How Far Should We Go With Organ Donation?

With the growth of an ageing population, improved technology and an ever increasing demand for organ donation, do we need to rethink current practices?


On 19 April 2010, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics opened a consultation on the donation and use of human body parts in medicine and research. The Council is asking the public just how far it would be prepared to go in promoting the donation of eggs, sperm, organs and other human body parts for use and research in medical science


Reflecting Public Concerns and Stimulating Debate

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics investigates ethical issues raised by new developments in biology and medicine. Established by the Nuffield Foundation in 1991, the Council is an independent body funded jointly by the Foundation, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. The Council has established an international reputation for addressing public concerns, and providing independent advice to assist policy makers and stimulate debate in bioethics.

Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern, Professor of Social Anthropology at Cambridge University, is the Chair of the inquiry, and is interested in the ethics of providing increased incentives like cash and meeting funeral costs, and why different rules exist for different types of donation. She points out that:

“Women can already get free IVF treatment from private clinics to encourage them to donate eggs, and healthy volunteers may be paid significant sums of money to ‘donate’ their bodies to test new medicines for the first time in humans.”

Is the present System fair or could it be better balanced to include other kinds of donation and testing? Read more

Winning the Battle Against Obesity

Scientists are adding seaweed to bread and other common food stuffs to find ways to help people lose weight while they eat.

A team of UK scientists from Newcastle University are engaged in research that shows that dietary fibre contained in alginates from commercially used sea kelp, can help reduce the amount of fat absorbed by the body by up to 75 per cent.


Natural Fibre and Weight Loss

The research team, led by Dr. Iain Brownlee and Professor Jeff Pearson, presented their findings on 22 March, 2010 at the American Chemical Society Spring meeting in San Francisco. The team have discovered that Alginate, a natural fibre contained in sea kelp, prevents the body from absorbing fat better than any other currently available over-the-counter treatments.

Using an artificial gut, they tested the effectiveness of more than 60 different natural fibres by measuring the amount of fat that was digested and absorbed with each treatment. "The aim of this study was to put these products to the test and our initial findings are that alginates significantly reduce fat digestion," explained Dr Brownlee at an interview during the event.

Alginate lines the walls of the digestive system and prevents dietary fat passing through. The types of seaweed identified as carrying alginate are Lessonia and Laminaria. They are native to the Far East, South America and parts of Norway and Scotland, although they could be harvested anywhere. Read more

The History of Silk Production: Silk Stands the Test of Time

The history of silk contains legend, follows the rise and decline of dynasties and empires, and mirrors the great movements of social and economic development.

From the mythic past of ancient China, through the industrial revolution of Europe and into the modern age of computer aided design, silk has continued to be a high value fashion item throughout the ages.


The Opening of Silk Routes

China has maintained a monopoly of silk production for the better part of three thousand years. According to Confucius, it was in 2640 B.C. that the Chinese princess Xi Ling Shi was the first to reel silk from a cocoon that dropped into her cup of tea.

The Chinese were naturally secretive about silk, but by the 3rd Century B.C. Chinese silk fabrics were beginning to find their way throughout the whole of Asia, and were transported overland to the West and by sea to Japan on what became known as the silk roads. The Romans came across silk in Asia, but knew nothing about its source.

From 552 A.D sericultural (silkworm culture) began to spread throughout Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. The story has it that it was smuggled out of China by two monks with silkworm eggs hidden inside their bamboo walking sticks. It was further spread by the Arabs as they captured splendid silks from the Persians, carrying sericulture with them as their conquests swept them through Africa, Sicily and Spain in the 7th Century.

Raw Silk Production: Insects That Create Wealth for the Fashion Industry

Although there have been many technological developments in silk production, in China the same production processes have been followed for centuries.

 The total annual world production of Bombyx mori cocoons, generally regarded as producing the finest quality raw silk, is about 496,000 tons, amounting to about 62,000 tons of raw silk. Silk accounts for much less than one percent by volume of world fibre production. Its high value demand is a result both of labour intensive production methods and its intrinsic luxurious quality.


Main Producers of Silk

China produces and exports about two thirds of all silk produced in the world, followed by Japan. Other main producers are India, Korea, Thailand, and Brazil. China supplies about 40 percent of the US’s silk consumption. China has a long tradition of silk production (sericulture) that goes back about five thousand years.

