Vietnam’s WTO admission, Vietnam’s economy more transparent

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang talks about the initial achievements made by Vietnam after it joined the World Trade Organization. How do you assess the initial achievements Vietnam has made after being in the WTO for one year? The year 2007 marked the effort Vietnam made in actively and initiatively implementing regulations as a WTO member. Firstly, all ministries and sectors have paid due attention to bring into effect legislation to realize its commitments. This has helped to bolster the international community’s confidence and the determination of the Vietnamese government to take seriously its obligations as a WTO member. Secondly, in order to take opportunities and overcome the challenges of being a WTO member, the government, ministries, sectors and localities have worked out action programs based on the fourth Central Resolution of the Communist Party of Vietnam to realize their tasks. Thirdly, in framework of the WTO, we have negotiated with other partners who are applying to join the WTO to deal with Vietnam’s commercial interests. Vietnam has signed an agreement with Russia and the Ukraine so that all parties can recognize each other market economies and commit to opening up their markets to Vietnamese goods. Apart from that, we are also actively taking part in the Negotiation Committees and together with committee members discussing the Doha negotiations. In the future, when Vietnam’s representative agency in Geneva is consolidated, we will have the necessary conditions to carry out various activities that are more effective and meaningful to realize Vietnam’s status as a WTO member. According to you, what is the biggest thing Vietnam has achieved in the first year of WTO membership? The biggest is the implementation of WTO commitments has brought an improvement in Vietnam’s business environment and it has also become more transparent, helping to effectively mobilize domestic and oversea resources for development. Vietnam’s GDP in 2007 reached 8.5 percent and foreign investment in the country also increased dramatically, reaching over 20 billion USD and its export revenue increase by 21.5 percent, earning 48 billion USD. These achievements are due to the determination of the government to renew management mechanisms and efforts by the ministries and sectors to reform administration and improve the business environment, especially in creating dynamic businesses. A year is not long enough for us to evaluate the impacts of Vietnam’s admission to the WTO but the improvements in the economy during the first year of becoming a WTO member are undeniable. What shortcomings do we need to overcome, Minister? The first year of implementing WTO commitments had many challenges. Excess of imports over exports reached two points due to imports being higher by 1.5 times that of exports. Infrastructure including roads, ports, electricity and water supply are overloaded and have failed to meet the demand of economic development. The authorities and sectors at all levels need to make every effort to deal with this problem. Almost all sectors are short of skilled workers, especially in the hi-tech and service sectors, holding back the changes in the economic structure. The lack of skilled workers is the main reason why Vietnam mainly exports unprocessed goods, at low values and low competitiveness to the international market. Apart from that, challenges to the environment and employment both put pressure on the economy. According to the experiences of other countries, this is important problem for emerging economies in the opening period. The target for sustainable economic growth depends on the ways each nation copes with its own individual challenges. What solutions will the Ministry of Industry and Trade apply to create better conditions after WTO admission in the future? The Ministry of Industry and Trade as a state management agency in the trade field is implementing a series of solutions to support imports and exports businesses. Firstly, my ministry will increase the opportunities to access markets for Vietnam’s exported goods. Therefore, the ministry is negotiating about free trade areas with China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India to remove tax barriers and give tax exemption to Vietnam’s goods and services in these markets. Moreover, trade promotion activities are also being strengthened and diversified through counselors and national trade promotion programs. Secondly, the ministry is creating a transparent trade environment with equal competition. We also protect the interests of businesses in lawsuits relating to dumping, the copyright law, unhealthy competition and are persuading countries to recognize Vietnam as a market economy. Lastly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is step by step implementing e-government and increasing the mechanisms to provide and exchange information with businesses through commercial e-ports and programs on questions and answers about our commercial policies.

(Source: CPV)

Eyes rolling over zealotry to new natural wonders

Seven natural world wonders is in the voting selection process and at this moment, Vietnam has three sites near the top of the rankings: Fansipan Mountain, Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park, and Ha Long Bay. This is an online selection organized by New7Wonders or New Open World, which is taking place over four years, 2007-2011.

This information was reported in a local newspaper on February 23 and was a great source of pride for Vietnam. The newspaper also quoted Tia Viering, New7Wonders’ communications manager, congratulating Vietnam for having Ha Long at the top of the ranking list.

Democracy in action?

