Writing about cultural practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Writing about cultural practices - Essay Example Among friends or acquaintances, before parting, they sometimes shake hands as gesture of saying good-bye. For people who have had some misunderstanding, a handshake would mean that everything is ok with them already and that the conflict has been resolved (Kissell , par 6). This social norm of shaking hands has persisted because it is an international norm which is accepted by all races. The handshake has been a mutual sign of goodwill and peace (Haymond , par 1). It is a socially acceptable way of greeting other people in public rather than kissing or hugging. The handshake was believed to have originated as a way of showing that one’s right hand was not carrying any weapon; thus, if two men met and they both show their empty right hands, that means that there exists a level of trust between them (Kissell , par 3). Kissell goes on further to state that the shaking of the hands was supposed to remove any hidden weapon that may be kept in the sleeves. In today’s modern world, the handshake is very difficult to avoid. Some even consider it an insult if the handshake is not accepted (Kissell , par 2). For example, if a person is trying to make amends with another person and he offers his hand and the other person refuses to shake his hand, this would convey the message that one is not accepting the other person’s apology. The norm of shaking hands should be abolished because the world today is exposed to numerous sources of infection and the handshake is one of the most common ways of spreading infection. The handshake makes every person susceptible to be infected (Potty , par 4). Viruses such as AH1N1, Swine flu or Avian flu can easily be transmitted through a hand shake. Although frequent hand washing is always advised, one cannot avoid touching door knobs, grocery carts, elevator buttons, escalator railings, train handrails or money. It has also been a common practice to cover one’s mouth with

Criminal Liability -Theft and Fraud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Criminal Liability -Theft and Fraud - Essay Example The British Criminal Code provides for a number of ways to become involved in the commission of an offence: by actually committing the offence, by aiding and abetting the principal, by engaging oneself with others in a criminal activity with a common intention (Aquinas, 1988) (Ali was participant in Junaid's activity), by counselling another to commit an offence and by being an accessory after the fact. In general, anyone who knowingly encourages or facilitates the commission of an offense or impedes its prevention is a party to the offense (Aquinas, 1988). While one commonly uses the expression "aiding and abetting", the two are different concepts and either of them is ample to engage criminal liability. Whether liability for one's action lies through either concept, it must be accomplished "for the purpose of" aiding or abetting, which simply means "intentionally" as opposed to by accident. There is no need to show that the accused desire the illegal end to occur. One who is indifferent to the fact that his action aids or abets the perpetrator of an offense is therefore guilty. The fact that the principal cannot be convicted is not a block to a successful prosecution of other parties. An attempt to commit an offense is also prohibited.   The acts do not have to be illegal or morally wrong. "Conspiracy is an inchoate or preliminary crime, dating from the time of Edward, but much refined in the Court of Star Chamber in the 17th century. Notwithstanding its antiquity, the law of conspiracy is still uncertain. It can, however, be said that the indictment for conspiracy is a formidable weapon in the armory of the prosecutor. According to the cases, it permits a vague definition of the offense; broader standards of admissibility of evidence apply; it may provide the solution to prosecutorial problems as to situs and jurisdiction: see Director of Public Prosecutions v. Doot, [1973] A.C. 807." These words capture the reality of the conspiracy offense (Aquinas, 1988). The essence of the crime is the agreement between two or more persons to commit an offense. When the agreement is reached, a conspiracy is complete and one cannot withdraw from it. It is irrelevant that the object of the conspiracy is not achieved. A person may become part of a conspiracy by aiding or abetting the conspirators. The Supreme Court of Canada also decided that a conspiracy may be prosecuted in Canada even if the actual crime is committed in another country, as long as there is some important link with Canada. Essentially, theft is committed when anything is fraudulently and without color of right taken or converted with a target to leave without thereof the owner or person who has a special property or concern in it of the thing or his property or concern in it. The intent may be to deprive the person of the property either temporarily or absolutely, although this is not the only proscribed intent.  

