Proteins that bind DNA so as to reduce its end-to-end length can be dissociated by application of force. The thermodynamics of this process are discussed, with special attention to the case of histones bound to DNA (i.e., a string of nucleosomes, or chromatin fiber). The histone octamer is predicted to be driven off chromatin fiber for tensions >2 piconewtons.

DNA spools, structures in which DNA is wrapped and helically coiled onto itself or onto a protein core, are ubiquitous in nature. We develop a general theory describing the nonequilibrium behavior of DNA spools under linear tension. Two puzzling and seemingly unrelated recent experimental findings, the sudden quantized unwrapping of nucleosomes and that of DNA toroidal condensates under tension...

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to compare premixed insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) vs premixed human insulin 30 (BHI 30) on efficacy, safety, fetal and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies associated with gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM]. This was the first randomized study to use pre mixed insulin analogue [BIAsp] in GDM. METHODS The study population consisted of 76 GDM women assigned...

Prevention has a main role in reducing the occurrence of corrosive ingestion especially in children, yet this goal is far from being reached in developing countries, where such injuries are largely unreported and their true prevalence simply cannot be extrapolated from random articles or personal experience. Because of the accidental nature of the ingestions, the case fatality rate for pediatri...