According to the Foreign Ministry’s website, New Open World (a non-governmental organization based in Switzerland) on July 7, 2007 launched the selection of the “Seven natural wonders of the world”. This selection, scheduled to finish in 2010, has attracted worldwide attention. Many countries are interested in this event and are seizing it as an opportunity to advertise and promote tourism, the website said.

In Vietnam, some state agencies launched campaigns calling for the people to vote for Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, Fansipan and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park as new world natural wonders; the media supported this effort wholeheartedly.

If a person types the keyword “vote for Ha Long” (in Vietnamese) on Google, they can easily find 14,400 websites reporting this event.

Many newspapers have responded to this selection and guided people to visit website www.natural7wonders.com or www.new7wonders.com to vote for Vietnam’s landscapes.

A Deputy Minister visited the site to vote for Ha Long. A computer company presented 10 laptops to arrange at airports to serve visitors’ voting for Vietnam’s landscapes. Many websites are designed to guide people to the New7Wonders website to vote for Vietnam. A famous singer called on her fans to vote for Vietnam’s landscapes on her website.

The representative of the HCM City Department of Education and Training pledged to contribute at least one million votes for Vietnam because the department would call for 1.5 million students in the city to join in the selection. In addition, students will call for their families and neighbors to vote. Overseas, Vietnamese students in Japan called overseas Vietnamese students in Japan and other countries to vote for Ha Long Bay.

It is good to honor Vietnamese natural heritage sites, but should we “celebrate” this event?

Actual recognition

In a press release dated July 9, 2007, which is posted at http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/352, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) informed readers that to avoid misunderstandings, this organization stated that there is no relation between UNESCO’s World Heritage program and the New Seven Wonders of the World selection.

According to UNESCO, the New Seven Wonders of the World selection only reflects the opinion of a community of Internet users, not the whole world.

Actually, the selection is organized by The New7Wonders Foundation, which was established in 2001 by a Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, museum curator, aviator, and explorer named Bernard Weber and based at Heidi-Weber Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Why is this organization organizing a selection of new world wonders? According to the New7Wonders website, because famous ancient wonders belonged to ancient people. Except for the pyramids, none no longer exist, so New7Wonders held an online selection to define new wonders of the world, but what is this all for? Fifty percent of net revenue raised by the New7Wonders Project is to be used to fund monument documentation and conservation efforts worldwide, according to the website.

The spokesman of UNESCO also said that the initiative by New7Wonders can’t contribute to the preservation of heritage sites after they are selected. According to UNESCO, evaluating natural wonders needs clear scientific standards.

The selection is a chance to advertise Vietnamese landscapes to the world but it is not a decisive factor for turning Fansipan Mountain, Phong Nha – Ke Bang and Ha Long Bay into world wonders under UNESCO’s requirements.

K.Anh – H.Cat

Preventing Investment Fraud

When the stock market is volatile it is a prime time for investment fraud. Con artists lurk everywhere trying to get rich from unsuspecting investors who are looking for ways to recoup their lost savings. They pitch their scams on ways to beat the system and get high returns with virtually no risk, making those who choose to listen believers of their 'too good to be true' claims. Those who have lost their retirement savings or who are trying to build a nest egg could fall victim to these scams unless they use common sense and extreme caution.
To avoid scams, investors should proceed slowly and cautiously before committing to any investment scheme. Check with state regulators to be sure an opportunity is legitimate. Use common sense when you hear of a deal that is too good to be true.

Scams come by way of telephone, internet, mail, in-person, and email.
These crooks are experts in their field and make their living by talking people out of their money. This is their chosen career and they take pleasure in swindling anyone who will be swindled. The telephone and internet makes it very easy for these persons to operate. A well honed telephone message can wear down some of the most difficult marks. A well built web page can make the most dishonest business appear legitimate.
The North American Securities Administrators Association lists the top 10 investment frauds:
Unlicensed individuals selling securities
Deceptive stockbrokers
Analyst research
Corporate promissory notes
Debt notes from prime banks
Illegal viatical settlements
Affinity fraud
Charitable gift annuities
Oil and gas schemes
Leasing scams
Some ways investment fraud is carried out are:
Internet fraud
Abusive sales pitches
Fraudulant investment seminars
Telemarketing fraud
Pyramid schemes
Commodity fraud
Illegal franchises
Fraudulent high tech investments
Entertainment-related investments
Churning
Unauthorized trades
High pressure selling
Illegal accounts
As you can see, investment fraud can come in many different forms. You, the investor, must take responsibility for your choices. You need to be educated in protecting your hard earned money. You need to be aware that there are those who want your money and will try any scheme to get it. You need to practice diligence in choosing your broker, financial advisor, insurance representative, or any other person who will make choices for you and your money.
Got questions about investment fraud?
Got a story to tell about investment fraud?
Got suggestions on more ways to avoid investment fraud?