The Life and Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Essay Example for Free

The Life and Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Essay Buddhism is a way of life for Buddhists, based on the teachings of a man who had lived more than two and a half thousand years ago in northern India. He was born in the foothills of Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, in about 563BCE, and was called Siddhartha. His family was called Gautama, and his father (Shuddhodana) was the rular of the Shakya clan at that time. Everyone who followed Siddhartha called him the Buddha, which means the enlightened one. They believed that he had found the truth about life. Many stories about the life of the Buddha were passed on by word of mouth for about 600 years before anyone wrote them down. They were a constant reminder of the Buddha and all the things he did for other people. Siddharthas father felt very strongly about him taking over as rular. He therefore gave Siddhartha everything he wanted and every luxury he could have. He didnt tell his son about suffering and death because he didnt want to upset him. He was afraid that these things would stop him from becoming interested in religion. Because Siddhartha was a prince, he was taught the skills of archery, horsemanship, swordplay and martial arts. He was given the staff of beautiful young women to care for him and to look after him. When he was only nineteen, he married a beautiful princess named Yasodhara. Because she was a princess, she was allowed to choose her husband from the local princes. She chooses Siddhartha after a number of competitions, which included lots of things such as sports and the singing of love-songs! They then had a son whose name was Rahula. When Siddhartha decided to go out in his chariot, his father sent all his servants to go and get all the blind and sick people of the streets because he didnt want to upset his son, but Siddhartha saw four things that changed his life. He saw an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a Hindu holy man, or a Sadhu. After seeing the first three of these, Siddhartha knew that he had to grow old and die. He no longer wanted a life of luxury but wanted to be ordinary. He wanted to help these people overcome their suffering. He wanted to become more like a Sadhu, who gave up all his possessions and time to lead a spiritual life. He knew that this spiritual life was for him to live. Then, one night, he left his family at the palace. Channa, his charioteer, drove him out of his fathers city. He cut off all his hair, took off all his fine clothes and, wearing just a simple robe, he set out to a homeless life. He was 29 years old. For six years Siddhartha lived under strict discipline of the Hindu religion. In other words he lived as an ascetic. He had settled to live with five other holy men near the River Nairanjana. He had trained himself to fast for long periods of time and when he had done that he only ate a little, just enough for him to live on. Some people said that he nearly killed himself fasting like that. He grew so thin that you could see his backbone through his stomach. Then, one day, he decided that this fasting and discipline wasnt doing him any good. He was trying to find the truth about life and this discipline wasnt helping, so he gave it up. He went down to the river and bathed, and on the way back he met a milkmaid named Nandabala, and she offered him some rice pudding to eat. He accepted it. The other holy men thought that Siddhartha was giving up his fast and as a consequence, they then decided to desert him. Unfortunately, he had not done what he came to do. He still wanted to find the meaning and purpose of life and to understand how to overcome the suffering that there was. He went and sat at the bottom of a tree and vowed that he would not move until he had achieved this enlightenment. He sat under the tree all night, trying to deal with temptations. Then, he was said to have gained this enlightenment. The tree that he sat under is now called the Bodhi-tree because the word for enlightenment is Bodhi. He was thirty-five when he became enlightened. For the rest of his life, until he died at eighty, he had walked all over India. One of the main places where he taught was Varanasi, where he explained his teaching-which is now the basis of all Buddhist understanding and practice. He found the sanga- the order of monks and nuns who spent their lives spreading the teaching. Most people dont choose to be monks or nuns. They follow the Buddhas teaching, and apply it to work and family life. The sanga refers to all those who are monks or nuns. By the time the Buddha had died thousands of people in India had become his followers. During the next century his teaching spread throughout most of Asia. Today there are well over 500 million Buddhists living in countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand, Japan etc. There are many Buddhist centres in the west, Europe and the U.S.A. The Buddhists believe that everyone can achieve enlightenment. They hope to do so. Some say that we all have the Buddha nature within ourselves. Siddhartha is called the Buddha because he was the first to be enlightened in this way. The Buddhists respect the Buddha in many different ways. They respect him as a great and famous teacher, helping others to understand the truth and meaning of life, and to help them gain enlightenment like the Buddha.

