that regulates cytokinesis. Despite knockdown experiments implicating CITK as an anticancer target, no selective CITK inhibitors exist. We transformed a previously reported kinase inhibitor with weak off-target CITK activity into a first-in-class CITK chemical probe, .

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Higher adducts of a fullerene, such as the bis-adduct of PCBM (bis-PCBM), can be used to achieve shallower molecular orbital energy levels than, for example, PCBM or C Substituting the bis-adduct for the parent fullerene is useful to increase the open-circuit voltage of organic solar cells or achieve better energy alignment as electron transport layers in, for example, perovskite solar cells. However, bis-PCBM is usually synthesized as a mixture of structural isomers, which can lead to both energetic and morphological disorder, negatively affecting device performance. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the molecular properties of 19 pure bis-isomers of PCBM using a variety of characterization methods, including ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, single crystal structure, and (time-dependent) density functional theory calculation.

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Background: Residential mobility after spinal cord injury (SCI) has not been extensively examined despite a growing interest in investigating the relationship between neighborhood exposures and community living outcomes.

Objectives: This study explores residential mobility patterns, the annual move rate, and reasons for moving among a community-living sample of adults with SCI.

Methods: A survey was conducted with 690 people at six SCI Model Systems centers in the United States between July 2017 and October 2020.

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Background: Oral health and regular dental care are critical to overall health. Research has found associations between oral health and infections, respiratory disease, and poor quality of life in the general population. While risks for all are increased in people with spinal cord injury (SCI), there is limited information on dental care after SCI.

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Despite common perception, most of Earth is what is often referred to as an 'extreme environment.' Yet to the organisms that call these places home, it is simply that (home). They have adapted to thrive in these environments and, in the process, have evolved many unique adaptations at the molecular- and 'omic-level.

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Vascular closure devices (VCDs) are being increasingly used for achieving hemostasis after diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. Although uncommon, complications may be encountered which are associated with the use of these VCDs. We report four cases where the use of Angio-Seal (Terumo, Somerset, New Jersey, USA) was followed by complications.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study looked at different tools used to measure anxiety in new moms after having a baby and aimed to find the best one.
  • Researchers checked lots of studies to see how well these tools worked and followed special guidelines to make sure they did it right.
  • They found 28 studies that tested 13 different tools, with some showing really good results and being recommended for use.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the experiences of Veterans and civilians with tetraplegia regarding the access and use of assistive technology (AT), highlighting both barriers and facilitators.
  • Focus groups with 32 participants revealed that Veterans face unique challenges, such as lack of awareness and eligibility requirements, while civilians navigate different obstacles like device costs.
  • Key benefits of using AT included enhanced independence, improved quality of life, and increased safety, emphasizing the vital role of AT for those with spinal cord injuries.
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Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering neurological condition affecting physical and psycho-social functioning and associated high rates of pain. Thus, individuals with SCI may be more likely to be exposed to prescription opioids. A scoping review was conducted to synthesize published research findings on post-acute SCI and prescription opioid use for pain, identify literature gaps, and propose recommendations for future research.

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Objective: To investigate the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs), target organ damage (TOD) and its associated factors among adults in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Design: This community-based cross-sectional study used a stratified multistage random sampling method to recruit adult participants.

Setting: The health screening study was conducted between October 2019 and October 2021 in Western Area Urban, Sierra Leone.

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Objective: To recommend a cut-off score for the brief 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) measure for persons with spinal cord injuries/disorders (PwSCI/D) and to estimate anxiety occurrence within this population using the full 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).

Design: Multicenter retrospective analyses.

Setting: One inpatient rehabilitation center and 2 community sites for PwSCI/D.

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