Beware: Investment Fraud

Deceptive pitches for investments often misrepresent or leave out facts in order to promote fantastic profits with little risk. No investment is risk-free and a high rate of return means greater risk. Before investing, get written information such as a prospectus or annual report. Beware if a salesperson:
Encourages you to borrow money or cash in retirement funds to invest
Pressures you to invest immediately
Promises quick profits
Says that the disclosure documents required by federal law are just a formality
Tells you to write false information on your account form
Sends material with typos or misspellings or not printed on letterhead
Does not send your money promptly
Offers to share inside information
Uses words like "guarantee," "high return," "limited offer," or "as safe as a CD"
Uses the phrase "this investment is IRA approved"
Claims "off-shore investments are tax-free and confidential"

Vioxx Breaking News & Class Action Lawsuit Claims

Vioxx litigation is under fierce scrutiny from pharmaceutical companies, lawyers, consumers and corporate officials trying to predict the outlook for Merck, the maker of Vioxx. The company vowed to fight more than 4,200 state and federal Vioxx-related lawsuits pending across the country. If you have a potential case, contact one of our Vioxx attorneys and preserve your legal rights and potential settlement.
Given the recent verdict, lawyers and analysts expect a flood of new lawsuits against Merck. The company has set aside $675 million to fight them, but analysts say Merck may need to reserve funds to pay for verdicts. If you have a history with Vioxx and have experienced side-effects from this drug, contact a Vioxx attorney. Merck plans to appeal the $253.4 verdict jurors awarded on August 19 to Robert Ernst's widow, Carol. The award reflects a combination of her husband's lost pay as a Wal-Mart produce manager, their mental anguish, her loss of companionship and punitive damages. For the most recent headlines, visit the links below: To learn more about the side effects of Vioxx and the recall, contact one of our lawyers. The arthritis drug Vioxx was removed from shelves on September 30, 2004 by its manufacturer, Merck, in response to a three-year study identifying health risks associated with taking the drug. Vioxx has been linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death and more. Side effects of Vioxx can include diarrhea, nausea and heartburn, but many patients may not associate these effects with the use of Vioxx.Vioxx information will provide you with the latest information about the drug and its side-effects as well as clinical studies and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resources:
Vioxx Heart Attack
Vioxx Side Effects
Vioxx Stroke
Vioxx Class Action
Vioxx Lawsuit
Lawyers Taking Your Vioxx Case
On this site, you will find law firms staffed with qualified and experienced attorneys who specialize in cases such as these. They are Lead Counsel members, which means, among other things, that they have been practicing for several years, dedicate themselves to this type of issue, and have never had any disciplinary action taken against them by their local bar association.
Plaintiffs in cases such as these typically seek to recover damages for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. Click through on any of the firms listed here, and feel free to ask questions in regard to your situation. The vioxx lawyers displayed here will be able to handle your inquiry quickly and responsibly, and if they feel that further discussion and investigation is warranted, they will take you through the process.

