Application of virtual reality technology improves the functionality of brain networks in individuals experiencing pain

Medical procedures are inherently invasive and carry the risk of inducing pain to the mind and body.Recently,efforts have been made to alleviate the discomfort associated with invasive medical procedures through the use of virtual reality(VR)technology.VR has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for pain associated with medical procedures,as well as for chronic pain conditions for which no effective treatment has been established.The precise mechanism by which the diversion from reality facilitated by VR contributes to the diminution of pain and anxiety has yet to be elucidated.However,the provision of positive images through VR-based visual stimulation may enhance the functionality of brain networks.The salience network is diminished,while the default mode network is enhanced.Additionally,the medial prefrontal cortex may establish a stronger connection with the default mode network,which could result in a reduction of pain and anxiety.Further research into the potential of VR technology to alleviate pain could lead to a reduction in the number of individuals who overdose on painkillers and contribute to positive change in the medical field.

Diagnostic Value of 128-slice Spiral CT Combined with Virtual Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 128-slice spiral CT combined with virtual colonoscopy in diagnosis of colorectal cancer.We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients of colorectal diseases who underwent definition AS+128-slice spiral CT combined with virtual colonoscopy after bowel preparation and gas injection to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of this technology.All the patients received electronic colonoscopy and were confirmed by pathology.In total,colorectal cancer was confirmed in 42 cases and inflammation in 3 cases.Diagnostic results shows:there were 17 cases of lump,10 cases of infiltration,6 cases of ulcer,9 cases of mixed type,4 cases of liver metastases,and 36 cases of lymph node metastasis.There was no significant difference between 128-slice spiral CT combined with virtual colonoscopy and electronic colonoscopy in detection,localization and characterization of colorectal tumors.CT virtual endoscopy has great advantages in observing the invasion around the lesion and the presence or absence of metastasis in distant organs and lymph node metastasis.It is also possible to understand the shape of the lesion in the intestinal lumen and the length of the lesion involving the lumen of the intestine.

Three-dimensional virtual operations can facilitate complicated surgical planning for the treatment of patients with jaw deformities associated with facial asymmetry: a case report

This article describes a case we experienced in which good postsurgical facial profiles were obtained for a patient with jaw deformities associated with facial asymmetry,by implementing surgical planning with SimPlant OMS.Using this method,we conducted LF1 osteotomy,intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy（IVRO）,sagittal split ramus osteotomy（SSRO）,mandibular constriction and mandibular border genioplasty.Not only did we obtain a class I occlusal relationship,but the complicated surgery also improved the asymmetry of the frontal view,as well as of the profile view,of the patient.The virtual operation using three-dimensional computed tomography（3D-CT）could be especially useful for the treatment of patients with jaw deformities associated with facial asymmetry.

Sparing lung tissue with virtual block method in VMAT planning for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

This study aimed to exploit a new virtual block method to spare normal lung tissue in VMAT planning for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer(LA-NSCLC).The previous method was used to manually restrict the angle of the beam passing through,which ignored the location and shape of large targets that varied between different slices and did not block the beamlets precisely.Unlike the previous method,this new virtual block method was used to block the beamlets when necessary by closing the multi-leaf collimator(MLC)at prerequisite angles.The algorithm for closing the MLC depended on the thickness of the beamlets passing through the lungs and avoided only the entrance radiation beamlet.Moreover,this block can be automatically contoured.A retrospective study was performed to compare the VMAT plans with and without the virtual block method for 17 LANSCLC patients,named the block plan(B-plan)/non-block plan(N-plan).All cases were selected in this study because of the large tumor size and unmet dose constraints of the lungs.In addition to the maximum dose constraint for the virtual block,B-plans adopted identical optimization parameters to N-plans for each patient.These two types of plans were compared in terms of dosimetric indices and plan scores.The results were statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon nonparametric signed-rank test.B-plans have advantages in the following dosimetric metrics that have statistical significance(p<0.05):(1)lower V_(5)/V_(10)/D_(mean)/normal tissue complication probability(NTCP)of total lungs;(2)reductions in V_(5)/V_(10)for the contralateral lung;(3)decrease in Dmean/V_(40)of the heart;(4)decrease in esophagus V_(40);(5)reductions in Dmean,V_(5)/V_(10) of normal tissue.B-plans(82.51±7.07)achieved higher-quality scores than N-plans(80.74±7.22).The new virtual block spared the lungs as well as other normal structures in VMAT planning for LA-NSCLC.Thus,the block method may decrease the risk of radiation-related toxicity in patients.

