Archive for category News

Smoke

Dec 28

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If you are a smoker, you have:

  • 22 times the risk of dying from lung cancer if male
  • 12 times the risk of dying from lung cancer if female
  • 10 times the risk of dying from bronchitis and emphysema
  • 2 to 3 times the risk of heart disease
  • 2 times the risk of stroke

The good news is that, regardless of how long you’ve smoked, quitting and staying quit can improve your health risks.

Want to cut your health risks in half?

  • Those quitting before age 50 reduce the risk of death in the next 15 years by half.

  • Those quit for 10 years reduce the risk of lung cancer by almost half.

  • Those quit for 1 year reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by half

A Green Environment for Now and the Future

Oct 21

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In the past, the major need of people in this world was arable land. Man did not have to think about animate things. However, now the adverse effects on forests through over-population and the development of various chemical elements in the atmosphere have led to irregular rainfall and global warming. This global warming has brought changes in climate, including making perennial snow mountains melt, thereby adversely affecting not only human beings but also other living species.

This dangerous situation is being taken very seriously by the world. In the past the perennial snow mountains of Tibet had very thick snow. Older people say that these mountains were covered with thick snow when they were young and that the snows are getting sparser which may be an indication of the end of the world. It is a fact that climate change is a slow process taking thousands of years to realize its effect. Living beings and plant life on this planet also undergo change accordingly. Man’s physical structure too changes from generation to generation along with the change in climatic conditions.

Because of the growth in the population, a large number of trees are cut for fuel, and to reclaim land for agricultural cultivation. In the case of Tibet, too, the Chinese have now destroyed its ancient trees in a similar way to shaving a man’s hair off. This is not simply the destruction of trees but it also means harming what belongs to the Tibetans. Similarly, the continuing decline in forests in many parts of the world, including America, is adversely affecting the already changing global climate, thus upsetting the lives, not only of mankind, but also of all living beings.

Similarly, the harmful effect on the atmosphere brought about by chemical emissions in industrialized countries is a very dangerous sign. Although this is a new thing for us Tibetans, the world is paying a lot of attention to this problem. It is the responsibility of us, who speak of the welfare of all sentient beings, to contribute towards this.

Since I too have a responsibility in this matter, (i.e. to work for the protection of the environment and to see that the present and future generations of mankind can make use of refreshing shade and fruits of trees), I bought these seeds of fruit-bearing” trees with part of my Nobel Peace Prize money to be distributed now, to people representing different regions (all the continents of the world are represented here) during this Kalachakra gathering. These seeds have been kept near the Kalachakra mandala for purification and blessings. Since these include seeds of apricot, walnut, papaya, guava, etc., suitable for planting under varying geographical conditions, experts in respective places ’should be consulted on their planting and care and, thus, you all should see my sincere aspiration is fulfilled.

Stem Cell leader hits industry

Oct 20

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Another sign today of stem cell research becoming more commercial: An announcement that Stephen Minger, one of the field’s leading academics, will join GE Healthcare next week as head of Research and Development for Cell Technologies.

Minger, an American, has been in charge of stem cell biology at Guy’s Hospital and King’s College London since moving to the UK in 1996.

As well as being one of the top researchers into human embryonic stem cells in Britain – his lab has derived several hESC lines including ones with genetic mutations for cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease – Minger has been a fearless public advocate of stem cell science.

The relatively science-friendly legislative and regulatory framework for embryo research that has emerged in the UK owes something to Minger’s communications skills. He is one of the most open and media-friendly scientists I have come across, in any field.

“Leading GE Healthcare’s Cell Technologies research and development will allow me to bring many years of academic research in the stem cell field to bear in a commercial environment,” he says. “This is an opportunity for me to play a leading role in the realization of the emerging potential of stem cell technology in drug discovery and therapy, and to help grow a strategic business for GE Healthcare.”

GE Healthcare, part of the giant US General Electric group, is one of the world’s largest and most broadly based medical technology companies. It made clear its corporate ambitions in stem cell research at the end of June when it announced an exclusive alliance with Geron, the leading US stem cell company. Minger will, among other duties, lead the GE side of the Geron partnership. He will be based in the UK.

GE’s role in the commercialisation of stem cells will be to provide a comprehensive range of cells and tools for research and development. It does not intend to produce its own treatments.

Incidentally Geron has commented further on last week’s decision by the US Food and Drug Administration to put “on hold” its application to carry out the world’s first clinical trial of a treatment based on embryonic stem cells.  The product would treat spinal cord injury.

The California-based company says the FDA suspension relates to “microscopic cysts” that appeared on some animals during preclinical testing. Reassuringly, the cysts were not cancerous and had no adverse effects on the animals, so it seems likely that the clinical trial will go ahead soon.

“It is appropriate for the FDA to be particularly cautious about the first clinical trial of embryonic stem cells,” Minger says.