O conceito de segurança humana nas relações internacionais

During the nineties, the transformations that took place in the international order as a result of the collapse of the Cold War, and the continuity of the power structures and mechanisms established since the second postwar period, would result in a complex process of restructuration of the global dynamics that had an impact in the design of security. With the beginning of the New World Order, the one-dimensional and one-directional security paradigm, rooted for more than four decades to conflict and military affairs, include in its meanings and understandings, multi-dimensional and multi-directional elements closely linked to issues related to development. From a critical approach to international politics, this paper aims to establish the relevant characteristics in international relations that contributed to develop an anthropocentric concept of security; multidimensional, universal, contextualized and integrated by interdependent and mutually vulnerable components: human security.Durante la década de los noventa, las transformaciones acontecidas en el orden internacional como resultado de la implosión de la Guerra Fría, así como la permanencia de estructuras y mecanismos de poder establecidos desde el orden de la segunda postguerra, darían pie a un complejo proceso de reestructuración de la dinámica mundial que habría de influir en la concepción de la seguridad. Con la instauración del Nuevo Orden Internacional, el paradigma unidimensional y unidireccional de seguridad, arraigado al conflicto y al elemento militar y predominante durante más de cuatro décadas, aprehendería en sus significaciones y entendimientos elementos multidimensionales y multidireccionales estrechamente vinculados a cuestiones inherentes al desarrollo. Desde un enfoque crítico de la política internacional, el artículo tiene como objetivo así establecer las características coyunturales que en la dinámica de las relaciones internacionales coadyuvaron a la conformación de un concepto de seguridad antropocéntrico, de carácter multidimensional, universal, contextualizado e integrado por componentes interdependientes y mutuamente vulnerables: la seguridad humana.Durante os anos noventa, as transformações ocorridas na ordem internacional, como resultado do colapso da Guerra Fria, e a continuidade das estruturas e dos mecanismos de poder estabelecidos desde o fim do segundo período pós-guerra, daria origem a um processo complexo de reestruturação das dinâmicas globais que influenciam a concepção de segurança. Com a introdução da Nova Ordem Mundial, o paradigma de segurança unidimensional e unidirecional, enraizado a os conflitos e ao elemento militar, predominante por mais de quatro décadas, aprehendería em seus significados e elementos entendimentos multidimensionais intimamente ligaos a questões relacionadas com o desenvolvimento. A partir de uma abordagem crítica da política internacional, este trabalho tem como objetivo estabelecer as características cíclicas que nas relações internacionais foram fundamentais para a formação de uma concepção de segurança antropocêntrica, com carateristicas multidimensionais, contextualizadas e integradas componentes caráter universais interdependentes e mutuamente vulneráveis: a segurança humana

De lo viejo que no acaba de morir y lo nuevo que no acaba de nacer: reflexiones sobre el ordenamiento mundial a 30 años de la caída del Muro de Berlín

La disolución de la arquitectura bipolar que prevaleció en el ordenamiento internacional desde el término de la Segunda Guerra Mundial hasta la década de los noventas del siglo pasado supuso, para muchos, la posibilidad de transformación de las dinámicas de dominación y control implementadas por las dos superpotencias de la época. Sin embargo, el deterioro de las estructuras de poder que habían privilegiado durante cuatro décadas los intereses de los países más fuertes -y soslayado a los más débiles- no significó, como se esperaría, un cambio real de las relaciones internacionales. Pese a que el fin del enfrentamiento capitalismo-socialismo permitiría la configuración de nuevos mapas geopolíticos y con ello la posibilidad de construir un ordenamiento internacional más incluyente, la esperanza gestada con la caída del Muro de Berlín se ha ido desdibujado con el paso del tiempo, dado que las injustas relaciones de poder de ese "viejo orden" continúan siendo vigentes en el "Nuevo Orden Mundial". A tres décadas del derrumbe de la Guerra Fría, la esperanza de un mundo más humano y justo sigue siendo una promesa para millones de personas en todos los rincones del planeta.The dissolution of the bipolar architecture that prevailed in the international system from the end of World War II until the 1990s meant, for many, the possibility of transformation of the domination and control dynamics implemented all over the world by the two hegemonic powers. However, the deterioration of the power structures that for four decades had privileged the interests of the strongest countries and ignored those of the weakest did not entail the expected real change in international relations. Although the end of the capitalism-socialism confrontation would allow the configuration of new geopolitical maps, along with a more inclusive international order, the hope that emerged after the fall of the Berlin Wall has faded over time, since the unjust power relations of that "old order" are still present in the "New World Order". Three decades after the collapse of Cold War, the hope of a more human and fair world is still a promise for millions of people in every corner of the world

