Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

channel A B I devices 一 the first time such i mp l a n t a t i o ns were c o n d u c t e d i n A s i a following their successful initia l trial i n Europe. T h e device s were s w i t c h ed o n i n late November. The Prince o f Wales Hospital is one o f o n ly t wo centres in A s i a capable o f performing A B I surgery. The A B I is a device that is surgically positioned int o a patient's brainstem to partially restore hearing. The surgery was performed by ear specialists and neurosurgeons. The tumour was f i r st r emo v ed , then the device was positioned in the brainstem w i th the help of a s o p h i s t i c a t ed m o n i t o r i n g system. T h e implanted electrodes were linked to an external speech processor through an antenna whereby electrically stimulated signals are transmitted to the brain. Intensive mo n i t o r i ng o f the patients is essential to the success of the surgery as the brainstem is one of the most important parts o f the brai n controlling breathin g and heart-beat. Programming o f the device and rehabilitation of the patients are undertaken by audiologists and speech therapists. A press conference to introduce ABI surgery New Research Centres Centre for Gerontology and Geriatrics A Centre for Gerontology and Geriatrics was set up at the Prince of Wales Hospital to carry out comprehensive research int o the various aspects of the ageing process, the implication of ageing for the Ho n g K o ng population, and the measures to deal with the consequences. The m i l t i d i s c i p l i n a ry centre draws on the expertise of the departments of Medicine and T h e r a p e u t i c s, C o mm u n i t y a n d F a m i l y Med i c i ne, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Nu r s i ng, Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology. Studies currently being conducted by the centre include chroni c disease, f un c t i onal disability, and their economic consequences for Hong Kong; a longitudinal study of the factors for successful ageing; exercise and health; the psychiatric issues of the elderly; and the training of carers. Centre for the Study of Cerebrovascular Disease in Chinese The incidence of stroke in China is higher than in almost any other country in the world, except Russia an d Finland. I n H o ng K o n g , over 10,000 people are killed or disabled every year by stroke. Medical research has proven that stroke types among the Chinese are different from those among Westerners. The Centre for the Study o f Cerebrovascular Disease i n Chinese was set up by the Department o f Medicine an d Therapeutics jointly w i t h the Department of Neurology of Peking Un i o n Medical College Hospital and the Institute of Neurology of Shanghai Medical University. The centre will promot e the study of the epidemiology and pathophysiology o f c e r e b r o v a s c u l ar diseases i n Ch i n e se Prof. Jean Woo (left 3 )， coordinator, and other key members of the centre. News in Brief