Overview
Bone Quality and Health Centre (BQHC) is officially established in 2009 as an major initiative of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. BQHC is a well-equipped centre and platform with state of the art clinical and laboratory densitometry equipment and functional testing devices. The Centre provides extensive technical support from project design, sample/patient handling, scanning to data analyses for 20-30 research projects at any time including bone densitometry and microarchitectural assessment for patients at risk of osteoporosis.
Our Mission
To facilitate multidisciplinary pre-clinical and clinical research in bone health, muscle health and related musculoskeletal disorders across different age groups – from children, adolescents to the elderly.To provide high quality bone quality assessment and advices for the prevention and treatment for patients with osteoporosis / at risk of osteoporosis and its related problems.
Centre Structure
Facilities
Clinical bone densitometers
Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
DXA measure bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine and proximal femur. Total body composition (including fat mass, lean mass and total BMD) can be obtained by whole body scan.
 Norland (XR-46)
 Hologic (Horizon W)
 Hologic (Discovery W)
Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT)
pQCT measures volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), muscle area and calculated bone strength index (BSI)
 Stratec (XCT2000)
High-resolution pQCT (HR-pQCT)
HR-pQCT measures volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and microarchitecture of bone (in vivo) at the distal tibia and radius. The resolution for a standard scan is 82µm. By using micro-finite element analysis (µFEA), bone strength can also be calculated.
 Scanco Medical AG (XtremeCT)
Laboratory bone densitometers
MicroCT
VivaCT
Functional testing machines
Biodex Balance System SD
Biodex Balance System SD features five test protocols, including Fall Risk Screening, Athletic Single-Leg Injury Screening, Dynamic or Static Limits of Stability, Postural Stability and Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (CTSIB), allowing testing and training in both static and dynamic formats. Clinicians can assess neuromuscular control by quantifying the ability to maintain dynamic bilateral and unilateral postural stability on a static or unstable surface. It provides fast and accurate fall risk screening for older adults and can be used as a balance assessment tool for concussion management as well as a training tool for lower extremity patients.
Dynamometer
Hand dynamometer assesses the hand grip strength for subjects in kilogram
Force platform
Force platform provides quantification of functional human motion based on physical parameters, such as force, velocity and time. It also measures dynamic ground reaction forces and calculates the centre of mass related physical parameters including acceleration, velocity, energy, power, jumping height and stiffness or flexibility.
Bioimpedance Analyzer
BIA is capable for measuring body composition by using multi-frequencies 8-point tactile electrodes method , including 1kHz, 5kHz, 50kHz, 250kHz, 500kHz and 1MHz. The InBody 720 also allows estimation of segmental body composition including the left arm, right arm, trunk, left leg, and right leg lean masses
Research
As a center in a clinical department, BQHC provides comprehensive technical support for pre-clinical and clinical research projects from study design, scanning protocols development to data analysis.
Research Focuses (Departmental):
Biomaterials and implants
Bone quality status in scoliosis patient (Clinical)
Tendon-bone insertion (Pre-clinical / Clinical)
Fracture repair (Pre-clinical / Clinical)
Osteoporosis (Pre-clinical / Clinical)
Representative on-going Research Areas:
Theme |
Collaborative Partners |
Children and Adolescent Bone Health |
Melbourne University, Australia
Columbia University, USA
Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Division of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Biomedical Engineering program, Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) |
Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Division of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, USA |
Secondary osteoporosis |
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Aging |
Division of Geriatric, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Services
Clinical service – DXA scan and Clinical Trials
Leaflet for DXA scanning service (in Chinese)
Osteoporosis is one of the common geriatric diseases and is associated with fragility fractures. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), DXA is the gold standard for diagnosis of osteoporosis. Our centre accepts referrals for bone mineral density measurement. A detailed report will be provided to both the patients and the referring doctors.
In addition to the DXA service, our staff is well-trained and experienced in conducting clinical trials following the principles of Good Clinical Practice.
Laboratory service – sample/animal scanning
We provide in vitro and in vivo scanning services for specimens and biopsies using laboratory bone densitometry.
Project
http://bonehealth.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/index
A website delivering useful information on bone health and Vitamin D with multimedia materials and interactive on-line game and dietary calcium calculator. The website is suitable for all.
Accreditation
Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008)
The BQHC is the first bone health research centre in Hong Kong certified for quality management system (ISO9001:2008). This accreditation ensures a quality service to patients and research subjects as well as better management structure and cost efficiency in daily operations.
International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) Certification
Technicians and Clinicians of our team are Certified Densitometry Technologists (CDT) and Certified Clinical Densitometrists (CCD)
Contact
Bone Quality and Health Centre
Room 14, 1/F Li Ka Shing Specialist Clinic (North Wing)
Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin
Hong Kong
Telephone: (852) 3505 3313
Fax: (852) 3505 4618
Email: bmd@ort.cuhk.edu.hk
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