Why a structured settlement payment is a popular choice

Structured settlements offer several advantages that make them a popular choice with individuals. The foremost benefit of a structured settlement is that it provides cash at regular intervals and the money is free of state as well as federal taxes. As against this, the interest accrued from investments made from money obtained through a lump sum is subject to federal and state tax. Also, very often individuals who come into money by acquiring a lump sum are unable to invest it wisely and often spend it wastefully, this is not possible with a structured settlement where small amounts are made available periodically and therefore a person’s spending is regulated.
Loss of money that has been acquired through an installment of a structured settlement is not as severe as loss of money acquired through a lump sum payment. The small amounts are easy to manage and also do not excite the interest of unscrupulous elements as compared to hefty lump sum payments.
With a structured settlement, an individual does not need to worry about planning for long-term investments as the periodic payments can be structured to take adequate care of one’s needs post retirement or in the case of a debilitating injury. Structured settlements are favored by both the defendant and the plaintiff as they can be settled without having to go to court. This saves time and is often cheaper for the defendant who would otherwise have to pay more with an in-court settlement. The risks involved for both parties are reduced with a structured settlement as per which the defendant is contractually bound to pay the plaintiff. Also, attorney costs for a out-of-court negotiated structured settlement are lower than what they would be if a litigation were to be filed in court. Attorney fees can come down by as much as 8% to 10% for a structured settlement achieved out of court. This can mean a saving of thousands of dollars for the defendant as structured settlements can often run into more than a million dollars.
Structured settlements allow insurance companies to provide payment to claimants at a lower cost and the payment schedule can be set according to a claimant’s convenience. A structured settlement can be used to provide for certain costs of an individual right from the stage when he is a minor. The money can be disbursed for college expenses or to meet the costs of higher education. Periodic lump sums made available to an injured person can be used to make medicinal purchases and sustain oneself.
One reason for the popularity of structured settlements is that they can be availed in a variety of formats; these include lump sum payments made periodically when funds are required for medical expenses, education, or marriage; percentage increase annuities that offer annually increasing payments that help to counter inflation; deferred annuities that enable to defer the commencement of payment to a later date; period certain annuities that can be combined with a lump sum payment for receiving payment over a fixed period; and joint and survivor annuities in which payments are continued to the survivor annuitant if the primary annuitant passes away.

Structured settlement

A structured settlement is a financial or insurance arrangement, including periodic payments, that a claimant accepts to resolve a personal injury tort claim or to compromise a statutory periodic payment obligation. Structured settlements were first utilized in Canada and the United States during the 1970s as an alternative to lump sum settlements. Structured settlements are now part of the statutory tort law of several common law countries including: Australia, Canada, England and the United States. Although some uniformity exists, each of these countries has its own definitions, rules and standards for structured settlement. Structured settlements may include income tax and spendthrift requirements as well as benefits. Structured settlement payments are sometimes called “periodic payments”. A structured settlement incorporated into a trial judgment is called a “periodic payment judgment”.

Structured Settlements in the United States

The United States has enacted structured settlement laws and regulations at both the federal and state levels. Federal structured settlement laws include sections of the Federal Internal Revenue Code. State structured settlement laws include structured settlement protection statutes and periodic payment of judgment statutes. Medicaid and Medicare laws and regulations impact structured settlements. To preserve a claimant’s Medicare and Medicaid benefits, structured settlement payments may be incorporated into “Medicare Set Aside Arrangements” the “Special Needs Trusts”.
Injury victims should know that structured settlements are endorsed by many of the nation's largest disability rights organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities [1] and the National Organization on Disability [2].

[edit] Definitions
The United States definition of “structured settlement” for Federal income taxation purposes, found in Internal Revenue Code Section 5891(c)(1), is an "arrangement" that meets the following requirements:
A structured settlement must be established by:
A suit or agreement for periodic payment of damages excludable from gross income under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(2); or
An agreement for the periodic payment of compensation under any workers’ compensation law excludable under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(1); and
The periodic payments must be of the character described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of Internal Revenue Code Section 130(c)(2) and must be payable by a person who:
Is a party to the suit or agreement or to a workers' compensation claim; or
By a person who has assumed the liability for such periodic payments under a Qualified Assignment in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 130.

