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You are listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Ning Yan in Beijing.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a new product of bio-engineered cornea, which is expected to help millions of people suffering from corneal blindness to see again.
The product is the result of decades of research. It was accredited with due qualification by China Food and Drug Administration in late April.
Experts say the cornea is devoid of cells and protein but retains a natural collagen structure with remarkable bio-compatibility and biological safety.
It can quickly integrate with the surrounding tissue, and promote its own cells to be rebuilt. The transplanted cornea gradually becomes transparent, and restores vision.
The invention has complete independent intellectual property rights and has been industrialized, which is a significant step for China in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Traditional treatment for corneal blindness includes transplantation and artificial corneas.
Clinical trials of the new product started in 2010, recording a success rate of 94 percent, similar to the results seen with donated human corneas.
According to the World Health Organization, there are eight million blind people in China, and only around 5,000 of them receive donated corneas annually.
This is NEWS Plus Special English.
Legal and health experts have urged China's regulators to fully implement a ban on tobacco advertisements at tobacco retailers.
In April, China's top legislature adopted an amendment to the 21-year-old Advertisement Law, banning tobacco advertising in public places and distributing any form of advertising to minors. The new law will take effect on Sept. 1.
A public place refers to an indoor or outdoor area for the public to use, whether privately or publicly owned; and tobacco retail stores are public places. Angela Pratt, project leader of the World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative in China, said advertising will constitute a form of deliberate advertising to young people, if it is allowed in retail settings.
As the world largest tobacco consumer and producer, China has more than 5 million registered tobacco retail stores in 2013. The number of smokers reached 350 million by the end of last year. Around 1-and-a-half million people die from smoking related diseases every year in China.