Role of E6AP in Malignancies and Tumorigenesis

Role of E6AP in Malignancies and Tumorigenesis INTRODUCTION Leukemia is a malignant hematological disorder characterized by proliferation of abnormal white cells that infiltrate the bone marrow, peripheral blood and other important organs. Leukemia arising from myeloid cells is known as Myeloid Leukemia which may either be chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and/or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a complex disease caused by mutations, deregulated gene expression and epigenetic modifications leading to increased proliferation and decreased differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Several important molecular markers have been discovered in AML to better characterize patients. C/EBPÃŽ ± is an important regulator of Granulopoiesis. Several groups have reported mutations in the C/EBPÃŽ ± gene in a subset of patients with AML presenting with normal karyotypes. A significant percentage of AML patients without chromosomal translocations have demonstrated abnormalities in C/EBPÃŽ ± protein or function, suggesting that loss of transcriptional control is a common mechanism of leukemogenesis. Even in the setting of other proleukemogenic genetic abnormalities, such as the (8; 21) translocation, C/EBPÃŽ ± has been demonstrated to be aberrantly regulated, in this case by down regulation of expression. Functional alterations of C/EBPÃŽ ± in AML include mutations of the C/EBPÃŽ ± gene and deregulated expression of C/EBPÃŽ ± by chromosomal translocations. Further, post-transcriptional or post-translational suppression of C/EBPÃŽ ± has been demonstrated to be involved in hematopoietic malignancies. AML is also characterized as, a malignant disease of hematopoietic system in which cells accumulate in an undifferentiated state due to mutations that prevent their normal differentiation and allow undifferentiated cells to survive and proliferate. The molecular changes that occur in AML usually lead to either abnormal cell proliferation (FLT3 and Ras mutations) or block in differentiation (AML1/ETO, PML/RAR alpha, C/EBPalpha mutation s) or suppression of apoptosis (bcl2 overexpression). Despite of block in differentiation, native AML cells often show some morphological signs of differentiation that allow a classification into different subsets, and further differentiation may be induced by exposure to various soluble mediators, e.g., all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and several cytokines in t(15;17). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a derivative of vitamin A and it affects cellular development including haematopoiesis, in particular granulocytic differentiation. ATRA could induce a dose-dependent differentiation of HL-60 promyeloblasts to mature, functioning neutrophils. ATRA induces growth inhibition, differentiation, and apoptosis in cancer cells, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In APL, expression of promyelocytic leukemia protein retinoic acid receptor (PMLRARÃŽ ±) fusion protein, owing to the t (15; 17) reciprocal translocation, leads to a block in the promyelocytic stage of differentiation. E3 Ubiquitin ligases are a large family of proteins engaged in the regulation of protein turnover and activity through a multistep proteolytic cascade, called ubiquitination. Ubiquitination of a target protein involves 2 distinct steps: covalent attachment of multiple ubiquitin molecules to the protein substrates and degradation of the polyubiquitylated proteins by the 26S proteasome system. The first step is mediated by a cascade of 3 enzymes: ubiquitin activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2), and ubiquitin ligase (E3) [1, 2]. Ubiquitin is a 76-amino acid polypeptide that is highly conserved among eukaryotic organisms. It is first activated in an ATP-dependent manner via binding to E1 through a thioester bond between a cysteine residue at the active site of E1 and the C-terminal glycine (G76) of ubiquitin. Activated ubiquitin in an E1-ubiquitin complex is then transferred to E2, which also participates in the formation of a thioester bond between its active site cy steine residue and the G76 of ubiquitin. Finally, ubiquitin is covalently attached to the target protein through an is opeptide bond between the G76 of ubiquitin and the ÃŽ µ-amino group of an internal lysine residue of the target protein, in a reaction catalyzed by E3 ligase. Subsequent to the linkage of ubiquitin to the target protein, a polyubiquitin chain is formed in which the C-terminus of each ubiquitin moiety is linked to a specific lysine residue (most commonly Lys48) of the previous ubiquitin to form K48-linked