La pandemia del SARS-CoV-2 como riesgo global: desigualdad e inseguridad humana

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has questioned the dominant international security strategies, and also highlighted the immense contradictions in our global way of life. From a human security perspective, this investigation analyses the pandemic as a risk and threat to social life on a global scale. The conceptual categories of human security and global risk are used to understand the inequalities, structural violence and vulnerabilities that accompany the health emergency and make it a total social crisis. Some of the main risk trends that the pandemic represents are quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. It is proposed that the global pandemic is leading to the suppression of the loopholes of security and certainty provided by modernity, whose contradictions have led us to suffer the most important planetary catastrophe in recent history. Likewise, the pandemic has shown that the strategies anchored to traditional security are not the most appropriate to face the consequences that the current health crisis will have. Therefore, to respond to these risks and threats, it is essential to develop new perspectives on security.La pandemia del SARS-CoV-2 cuestiona las estrategias de seguridad global dominantes y resalta las inmensas contradicciones de nuestro modo de vida. Este artículo tiene por objetivo analizar, desde la perspectiva de la seguridad humana, la pandemia como riesgo y amenaza para la vida social a escala global. Se retoman las categorías conceptuales de seguridad humana y riesgo global, para comprender las desigualdades, violencias estructurales y vulnerabilidades que acompañan la emergencia sanitaria y que perpetuarán sus afectaciones en el tiempo, para hacer de ella una crisis social total. Mediante las metodologías cuantitativa y cualitativa, se examinan algunas de las principales tendencias de riesgo que la pandemia representa. La hipótesis es que, con la pandemia, se suprimen los resquicios de seguridad y certeza brindados por la modernidad, cuyas contradicciones provocaron la catástrofe planetaria más importante en la historia reciente. Asimismo, la pandemia muestra que las estrategias ancladas a la seguridad tradicional no son las más apropiadas para enfrentar las consecuencias que tendrá la crisis sanitaria. La reivindicación de perspectivas multidimensionales sobre la seguridad se hace imprescindible, para responder a riesgos y amenazas. Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has questioned the dominant international security strategies, and also highlighted the immense contradictions in our global way of life. From a human security perspective, this investigation analyses the pandemic as a risk and threat to social life on a global scale. The conceptual categories of human security and global risk are used to understand the inequalities, structural violence and vulnerabilities that accompany the health emergency and make it a total social crisis. Some of the main risk trends that the pandemic represents are quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. It is proposed that the global pandemic is leading to the suppression of the loopholes of security and certainty provided by modernity, whose contradictions have led us to suffer the most important planetary catastrophe in recent history. Likewise, the pandemic has shown that the strategies anchored to traditional security are not the most appropriate to face the consequences that the current health crisis will have. Therefore, to respond to these risks and threats, it is essential to develop new perspectives on security.A pandemia SARS COV2 não apenas colocou em questão as estratégias de segurança globais dominantes como pôs relevo sobre as imensas contradições presentes em nosso modo de vida global. Nesse sentido, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a atual pandemia como uma ameaça à segurança internacional. A reflexão retoma as categorias conceituais de segurança humana e risco global, buscando compreender as desigualdades, a violência estrutural e as vulnerabilidades humanas que acompanham a emergência sanitária e que a tornam uma crise social total. Para isso, as principais tendências de risco que a pandemia representa são analisadas quantitativa e qualitativamente. Em suma, a reflexão propõe que a pandemia global está nos levando a suprimir os resquícios de segurança e certeza proporcionadas pela modernidade, cujas contradições nos levaram a sofrer a catástrofe planetária mais importante da história recente e da qual será difícil que saiamos. Da mesma forma, a pandemia mostrou que as estratégias ancoradas na segurança tradicional não são as mais adequadas para enfrentar as consequências que se desdobrarão da crise de saúde, pelo que o desenvolvimento de novas perspetivas de segurança é essencial para responder a esses riscos e ameaças

Differential Expression of Novel Adiponectin Receptor-1 Transcripts in Skeletal Muscle of Subjects With Normal Glucose Tolerance and Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE—Adiponectin receptor-1 (AdipoR1) expression in skeletal muscle has been suggested to play an important role in insulin resistance and diabetes. We aimed at evaluating the presence of novel AdiopR1 splice variants in human muscle and their regulation under physiological and pathophysiological states. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—AdipoR1 59UTR mRNA transcripts, predicted from bioinformatics data, were eval-uated in fetal and adult human tissues. Expression and function of the identified transcripts were assessed in cultured human skeletal muscle cells and in muscle biopsies obtained from indi-viduals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and type 2 diabetes (n = 49). RESULTS—Screening of potential AdipoR1 59UTR splice variants revealed a novel highly abundant muscle transcript (R1T3) in ad-dition to the previously described transcript (R1T1). Unlike R1T1

The G-308A variant of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) gene is not associated with obesity, insulin resistance and body fat distribution