Value of virtual bronchoscopic navigation and transbronchial ultrasound-guided sheath-guided exploration in diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer

BACKGROUND Peripheral lung cancer poses a substantial harm to human health,and it is easy to become exacerbated,potentially threatening the life and safety of patients AIM To assess the value of virtual bronchoscopic navigation(VBN)combined with transbronchial ultrasound-guided sheath-guided(EBUS-GS)exploration in the diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer.METHODS A total of 236 patients with peripheral lung cancer(nodule diameter range,8-30 mm;diagnosed using high-resolution computed tomography)were selected from three centers between October 2018 and December 2019.Patients who underwent EBUS-GS exploration alone were included in a control group,and those who received VBN in combination with EBUS-GS exploration were included in an observation group.The diagnostic rate and total operating time of differentsubgroups of the two groups were compared,and the time needed to determine the lesion was recorded.RESULTS There were no significant differences in diagnosis rate or total operation time between the two groups(P>0.05),and the time needed to determine the lesion in the observation group was less than that of the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined use of VBN and EBUS-GS exploration technology has little effect on the diagnosis rate and total operation time of peripheral lung cancer,but it significantly shortens the time needed to determine the lesion and is a valuable diagnostic method.

Generation of 3D Virtual Geographic Environment Based on Laser Scanning Technique

This paper demonstrates an experiment on the generation of 3D virtual geographic environment on the basis of experimental flight laser scanning data by a set of algorithms and methods that were developed to automatically interpret range images for extracting geo-spatial features and then to reconstruct geo-objects. The algorithms and methods for the interpretation and modeling of laser scanner data include triangulated-irregular-network (TIN)-based range image interpolation; mathematical-morphology (MM)-based range image filtering, feature extraction and range image segmentation, feature generalization and optimization, 3D objects reconstruction and modeling; computer-graphics (CG)-based visualization and animation of geographic virtual reality environment.

Standardized Assessment of Ki-67 in Breast Cancer Patients Using Virtual Slides and an Automated Analyzer in Comparison to Central/Local Pathological Assessments

Purpose: To standardize the methods to measure Ki-67, there is an interest in automating the assessment of Ki-67. Therefore, we reviewed the possibility of introducing an automated analyzer to standardize the Ki-67 evaluation method. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a clinical database of patients who underwent surgery for early breast cancer at Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital. Among them, those who underwent preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) were enrolled. The concordance rates of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 by local pathologists were reviewed (valuations made by local pathologists), and nonmatching cases (from August 2008 to October 2011) were reassessed both by central review and using an automated analyzer with virtual slides. The results were compared with the evaluations made by local pathologists, and we reexamined the concordance rate by using central review and the automated analyzer. Results: The concordance rate of Ki-67 evaluations made by local pathologists in the preoperative CNB and surgical specimens was 78.7% in 287 cases pathologically assessed from October 2008 to March 2013. This rate was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that of ER (95.6%), PgR (88.5%), and HER2 (91.6%). Reassessment of the 37 cases of nonmatching Ki-67 values from 2008 to October 2011 using central review and an automated analyzer resulted in clear improvement in matching of 22 (92.1%) and 24 (93.1%) of 37 cases, respectively. Conclusion: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative CNB and surgical specimens was lower than that of other biological markers;however, they were nearly equal by reassessment using central review and an automated analyzer.

Novel virtual nasal endoscopy system based on computed tomography scans

Background Currently,many simulator systems for medical procedures are under development.These systems can provide new solutions for training,planning,and testing medical practices,improve performance,and optimize the time of the exams.However,to achieve the best results,certain premises must be followed and applied to the model under development,such as usability,control,graphics realism,and interactive and dynamic gami-fication.Methods This study presents a system for simulating a medical examination procedure in the nasal cavity for training and research purposes,using a patient′s accurate computed tomography(CT)as a reference.The pathologies that are used as a guide for the development of the system are highlighted.Furthermore,an overview of current studies covering bench medical mannequins,3D printing,animals,hardware,software,and software that use hardware to boost user interaction,is given.Finally,a comparison with similar state-of-the-art studies is made.Results The main result of this work is interactive gamification techniques to propose an experience of simulation of an immersive exam by identifying pathologies present in the nasal cavity such as hypertrophy of turbinates,septal deviation adenoid hypertrophy,nasal polyposis,and tumor.

Mental health in the virtual world:Challenges and opportunities in the metaverse era

Current rates of mental illness are worrisome.Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups.The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementation of novel mental health treatments using virtual reality,augmented reality,and artificial intelligence.A new three dimensional digital environment,known as the metaverse,has emerged as the next version of the Internet.Artificial intelligence,augmented reality,and virtual reality will create fully immersive,experiential,and interactive online environments in the metaverse.People will use a unique avatar to do anything they do in their“real”lives,including seeking and receiving mental health care.In this opinion review,we reflect on how the metaverse could reshape how we deliver mental health treatment,its opportunities,and its challenges.

