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The University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine's Learning Resources Center is developing a prototype next-generation application for anatomy education which combines virtual reality and multimedia curricular resources. The anatomy lesson utilizes polygon-based 3-D models of the hepatobiliary system created by BioGraphics Inc. of Fort Collins, Colorado which were derived from the National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project Dataset. This article describes the needs assessment, learning objectives, and preliminary design of the current prototype. The multivariate design, the development strategy for implementing functionalities, and the engineering of critical software interface components are also outlined.

MedPics is a computer-based image delivery system with supporting text fields and on-screen graphics to assist in key feature identification. It has been used by the University of California, San Diego as an integral part of the Human Disease course since 1992. Initially created to support pathology and histology, the program has now expanded to include hematology. MedPics has had a positive impact on the second year curriculum for which it was created. Moreover, use of this program has improved student attitudes toward computer-based resources and increased faculty interest in instructional development.

PathPics is an image review and tutorial program developed at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine as an adjunct to the preclinical Pathology and Histology curriculum. It incorporates faculty expertise and provides a framework for self-paced study of this visually-oriented material. The program is served over our wide area network and runs on color-capable Macintosh computers. PathPics was added to the curriculum in January, 1992, and has been enthusiastically received by the students.

Female CD-1 mice were exposed to Tordon 202c, a herbicide containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and picloram, in the drinking water for 15 w at concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.3% of the product formulation. After 3 w of the 15-w treatment period, the mice received 1.5 mg/g urethan ip. Pulmonary adenoma production was evaluated 12 w later. Tordon 202c exposure produced a dose-dependent increase in tumor number, but had no effect on tumor size. Urethan-induced sleeping times which reflected the rate of urethan metabolism or excretion were altered, but a specific dose-related effect which could be correlated with tumor production was not observed. This suggests that Tordon 202c exposure influences adenoma formation by immunological mechanisms rather than by causing indirect effects on urethan metabolism or excretion.

Two patients with postoperative cicatricial lower lid ectropion were managed by having the patient massage the lower lid in an upward direction over a methyl-methacrylate scleral ring. The ectropion was corrected. Such nonsurgical management may be attempted as an alternate initial therapy for the patient who refuses or should not immediately undergo additional surgery.