Raw Silk Production Methods

The production of raw silk by means of raising caterpillars (larvae), especially those of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori), is traditionally divided into three parts:

• Moths are selected for breeding, closely supervised during the egg laying process, and then sold on to farmers

• Eggs are hatched and the silkworms fed on mulberry leaves

• Farmers then sell the cocoons to reeling mills

Egg Production and Incubation

Following mating, female moths are placed in metal cylinders that are positioned within marked squares on an egg sheet, confining the moths' egg-laying to a small area. Each moth produces from 300 to 500 pinhead-size eggs, which adhere to the egg sheet, and then dies within two to three days of laying.

Balance Mind and Body With Ayurveda: A Mind Body Health Quiz

The ancient Ayurvedic system of maintaining mind body balance is based on the integration of three basic Dosha types.

According to the 5,000 year old Ayurvedic system of maintaining a healthy mental and physical condition, understanding one’s Doshas and how they interact is essential for wellness. There are three basic Doshas, or types, of mind body personality: Vata, kapha and Pitta. A short quiz at the end of this article will help identify one’s Dosha type, and which mixture of Dosha characteristics best describes one’s personality.


Three Mind Body Types

Within the Ayurvedic system personalities are made up of two dominant Doshas, and one less significant Dosha. This determines not only one’s mental and physical state, but also acts as a prescriptive basis for the diagnosis and treatment of states of mental and physical imbalance.

1) The first type is the Vata mind body personality. Vata’s tend to be thin, find it difficult to gain weight and tire easily. They are sensitive, creative and inspirational, prone to conditions of low energy, and require frequent periods of rest. Vatas benefit from a regular routine, low stress lifestyle and don’t like cold temperatures.

The Vata Dosha is responsible for involuntary physical systems like breathing, digestion, circulation and nerve impulses from the brain. When in a state of imbalance, conditions like anxiety, indigestion, lower back problems, indigestion, cramps, and premenstrual tension may be an early indicator of treatment needs. Vata is the lead Dosha, and Vata imbalances have an impact on the state of both Kapha and Pitta Doshas.

2) Kapha, the second Dosha, is at the opposite end of the energy spectrum. Kaphas tend to be sturdy, heavy boned individuals with a strong capacity for energy and stamina. They seem to resist disease and have a positive outlook. In the main Kaphas are calm and affectionate; when out of balance, they can be lazy and stubborn. They learn slowly, but are methodical and have strong memory retention.

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Classic satire

China and Japan: Economic Super Powers of the Pacific Basin

China is the second most powerful economic force in the world, but how likely is it to be the first?

Like China, Japan was compelled by the gun boat diplomacy of foreign powers to open its doors to outside influences and trade. Japan went through a period of rapid social and economic change from the Meiji Restoration (1864-1868) onwards, which saw Japan adopting European models of military warfare, government, education, economics, banking, and social appearance and habits, while retaining its core Confucian values.

Samurai Caste System

While superficial changes may have occurred, the fundamental aspirations of an expansionist ruling military caste had not. Ultimately it was the pursuit of those ambitions that led to Japan’s defeat and near annihilation in 1945. A combination of social and economic factors, together with the latent narcissism of the Samurai caste system, was manipulated to produce an ill-conceived war.

As Japan struggled to recover from the desolation and ruin of war, supported by the opportunity to redevelop its industrial base afforded by the Korean War, there was a widespread disaffection among the Japanese people with all things Samurai. Increasingly, the Japanese looked to America as a role model of a more open, democratic society. From the late 1950’s Japan went through an extremely rapid period of economic growth, which lasted up until the 1990’s when it began to slow down.

Political Stability

In recent times, partly as a result of increased opportunities for leisure that has come with prosperity and an economic slow down, Japanese youth seem to have rediscovered their past, and there is some evidence of a resurgence of interest in traditional culture and values, but tinged with a more liberal and modern sensibility. While it is unlikely that there will be any reconciliation between conservative and liberal elements in Japan, each acts as a break upon the excesses of the other, which helps to maintain a level of political stability. Read More

Pandemic Profits Cash Trail: Council of Europe to Probe Pharmaceutical Companies

Fears over a Swine Flu pandemic may have disappeared, but questions remain unanswered over the World Health Organisation's concessions to pressure from pharma companies.

It was reported today by various news channels that the Council of Europe is set to launch a probe into pharmaceutical companies, following reports that vaccine manufacturers pressured the World Health Organization (WHO) into declaring a swine flu pandemic. But wherever the buck finally stops, the taxpayer is still footing the bill.