Virtual reality for preoperative patient education: Impact on satisfaction, usability, and burnout from the perspective of new nurses

BACKGROUND Traditional paper-based preoperative patient education is a struggle for new nurses and requires extensive training.In this situation,virtual reality technology can help the new nurses.Despite its potential benefits,there are studies on patient satisfaction but there is limited information on the usability of virtual reality(VR)technology for new nurses in giving preoperative education to patients.AIM To investigate the impact on satisfaction,usability,and burnout of a system using VR technology in preoperative patient education.METHODS The study involved 20 nurses from the plastic surgery ward and 80 patients admitted between April and May 2019.Each nurse taught four patients:Two using traditional verbal education and two using virtual reality.The System Usability Scale,After-Scenario Questionnaire,and Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI)were employed to evaluate the impact of these education methods.RESULTS The VR education groups showed a statistically higher satisfaction than the traditional verbal education groups.Among the three subscales of the MBI,emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment improved statistically significantly.VR was also better in terms of usability.CONCLUSION This study suggests VR enhances usability and reduces burnout in nurses,but further research is needed to assess its impact on depersonalization and objective measures like stress and heart rate.

Approach to Modeling and Virtual-reality-based Simulation for Plant Canopy Lighting

Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made in virtual plant modeling corresponding to the rapid advances in information technology. Virtual plant research has broad applications in agronomy, forestry, ecol- ogy and remote sensing. As many biological processes are driven by light, it is the key for virtual plant to estimate the light absorbed by each organ. This paper presents the radiance equation suitable for calculating sun and sky light intercepted by plant organs based on the principles of the interaction between light and plant canopy firstly; analyzes the process principles of plant canopy primary lighting based on ray casting and projection secondly; describes the multiple scattering of plant lighting based on Monte Carlo ray tracing method and on the radiosity method thirdly; and confirms the research with 3D visualization based on Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) finally. The research is the primary work of digital agriculture, and important for monitoring and estimating corn growth in Northeast China.

Prediction of corrosion rate for friction stir processed WE43 alloy by combining PSO-based virtual sample generation and machine learning

The corrosion rate is a crucial factor that impacts the longevity of materials in different applications.After undergoing friction stir processing(FSP),the refined grain structure leads to a notable decrease in corrosion rate.However,a better understanding of the correlation between the FSP process parameters and the corrosion rate is still lacking.The current study used machine learning to establish the relationship between the corrosion rate and FSP process parameters(rotational speed,traverse speed,and shoulder diameter)for WE43 alloy.The Taguchi L27 design of experiments was used for the experimental analysis.In addition,synthetic data was generated using particle swarm optimization for virtual sample generation(VSG).The application of VSG has led to an increase in the prediction accuracy of machine learning models.A sensitivity analysis was performed using Shapley Additive Explanations to determine the key factors affecting the corrosion rate.The shoulder diameter had a significant impact in comparison to the traverse speed.A graphical user interface(GUI)has been created to predict the corrosion rate using the identified factors.This study focuses on the WE43 alloy,but its findings can also be used to predict the corrosion rate of other magnesium alloys.

Can preoperative planning using IRIS™three-dimensional anatomical virtual models predict operative findings during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy?

Objective To evaluate the predictive validity of IRIS™(Intuitive Surgical®,Sunnyvale,CA,USA)as a planning tool for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy(RAPN)by assessing the degree of overlap with intraoperative execution.Methods Thirty-one patients scheduled for RAPN by four experienced urologists were enrolled in a prospective study.Prior to surgery,urologists reviewed the IRIS™three-dimensional model on an iphone Operating System(iOS)app and completed a questionnaire outlining their surgical plan including surgical approach,and ischemia technique as well as confidence in executing this plan.Postoperatively,questionnaires assessing the procedural approach,clinical utility,efficiency,and effectiveness of IRIS™were completed.The degree of overlap between the preoperative and intraoperative questionnaires and between the planned approach and actual execution of the procedure was analyzed.Questionnaires were answered on a 5-point Likert scale and scores of 4 or greater were considered positive.Results Mean age was 65.1 years with a mean tumor size of 27.7 mm(interquartile range 17.5-44.0 mm).Hilar tumors consisted of 32.3%;48.4%of patients had R.E.N.A.L.nephrometry scores of 7-9.On preoperative questionnaires,the surgeons reported that in 67.7%cases they were confident that they can perform the procedure successfully,and on intraoperative questionnaires,the surgeons reported that in 96.8%cases IRIS™helped achieve good spatial sensation of the anatomy.There was a high degree of overlap between preoperative and intraoperative questionnaires for the surgical approach,interpreting anatomical details and clinical utility.When comparing plans for selective or off-clamp,the preoperative plan was executed in 90.0%of cases intraoperatively.Conclusion A high degree of overlap between the preoperative surgical approach and intraoperative RAPN execution was found using IRIS™.This is the first study to evaluate the predictive accuracy of IRIS™during RAPN by comparing preoperative plan and intraoperative execution.

