Reliability and validity of tongue color analysis in the prediction of symptom patterns in terms of East Asian Medicine.
J Tradit Chin Med
; 36(2): 165-72, 2016 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27400470
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether color parameters of tongue inspection (TI) using a digital camera was reliable and valid, and to examine which color parameters serve as predictors of symptom patterns in terms of East Asian medicine (EAM).METHODS:
Two hundred female subjects' tongue substances were photographed by a mega-pixel digital camera. Together with the photographs, the subjects were asked to complete Yin deficiency, Phlegm pattern, and Cold-Heat pattern questionnaires. Using three sets of digital imaging software, each digital image was exposure- and white balance-corrected, and finally L* (luminance), a* (red-green balance), and b* (yellow-blue balance) values of the tongues were calculated. To examine intra- and inter-rater reliabilities and criterion validity of the color analysis method, three raters were asked to calculate color parameters for 20 digital image samples. Finally, four hierarchical regression models were formed.RESULTS:
Color parameters showed good or excellent reliability (0.627-0.887 for intra-class correlation coefficients) and significant criterion validity (0.523-0.718 for Spearman's correlation). In the hierarchical regression models, age was a significant predictor of Yin deficiency (ß = 0.192), and b* value of the tip of the tongue was a determinant predictor of Yin deficiency, Phlegm, and Heat patterns (ß = - 0.212, - 0.172, and - 0.163). Luminance (L*) was predictive of Yin deficiency (ß = -0.172) and Cold (ß = 0.173) pattern.CONCLUSION:
Our results suggest that color analysis of the tongue using the L*a*b* system is reliable and valid, and that color parameters partially serve as symptom pattern predictors in EAM practice.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Língua
/
Deficiência da Energia Yin
/
Diagnóstico Diferencial
/
Medicina Tradicional do Leste Asiático
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article