[edit] Legal Structure
The typical structured settlement arises and is structured as follows: An injured party (the claimant) settles a tort suit with the defendant (or its insurance carrier) pursuant to a settlement agreement that provides that, in exchange for the claimant's securing the dismissal of the lawsuit, the defendant (or, more commonly, its insurer) agrees to make a series of periodic payments over time. The insurer, a property/casualty insurance company, thus finds itself with a long-term payment obligation to the claimant. To fund this obligation, the property/casualty insurer generally takes one of two typical approaches: It either purchases an annuity from a life insurance company (an arrangement called a "buy and hold" case) or it assigns (or, more properly, delegates) its periodic payment obligation to a third party which in turn purchases an annuity (which arrangement is called an "assigned case").
In an unassigned case, the property/casualty insurer retains the periodic payment obligation and funds it by purchasing an annuity from a life insurance company, thereby offsetting its obligation with a matching asset. The payment stream purchased under the annuity matches exactly, in timing and amounts, the periodic payments agreed to in the settlement agreement. The property/casualty company owns the annuity and names the claimant as the payee under the annuity, thereby directing the annuity issuer to send payments directly to the claimant. If any of the periodic payments are life-contingent (i.e., the obligation to make a payment is contingent on someone continuing to be alive), then the claimant (or whoever is determined to be the measuring life) is named as the annuitant or measuring life under the annuity.
In an assigned case, the property/casualty company does not wish to retain the long-term periodic payment obligation on its books. Accordingly, the property/casualty insurer transfers the obligation, through a legal device called a qualified assignment, to a third party. The third party, called an assignment company, will require the property/casualty company to pay it an amount sufficient to enable it to buy an annuity that will fund its newly accepted periodic payment obligation. If the claimant consents to the transfer of the periodic payment obligation (either in the settlement agreement or, failing that, in a special form of qualified assignment known as a qualified assignment and release), the defendant and/or its property/casualty company has no further liability to make the periodic payments. This method of substituting the obliger is desirable for property/casualty companies that do not want to retain the periodic payment obligation on their books. Typically, an assignment company is an affiliate of the life insurance company from which the annuity is purchased.
An assignment is said to be "qualified" if it satisfies the criteria set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 130 [3]. Qualification of the assignment is important to assignment companies because without it the amount they receive to induce them to accept periodic payment obligations would be considered income for federal income tax purposes. If an assignment qualifies under Section 130, however, the amount received is excluded from the income of the assignment company. This provision of the tax code was enacted to encourage assigned cases; without it, assignment companies would owe federal income taxes but would typically have no source from which to make the payments.

See also
Annuity
Disability
Internal Revenue Code
Medicaid
Special needs trust
Structured sale
Structured settlement factoring transaction
Tort

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.[1] In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.[2]

Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
chest wall pain
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.
Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:
blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

[edit] Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).
If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.
If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells. The procedure could diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients.[3]

Screening
There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. However some research indicates that the serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.[4]

[edit] Staging
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

[edit] Pathophysiology
The mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the body including the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibres in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fibre can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibres from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the lymphatic system. Additionally, asbestos fibres may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibres.
Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibres has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" (chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[5] However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers.[1][2] They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for "World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from brief exposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.[3]
Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibres. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibres to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells of the immune system to localised lesions of accumulated asbestos fibres in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumour.
Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibres remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibres has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibres are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.
Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibres and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibres are able to make contact with chromosomes, often adhering to the chromatin fibres or becoming entangled within the chromosome. This contact between the asbestos fibre and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.
Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the tumor suppressor genes:
Neurofibromatosis type 2 at 22q12
P16INK4A
P14ARF
Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:
Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes
Activation of proto-oncogenes due to incorporation of foreign DNA containing a promoter region
Activation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to error
Activation of telomerase
Prevention of apoptosis
Asbestos fibres have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known clastogenic and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.
Asbestos also may possess immunosuppressive properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.

[edit] Epidemiology

[edit] Incidence
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000. For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.[6] It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.
Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States [4]. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in Caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.

[edit] Risk factors
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.[7]

[edit] Exposure
Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it wasn't mined and widely used commercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace, and created guidelines for engineering controls and respirators, protective clothing, exposure monitoring, hygiene facilities and practices, warning signs, labeling, recordkeeping, and medical exams. By contrast, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such threshold exists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

[edit] Occupational
Exposure to asbestos fibres has been recognised as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. Several epidemiological studies have associated exposure to asbestos with the development of lesions such as asbestos bodies in the sputum, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumours, and diffuse mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum.
The documented presence of asbestos fibres in water supplies and food products has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-term and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to these fibres. Although many authorities consider brief or transient exposure to asbestos fibres as inconsequential and an unlikely risk factor, some epidemiologists claim that there is no risk threshold. Cases of mesothelioma have been found in people whose only exposure was breathing the air through ventilation systems. Other cases had very minimal (3 months or less) direct exposure.
Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.

[edit] Paraoccupational Secondary Exposure
Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

[edit] Asbestos in buildings
Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or diy activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.

[edit] Environmental Exposure
Incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA).

[edit] Treatment
Treatment of MM using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation[citation needed]. The clinical behaviour of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favours local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease.

[edit] Surgery
Surgery, either by itself or used in combination with pre- and post-operative adjuvant therapies, has proved disappointing. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed. It is not possible to remove the entire mesothelium without killing the patient.

[edit] Radiation

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Radiation Oncology/Lung/Mesothelioma
For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This approach of using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by the thoracic oncology team at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.[8] Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients surviving more than 5 years. As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.
Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.

