Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1993

Exhibition on Infant and Childhood Growth and Nutrition The Department of Paediatrics staged an exhibition entitled 'Infant and Childhood Growth and Nutrition' at the Prince of Wales Hospital from 18th to 20th December 1993 to release their recent research findings and to alert the public of the importance of healthy eating habit since childhood. Studies conducted by the department reveal that the amount of dietary fat consumed by Hong kong children today is double that of one or two generations ago, and the change in eating habits has led to high blood-cholesterol levels and greater vulnerability to coronary heart diseases as these children grow up. The average blood-cholesterol level of Hong Kong children now ranks second highest in the world, higher than that of American children. Researchers call upon parents not to over emphasize the intake of animal protein and milk but to introduce a balanced diet for their children. New Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science Established A new Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science was established under the Faculty of Medicine in July 1993. The new department will be responsible for (1) teaching ophthalmology to medical undergraduates of both the CUHK and the University of Hong Kong, (2) specialist research, and (3) the provision of patient care services to the public in collaboration with the Hospital Authority. Medical Exchange Between CUHK and Johns Hopkins University The Faculty of Medicine recently reached an agreement with the School of Medicine of the Johns Hopkins University, USA, to exchange staff and research ideas. The exchange agreement was signed on 3rd August by Prof. Arthur K. C. Li, dean of medicine, CUHK, and Dr. Michael Johns, dean of the School of Medicine of Johns Hopkins, and Dr. David A. Blake, executive vice-dean. Beginning in 1994, two senior academic staff members from each institution will spend six weeks each year in the other institution for research, clinical demonstrations and teaching. Established in 1893, the School of Medicine of the Johns Hopkins University is one of the most famous medical schools in the USA. It has excellent teaching and research support facilities and has for many years been the top recipient of research grants from the US National Institute of Health. New Era of Medical Imaging Begins On 26th August 1993, an innovative broadband communications network, MAGNET, was launched at the University's teaching hospital, ushering in a new era of medical imaging in Hong Kong. The first network of its kind in Southeast Asia and the first fruit borne of an on-going research on broadband communications by the University's Department of Information Engineering, MAGNET connects the department and the Prince of Wales Hospital with St. Teresa's Hospital in Kowloon. Medical images taken of patients by sophisticated News in Brief 41