Influence of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety of preschool-aged children undergoing surgery

BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.METHODS One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug(n=37),intervention(n=40),and control(n=39)groups.All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation.The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments.The control group received no intervention.The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children’s anxiety level on the day before surgery(T0),before leaving the preoperative preparation room(T1),when entering the operating room(T2),and at anesthesia induction(T3).Compliance during anesthesia induction(T3)was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist(ICC).Changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),and respiratory rate(RR)were also recorded at each time point.RESULTS The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2.At T3,both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores,both of which were lower than those in the control group.At T1 and T2,MAP,HR,and RR of the three groups increased.The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2.At T3,the MAP,HR,and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group.Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction(T3),both of which were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication,specifically midazolam,in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children.This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.

Implementation of a virtual multicenter gastrointestinal tumor board to reduce cancer disparities in Argentina

Given the increasing complexity of cancer care,multidisciplinary tumor boards have become essential in daily clinical oncology practice.The Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes(ECHO)initiative developed an innovative telementoring model using a"hub and spoke"design consisting of a team of experts(hub)that offers a full service to multiple participants(the spokes)during regularly scheduled sessions discussing patients'clinical cases.The Alexander Fleming Cancer Institute in Buenos Aires was the first hub in Latin America to implement Project ECHO for gastrointestinal tumors.In our 3-year experience,80 patients from 37 centers were evaluated within Project ECHO and a range of three to five cases were discussed in each meeting.From our perspective,the impact of this novel approach was a remarkable strategy to reduce care disparities by equalizing access to high-quality medical knowledge in a multidisciplinary environment for medical discussions.Additionally,it was shown to have a cost-effective impact directly on the patients and the local health system,since relevant costs were saved after unnecessary treatments,studies and travel expenses were avoided.

Ligand Based Virtual Screening of Molecular Compounds in Drug Discovery Using GCAN Fingerprint and Ensemble Machine Learning Algorithm

The drug development process takes a long time since it requires sorting through a large number of inactive compounds from a large collection of compounds chosen for study and choosing just the most pertinent compounds that can bind to a disease protein.The use of virtual screening in pharmaceutical research is growing in popularity.During the early phases of medication research and development,it is crucial.Chemical compound searches are nowmore narrowly targeted.Because the databases containmore andmore ligands,thismethod needs to be quick and exact.Neural network fingerprints were created more effectively than the well-known Extended Connectivity Fingerprint(ECFP).Only the largest sub-graph is taken into consideration to learn the representation,despite the fact that the conventional graph network generates a better-encoded fingerprint.When using the average or maximum pooling layer,it also contains unrelated data.This article suggested the Graph Convolutional Attention Network(GCAN),a graph neural network with an attention mechanism,to address these problems.Additionally,it makes the nodes or sub-graphs that are used to create the molecular fingerprint more significant.The generated fingerprint is used to classify drugs using ensemble learning.As base classifiers,ensemble stacking is applied to Support Vector Machines(SVM),Random Forest,Nave Bayes,Decision Trees,AdaBoost,and Gradient Boosting.When compared to existing models,the proposed GCAN fingerprint with an ensemble model achieves relatively high accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,and area under the curve.Additionally,it is revealed that our ensemble learning with generated molecular fingerprint yields 91%accuracy,outperforming earlier approaches.