[edit] Chemotherapy
In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is given in combination with cisplatin. Folic acid is also used to reduce the side-effects of pemetrexed.

[edit] Immunotherapy
Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.

[edit] Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute.[8] The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.
This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.

[edit] Notable people that died from mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients. Australian anti-racism activist Bob Bellear died in 2005. British science fiction writer Michael G. Coney, responsible for nearly 100 works also died in 2005. American film and television actor Paul Gleason, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, died in 2006. Mickie Most, an English record producer, died of mesothelioma in 2003. Paul Rudolph, an American architect known for his cubist building designs, died in 1997.
Bernie Banton was an Australian workers' rights activist, who fought a long battle for compensation from James Hardie after he contracted mesothelioma after working for that company. He claimed James Hardie knew of the dangers of asbestos before he began work with the substance making insulation for power stations. Mesothelioma eventually took his life along with his brothers and hundreds of James Hardie workers. James Hardie made an undisclosed settlement with Mr Banton only when his mesothelioma had reached its final stages and he was expected to have no more than 48hrs to live. Australian Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd mentioned Mr Banton's extended struggle in his acceptance speech after winning the 2007 Australian Federal Election.
Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma on December 22, 1979. He was not offered surgery or chemotherapy because doctors felt the cancer was too advanced. McQueen sought alternative treatments from clinics in Mexico. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980, in Juárez, Mexico, following cancer surgery. He may have been exposed to asbestos while serving with the US Marines as a young adult—asbestos was then commonly used to insulate ships' piping—or because of its use as an insulating material in car racing suits.[9] (It is also reported that he worked in a shipyard during World War II, where he might have been exposed to asbestos.[citation needed]
United States Congressman Bruce Vento died of mesothelioma in 2000. The Bruce Vento Hopebuilder is awarded yearly by his wife at the MARF Symposium to persons or organizations who have done the most to support mesothelioma research and advocacy.
After a long period of untreated illness and pain, rock and roll musician and songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in the fall of 2002. Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon focused his energies on recording his final album The Wind including the song "Keep Me in Your Heart," which speaks of his failing breath. Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003.
Christie Hennessy, the influential Irish singer-songwriter, died of mesothelioma in 2007, and had stridently refused to accept the prognosis in the weeks before his death.[10] His mesothelioma has been attributed to his younger years spent working on building sites in London.[11][12]
Bob Miner, one of the founders of Software Development Labs, the forerunner of Oracle Corporation died of mesothelioma in 1994.

[edit] Notable people that have lived for some time with mesothelioma
Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote the "The Median Isn't the Message"[13] for Discover magazine, in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are just useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another twenty years eventually succumbing to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, not mesothelioma.
Author Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 1997 following an umbilical hernia operation. His prognosis was "a few months." He continues to survive using a variety of integrative and complimentary modalities and has written a book about his experience.

[edit] Legal issues
Main article: asbestos and the law
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars.[citation needed] The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases.

[edit] History
The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos.[14] The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker.[15] The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.
In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.
Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.
By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.

Mesothelioma risks and causes

How common mesothelioma is
Mesothelioma is quite a rare cancer, but it is becoming more common. Just over 2,100 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the UK each year. There are about 4 times as many cases in men as in women. This is probably because many cases have been caused by exposure to asbestos at work. Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestos and mesothelioma
Unusually for cancer, we do know what causes the majority of cases of mesothelioma. It is most often linked to exposure to asbestos. We have known of a link between asbestos and lung disease since the beginning of the 18th century. But the link with mesothelioma has only been known since the 1960's. Unfortunately, the number of cases of mesothelioma in the UK each year is expected to rise sharply over the next 20 years because of the heavy use of asbestos in industry from the end of the second world war up until the mid 1970s.Between 7 and 8 out of every 10 people (70–80%) diagnosed with mesothelioma say they have been in contact with asbestos. Your risk is greater if you were exposed to large amounts of it from an early age for a very long period of time. But there are some patients that say they have no history of any heavy exposure to asbestos.Remember: Many people who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be eligible for compensation. You should talk to a solicitor about this as early as possible. Your specialist doctor or nurse may be able to give you some information on this from their dealings with other mesothelioma patients. Or some of the mesothelioma organisations in Help and Support should be able to help.

