Newsletter No. 364

4 No. 364, 4.10.2010 校 園 消 息 CAMPUS NEWS 全方位減少老人跌倒及骨折 • Comprehensive Elderly Fall Prevention Programme 老 人跌倒引致骨折或受傷是常見的醫療個案，在香 港每年涉及的開支高達二十億港元。矯形外科及 創傷學系講座教授暨矯形外科及創傷學進修培訓中心主 任梁國穗教授率領團隊，致力推廣社區防跌行動，並研發 了有助復康和強化骨骼肌肉的互動負重運動儀和長者防 跌鞋。 過去十年，梁教授及其團隊一方面加強防跌及防骨折的健 康知識，另方面為長者提供檢查、跌倒危機評估、平衡力測 試及骨質密度檢查等流動服務；並推行老年脆性骨折全面 復康計劃。 梁教授的團隊研發了高頻低幅的互動負重運動儀，可加速 正常骨折癒合，並預防骨質疏鬆症。今年8月已把四十部運 動儀送予本港十八間社區中心使用。 至於長者防跌鞋，則是由研究團隊收集了五百名華人長者 腳形資料，再配以嶄新力學刺激原理開發的，最近更在社 區完成了一項大規模穿着計劃。 互動負重運動儀及長者防跌鞋的研究工作 已經完成，大學科技授權處已將項目成功 商品化，有關產品將於年底於市場發售。 對於多年科研成果轉化大眾所用，梁教 授說：「互動負重運動儀能造福社會，特別 是長者，我深感欣慰。」 A total of HK$2 billion in medical expenses is spent on elderly fall-related injuries or fractures a year. Prof. Kwok Sui Leung, Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and director of Orthopaedic Learning Centre, and his research team are dedicated to promoting fall and fracture prevention in the community. Two pieces of equipment, the interactive weightbearing exercise platform and fall prevention shoes, have been developed. Over the past decade, the research team has specialized in disseminating fall and fracture prevention knowledge; providing services to the elderly, including mobile checkup, fall risk assessment, balance test and bone density assessment; and providing rehabilitation services to fractured elders. By employing low amplitude and high frequency, the interactive weightbearing exercise platform can facilitate the healing of bone fracture and the prevention of osteoporosis. In August 2010, 40 platforms were deployed to 18 community centres in Hong Kong. In the development of fall prevention shoes, the foot anthropometric data of 500 Chinese seniors were collected. By incorporating a novel concept of mechanical stimulation, the shoes have been developed and a large-scale community trial has just been completed. The development of platforms and fall prevention shoes have been completed and successfully commercialized with the aid of the Technology Licensing Office. Both products will be put on the market by the end of this year. Professor Leung says, ‘I am very pleased to see that the platform can benefit the community, in particular the elderly.’ 新法助糖尿肥胖症患者 • Novel Method to Help Obese Diabetic Patients 肥 胖是糖尿病最重要的風險 因素，針對中度肥胖（體重 質量指標介乎25至35 kg/m 2 ）的二 型糖尿病患者，中大引入一種風險 較低及手術後較少不適的嶄新外科 裝置「脈衝胃動力調整器」，以助他 們控制血糖。 脈衝胃動力調整器可透過腹腔鏡 手術植入體內，當病人進食時，調 整器會發出脈衝電流增強胃部肌 肉活動，激活特別的神經反應及激 素分泌，讓病人有飽肚的感覺，減 少進食，從而改善血糖水平，減輕 體重和降低血壓。 自今年2月起，外科學系與內科及 藥物治療學系先後為四名中度肥 胖症的患者植入調整器，他們術後 康復良好，平均三日後出院，並在無需胰島素治療下，糖 化血紅蛋白於首三個月期間平均降低百分之一點五，其體 重、腰圍、血壓及脂肪比例也一併 下降。 該項療法仍在研究中，並會招募更 多合適的患者作更深入及長久的比 較。 D iabetes mellitus is closely associated with obesity. To improve glucose control in patients with moderate obesity (BMI 25–35 kg/m 2 ), CUHK has introduced a new surgical treatment for obese Type 2 Diabetic (T2D) patients with lower operative risk and less post-operative discomfort—a novel surgical device called the Gastric Contraction Modulator. The Gastric Contraction Modulator is an implantable device which generates electrical pulses to stimulate stomach muscles. This device is introduced by laparoscopic technique. It enhances the activity of gastric muscles during a meal, which activates and modifies nervous and hormonal signals. The stimulation causes the subject to feel full sooner, reduce food intake, resulting in weight loss. This is often accompanied by improvement in blood glucose levels and blood pressure. Since February 2010, the Department of Surgery and the Department of Medicine and Therapeutic have implanted the device in four moderately obese patients. All patients recovered well and stayed in hospital for about three days after the procedure. During a three- month period, without the need for insulin injection therapy, glucose control improved with an average 1.5% reduction in HBA1c. Other parameters such as body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and percentage of total body fat also showed reduction after the procedure. This treatment is still on trial and more suitable patients will be recruited to test its effectiveness against insulin injection therapy. 糖尿病患者陳先生展示嶄新外科裝置「脈衝胃動 力調整器」 Mr. Chan, an obese T2D patient, demonstrating the new Gastric Contraction Modulator 無車日暨樂步行 • Carfree Day cum Walking for Health 為 響應「世界無車日」，大學於9月22日舉辦「中大無 車日2010」及「樂步行」，鼓勵大學同仁盡量減少 使用車輛。當天早上校長沈祖堯（ 左二 ）、社區醫學榮休講 座教授李紹鴻（ 左一 ）、常務副校長華雲生（ 左三 ）、副校 長許敬文（ 右一 ）、善衡書院院長辛世文（ 右二 ）及聯合書 院院長馮國培（ 右三 ）與四百多名教職員齊集於港鐵大學 站，樂步經校友徑及中草藥園，行至本部富爾敦樓，身體 力行支持減碳，也宣揚環保訊息。 R esponding to World Carfree Day, the University launched ‘CUHK Carfree Day 2010’ and ‘Walking for Health’ on 22 September to encourage students and staff to walk instead of using vehicles. On that morning, Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung (left 2), CUHK Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Lee Shiu-hung (left 1), Emeritus Professor of Community Medicine; Prof. Benjamin W. Wah (left 3), Provost; Prof. Michael K.M. Hui (right 1), Pro-Vice- Chancellor; Prof. Samuel Sun Sai-ming (right 2), Master, S.H. Ho College; and Prof. Fung Kwok-pui (right 3), Head, United College; walked with over 400 staff and students from the MTR University Station to John Fulton Centre on central campus, via Alumni Path and Herbal Garden to increase awareness of environmental protection.