The author explained the definition and its scientific value of "cancerous toxin" proposed by Professor Chang-quan Ling, pointing out that it is helpful for better understanding the pathogenic factor and guiding the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In regard to the new definition of "cancerous toxin", the author put forward three key issues which should be solved in the field of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. First, the pathological property of cancerous toxin should be uncovered. Second, the relationship between cancerous toxin and syndrome differentiation or dosage of herbs need be further explored. Last, the cause of cancerous toxin is still unknown.

The article analyzed the contemporary study of pattern recognition of tongue images in traditional Chinese medicine by computer technology from its key sectors. It regards that the methods of orthogonal design and evaluation of image quality should be introduced to get a high-quality and practicable condition. In the field of tongue image segmentation, multiple methods used together are expected to improve the effect of segmentation. A scientific and canonical standard of tongue diagnosis based on comprehensive experts' experience with Delphi evaluation method and multi-center experts diagnosis on internet are also very essential. The study of pattern recognition on tongue image is still concentrated on the color. Further study should be extended to achieve quantification. And a comprehensive diagnosis on pattern recognition of tongue image is the aim that should be focused on later.

The "opening-closing-pivoting" theory on the six meridians is one of the difficult points in the study of Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Diseases). The authors give an explanation on the space and time differentiation of three-yin and three-yang as well as the "opening-closing-pivoting" theory based on the predecessor's experience, and then analyze the physiological and pathological characteristics of the six-meridian disorders.

The time of six meridians diseases tending to be cured in Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Diseases) is always one of the key points for study, but up till now no satisfied explanations are made. The authors try to study it on the basis of the theory of "three-yin and three-yang" according to the relationship between human body and the environment.

On the basis of outpatients' medical records concerning primary liver cancer (PLC), data of 552 patients (with 2020 effective prescriptions) from the Outpatient Department of Changhai Hospital treated by Professor Ling Changquan were collected. The nature, flavor and meridian distribution of the herbs used in the prescriptions were summarized by frequency method, and the features of the herbs used according to syndrome differentiation were analyzed by logistic regression. The couple herbs used were analyzed by cluster analysis. All the data were analyzed in combination with the experience of the specialist. It showed that most of the frequently used herbs were herbs for invigorating the spleen to promote appetite, removing toxic materials to inhibit tumor growth, and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. These herbs are mostly of plain or cool nature, and mainly of sweet, bitter, or acrid taste. It also showed that the most frequently used herbs for qi deficiency were Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Pseudostellariae; Caulis Spatholobi and Chinese jujube for blood asthenia; Fructus Corni and Ophiopogon japonicus for yin deficiency; Agastache rugosa, Semen Plantaginis and Poria for water-dampness; cape jasmine fruit and baikal skullcap root for heat excess; peach seed and Radix Paeoniae Rubra for blood stasis; Curcuma wenyujin, Akebia trifoliata and Bupleurum chinese for qi stagnation. A total of 19 pairs of couple herbs were summarized by the cluster analysis.

To explore the laws in syndrome differentiation of Taiyang disease and the prescriptions and herbs used in its treatment in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases).

In order to explore the dose-response patterns of Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases), all prescriptions containing Gancao in Shanghan Lun were analyzed by frequency and hierarchical clustering analysis. The doses of Gancao used in Shanghan Lun ranged from six zhu (Chinese unit, and one zhu is equal to 0.65 g) to four liang (Chinese unit, and one liang is equal to 15.625 g). Doses of one, two, three or four liang were commonly used. One liang Gancao as juvantia was usually matched with Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae), Xingren (Semen Armeniacae) and Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) for restricting the excessive diaphoresis of Mahuang. Two liang Gancao was often matched with some couple drugs, such as Guizhi and Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis) and Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), for warming yang to supplement qi, nourishing yin, detoxifying Fuzi, and preventing qi impairment from heat evil. Three liang Gancao was mainly matched with Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) or Renshen (Radix Ginseng) for treating middle energizer emesis. Four liang Gancao was matched with Ganjiang or tonifying herbs for invigorating vital qi and relieving spasm in deficiency syndromes with contraction, palpitation or diarrhea. Gancao is used for treating many syndromes in Shanghan Lun. It is frequently used to treat excess or heat syndromes with one or two liang in a dose and deficiency or cold syndromes with three or four liang in a dose.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an important component of complementary and alternative medicine, has evolved over thousands of years with its own unique system of theories, diagnostics and therapies. TCM has been increasingly used in the last decades and become well known for its significant role in preventing and treating cancer. We believe that TCM possesses advantages over Western medicine in specific aspects at a certain stage of cancer treatment. Here we summarize the advantages of TCM from three aspects: preventing tumorigenesis; attenuating toxicity and enhancing the treatment effect; and reducing tumor recurrence and metastasis.

With the further development of clinical modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), new request to tongue diagnosis for objectivity and quantification is raised. Many researchers have devoted themselves to this field and have achieved some accomplishments since 1950's. Especially in recent years, the revolution of information technique derived from computer industry brings the research new chances. The research history of the past five decades can be divided into three stages: (1) looking for micro-markers by newly-developed medical technique; (2) quantifying traditional markers by new technique; (3) further development based on information technique and corporation of multiple subjects. This article reviewed the three stages and described its prospect.

[Objective] To explore the mechanism of its formation of sublingual varix in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC) and from the vessels and haemodynamics so as to establish the basis for its future clinical study.[Methods] The related indexes of the haemodynamics vessels tongue and the portal system were measured by Doppler ultrasound.Then the mechanism of the formation of abnormal sublingual varix was explored from the local microcirculation of tongue,the morphology and haemodynamics of the tongue vessels and portal system.[Conclusion]The formation of abnormal sublingual varix was related to haemodynamics of the tongue,and the abnormal morphology and haemodynamics of portal system.The deep mechanism need to be further explored.