Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) is an autosomal dominantly inherited cancer syndrome characterized by medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, phaeochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism. Almost all gene carriers can be detected by screening tests before the age of 40, but the nature and location of the predisposing gene are unknown. Simpson et al. recently reported preliminary evidence for linkage between the DNA probe p9-12A on chromosome 10 and MEN2A. We now report linkage between the MEN2A locus and the interstitial retinol-binding protein gene, which is located on chromosome 10p11.2-q11.2.

Three key transitions leading to a “safe and just” operating space, with a focus on food systems, emerged during the development of a Foresight study promoted by SCAR (Standing Committee on Agricultural Research1): (a) sustainable and healthy diets for all; (b) full circularity in the use of resources; (c) diversity as a key component of stable systems. As consequence of COVID-19, food emerged again as a central element of life, along with health, after decades in which food security was taken for granted, at least in most developed countries. The COVID-19 outbreak offered the opportunity for a reflection on the importance of resilience in emergencies. Sustainable and healthy diets for all, was shown, during the pandemic, to depend much more on social and economic conditions than on technical aspects of food production and processing. Agriculture and the agro-industry have now a potential to absorb, at least temporarily, workers laid out in other sectors; the pandemic could be an opportunity to re-think and re-value labor relationships in the sector as well as local productions and supply chains. A full circularity in food systems also would benefit from stronger links established at the territorial level and increase the attention on the quality of the environment, leading to the adoption of benign practices, regenerating rather than impoverishing natural resources. Diversity is a key component of a resilient system, both in the biophysical sphere and in the social sphere: new business models, new knowledge-sharing networks, new markets. The three transitions would operate in synergy and contribute to the resilience of the whole food system and its preparation for a possible next emergency. Science can support policy making; however, science needs to be better embedded in society, to have a clear direction toward the grand challenges, to address the social, economic, behavioral spheres, to aim clearly at the common good. We need to re-think the conundrum between competition and cooperation in research, devising ways to boost the latter without sacrificing excellence. We need to improve the way knowledge is generated and shared and we need to ensure that information is accessible and unbiased by vested interests.

Glass formers show motional processes over an extremely broad range of timescales, covering more than ten orders of magnitude, meaning that a full understanding of the glass transition needs to comprise this tremendous range in timescales. Here we report simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy investigations of three glass-forming liquids, probing in a single experiment the full range of dynamics. For two van der Waals liquids, we locate in the pressure–temperature phase diagram lines of identical dynamics of the molecules on both second and picosecond timescales. This confirms predictions of the isomorph theory and effectively reduces the phase diagram from two to one dimension. The implication is that dynamics on widely different timescales are governed by the same underlying mechanisms.

Glomerular filtration rate, kidney volume, and urinary albumin excretion rate were studied in otherwise healthy newly diagnosed Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients, untreated at diagnosis, after short-term treatment and after 3 months treatment. In 10 patients (Group A) glomerular filtration rate (measured by the plasma clearance of 51-Cr-EDTA) decreased from the time of diagnosis 106.2 +/- 14.6 ml.min-1.1.73 m2(-1) (mean +/- SD) to 95.9 +/- 13.7 ml.min-1.1.73 m2(-1) after 3 months treatment (p = 0.049). At the same time, mean plasma glucose was reduced from 13.3 +/- 3.2 mmol/l to 6.5 +/- 1.1 mmol/l. The fall in mean plasma glucose was correlated to the reduction in glomerular filtration rate, r = 0.76, p = 0.011. Kidney volume as measured by ultrasonic scanning was reduced from 264.0 +/- 33.7 ml/1.73 m2 to 210.8 +/- 23.8 ml/1.73 m2 (p less than 0.005). The relative decline in urinary albumin excretion rate was correlated to the fall in glomerular filtration rate, r = 0.69, p = 0.026. In 15 patients (Group B) 24-h urine collections were made during 9.5 +/- 3.2 days, urinary albumin excretion rate fell from the first to the last day in hospital from 14.0 x/divided by 3.0 micrograms/min (geometric mean x /divided by tolerance factor) to 7.0 x/divided by 2.7 micrograms/min p = 0.015. The relative decline was correlated to the change in mean plasma glucose, r = 0.65, p = 0.032. Thus, kidney function in Type 2 diabetic patients is influenced by metabolic control, although to a lesser extent than is seen in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients with comparable glycaemic control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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