Significance of an Advanced Image-Based Virtual Monoenergetic Reconstruction of Dual Source Dual-Energy CT Data at Low keV Increases Image Quality for Portal Vein System of Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Purpose: To explore the significance of dual-source computed tomography (DECT) virtual monoenergetic reconstructions technology in improving image quality for portal vein system of pancreatic cancer patients. Materials and methods: 47 patients with clinically suspected pancreatic cancer (all confirmed by pathology) were collected. Routine plain scan was performed with Siemens Force dual-source dual-energy CT followed by 3 scans respectively carried out in arterial phase, portal phase and delayed phase. Traditional virtual monoenergetic reconstructions (Mono_E) and new generation of virtual monoenergetic reconstructions (Mono+) were respectively performed on portal vein images to obtain virtual single energy images including Mono_ E70 keV, Mono_E 55 keV and Mono+ 70 keV and Mono+ 55 keV. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and noise of portal vein, normal pancreatic tissues and pancreatic lesions of 100 kV, Mono_E and Mono+ images were compared. In addition, the contrast noise ratio of portal vein and lesions as well as pancreatic tissues and lesions (CNR PV, CNRtumor) were also compared. At the same time, two imaging physicians with rich clinical experiences read the films and scored the images of each group by using the 5-point scoring method. Results: Mono+ 55 keV images including SNRpv, SNRpanc, SNRtumor, Noise, CNRpv, CNRtumor were statistically different from 100 KV images and Mono_E images (P < 0.05). As for the subjective score, Mono+ 55 keV image score also had the highest score, which had statistical significance (P < 0.05). The results showed that Mono+ 55 keV images had the best quality. Conclusion: The new generation of virtual Mono+ post-treatment can reduce image noise. Low energy Mono+ images can improve the contrast between pancreatic cancer lesions and portal of pancreatic cancer patients.

Application of an Advanced Image-Based Virtual Monoenergetic Reconstruction of Dual Source Dual-Energy CT Data at Low keV Increases Image Quality for Esophageal Cancer Patients Imaging

Purpose: To explore the significance of dual-source computed tomography (DECT) virtual monoenergetic reconstructions technology in improving the imaging quality of esophageal cancer patients. Materials and methods: 68 patients with clinically suspected esophageal cancer (all confirmed by pathology) were collected. Routine plain scan was performed with SIEMENS Force dual-energy CT and then dual-phase scans were performed. The venous phase images were respectively subjected to traditional virtual monoenergetic reconstructions (Mono_E) and new generation virtual monoenergetic reconstructions (Mono+). Mono_E 55 keV and Mono+ 55 keV virtual single-energy images were obtained respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of normal esophageal tissue and esophageal cancer lesions, noise and contrast noise ratio (CNR tumor) of normal esophageal tissue and esophageal cancer lesions were compared among 100 kV images, Mono_E images and Mono+ images. At the same time, two imaging physicians read the films and scored the images of each group by using a 5-point scoring method. Results: Mono+ 55 keV images, SNR, SNRtumor, noise and CNRtumor were statistically different from those of 100 kV images and Mono_E images (P < 0.05). And Mono+ 55 keV images also had the highest subjective score, with statistical significance (P 55 keV images had the best quality. Conclusion: The new generation of virtual monoenergetic reconstructions post-processing (Mono+) could reduce image noise and improve the contrast between esophageal cancer lesions and normal esophageal tissues, which was of great significance to improve the imaging quality of esophageal cancer patients and improve the early detection rate of esophageal cancer.

Case Study: The Determination of a Complex Multi-Systemic Medical Condition by a Cognitive, Virtual Scanning Technique

The study of various medical conditions is limited by the current state of knowledge. New tech-nologies enable researchers to advance their understanding of various medical conditions and to advance their understanding of particular pathologies. Strannik Virtual Scanning (SVS) is such a technology. SVS is able to determine the genetic and non-genetic components of every pathology in each of the 30 main organs, and it is able to determine the onset of pathologies at a much earlier stage than any other technologies or techniques. This makes it an ideal tool to screen for the onset and progression of pathologies which are implicated in multi-systemic conditions and to determine the spectrum of pathologies i.e. comorbidities which are involved in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, chronic kidney disease, etc. This case study illustrates how the technology can be usefully and cost-effectively deployed to determine the spectrum of pathologies which characterise Reynaud’s phenomenon. This includes pathologies in the liver and kidneys e.g. portal hypertension, renal insufficiency, nephritis, liver insufficiency, pre-symptomatic onset of heart attack, presymptomatic indications of dementia, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer, which are difficult to diagnose and/or for which there is currently an unmet clinical need.

基于STM32与LabVIEW的CAN总线创新实训平台设计

基于STM32处理器设计了用于课程实训的虚拟仪器LabVIEW数据采集板硬件电路,同时在嵌入式Keil编译器环境下实现了各个模块的接口功能。上位PC机通过LabVIEW软件使用事先定义的CAN应用层协议对采集板模拟I/O、数字I/O以及RFID、MPU6000传感器的信息进行采集处理。该实训平台目前已经在某公司六关节协作型机器人末端接口系统测试应用,结果表明采集板实训平台稳定性、精度都能满足接口设计要求。