polyubiquitylated conjugates which are rapidly recognized by the 19S regulatory subunit of the 26S proteasome and degraded by the 20S core particle [1-3]. There are approximately 600 E3 ligases in the human genome that can be classified into 3 major types the N-end rule ubiquitin ligases; HECT-type; and the RING-type, on the basis of domain structure and substrate recognition[1]. The N-end rule ubiquitin E3 ligases target protein substrates bearing specific destabilizing N-terminal residues, including Arg, Lys, His (type I) and Phe, Trp, Leu, Tyr, Ile (type II)[1]. The second type HECT (homology to E6AP C-Terminus) E3-ubiquitin protein ligases, found from yeast to humans range in size from 80kDa to more than 500kDa. They are characterised by the HECT domain, a C-terminal region of approximately 350 amino acids in length with significant similarity to C-terminus of E6AP. Unlike RING E3s which act as scaffolds facilitating interaction between E2s and substrates, HECT E3 ligases form an intermediate thioester bond with the ubiquitin C-terminus through an evolutionarily conserved cysteine residue before catalyzing substrate ubiquitination. Hence, HECT E3s play a direct catalytic role in the final attachment of ubiquitin moieties to target proteins. The N-terminus is highly variable and may be involved in substrate recognition. On the basis of distinct amino acid sequence motifs within the N-terminus, human HECT E3s can be classified into 3 sub-families: HECT E3s with RLDs (RCC1-like domains, termed as HERC (HECT and RCC-1like domain E3s), HECT E3s with WW domains (called Nedd4/Nedd4- like E3s), and HECT E3s that neither contain RLDs nor WW domains (called SI(ngle)- HECT E3s). E6AP, the prototype of HECT E3 family belongs to the third sub-family of HECT E3 ligases [3-5]. The third and the largest type of E3 ligase is the RING (Really Interesting New Gene) family. RING-based E3 ligases are specified by over 600 human genes surpassing 518 protein kinase genes. These are characterised by a classic C3H2C3 or C3HC4 RING finger domain with a characteristic linear sequence Cys-X2-Cys-X9-39-Cys-X1-3-His-X2-3-Cys/His-X2-Cys-X4-48-Cys-X2-Cys, where X can be any amino acid. The RING domain provides a docking site for the E2 enzyme, which mediate transfer of ubiquitin to the substrate, facilitating assembly of mono- or polyubiquitylated conjugates via different lysine residues of ubiquitin. The resulting modifications have a diverse range of biological functions, from proteasome-dependent proteolysis (Lys48- and Lys 11-linked polyubiquitin) to post-translational regulation of protein function, structure, assembly, and/or localization (Lys 63 and other linkages)[1, 6]. E3 ligases can also be classified into single subunit E3s (e.g. Mdm2, Cbl) and multi-subunit complexes (APC, SCF). E3 enzymes bind their target substrates through various protein-protein interaction domains (e.g. WD 40 repeats). However, for substrate recognition post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation or proteolytic cleavage are required[7]. The modified motif in the substrate is called degron. There are many different types of degrons (e.g. phosphodegron, PEST). Once modified, a degron in a substrate might be recognized by a specific E3 ligase, which forms the basis for its subsequent ubiquitination[8]. Through ubiquitin-mediated covalent modification of diverse range of cellular proteins, E3 ubiquitin ligases regulate several cellular functions or biological processes such as cell cycle progression, Oncogenesis, signal transduction, transcription regulation, DNA repair, endocytois, transport and development via proteolytic or non-proteolytic mechanisms [2, 9]. A direct molecular link between cell-cycle control, Oncogenesis and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity was supported by several clinical findings and wealth of experimental data on E6AP, SKP2 and FBW7, Nedd 4-1, Pirh2, CDC20, CDH1 and also on other E3 ligases [3, 10, 11]. Understanding the physiological role of E6-AP, the founding member of the HECT E3 family, is of interest because inactivation of UBE3A gene encoding E6AP has been associated with Angelman Syndrome, a hereditary neurological disorder. Moreover, in the case of cervical cancer, the E6/E6-AP complex not only targets p53 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation, but also targets other proteins, which is necessary for HPV-induced cervical carcinogenesis[12]. E6-AP forms a stable complex with the adaptor protein E6. The dimeric complex binds to and targets p53 for ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, thus eventually interfering with the negative growth regulating activities of this