The advent of virtual reality (VR) in education offers unique possibilities for facilitating cooperative learning strategies, particularly in fields demanding intricate spatial understanding, such as gross anatomy. This study investigates the impact of integrating cooperative learning strategies within a VR-based gross anatomy curriculum, focusing on enhancing students’ anatomy knowledge and skills. We analyzed the performance of two cohorts of first-year nursing students across five semesters (2016–2020), where traditional learning methods were used in the first three semesters (2016–2018), and a VR-based cooperative learning approach was adopted in the last two semesters (2019–2020). Our findings suggest that the VR-based cooperative learning group achieved significantly higher scores in their gross anatomy laboratory courses compared to their counterparts learning through traditional methods. This research provides valuable insights into how the integration of VR technology and cooperative learning strategies can not only enhance learning outcomes but also improve the VR learning experience by reducing motion sickness. It accentuates the potential of VR-based cooperative learning as an impactful educational tool in anatomy education. Future research should further explore the optimal integration of VR and cooperative learning strategies in diverse course types and their potential to enhance educational outcomes and the learning experience.

The purpose of present study was to longitudinally investigate the alterations in infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) vascularity in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by using dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI and IPFP degeneration by using MRI T2* relaxation time. Twelve male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to a control group and a 5/6 nephrectomy CKD group. The right knees of all rats were longitudinally scanned by 4.7 T MRI, and serial changes in the IPFP were assessed at 0, 8, 16, 30, and 44 weeks by DCE-MRI (parameters A, k_el and k_ep) and MRI T2* mapping. After MRI measurements, knee specimens were obtained and evaluated histologically. The CKD group had IPFPs with lower blood volume A and lower permeability k_ep values from 16 weeks (p < 0.05), lower venous washout k_el value from 30 weeks (p < 0.001), and significantly higher T2* values reflecting adipocyte degeneration beginning at 16 weeks (p < 0.05). The histopathological results confirmed the MRI findings. Hypoperfusion and adipocytes degeneration related to CKD were demonstrated in a rodent 5/6 nephrectomy model. DCE parameters and MRI T2* can serve as imaging biomarkers of fat pad degeneration during CKD progression.

Background: Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis resulting from chronic kidney disease (CKD) may lead to atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels, potentially altering bone marrow perfusion. Our study aimed to investigate vertebral bone marrow perfusion using dynamic contrast–enhanced (DCE) MRI with a pharmacokinetic model. We also measured possible changes in water and fat content and bony trabeculae using T2* quantification, MR spectroscopy (MRS), and microcomputed tomography (μCT).Methods: Twelve rats were randomly separated into a normal control group and a CKD (5/6 nephrectomy) group. Their lumbar spines were imaged, with monitoring of the L5 vertebral body conducted at 0, 8, 16, 30, and 43 weeks. After Week 43, all rats were sacrificed, and histologic changes were correlated with MRI and μCT results.Results: The CKD group demonstrated significantly lower A and k_el values (p < 0.05), significantly increased T2* values (p < 0.05), significantly decreased fat content and trabeculation (p < 0.05), sinusoidal dilatation, and decreased adipocytes in the vertebral bone marrow.Conclusion: Using quantitative MRI and μCT to assess CKD‐related arthropathy of the vertebral body is feasible. Lumbar spine bone marrow perfusion deficiency in experimental CKD may be associated with decreased fat content, increased water content, and sparse trabeculation.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) drives sarcopenia and disrupts bone-muscle crosstalk, contributing to frailty and excess mortality. However, longitudinal, non-invasive molecular imaging biomarkers capable of tracking these interconnected alterations remain lacking. This study aimed to characterize the temporal progression of muscle-bone pathology using a multimodal imaging framework. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (CKD, n = 6) or sham surgery (n = 6). Over 20 weeks, animals were longitudinally monitored using integrated ¹⁸F-NaF PET/MR and micro-CT, alongside functional gait assessment. Terminal histology (H&E, Masson’s trichrome, and α-SMA immunostaining) was performed to quantify muscle degeneration and bone marrow angiogenesis. Pairwise correlations were analyzed to delineate the relationships between imaging metrics and pathological features. Results CKD rats exhibited progressive hindlimb weakness detected by gait analysis from week 12 (P < 0.01). In skeletal muscle, gastrocnemius T2 relaxation times were significantly prolonged (indicating edema), accompanied by micro-CT-documented atrophy and decreased histologic cross-sectional area. In bone, ¹⁸F-NaF PET demonstrated markedly elevated uptake in the tibia (SUV: ~6.09 vs. 3.18 in sham, P < 0.01) and fibula, which was corroborated by increased bone marrow microvascular density on histology. Correlation analysis revealed strong inverse relationships between T2 values and muscle structural parameters (r = − 0.78, P < 0.01) and a positive association between T2 values and ¹⁸F-NaF uptake (r = 0.71, P < 0.05). Notably, skeletal ¹⁸F-NaF uptake showed a robust linkage with marrow vessel density (r = 0.72, P < 0.01), underscoring the coordinated nature of vascular-mediated muscle-bone deterioration. Conclusions Longitudinal multimodal imaging effectively captures the temporal cascade of sarcopenia and aberrant bone remodeling in CKD. Specifically, integrated ¹⁸F-NaF PET/MR and CT sensitively reflect uremia-driven bone-muscle crosstalk, likely mediated by microvascular remodeling. These findings establish a robust preclinical framework and highlight ¹⁸F-NaF PET/MR as a promising translational biomarker for monitoring CKD-associated frailty.

Objective: To investigate water and lipid composition changes in knee subchondral bone marrow and cartilage in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and T2 mapping. Design: This IRB-approved case-control study included 20 CKD patients (12 men, 8 women) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (10 men, 10 women). MRS and T2 measurements were performed on regions of interest in the knee subchondral bone and cartilage. Water content, lipid composition, fat content, and the unsaturation index (UI) were quantified using LCModel. Differences between groups were assessed using independent samples T -tests. Results: The CKD group showed a significantly higher lipid UI compared with controls ( P = 0.035). In subgroup analysis, women with CKD had significantly higher water content (4.7 ppm), lower fat content, and higher lipid UI than female controls ( P = 0.023, 0.048, and 0.018, respectively). No significant differences were observed between men with CKD and male controls (all P > 0.4). Among CKD patients, men had significantly lower lipid composition (5.3 ppm) and lipid UI compared with women ( P = 0.026 and 0.012, respectively). T2 values were significantly elevated in CKD patients ( P = 0.016 for men; P = 0.031 for women). Conclusions: Quantitative MRS and T2 mapping are feasible tools for assessing CKD-related changes in the knee joint. Increased unsaturated lipid content and water in subchondral bone may contribute to early degenerative changes.