BACKGROUND: Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and obesity. The increased expression of TNF-α in adipose tissue has been shown to induce insulin resistance, and a polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter region ofTNF-α has been shown to increase transcription of the gene in adipocytes. Aim of this study is to investigate the role of the G-308A TNFα variant in obesity and to study the possible influence of this mutation on body fat distribution and on measures of obesity (including Fat Free Mass, Fat Mass, basal metabolic rate), insulin resistance (measured as HOMA(IR)), and lipid abnormalities. The G-308A TNFα polymorphism has been studied in 115 patients with obesity (mean BMI 33.9 ± 0.5) and in 79 normal lean subjects (mean BMI 24.3 ± 0.3). METHODS: The G-308A variant, detected by PCR amplification and Nco-1 digestion, determines the loss of a restriction site resulting in a single band of 107 bp [the (A) allele]. RESULTS: The (A) allele frequencies of the G-308A TNFα polymorphism were 13.1% in the obese group and 14.6% in the lean subjects, with no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, no association was found with BMI classes, body fat distribution, HOMA(IR), and metabolic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not detect any significant association of the G-308A TNFα polymorphism with obesity or with its clinical and metabolic abnormalities in this population. Our data suggests that, in our population, the G-308A TNFα polymorphism is unlikely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of these conditions

Insulin-like growth factor-I and prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

Some, but not all, epidemiological found have shown that high circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. We performed a meta-analysis on all the studies reported so far to evaluate this association. In our Medline search, 14 case–control studies were identified. A standard protocol abstracted information for each study. Hedges' standardized mean difference (HSMD) and odds ratio (OR) were used to estimate the effect of IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP-3). The combined data showed that circulating levels of IGF-I were significantly higher in prostate cancer patients (HSMD = 0.194). The OR for prostate cancer was 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–1.77) among men with high IGF-I compared to those with low IGF-I. The OR was 1.26 (95% CI 1.03–1.54) for IGFBP-3. Circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are likely to be higher in prostate cancer patients than in the controls. These findings support the suggestion that high IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaignhttp://www.bjcancer.co

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 promotes prostate cancer cell growth via IGF-dependent or -independent mechanisms and reduces the efficacy of docetaxel

Background: The development of androgen independence, chemo-, and radioresistance are critical markers of prostate cancer progression and the predominant reasons for its high mortality. Understanding the resistance to therapy could aid the development of more effective treatments. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) on prostate cancer cell proliferation and its effects on the response to docetaxel. Methods: DU145 and PC3 cells were treated with IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) alone or in combination with blockade of the IGF-I receptor or integrin receptors. Cells were also treated with IGFBP-2 short interfering ribonucleic acid with or without a PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) inhibitor or docetaxel. Tritiated thymidine incorporation was used to measure cell proliferation and Trypan blue cell counting for cell death. Levels of IGFBP-2 mRNA were measured using RT-PCR. Abundance and phosphorylation of proteins were assessed using western immunoblotting. Results: The IGFBP-2 promoted cell growth in both cell lines but with PC3 cells this was in an IGF-dependent manner, whereas with DU145 cells the effect was independent of IGF receptor activation. This IGF-independent effect of IGFBP-2 was mediated by interaction with β-1-containing integrins and a consequent increase in PTEN phosphorylation. We also determined that silencing IGFBP-2 in both cell lines increased the sensitivity of the cells to docetaxel. Conclusion: The IGFBP-2 has a key role in the growth of prostate cancer cells, and silencing IGFBP-2 expression reduced the resistance of these cells to docetaxel. Targeting IGFBP-2 may increase the efficacy of docetaxel.7 page(s

A Serum Factor Induces Insulin-Independent Translocation of GLUT4 to the Cell Surface which Is Maintained in Insulin Resistance

In response to insulin, glucose transporter GLUT4 translocates from intracellular compartments towards the plasma membrane where it enhances cellular glucose uptake. Here, we show that sera from various species contain a factor that dose-dependently induces GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, human adipocytes, myoblasts and myotubes. Notably, the effect of this factor on GLUT4 is fully maintained in insulin-resistant cells. Our studies demonstrate that the serum-induced increase in cell surface GLUT4 levels is not due to inhibition of its internalization and is not mediated by insulin, PDGF, IGF-1, or HGF. Similarly to insulin, serum also augments cell surface levels of GLUT1 and TfR. Remarkably, the acute effect of serum on GLUT4 is largely additive to that of insulin, while it also sensitizes the cells to insulin. In accordance with these findings, serum does not appear to activate the same repertoire of downstream signaling molecules that are implicated in insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation. We conclude that in addition to insulin, at least one other biological proteinaceous factor exists that contributes to GLUT4 regulation and still functions in insulin resistance. The challenge now is to identify this factor