Miejsce Europy w globalnej strategii USA

For more than sixty years American grand strategy is based on the conviction that external environment is of fundamental importance for US core interests in security, prosperity and domestic liberty. There was the foundation for containment policy and after the cold war succeeding presidents on this conviction have based their deep engagement in world affairs. In XXI century as American supremacy has been steadily diminished, Washington is still ready to lead the world, but wants to share with partners the burdens of keeping it in order. The idea of partnership isn’t put into words explicitly. It emphasizes burden-sharing between US and the partners, sometimes is about the transfer of crisis-management capacity and it has sought to advance American leadership as well. European states – NATO and EU members – are seen as indispensable Washington’s allies, densely connected with the US through transatlantic partnership. Due to community of values and the convergence of strategic interests, and because of its own peculiarity EU is not and won’t be America’s strategic rival. After few years of diminished interest in old continent, when president B. Obama focused his attention on domestic policy and on problems in other world’s regions, since March 2014 he has decided to take the initiative in European affairs. Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine has serious consequences for Washington’s European and global strategy. In Europe there is increased request for US leadership. From American point of view it might come with expectations, that the allies will be eager to strengthen their cooperation with Washington in other regions, especially in Asia

Europe in US global strategy

For more than sixty years American grand strategy is based on the conviction that external environment is of fundamental importance for US core interests in security, prosperity and domestic liberty. There was the foundation for containment policy and after the cold war succeeding presidents on this conviction have based their deep engagement in world affairs. In XXI century as American supremacy has been steadily diminished, Washington is still ready to lead the world, but wants to share with partners the burdens of keeping it in order. The idea of partnership isn’t put into words explicitly. It emphasizes burden-sharing between US and the partners, sometimes is about the transfer of crisis-management capacity and it has sought to advance American leadership as well. European states – NATO and EU members – are seen as indispensable Washington’s allies, densely connected with the US through transatlantic partnership. Due to community of values and the convergence of strategic interests, and because of its own peculiarity EU is not and won’t be America’s strategic rival. After few years of diminished interest in old continent, when president B. Obama focused his attention on domestic policy and on problems in other world’s regions, since March 2014 he has decided to take the initiative in European affairs. Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine has serious consequences for Washington’s European and global strategy. In Europe there is increased request for US leadership. From American point of view it might come with expectations, that the allies will be eager to strengthen their cooperation with Washington in other regions, especially in Asia

The chemotactic activity of beta-carotene in endothelial cell progenitors and human umbilical vein endothelial cells: A microarray analysis

Objectives: Endothelial cells and their progenitors play an important role in angiogenesis that is essential for organogenesis and tissue remodelling, as well as for inflammatory responses and carcinogenesis in all periods of life. In the present study, the authors concentrated on the direct effect of beta-carotene (BC) on human umbilical cord-originated endothelial progenitor cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Methods: BC uptake was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The effect on cell proliferation was measured based on bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Chemotaxis was performed in a Boyden chamber. The influence on tubular-like structure formation was investigated using a three-dimensional assay in Matriget (Becton Dickinson, USA) both in an in vitro and in vivo model. Changes in gene expression were analyzed using the microarray hybridization method. Quantitative gene expression was estimated using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Results: It was shown that BC, in the physiological range of concentrations found in human blood, is a potent activator of chemotaxis of endothelial cells. Microarray data analysis revealed that the genes involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, matrix reorganization and activation of chemotaxis were the most affected by BC genes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells. These results were also confirmed in an in vivo angiogenesis model. Conclusion: BC, in the range of physiological concentrations, stimulates early steps of angiogenic activity of endothelial cells by activation of cellular migration, as well as by matrix reorganization and a decrease in cellular adhesio

Angiogenesis in Balb/c mice under beta-carotene supplementation in diet

Angiogenesis is a process of new blood vessel formation from pre-existing ones. The most important steps in angiogenesis include detachment, proliferation, migration, homing and differentiation of vascular wall cells, which are mainly endothelial cells and their progenitors. The study focused on the effect of beta-carotene (BC) supplementation (12,000 mg/kg) in the diet on angiogenesis in Balb/c mice. Female Balb/c mice were fed for 5 weeks with two different diets: with BC or without BC supplementation. After 4 weeks of feeding, Balb/c mice were injected subcutaneously with two matrigel plugs with or without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Six days later, the animals were killed, and the matrigel plugs were used for immunohistochemical staining with CD31 antibody and for gene expression analysis. Microarray and Real-Time PCR data showed down-regulation of genes involved in proliferation and up-regulation of genes encoding inhibitors of apoptosis, proteins regulating cell adhesion, matrix-degrading enzymes and proteins involved in the VEGF pathway. The results of this study demonstrated that BC proangiogenic activity (with or without bFGF) in vivo seemed to be more significantly associated with cells’ protection from apoptosis and their stimulation of chemotaxis/homing than cell proliferation

Metabolic syndrome is associated with similar long-term prognosis in non-obese and obese patients. An analysis of 45 615 patients from the nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies

Aims We aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods The LIPIDOGRAM studies were carried out in the primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006 and 2015. MetS was diagnosed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The cohort was divided into four groups: non-obese patients without MetS, obese patients without MetS, non-obese patients with MetS and obese patients with MetS. Differences in all-cause mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results 45,615 participants were enrolled (mean age 56.3, standard deviation: 11.8 years; 61.7% female). MetS was diagnosed in 14,202 (31%) by NCEP/ATP III criteria, and 17,216 (37.7%) by JIS criteria. Follow-up was available for 44,620 (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years) patients. MetS was associated with increased mortality risk among the obese (hazard ratio, HR: 1.88 [95% CI, 1.79-1.99] and HR: 1.93 [95% CI 1.82-2.04], according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria, respectively) and non-obese individuals (HR: 2.11 [95% CI 1.85-2.40] and 1.7 [95% CI, 1.56-1.85] according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria respectively). Obese patients without MetS had a higher mortality risk than non-obese patients without MetS (HR: 1.16 [95% CI 1.10-1.23] and HR: 1.22 [95%CI 1.15-1.30], respectively in subgroups with NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria applied). Conclusions MetS is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in non-obese and obese patients. In patients without MetS obesity remains significantly associated with mortality. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be revised