Profit and Loss

It is alleged that the primary motivation of the pharmaceutical companies in pressurising the WHO was financial, and has resulted in many governments being left with stockpiles of unused vaccine and huge costs. Questions are now being asked about who is responsible.

It is also likely that those governments - including Britain, France and Germany - seeking to offload vaccine stocks on the open market, will be selling at a loss as the market becomes flooded with cheap vaccine. Britain, it was reported, has purchased more vaccine than any of its other European neighbours and stands to make the biggest loss. Read More

Learn to Build Emotional Health: Meditation as an Anxiety and Stress Management Skill

In an age of rapid change it is difficult for the average person to keep up with life's many demands. Good self-management skills are the key to preventing burn out.

Stress and anxiety are often given a bad press, but without them human beings would be unable to accomplish anything. Nature has equipped the average person with all the necessary tools to ensure survival and well-being, but people continue to experience damaging levels of stress and anxiety. Can anything be done about this?


What is Emotional Health?

In a nutshell, emotional health equates to positive self-awareness. People with good emotional health are aware of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Over time they have learned healthy coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with life's stresses and anxieties that are suitable for them. People with good emotional health generally feel good about themselves and have positive relationships and support networks. They value themselves and extend positive feelings towards others. Read More

New Research Provides Insight to Eye Condition: Natural Prevention for Dry and Wet Eye AMD Condition

The eye is a delicate ocular instrument. Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly population, but it could be prevented.

The BBSRC reported on January 4, 2010, that scientists at University College London (UCL) have discovered that the relationship between two blood proteins has a central role in preventing the onset of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In a paper to be published in the American Journal of Biological Chemistry, January 8, 2010, the UK research team will present their new findings on how the interaction of blood proteins work to promote or hinder the development of AMD.

Chronic Degenerative Condition


AMD is the single most common cause of eye disease in the world's elderly population, accounting for some 15 million cases in the US alone, and many millions more throughout the world. The disease attacks the macula, the centre of the eye where the sharpest vision takes place, and leaves the victim with blurred or pitted vision - dark holes in sight. Read More

Learning to Write Haiku

Learning to write Haiku is relatively simple, but simplicity can be elusive if the writer tries too hard. Haiku is a way of writing poetry that encourages the author to achieve the maximum effect with the minimum of effort. Directness and immediacy are the hallmarks of an effective Haiku, but how does one convey the depth of one's feeling in just a few syllables? The answer is practice, practice, and more practice! Learning to write Haiku can be a way of 'letting go' and liberating the artist within, freeing oneself to express an intimate connection to life.

Structure and Content of Haiku Read More

China's Execution of Antonio Riva - 1951

Alleged American Plot Exposed

It was reported on August 27, 1951, in the US Time magazine, that Colonel Dave Barrett, stationed at that time in Formosa (Taiwan), had been accused of being behind an "American imperialist plot" to murder Chairman Mao Zedong and other high ranking comrades. This was hotly denied by Barrett who said:

"I never at any time...attempted to assassinate or contrive the assassination of anyone."

Washington dismissed the Chinese claim as "a bare faced lie."

But Peking was unconvinced and claimed that the 'plot' had been hatched in the previous year. The assassination was scheduled to be carried out on October 1, during China's National Day celebrations. It was alleged the plan was to blow up Chairman Mao with a trench mortar as he stood on a review platform by Peking's Gate of Heavenly Peace. In total eight men were accused and quickly convicted. Read More

Soil Bacteria Reveals New Drug Potential

In a press release on December 3, 2009, the Biological and Biotechnology Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) announced that research scientists at the UK John Innes Centre (JIC), a world leading independent research organisation in the study of plant and microbial sciences, plan to publish the results of their research into soil bacteria in Science. Experts are hopeful that they may have unearthed a new way of beating bacteria, that could revolutionise the way antibiotics function in the treatment of infectious diseases.

New Drug Potential

Scientists have shown that it is possible to create an antibiotic that can be targeted to a well-established enzyme (proteins produced by living organisms) in a new and surprising way. Experts believe that this could inspire the design of a new strain of more potent antibacterial drugs, without the risk of antibacterial resistance that has plagued so many antibiotic drug tretments in the past.

"If you can knock out this enzyme, you have a potential new drug," says Professor Tony Maxwell, the lead author of the research team from JIC.

The researchers, who study how microorganisms work at the molecular, cellular and genetic level, are extremely excited by this latest discovery.

"A completely new way to beat bacteria is an exciting find at a time when resistance to existing antibiotics is growing, said Professor Maxwell. .

New Research and New Drug Implications  Read More