Virtual Anatomy: The Dissecting Theatre of the Future—Implementation of Cinematic Rendering in a Large 8 K High-Resolution Projection Environment

Modern computer techniques have been in use for several years to generate three-dimensional visualizations of human anatomy. Very good 3-D computer models of the human body are now available and used routinely in anatomy instruction. These techniques are subsumed under the heading “virtual anatomy” to distinguish them from the conventional study of anatomy entailing cadavers and anatomy textbooks. Moreover, other imaging procedures (X-ray, angiography, CT and MR) are also used in virtual anatomy instruction. A recently introduced three-dimensional post-processing technique named Cinematic Rendering now makes it possible to use the output of routine CT and MR examinations as the basis for highly photo-realistic 3-D depictions of human anatomy. We have installed Cinematic Rendering (enabled for stereoscopy) in a high-definition 8K 3-D projection space that accommodates an audience of 150. The space’s projection surface measures 16 × 9 meters;images can be projected on both the front wall and the floor. A game controller can be used to operate Cinematic Rendering software so that it can generate interactive real-time depictions of human anatomy on the basis of CT and MR data sets. This prototype installation was implemented without technical problems;in day-to-day, real-world use over a period of 22 months, there were no impairments of service due to software crashes or other technical problems. We are already employing this installation routinely for educational offerings open to the public, courses for students in the health professions, and (continuing) professional education units for medical interns, residents and specialists—in, so to speak, the dissecting theater of the future.

Clinical study on high-resolution CT and pulmonary function in severe acute respiratory syndrome patients during recovery phase

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, firstly broke out in November 2002 in Guangdong and prevailed quickly in Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other regions of China. It was one of the most potential pandemic diseases and had affected more than 20 other countries.^(1,2) There have been a lot of resear-ches^(2-7) in terms of its etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnostics, treatment and prevention, vaccines and so on.Along with control of the epidemic situation, a great number of SARS patients were in the recovery phase, therefore, we undertook a half-year follow-up investigation on their clinical, laboratory and image situations.

Brainstem auditory evoked potential combined with high resolution cranial base CT can optimize the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury

Purpose:Auditory nerve injury is one of the most common nerve injury complications of skull base fractures.However,there is currently a lack of auxiliary examination methods for its direct diagnosis.The purpose of this study was to find a more efficient and accurate means of diagnosis for auditory nerve injury.Methods:Through retrospectively analyzing the results of brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP)and high-resolution CT(HRCT)in 37 patients with hearing impairment following trauma from January 1,2018 to July 31,2020,the role of the two inspection methods in the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury was studied.Inclusion criteria were patient had a clear history of trauma and unilateral hearing impairment after trauma;while exclusion criteria were:(1)severe patient with a Glasgow coma scale score<5 because these patients were classified as severe head injury and admitted to the intensive care unit,(2)patient in the subacute stage admitted 72 h after trauma,and(3)patient with prior hearing impairment before trauma.According to Goodman's classification of hearing impairment,the patients were divided into low/medium/severe injury groups.In addition,patients were divided into HRCT-positive and negative groups for further investigation with their BAEP results.The positive rates of BEAP for each group were observed,and the results were analyzed by Chi-square test(p<0.05,regarded as statistical difference).Results:A total of 37 patients were included,including 21 males and 16 females.All of them were hospitalized patients with GCS score of 6-15 at the time of admission.The BAEP positive rate in the medium and severe injury group was 100%,which was significantly higher than that in the low injury group(27.27%)(p<0.01).The rate of BEAP positivity was significantly higher in the HRCT-positive group(20/30,66.7%)than in the HRCT-negative group(1/7,14.3%)(p<0.05).Twenty patients(54.05%)were both positive for BEAP and HRCT test,and considered to have auditory nerve damage.Six patients(16.22%)were both negative for BEAP and HRCT test,and 10 patients(27.03%)were BAEP-negative but HRCT-positive:all the 16 patients were considered as non-neurological injury.The rest 1 case(2.70%)was BAEP-positive but HRCT-negative,which we speculate may have auditory nerve concussion.Conclusion:By way of BAEP combining with skull base HRCT,we may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury.Such a diagnostic strategy may be beneficial to guiding treatment plans and evaluating prognosis.

Simultaneous 3D Visualization of the Microvascular and Neural Network in Mouse Spinal Cord Using Synchrotron Radiation Micro-Computed Tomography

Effective methods for visualizing neurovascular morphology are essential for understanding the normal spinal cord and the morphological alterations associated with diseases.However,ideal techniques for simultaneously imaging neurovascular structure in a broad region of a specimen are still lacking.In this study,we combined Golgi staining with angiography and synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography(SRμCT)to visualize the 3D neurovascular network in the mouse spinal cord.Using our method,the 3D neurons,nerve fibers,and vasculature in a broad region could be visualized in the same image at cellular resolution without destructive sectioning.Besides,we found that the 3D morphology of neurons,nerve fiber tracts,and vasculature visualized by SRjiCT were highly consistent with that visualized using the histological method.Moreover,the 3D neurovascular structure could be quantitatively evaluated by the combined methodology.The method shown here will be useful in fundamental neuroscience studies.