What asbestos is
Asbestos is an insulating material that is heat and fire resistant. In the past, asbestos was used widely in the:

Building industry
Ship building industry
Manufacture of household appliances
Motor industry
Power stations
Telephone exchanges

So most cases of mesothelioma occur in men who have worked in manufacturing using asbestos or used asbestos products, particularly in construction or engineering. The use of asbestos was very heavy in the years after the war (after 1945). Mesothelioma may not develop until 15 - 40 years after you have been exposed to asbestos, which is why we are seeing an increase in cases now. The number of cases is expected to peak around 2020 and then start to decline.There are three main types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos are strongly linked with mesothelioma. They have been banned since the late 1980's and cannot be imported into the UK. White asbestos is now also thought to be harmful. The use of all asbestos was banned in 1999 in the UK.

How asbestos causes mesotheliomaAsbestos is made up of tiny fibres. You can breathe these fibres in when you come into contact with asbestos. The fibres work their way into the pleura, lining the lung. They irritate the pleura and damage the cells that the pleura are made of. Some of the fibres that have been breathed in can be coughed up and swallowed. This is probably the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.If you have been exposed to asbestos, your family may also have been exposed. Asbestos fibres can be carried home on your clothes. Research studies have confirmed that the family of people exposed to asbestos also have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma.

Radiation Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma has been known to develop after exposure to a type of radiation called thorium dioxide (Thorotast). This was used until the 1950's in some X-ray tests.

Other chemicals and mesotheliomaA mineral found in Turkey called Zeolite may cause mesothelioma.

The SV40 virusThere has been some research into a virus called SV40 (the SV stands for 'simian virus'). There is a lot of dispute amongst scientists about this and it isn't generally accepted as a cause. It seems more likely that the virus doesn't cause mesothelioma. It is possible that SV40 may help to increase risk if you've been exposed to another more major risk factor. Doctors call this a 'co-factor'. But SV40 certainly hasn't been proved to be a co-factor so far. In any case, it is far less important a risk factor than asbestos.

Xem Kangaroo đến Việt Nam

Kangaroo đến Việt Nam trước hết là một chương trình sân khấu thử nghiệm do các diễn viên trẻ tại TP.HCM thể hiện.

Tất cả những yếu tố trên hội tụ trong vở Kangaroo đến Việt Nam, theo như lời giới thiệu về vở kịch: "...tạo nên một sân khấu hình thể với các hình thức nghệ thuật thị giác, thính giác, sắp đặt, kỹ xảo âm thanh và ánh sáng để tạo thành một sân khấu tổng thể kết hợp nhiều ngôn ngữ nghệ thuật nhằm mở rộng khả năng diễn tả của sân khấu". Tuy nhiên, những cảm xúc do vở kịch mang đến lại trở nên khó hấp thu đến độ khó diễn tả bằng lời.
Vở kịch được xây dựng không lời thoại nhưng gọi là kịch câm không được vì biểu diễn hình thể của diễn viên chưa đủ thỏa mãn cảm xúc. Khi nội dung cần sự hỗ trợ của những gương mặt cảm xúc thì diễn viên lại diễn tả bằng sự căng cứng. Còn nếu có "kịch" như những đoạn về gia đình, lớp học lại rơi vào mô tả nội dung chung chung.
Diễn viên thấy mặt hiếm lời thoại, 12 con giáp không có lời và chú chuột túi Kangaroo cũng chẳng nói lời nào. Ngoài tiếng trống bập bùng, tiếng gõ lách cách, lọc cọc của nhiều cây dùi, hiếm hoi mới có những âm thanh ồn ào của cuộc sống. Phụ hoạ cho nội dung vở diễn là hai màn hình. Một bên về đất nước Úc thiên nhiên, một bên VN đang cuồn cuộn sức sống và đổi mới. Trước những bức xúc, vấn nạn chưa giải quyết của VN được nối tiếp nhau một cách rời rạc. Từ vấn nạn tắc nghẽn giao thông, giáo dục trong gia đình, nhiễm cúm gia cầm, thuốc lắc... chưa thể giải quyết được, chú Kangaroo không thèm nói một lời mà vẫn xoa dịu hoặc hoá giải êm đẹp bằng tình thương và sự nhân ái.


Hình ảnh gây nên sự khâm phục đối với anh bạn Kangaroo có thể là sức mạnh VN trong quá khứ oai hùng và đã xây nên chiếc cầu Mỹ Thuận. Trong khi đó, một đất nước phát triển như quê hương của Kangaroo, lẽ nào chẳng có cây cầu hiện đại (?)

Thanh Chung