tumor suppressor protein [13-15]. In addition, the expression of E6-AP protein is decreased in human invasive breast and prostate cancers compared with their adjacent normal tissues. This down-regulation of E6-AP is accompanied by the elevation of ER in breast and AR in prostate carcinomas[16]. Furthermore, in vivo data fro m E6-AP-knockout animals indicated that the expression levels of ER and AR are increased in E6-AP-null mammary and prostate glands, respectively, when compared with that of normal control animals, suggesting that E6-AP modulates the protein levels of ER in breast and AR in prostate glands [17]. E6AP, a 100-kDa cellular protein is a member of functionally related E3-ubiquitin-protein ligases defined by the domain homologous to the carboxy terminus hect domain.20 E3 ligases ubiquitinate and degrade several regulatory proteins including p53, p27, promyelocytic leukemia retinoic acid receptor ÃŽ ± and others, which serve as tumor suppressors and cell-cycle inhibitors. E6AP promotes C/EBPÃŽ ± ubiquitination leading to its proteasome-mediated degradation and thus functional inactivation. E6AP negatively regulate Granulopoiesis by targeting C/EBPÃŽ ± for degradation via ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Promyelocytic leukemia tumor suppressor (PML) has been recently identified as a target of catalytically active form of E6AP. PML tumor suppressor is essential for the formation of PML nuclear bodies. Recent studies have implicated role of PML and PML nuclear bodies in the regulation of growth inhibition, senescence and apoptosis. PML is down regulated in multiple human cancers and experimental data has correlated reduced PML activity and expression to E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of E6AP, regulating protein turnover and activity[18]. Recently, Annexin I involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation, regulation of cell differentiation, anti-inflammatory effects, cell death signalling, carcinogenesis has been identified as a novel target of E6AP in addition to classical substrates, including p53 tumor suppressor, PDZ domain-containing protein scribble, a transcriptional repressor of the gene encoding hTERT[19]. In addition, studies have also implicated the role of E6AP ubiquitin ligase activity in ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Peroxiredoxin1 and presumably open avenues to investigate the functional link between lack of E6AP expression and stability of Peroxiredoxin 1with regard to the pathogenesis of Angelman syndrome[20]. p53 is targeted for proteasomal degradation by mdm2 which is a p53 target gene containing E3 ubiquitin ligase activity[21]. While mdm2 targets p53 for degradation, mdm2 is self -ubiquitinated and degraded. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21waf/cip, another p53 target gene, is degraded by proteasome and GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3) mediated phosphorylation [22]. Rb (Retinoblastoma) protein is a tumor suppressor and negatively regulates G1/S transition by interacting with E2F transcription factor. Rb protein is degraded in an ubiquitin dependent manner [23]. In addition, free E2F is also degraded in ubiquitin dependent manner by the 26S proteasome. Thus, collectively HECT domain containing E3 ligases are important for homeostasis of protein levels and defects in their function may lead to various diseases including cancer. Thus, wealth of experimental data and clinical findings identifying many substrates targeted by E3 ubiquitin ligases, indicate that the deregulation of Ubiquitin proteasome system in cell cycle control is tightly linked to malignancies and tumorigenesis. Due to the above relevance and role of E6AP in malignancies and tumorigenesis The project is based on the expression, purification and validation of GST tagged protein that is GST- E6AP. The current study includes Cell culture: HL-60 cells, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. HL-60 cells treated with 1uM ATRA for 0,24 and 48 hours. GST- E6AP Protein expression and purification: GST-E6AP Pull down: Objectives: 1) Expression of GST and GST-E6AP plasmids in BL21 strain of E.Coli 2) Purification of GST and GST-E6AP proteins from BL21 strain of E.Coli 3) Validation of expression through western blotting 4) To detect GST-E6AP protein interaction with whole cell lysates of HL-60 cells treated with 1ÃŽ ¼M ATRA for 0, 24 and 48 hrs GOMTI NAGAR EXTENSION, LUCKNOW

Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip Ess

Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip and Estella Pip and Estella's story is not about living happily ever after. Dickens never tells us what happens, if anything, between them in the end. He leaves it only that they remain friends. There is a purpose for this. Dickens novel is about Pip's quest for Estella's love and what he is willing to do to gain it. I think that the story is never about the love itself. We can see this because in the majority of the story, Estella is only present in Pip's heart and thoughts. The actual interaction between the characters Dickens keeps at a minimum. To make this a love story, the characters would have to carry out some sort of loving affection towards each other, which they don't do, although I do believe that Pip loves Estella but she thinks it is impossible that she will ever love, and so does not ever like the idea of Pip's affection; as a friend she repeatedly warns him off. I think that most of us regard a woman without feeling, who torments others, with disapproval, but it is not Estella's faul... Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip Ess Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip and Estella Pip and Estella's story is not about living happily ever after. Dickens never tells us what happens, if anything, between them in the end. He leaves it only that they remain friends. There is a purpose for this. Dickens novel is about Pip's quest for Estella's love and what he is willing to do to gain it. I think that the story is never about the love itself. We can see this because in the majority of the story, Estella is only present in Pip's heart and thoughts. The actual interaction between the characters Dickens keeps at a minimum. To make this a love story, the characters would have to carry out some sort of loving affection towards each other, which they don't do, although I do believe that Pip loves Estella but she thinks it is impossible that she will ever love, and so does not ever like the idea of Pip's affection; as a friend she repeatedly warns him off. I think that most of us regard a woman without feeling, who torments others, with disapproval, but it is not Estella's faul...

Shopaholism Essay example -- Shopping Shop Buying Essays

Shopaholism I have fifty minutes before my exam will be over. Ten minutes have already passed and the only thing I've written so far is my name. I continue to stare at the black type and attempt to make sense of it all. Five minutes remaining and I quickly jot down my final thoughts. My time is up. Usually I would be excited to find out my exam score, but this time there was no use in knowing. I knew I failed. I decided not to attend the rest of my classes for the day and instead do what I usually do when I need to forget about my troubles and just escape into my own world where everything is perfect; go shopping. After my little excursion to the mall, I came back elated, with a bunch of shopping bags in my hands and a huge bill in my pocket. I find myself escaping reality through shopping quite often, but fortunately I do know my limits; however, there are many people who have formed an addiction to shopping. They're almost like alcoholics. Reasons for excessive shopping vary from wanting to keep up with friends or fashion to simply cheering oneself up. But dysfunctional shopping behavior can easily get out of control. Like alcoholism, notes Chicago psychoanalyst Robert Galatzer-Levy, compulsive shopping represents a case of "the ordinary pleasures of living getting out of hand." Just as nearly every alcoholic starts out as a social drinker, a shopping addict starts out as a recreational shopper -- bringing a little color into a gray day by picking up a pair (or three) of shoes. About 90 years ago, German psychologist, Emil Kraepelin defined excessive shopping as an illness, calling it "oniomania" after the Latin onos, or price, but only recently has this disorder begun to be understood. According to Observer Magazin... ...ed because at times I do go shopping to relieve stress and I do come back with lots of bags in my hands, but I don't own a credit card so I know my limits since I'm using cash. Now I wonder what will happen when I do get a credit card, but hopefully I'll be alright since I'm reducing my expenditure on unnecessary items already. I think if we recognize a problem in our spending habits at an early stage, then we can prevent falling victim to shopaholism, but if we continue to deny the problem and go on buying more and more for no apparent reason then the situation may get out of hand and treatment would be needed. Like binge eating or pathological gambling, shopaholism distorts our sense of self and if anyone feels as though he or she might be falling victim to this disorder then it is highly recommended that something is done immediately, before it becomes too late.

