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HKU develops "Comfy Acupressure for the Elderly" to improve the quality of life for the elderly
A recent clinical study conducted by the HKU School of Chinese Medicine in collaboration with Yan Chai Hospital Social Services Department (YCHSS) revealed that "Comfy Acupressure for the Elderly" can effectively improve the quality of life of frail elderly and reduce the strain of their caregivers. This 12-step acupressure protocol was developed on the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and practice. As it is easy to learn and apply in daily life, HKU and YCHSS are planning to further promote it in the community in order to benefit the frail elderly as well as their caregivers.
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HKU researchers call for citywide environmentally-friendly rainwater drainage
HKU Civil Engineering Assistant Professor Dr May Chui Ting-fong has conducted a feasibility study on the application of sustainable stormwater drainage systems (SuDS) in Hong Kong, funded by the Central Policy Unit's Public Policy Research Funding Scheme. SuDS features include bioretention systems, green roofs and porous pavements. These features, when built over a wide area, can retain and slowly release water, reducing peak flows into the drainage system. The findings suggest that using 5 to 10% of space installing the SuDS features could provide more effective stormwater control. Dr Chui said Hong Kong has been falling behind developed nations in adopting SuDS features and urges the government to adopt a drainage system that addresses the city's environmental needs, such as green rooftops that can absorb water as well as porous pavements.
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HKU researchers urge more physical activities in schools to improve children's mental health
Dr Robin Mellecker, Honorary Assistant Professor of the HKU Institute of Human Performance, and Dr Frances Law, Associate Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of HKU, urge schools to allow more time for children to engage in physical activities, which will help them grow up physically and mentally healthy.
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HKU marine ecologist and wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC reveal widespread illegal and unreported Humphead Wrasse trade into and through HK
A study by TRAFFIC and Professor Yvonne Sadovy of HKU School of Biological Sciences revealed widespread illegal and unreported trade of the endangered and highly valued reef fish, the Humphead Wrasse (HHW, So Mei in Cantonese, also known as the Napoleon fish) in Hong Kong and the possible illegal trade in Mainland China. Thousands of this fish were seen in local and Mainland markets, and being sold in high-end luxury restaurants, of which only a few hundred were likely to have been legally imported over the last 15 months. Professor Sadovy said the situation calls for urgent action by the Hong Kong government to ensure that imports and sales are legal, and that existing regulations are complied with by importers and traders. The intensity and frequency of inspections of facilities trading the species should be increased.
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HKU and PolyU develop world’s first internally motorised minimally invasive surgical robotic system for single incision or natural orifice (incision-less) robotic surgery
To minimize surgical trauma and improve the safety of current robotic surgery, an innovative project to develop a novel surgical robotic system (NSRS) with haptic (tactile) feedback and capable of single incision or natural orifice (incision-less) robotic surgery has been initiated by Professor Yeung Chung-Kwong, Honorary Clinical Professor of the HKU Department of Surgery. A team of experienced engineers led by Professor Yung Kai-Leung of PolyU's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering was invited to join the project team as an engineering partner in 2012. The team has made the breakthrough possible recently. A NSRS with surgical robotic arms that are driven by internal micro-motors and capable of up to 10 degrees of freedom in movement has been developed and successfully utilised in three consecutive animal surgical experiments. This innovative project is funded by NISI (HK) Limited, a company specializing in non-invasive surgical innovations, and supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government.
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HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Hong Kong Cancer Fund offer first "Lung Cancer Fighter Course" for patients and family caregivers
The research team of Department of Social Work and Social Administration at HKU and the Hong Kong Cancer Fund collaborated to offer the "Lung Cancer Fighter Course" to provide psychosocial interventions for lung cancer patients and their family caregivers, with an aim to enhance the quality of life in their journey fighting cancer. Previous studies conducted by the research team have shown that the physical and mental health of patients and their family caregivers, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep quality, interact and reinforce each other. The "Lung Cancer Fighter Course" is the first psychosocial interventions programme designed specifically for lung cancer patients and their family caregivers. The 8-section course, which will run from April to June, includes medical information, tips on coping with cancer treatment, the mind-body connection, stress management, mindfulness practices, information sharing on diet and coping with side effects of treatments, communication with health care professionals and among family members.
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The Council on Smoking and Health, HKU and HKBU researchers call for complete ban of e-cigarettes
The Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) commissioned Baptist University to carry out a laboratory test on the components of thirteen e-cigarettes in the market from October 2015 to February 2016. The test confirmed that e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals including carcinogens that are hazardous to health. COSH had earlier commissioned the HKU School of Public Health and Public Opinion Programme to conduct respectively the Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey and an opinion survey to interview over 5,000 respondents to monitor the prevalence of e-cigarette use and measure public opinion on its ban in Hong Kong. It was found that 68% of users did not know what they inhaled. Although only 0.2% of respondents had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, the rate (7.9%) among young current smokers aged 15 to 29 years was significantly higher than that of current smokers aged 30 years or above. The majority of respondents supported various regulatory measures on e-cigarettes. The Government is urged to enact total ban on e-cigarettes promptly to prevent its epidemic and stop it from becoming the gateway to youth smoking in Hong Kong.
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