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Obesity and related complications, such as fatty liver, have constituted a heavy burden in many societies and different treatments have been proposed to control weight. Our research team applies advanced MR water-fat & T2* imaging and MR spectroscopy for assessment of central obesity, ectopic body fat and related hepatic condition such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and pancreatic steatosis. CUHK is one of the pioneer groups to launch large scale clinical research in patients with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using non-invasive imaging techniques validated by liver biopsy results.

Representative publications:

1. Chan TT, Tse YK, Lui RN, Wong GL, Chim AM, Kong AP, Woo J, Yeung DK, Abrigo JM, Chu WC, Wong VW, Tang RS. Fatty Pancreas Is Independently Associated With Subsequent Diabetes Mellitus Development: A 10-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(9):2014-2022.e4.
2. Ng NYH, Liu KH, Tam CHT, Jiang G, Cheng F, Hou Y, Yau TT, Ozaki R, Chan MH, Lim CK, Sahota DS, Li TC, Cheung LP, Tam WH, Chu WCW, Ma RCW. The relationship between visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risk in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2021;15(6):593-599.
3. Ng SSS, Wong VWS, Wong GLH, Chu WCW, Chan TO, To KW, Ko FWS, Chan KP, Hui DS. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Does Not Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;203(4):493-501.
4. Chiyanika C, Wong VW, Wong GL, Chan HL, Hui SCN, Yeung DKW, Chu WCW. Implications of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Syndrome: A Chinese General Population Study. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2021;12(2):e00300.
5. Wong VW, Wong GL, Yeung DK, Lau TK, Chan CK, Chim AM, Abrigo JM, Chan RS, Woo J, Tse YK, Chu WC, Chan HL. Incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Hong Kong: a population study with paired proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Hepatol. 2015;62(1):182-9.

Our research team applies advanced MR techniques including phosphorus MR spectroscopy, quantitative spin-lock MRI and Ultrasound Elastography for assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis.

Representative publications:

1. Qian Y, Wong VWS, Wang YX, Hou J, Jiang B, Zhang X, Wong GLH, Chan Q, Yu SCH, Chu WCW, Chen W. Dynamic Glucose-Enhanced Imaging of the Liver Using Breath-Hold Black Blood Quantitative T1ρ MRI at 3.0 T. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023.
2. Hou J, Wong VW, Qian Y, Jiang B, Chan AW, Leung HH, Wong GL, Yu SC, Chu WC, Chen W. Detecting Early-Stage Liver Fibrosis Using Macromolecular Proton Fraction Mapping Based on Spin-Lock MRI: Preliminary Observations. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023;57(2):485-492.
3. Qian Y, Hou J, Jiang B, Wong VW, Lee J, Chan Q, Wang Y, Chu WC, Chen W. Characterization and correction of the effects of hepatic iron on T1ρ relaxation in the liver at 3.0T. Magn Reson Med. 2022;88(4):1828-1839.
4. Qian Y, Wong VW, Hou J, Jiang B, Chu WC, Chen W. Inhomogeneous liver fibrosis distribution revealed by macromolecular proton fraction quantification based on spin-lock MRI. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2022;12(8):4341-4345.
5. Abrigo JM, Shen J, Wong VW, Yeung DK, Wong GL, Chim AM, Chan AW, Choi PC, Chan FK, Chan HL, Chu WC. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: spectral patterns observed from an in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. J Hepatol. 2014;60(4):809-15.
6. Leung VY, Shen J, Wong VW, Abrigo J, Wong GL, Chim AM, Chu SH, Chan AW, Choi PC, Ahuja AT, Chan HL, Chu WC. Quantitative elastography of liver fibrosis and spleen stiffness in chronic hepatitis B carriers: comparison of shear-wave elastography and transient elastography with liver biopsy correlation. Radiology. 2013;269(3):910-8.

High resolution imaging for oncology research is conducted in collaboration with multiple clinical departments for patients with a variety of pelvic malignancy including prostate cancer, bladder cancer and rectal cancer. The funded projects are listed as below:

1. Multi-modal Deep Learning of Multi-omics Profiles, Radiology, and Histopathology Images to Advance Colorectal Cancer Classification for Precision Oncology (CRF 2022/23)
2. A randomized controlled trial comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsy and extended transperineal systematic biopsy for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (GRF 2021/22)
3. Semi-supervised segmentation and grading of prostate cancer lesions from multi-parametric magnetic resonance images (GRF 2021/22)
4. Transurethral Modified En Bloc Resection For Large Bladder Tumours (GRF 2020/21)