Health Tourism in Asia

Health Tourism Introduction With the development of society, more and more people take more care of their health. Health tour is a good way for people to cure their disease or maintain their health. It is becoming more and more popular and playing an important role in tourism industry As it known to all, Asia has many resource for health tour, such as the nature environment and the experience of health care. India and China are famous places for health care. But Health tourism is more booming in Europe than in Asia. Why? Asian health tourism also should be promoted.The purpose of this essay is to analysis the definition of health tourism and the advantages and obstacles of promoting health tourism across Asia. Definition of â€Å"health tourism† Health tourism is also called Medical tourism ? medical travel and global health care. It is a term to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling to get health care. And, It is an commercial action that some sellers deliberate ly promoting its health-care services and facilities to attract tourists. Such as Most of the natural therapeutic resorts, as well as the spa resorts, offer the possibility of combining your visit with a range of holistic treatments.This kind of treatment includes water therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, and conventional massages. And most of the therapeutic resorts are hotels offering special vacation packages that include treatments and pampering, as well as board and lodging. The advantages and obstacles of promoting health tourism across Asia Advantages: Firstly, from the angle of the economy, it includes price dominance? physical infrastructures and market economics. Asian countries have many resources for health tourism and adequate labor that can provide comparable medical tourist services at lower prices.For example, China is becoming a destination for Westerners who want to take advantage of stem cell treatments . Hong Kong offered A wide range of health care services. It has 12 private hospitals and 39 public hospitals in 2006, providing 3124 and 27755 beds respectively. India is known in particular for heart surgery, hip resurfacing and other areas of advanced medicine. The government and private hospital groups are committed to the goal of making India a leader in the industry. The industry's main appeal is low-cost treatment.Singapore has a dozen hospitals and health centers with JCI accreditation. In 2000, The World Health Organization ranked Singapore's health care system sixth best in the world, the highest ranked system in Asia . Patients from developed countries such as the United States and the UK are also beginning to choose Singapore as their medical travel destination for relatively affordable health care services in a clean cosmopolitan city. Water, Waste management, Telecommunications, Power Transport, Money and Banking are all the physical infrastructures.Thailand, one of the countries in Asia, for 5 years, staring in 2005, the Thailand gove rnment plants to invest US$41 billion, or 26 percent of GDP in infrastructure such as electricity, transportation, housing, irrigation, health and education. Market economy is very important to the development of health tourism. Health tourism as a commercial transaction must be develop in a free market. Economic globalization is a trends in modern society. It is the same in Asia. The Asian Financial Crisis in July 1997 is enough to prove it. Medical tourism is a growing segment of Thailand's tourism and health-care sectors.In 2005, one Bangkok hospital took in 150,000 treatment seekers from abroad. In 2006, medical tourism was projected to earn the country 36. 4 billion baht. Secondly, from the angle of the policy, health tourism needs developed political and legal institutions. It consists of political environment? legal system ? low, order and the provision of a safe environment. China is country who pay more attention to the social health system especially to the poor. So the le gal system to protect the health care agency. It is good for health tourism. Thirdly, from the angle of the society, it includes Domestic research and development ? he influence of high-tech medicine and traditional healing? Tourist appeal? Human capital. It is known to all that Asia has many resources of health-care, like the Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. So it can be used to the domestic research and development. We are in a technology society now, technology is the impetus of health industry. New products should be produce with technology. By developing the technology to promote the health tourism is an important strategy. The most important thing is that some Asian countries combine the high-tech medicine and traditional healing , so that traditional experience and technology can be combine.The reputation