Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

Hong Kong's First MRI Machine for Probing the Heart The Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ I ma g i n g r e c en t l y i n t r o d u c e d an advanced MR I scanner, the first in Hong Kong that is specially dedicated to cardiovascular e x am i n a t i o n. It is e x p e c t ed to ma k e examination o f the cardiovascular system easier, safer, and more accurate, and hence, greatly enhance the diagnosis and prevention of heart diseases, and facilitate related research. Un l i k e o l d M R I machines, the new machine has a high gradient wh i ch allows examination to be completed withi n a short time. During MR I examination, the patient only needs to lie still , and the M R I scanner w i l l complete the whole procedure in 60 minutes without causing any pain. The procedure is t o t a l l y n o n - i n v a s i ve and i n v o l v es no irradiation. Different information about heart functions and morphology can be obtained in one examination. Doctors can detect the presence of myocardial infarction ， observe myocardial contraction and areas o f poor function, an d measure the ph y s i o l og i c a l function o f the heart. With the administration of intravenous contrast, the machine can also be used for imaging coronary arteries, detecting any stenosis in the main arteries. The machine is particularly useful for patients with suspected myocardial infarction related to heart attack or heart failure, or those suffering from angina attack but are unwilling to have conventional invasive angiography. New Findings Novel Gene Found in Male Reproductive Tract Researchers at the University's Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre and the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry o f the Chinese Academy o f Sciences have found in the epididymis o f mice a novel antimicrobial gene. This gene has the potential t o help develop medication against various microbes ， including the AIDS virus and many sexually transmitted diseases. It is als o i mp o r t a nt f o r the development of male contraceptives as well as for helping infertile men. According to Prof. Chan Hsiao Chang, director of the Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre, research leading to the discovery of the gene was all carried out in China ， and the results were recently carried in the international journal Science. The discovery is a big boost to life sciences research in China. The Epithelial Cell B i o l og y Research Centre was jointly set up by the University and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Disturbance of epithelial cell functions leads to a wide spectrum of common disorders such as diarrhoea and lethal diseases such as cancer. The study on the mechanisms underlying epithelia-related diseases provides grounds for the development of better treatments and new drugs. CUHK's First Formal Danish Link The University signed a letter of intent on academic and cultural exchange w i t h the Technical University of Denmark ( DTU ) on 16th October 2000, marking the University's first formal academic linkage with a Danish institution at the university level. The two News in Brief 63