Classification of traditional Chinese medicine constitution based on facial features in color images

Objective:To explore the possible correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution and facial features in color images and to improve the accuracy of automated constitution classification.Methods:Color images were taken of 5150 individuals of different professions.Automated face detection and key point positioning were performed on the collected images,which were then transformed into a standard size.The relationship between facial features and TCM constitution based on the red,green,blue(RGB)pixel and the local binary pattern(LBP)texture features was explored.Results:The overall accuracy rate and robustness of TCM constitution classification based on RGB features were low.Classification results of the phlegm-dampness,damp-heat,blood stasis,and balance constitutions achieved high accuracy rates.Classification accuracy rate using the LBP texture feature was higher than that of the RGB feature,with the best accuracy observed for the balance constitution.Conclusion:Application of computer image acquisition and processing of facial features may serve as an adjunct to the TCM diagnostic method of inspection.

Potential mechanism of Huatan Qushi decoction on improving phlegm-dampness constitution using microRNA array and RT-qPCR targeting on hsa-miR-1237e3p

Background:Metabolic diseases pose considerable burden on the healthcare system worldwide,indicating the significance of prevention and treatment.In constitution theory of traditional Chinese medicine,phlegm-dampness constitution(PDC)is the common basis of metabolic diseases.In clinical practice,Huatan Qushi(HTQS)decoction targeting on PDC can effectively improve metabolic indicators.However,its underlying biochemical mechanism still remains unclear.Methods:Eight PDC participants received HTQS decoction for three months.Their blood was collected at baseline and 1 and 3 months after intervention started.Related biomedical indicators were detected.High-throughput sequencing and RT-qPCR were used for validation.Due to the missing data,repeated measures with missing values in mixed models were used.Results:After 3-month treatment,HDL-C level increased(P<.001)and FBG,FINS,and HbA1c all showed decreasing trend at different time points(all P<.05).After miRNA high-throughput sequencing,compared with the baseline,differential miRNAs at 1 and 3 months were screened,and target gene prediction and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed.The results displayed that metabolic disease-related pathways mainly included pathways in cancer,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,etc.Further,RT-qPCR showed that hsa-miR-1237e3p differed statistically(P=.008).Then we validated the target genes of hsa-miR-1237e3p in the“Pathways in Cancer”pathway including SDF1,AC,CRK,and HGF,also known as upstream target genes of PI3K/AKT pathway.The results showed that two indicators of CRK and HGF were in statistical significance(P=.045 and P=.036,respectively).Conclusion:PDC serves as a common basis for various metabolic diseases.Through adjusting PDC,HTQS decoction can improve biomedical indicators including blood glucose,HbA1c,insulin,and HDL-C.The target pathway is“Pathways in cancer”.Specifically,HTQS decoction acts on targets of CRK and HGF by regulating hsa-miR-1237e3p,and probably exerts effects on their downstream PI3K/AKT pathway.

Association between body-constitution type and vascular endothelial dysfunction: A cross-sectional study in an adult obese/ overweight population

Objective:To measure vascular endothelial function (VED) in obese/overweight people grouped according to the constitutional theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).We wished to predict the risk of VED and cardiovascular diseases in obese/overweight populations.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.Eighty-six obese/overweight volunteers from Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital were enrolled and divided into four groups based on body-constitution type:phlegm dampness (PD);phlegm dampness with blood stasis (PDBS);qi-deficiency (QD);balance (BA).Height,weight,waist circumference and hip circumference were measured,and percent body fat and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) calculated.Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasma endothelial-1 (ET-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:The RHI and vWF levels in the PDBS group were significantly lower than those in the BA group and QD group (P <.05),but there was no significant difference compared with the PD group (P >.05).These two indicators displayed no significant differences among BA,QD,and PD groups (P >.05).There was no significant difference among the four groups in level of ET-1 or VEGF (P >.05).Conclusion:Of the four indicators selected,the RHI and vWF displayed significant differences between the PDBS group and BA group,and between the PDBS group and QD group.Hence,in an obese/overweight population with different constitutional types,compared with BA and QD groups,a relatively higher risk of suffering from VED was detected in the PDBS group.Meanwhile,this study provides the experimental basis for confirming the feasibility of constitutional classification in obese/overweight population.

Qingre Lishi Tuihuang therapy for acute icteric hepatitis B: A systematic review

Objective:To assess the efficacy of Qingre Lishi Tuihuang therapy (QLTT) for acute icteric hepatitis B infection.Methods:Eight electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2016 with no language restrictions for reports of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of QLTT treating acute icteric hepatitis B.Two researchers independently extracted detailed data and assessed methodological quality.ReviewManager 5.3.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results:A total of 13 randomized controlled trials involving 2238 participants were included in this review.The methodological quality was generally poor.The results indicated that supplemented Yinchenhao decoction combined with non-specific treatments was more effective in improving the cure rate (risk ratio =1.80;95% CI 1.21-2.68) and reducing the serum levels of total bilirubin (mean difference =-29.74;95% CI-31.91 to-27.57) and aspartate aminotransferase.Other self-made prescriptions conforming to QLTT plus non-specific treatments had beneficial effect for acute icteric hepatitis B in curing this disease (risk ratio =1.48;95% CI 1.27-1.73),as well as for negative seroconversion of HBeAg (risk ratio =1.39;95% CI 1.11-1.74).Supplemented Yinchenhao decoction plus non-specific treatments was more effective than other self-made prescriptions conforming to QLTT in reducing serum total bilirubin level.Conclusion:Qingre Lishi Tuihuang therapy appears to improve effect based on non-specific treatments for the treatment of acute icteric hepatitis B.However,it is premature to draw confirmative conclusions,owing to the poor methodological quality and high clinical heterogeneity of the included trials.Further well-designed clinical randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes should be undertaken.

Gene expression signatures for phlegm-dampness constitution of Chinese Medicine

Dear Editor,The term'individualized medicine'was first used in Biochemistry Individuality in 1956 by Williams(Williams et al.,1956).With the emergence of the post-genome era in the21st century,individualized precision medicine has attracted increasing attention.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),there is also concept of individualized medicine,which is known as the Chinese constitutional theory,proposed in the1970s(Wang,2012).According to this theory,the