of Asian medicine is high, tourists appeal to travelling to Asian to get health care. Because some methods is close to nature and its side-effect is least. So it is attractive . Finally, human capital is also a important thing to develop health tourism. Westerners go overseas to countries such as China and India not because it is cheap, but because it is highly educated. The skill and educated is the productivity to health industry. Countries that have more human capital, especially human capital appropriate for the medical tourism industry are at an advantage over those who that do not.And it is one of the advantages in Asia. Obstacles: Firstly, there are many international regulations in the world. Patent is very important to economy. And it also very important for a company , it can be looked as productivity. If new products created by a company can not be protect, there will be many fake products and the competition of this company will be reduced. Western countries pay much attention to the patent, even some of them will look it as the life of the economy. You know that patent is not be much accounted in many Asian countries. Some health-care product s can not be protected well.It lead to some sellers can not make much money. So the passion of them will be reduced. It will affect the development of the health tourism. Secondly, international standard and accreditation or credentialing is also a obstacle for health tourism to develop. Although it is globalization nowadays, there are still many problems about accreditation or credentialing. If someone want to go aboard, maybe it is not easy for some countries. The process may be vey confused. The standard of international is not in a high level since the developing standard is different for many countries.Maybe it is very convenient between European countries, but not the same in other countries like in Asia. So sometimes travel to other countries for health travel is not an easy thing to many people. Thirdly, public and private health insurance in source countries increase the portability of health tourism. I think health traveling is an kind of consumption, if it need more peopl e to consume it, it must have some policy to ensure it. So that people will not be afraid of fear. Most of the Asian countries are not very poor, farmers occupy most in the total population. The heath insurance of health-care has been less developed.These countries always pay more attention to their economy and policy. Many Asian countries have been the colony in the history. At that time, they have no economic sovereignty. So the standard of their economy is not in a high level. Absolutely, it is worse than western countries. So both public and pravite health insurance in sourse countries in Asia is in shortage. This may obstruct the development of health tourism. Fourthly, legal resourse and protection of patients is also very important. All the patients must be respected by the whole society. Be respected by others and every one be look as equal is also one of the human rights.If someone who travel for health to an Asian country, he or she shouldn’t be discriminated. I hav e heard a news said that a man who has a strange disease and he travel to Thailand to cure this disease. Few days later he was known by many people. He got exposure by the journalists in Thailand. I think it is not good for him and his wellness. And it is not the humanism. The value system is different in different countries. But all we should do is protect the patients as much as we can. Since the standard of legalization is not high, the government must lay down some laws to protect the health tourism in Asia.In European, the regulation system is very strong. Fifthly, entry requirements and transportation is a problem in Asia. Because the economy is not strong in Asia, the infrastructure is not enough and without high quality. Without transportation, the communication will be less. Tourists from other countries can not get Asia for health tourism and the resource from different areas and not be exchange. So, to promote the health travel, traffic system must be improve and perfect. Or else, it will obstruct the promoting of the health tourism. Conclusion In this essay, I talk about something about health tourism.It include the definition and the advantages and obstacles it promoting in Asia. If we want to develop the health tourism in Asia, we must make the most of it and change the obstacles to advantages, so that it can be well-developed. Reference: http://www. jointcommissioninternational. org/23218/iortiz/ JointCommission International (JCI) Accredited Organizations . Health system attainment and performance in all Member States, ranked by eight measures, estimates for 1997 Medical Tourism: Hidden dimensions by Rabindra Seth, Express Hospitality, June, 2006, retrieved September 12, 2006