The use of Virtual Environments has been widely reported as a method of teaching anatomy. Generally such environments only convey the shape of the anatomy to the student. We present the Bangor Augmented Reality Education Tool for Anatomy (BARETA), a system that combines Augmented Reality (AR) technology with models produced using Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, to provide the student with stimulation for touch as well as sight. The principal aims of this work were to provide an interface more intuitive than a mouse and keyboard, and to evaluate such a system as a viable supplement to traditional cadaver based education.

It remains unclear whether antipsychotics increase or reduce cell stress. Claims of neuroprotective properties of antipsychotics seem premature.

Subclinical abnormality of neutrophil populations of patients suffering from schizophrenia and medicated with antipsychotic drugs was evaluated using cellular immaturity as a criterion. Neutrophil maturity of patients and controls was compared by determining mean nuclear lobularity in peripheral blood smears. White blood cell and neutrophil counts were made. Subjects were patients medicated with chlorpromazine (n = 17) or clozapine (n = 48). Controls (n = 58) were healthy, non-medicated clinical and academic staff. Determination of mean lobe number involved assessment of 300 neutrophils per individual. For subject and control groups, means and medians of mean lobe numbers and mean white cell and neutrophil counts were determined. Means for each group were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test; variances using F ratios. Means of lobe numbers of both patient populations were significantly different (p < 0.0001) compared to controls. Two-thirds of patients had mean lobe numbers outside the control range. Dose-response (mean lobe number) plots were significant for patients medicated with both chlorpromazine and clozapine. White cell and neutrophil counts in patients and controls did not differ significantly. For six patients, mean lobe numbers were obtained before and after medication commenced and all showed lowering of mean lobe number. The mean lobe number of the one patient who subsequently suffered from agranulocytosis was at the low end of the patient range. Thus, patients medicated with antipsychotic drugs typically have immature neutrophils, but normal white cell and neutrophil numbers. This effect is probably drug-induced. Mean lobe number may predict patients at risk from agranulocytosis.

The neutrophils of schizophrenic patients taking antipsychotic drugs were evaluated. Neutrophil immaturity was assessed by determining mean nuclear lobe number in peripheral blood smears of patients and controls. Subjects were patients medicated with typical (upenthixol (n 6), uphenazine (n 7), haloperidol (n 23), thioridazine (n 15), and triuoperazine (n 6)) or atypical (olanzapine (n 15), risperidone (n 10), and sulpiride (n 7)) antipsychotic drugs. Controls (n 58) were healthy, non-medicated clinical and academic staff. Mean lobe number was determined using light microscopy and examining 300 neutrophils per individual. For subject and control groups, means and medians of mean lobe numbers, and also mean white cell and neutrophil counts, were determined. Means for each group were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test; variances using F ratios. Mean lobe numbers of all patients were decreased compared to controls. The left shift occurring in patients medicated with haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, and triuoperazine was signícantat P 0.0001; for upenthixol P 0.001, and for sulpiride P 0.05. The left shift for uphenazine was not statistically signíant. For one patient, mean lobe numbers were obtained before and after medication with olanzapine commenced, and a lowering of mean lobe number was seen. Although the coefficient of variation in the patient groups was large compared to the controls, nevertheless more than half of the patients had mean lobe numbers outside the observed range of values seen in the control population. White blood cell and neutrophil counts in patients and controls were not signiécantly different. This study demonstrated that patients taking antipsychotic drugs have immature neutrophils, but normal total white cell and neutrophil numbers. The effect was seen with both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs, and is probably drug-induced. It is possible that mean lobe number may predict patients at risk from neutropenia or agranulocytosis, as is also suggested by an analysis of the relative numbers of literature reports of neutrophil pathology for these drugs. It is of interest that olanzapine, which has been considered a haematologically non-hazardous drug, was shown to be associated with a significant decrease in mean lobe number.

1) This CT study supports a traumatic aetiology for lumbar articular facets ossicles. 2) OLAF represent part of a spectrum of stress-induced changes in the posterior neural arch. 3) OLAF are associated with typical spondylolysis. 4) OLAF can be overlooked on reverse gantry angle computed tomography (RG-CT). 5) OLAF may account for some of the discrepancy between radionuclide and RG-CT studies.