Virtual reality is the multi-dimensional sensorial environment produced by the computer, Users can play a part in this virtual environment by particular tools. This technology, possessing the characteristics of being lifelike, interactive and imaginative, plays more and more important part in the medical field. For example, in medical training, in physical and psychological treatments, this technology is of great value.
Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; General Surgery ; education ; methods ; Humans ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo assess the application of analyzing systems and techniques in acupuncture manipulation education that may improve students' acupuncture manipulation skills.

METHODSThe teacher's acupuncture manipulation (TAM) was recorded in wave, data and video information by the Analyzing System. Students practised, adjusted and corrected their manipulation skills according to the TAM. After finishing the training sessions, the system's grading function evaluated every student's performance.

RESULTSAfter training, the stability of the students' acupuncture manipulation skills and their achievement were both significantly improved (P < 0.01, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe Analyzing System benefits for imitating and learning the manipulations of specilists and can improve the education quality.

Acupuncture ; education ; methods ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; methods ; Humans ; Medical Informatics ; education ; methods ; Teaching ; methods

Experimenting in medicine can be accomplished by virtual reality system. VRML is a tool to build virtual object and scenes which can realize static and animated applications in medicine. However, to creat a real environment, the demanded level of interactivity and dynamics is difficult to achieve. In this paper we describe some approaches and techniques which can realize dynamic 3D. Our demonstration is based on the implementation of a virtual baby model, whose character can be accomplished by external JAVA applications.
Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; economics ; instrumentation ; methods ; Education, Medical ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Programming Languages ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo study the two-dimensional (2D) image segmentation, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and virtual surgery of cholecystectomy based on the 2D image data of the liver, biliary track and cholecystolithiasis obtained by 64-slice spiral CT.

METHODSThe image data of the liver, biliary track and cholecystolithiasis were obtained by 64-slice spiral CT scanning. Segmentation and automatic extraction of the images were performed using auto-adapting region growing algorithm. 3D reconstruction of the segmented data was carried out using MIMICS10.0 and self-designed software, and the data of the 3D model of the liver with the billiary tract were imported into FreeForm Modeling System for registration and smoothing. Virtual surgery of cholecystotomy for calculus removal and cholecystectomy were performed with Phantom.

RESULTSThe auto-adapting region growing algorithm allowed rapid image segmentation, and the 3D model of the liver based on the segmentation data clearly displayed vivid 3D structures of the liver. Virtual operations of cholecystectomy could be performed in the FreeForm Modeling System.

CONCLUSIONThe algorithm we proposed can correctly and rapidly complete image segmentation and 3D reconstruction of cholecystolithiasis from the data 64-slice spiral CT, and allows virtual operations on the gallbladder.

Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystolithiasis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Cholecystostomy ; Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; methods ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; User-Computer Interface

Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; methods ; Dental Models ; Humans ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; education ; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures ; education ; User-Computer Interface

Computer Graphics ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Pathology ; education ; Pathology, Clinical ; Specimen Handling ; methods

Acupuncture manipulation quantification is an important link of acupuncture normalization study. Because traditional acupuncture manipulation are complicated with difficulty of quantification, acupuncture instruments provide a new way for acupuncture manipulation quantification and acupuncture normalization. It is necessary to increase the understanding of the importance of developing acupuncture instruments, strengthen the study of related theory and development of acupuncture measurement instruments and acupuncture imitation instruments, enlarge serviceable range, verify efficacy, develop the theory of acupuncture manipulation, richen the study methods of acupuncture normalization, so as to promote internationalization of acupuncture.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Animals ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of virtual surgery in hepatic artery reconstruction in liver recipients with type II hepatic artery variation.

METHODSA patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma and a healthy individual were scanned using 64-slice spiral CT, and image segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction were performed using an image processing system. The 3D models in STL format were then imported to the FreeForm Modeling System for smoothing and refinement. Hepatic artery reconstruction was performed in simulated liver transplantation using the virtual surgery system with force feedback (PHANTOM).

RESULTSThe reconstructed model contained the liver, hepatic arteries, biliary system, and bile duct tumor emboli and displayed the entire branching of the hepatic artery with type II variation. Using the virtual surgery system, arterial reconstruction was performed by anastomosing the donor celiac trunk and the recipient abdominal aorta with the virtual scalpel and needle.

CONCLUSIONThe reconstructed model allows clearer views of the 3D structures of the arteries in the liver and helps in preoperative preparations and surgical planning of artery reconstruction during liver transplantation. This approach may also help reduce the surgical risks and potential complications.

Computer Simulation ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; methods ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. Education is at the core of cancer prevention activities, especially programs targeting empowering existing public health workforce. In the past 10 years, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have been building the Global Health Network Supercourse project, a library of over 4500 online lectures and a network of nearly 50000 public health professionals in 174 countries. As of November, 2010, the overall number of Supercourse participants from Asia exceeds 7000 participants. The Supercourse network has been investigating methods for Internet based recruitment of cancer prevention professionals in order to network cancer experts locally and globally, including the use of mHealth technologies for cancer research education and for NCD registries. Supercourse is a tool that can offer a solution to the challenges of information sharing, especially in the field of NCDs and cancer. In this paper, we highlight the need for the development of Cancer Supercourse with Satellite in Asia and encourage faculty members from Asia to join the network.
Computer-Assisted Instruction/methods ; Education, Public Health Professional/methods/*organization & administration ; Female ; Humans ; *Internet ; Male ; Neoplasms/mortality/*prevention & control ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; World Health

PURPOSE: This study developed a web-based wound care course for undergraduate nursing students and evaluated the course's content, system, and student-satisfaction. METHODS: This study was done in three stages, the development of the web-based wound care course, the implementation and evaluation of the course. The course was developed based on the ARCS model. 80 undergraduate nursing students to Y University in Korea used the web-based wound care program during four weeks. After that, they completed questionnaires, evaluating the contents, system, and their satisfaction. RESULTS: Eighteen learning objectives were used to create the web-based wound care course and the course was developed with 7 chapters and 20 subsections. The analysis of the questionnaires showed a mean score for content and system-related items of 3.04 each, out of a possible 4 points. Student satisfaction items had a mean score of 2.89. CONCLUSIONS: The web-based course allowed students access to the course anytime and anywhere, and according to their own learning abilities. However this advantage would only be possible when nurse educators develop qualitative web-based course to meet the demand of a complex health care system as well as the needs of the students and the effectively incorporate it into traditional lectures.
*Attitude of Health Personnel ; Attitude to Computers ; Causality ; Computer-Assisted Instruction/*methods ; Curriculum ; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Internet/*organization & administration ; Korea ; Models, Educational ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing Diagnosis ; Nursing Education Research ; Patient Care Planning ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Skin Care/nursing ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries/etiology/*nursing