OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of the sublingual venae in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: The shape, color and the red, green and blue values of the sublingual venae were analyzed quantitatively for PLC patients in different clinical stages by analysis system for comprehensive information of tongue diagnosis. RESULTS: With the aggravating of the disease, the patients' sublingual venae became wide and tortuous, and their color became blue and purple. The abnormality of the sublingual venae was more serious in clinical stage III than in stages I and II (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The shape, color and abnormality degree of the sublingual venae in patients with PLC in different clinical stages are distinct.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of tongue color in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: Tongue color and its RGB value were analyzed quantitatively for PLC patients in different clinical periods and other cancer patients by analysis system for comprehensive information of tongue diagnosis. RESULTS: The rate of blue and purple tongue was higher (P<0.05) and all the values of RGB were lower (P<0.01) in PLC patients compared with other cancer patients. In different clinical periods, the rate of blue and purple tongue in stage III was the highest (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The blue and purple tongue is one of the most important tongue characteristics of PLC patients.

Objective:To explore the method of building the formative assessment (FA) system in diagnostics teaching and investigate its implementation effect.Methods:We planned and formulated the formative assessment system in diagnostics teaching of undergraduate curriculum. The correlation between the scores of the formative assessment and final exam were analyzed. A questionnaire survey on students' attitudes towards FA and an interview on teachers' perspectives were conducted. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Linear correlation analysis was used to compare the final exam scores with formative assessment scores, and Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the scores of questionnaire items.Results:The scores of FA were significantly positive related to the scores of final exam ( r = 0.559, P < 0.001). The questionnaire analysis showed that students significantly valued the formative assessment superior to the summative assessment ( Z = -8.632, P<0.001). It was generally approved of the promotion of FA in students' self-direct learning and self-supervision and the advances in acquirement of knowledge and skills. Conclusion:It is feasible of carrying FA in diagnostics teaching which could provide better learning outcome and might have an extensive prospect of application.

OBJECTIVE: To find out some microscopically visible morphological differences in normal tongue manifestation between patients with primary liver cancer and healthy adults, and provide some beneficial evidences for microcosmic syndrome differentiation of tongue inspection. METHODS: Microcirculations of the tongue tip, which represented the macroscopical normal tongue manifestation, were observed under an optical microscope in patients with primary liver cancer and healthy adults. Exfoliated cells from tongue coating were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: The proportion of normal tongue manifestation was larger in healthy adults (38.89%) than that in patients with primary liver cancer (2.32%). The total score of microcirculation of tongue tip and the maturation index of exfoliated cells from tongue coating were both higher in patients with primary liver cancer than those in healthy adults with normal tongue manifestation (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Normal tongue manifestation, which is macroscopically visible, can be observed in both patients with primary liver cancer and healthy adults, but there exists obvious difference in microcosmic view.