Love @ Po Leung Kuk

(Chinese Only) 菠菜、三文魚、蝦等等食物，是痛風症病人要「拒諸門外」的誘惑，否則進食後令體內尿酸過高，只能靠打針或服藥治療，但有一定風險及副作用。 保良局羅氏基金中學多位學生與其他學校組成聯合隊伍，研究出痛風症治療新方法，於「國際遺傳工程機器設計競賽（iGEM）」中擊敗了多間本港及世界知名大學，成為其中一間獲得金獎的學校，是首次有香港中學隊伍獲得此殊榮。   人體難以自行排走尿酸，尿酸濃度過高會形成晶體，令關節腫大和疼痛。研究團隊中有學生的親友因有痛風問題，故開始此項研究。經研究各類文獻及進行實驗，團隊發現可以利用大腸桿菌大量複製經基因改造的消化酶，再抽取此消化酶並注射進另一可食用益生菌，痛風患者進食後消化酶可協助排走尿酸，亦無副作用。團隊期望未來，可朝藥物製作方向研究。 另外，保良局何蔭棠中學與其他學校組成的聯校隊伍「Hong Kong JSS」亦在今次iGEM 中獲得金獎。同學們發現香港地少人多，「魚菜共生」耕種方法近年越受歡迎，但經常出現重金屬累積超標的問題。研究隊伍對大腸桿菌進行基因改造，將其變成能吸附重金屬的生物，他們讓大腸桿菌的金屬硫蛋白過度表達（over-expression），及將排走重金屬的運輸蛋白（cusF）基因敲除，令大腸桿菌吸 收重金屬能力大增，從而首創出細菌過濾器「B-CAD」，並於實驗證明細菌過濾器能以低成本減低魚菜共生系統中的重金屬水平。

(Chinese Only)

Every Saturday morning, Lawyer Wong takes the time to visit the children, playing and interacting with them, and even preparing snacks for them. “I’ve always felt very fortunate in my studies, work, and family, so I want to give back to society and bring happiness and warmth to the children!”   Lawyer Wong's connection with the children at Po Leung Kuk began in 2019. Initially, she learned about volunteer activities involving visits and interactions with children through a member newsletter from the Hong Kong Law Society. During that event, staff from Po Leung Kuk informed her about the facilities, programs, and sponsorship details. Lawyer Wong found the program meaningful and decided to become a sponsor, hoping to improve the children’s living environment and provide them with opportunities to participate in various extracurricular activities.   After completing training for sponsors, she officially began visiting the sponsored children. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple delays in visitations, it did not deter her compassionate spirit. She expressed that she enjoys every visit, fully engaging with the children, saying, “Whatever the children want to play, I play along with them, even if it’s in the garden.” She also keeps track of each child’s interests, personalities, and memories to make future visits more familiar and enjoyable.   “I remember on my first visit to one child, he asked if he could hug me.” Unfortunately, due to visitation rules prohibiting close contact, Lawyer Wong couldn’t give him a hug. However, that experience deeply moved her, highlighting the children's need for love and care. With a heart full of compassion, Lawyer Wong hopes to reach out to and visit even more children, bringing them joy. Thus, she decided to “expand her family” by increasing her sponsorship from 5 to a total of 12 children. “I hope that in the brief hour of our visit, the children can have fun and find a different experience in their daily lives at the facility; I also want them to feel that there are many people in society who care about and love them.”