Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Liver Cirrhosis Using Tongue Bioinformatics

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this observational study is to compare the tongue bioinformatics of high-risk and low-risk patients with esophageal varices due to liver cirrhosis. The main question of this study is to explore whether there exists a relationship between the degree of esophageal varices and tongue bioinformatics in liver cirrhosis. it aims to answer 2 questions as below: question 1: If these is a significant difference in tongue bioinformatics between patients in liver cirrhosis with high-risk and low-risk of esophageal varices. Question 2; If tongue bioinformatics can be used as a diagnostic basic for testing esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. Firstly, participants will be divided into two groups according to their degree of esophageal varices from electronic gastroscopy report and CT scan report including high-risk group and low-risk group. Secondly, participants will be asked to show their tongue, including the surface and sublingual veins of tongue, and the tongue images of each participants will be collected by researchers via camera. After finishing tongue image collection, participants will receive a professional tongue diagnosis report in Traditional Chinese Medicine and health suggestion.

Official Title
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A Study on Predicting Esophageal Varices in Liver Cirrhosis Using Tongue Bioinformatics

Conditions
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Esophageal and Gastric Varices

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: tongue diagnosis


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patient with liver cirrhosis has been diagnosed according to clinical manifestations, blood test and imaging examination. Patient with abdominal enhanced CT scans and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, Patient who has signed informed consent forms. Exclusion Criteria: Patient who has previously received endoscopic treatment, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), splenectomy, Hepatectomy, balloon occlusion of retrograde veins or liver transplantation. Patient with severe ascites or Hepatic encephalopathy is painted. Patient with concurrent primary liver cancer; Patient with concurrent severe infection of other systems; Patient with symptoms of liver cirrhosis subside after antiviral treatment; Patient who is taking beta receptor blockers; Paitent with mental disorders;

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| patients with high-risk of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis<br>The diameter of varices vein is over 0.5cm with red sign in patients with esophageal varices due to liver cirrhosis. | Diagnostic Test: tongue diagnosis<br>* The tongue image of participants will be collected via camera and professional tongue diagnosis report will be provided to pariticipants.<br>|
| patients with low-risk of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis<br>The diameter of varices vein is below 0.5cm with negative red sign in patients with esophageal varices due to liver cirrhosis. | Diagnostic Test: tongue diagnosis<br>* The tongue image of participants will be collected via camera and professional tongue diagnosis report will be provided to pariticipants.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Esophageal varices is diagnosed by electronic gastroscopy | Electronic gastroscopy is a standard method to diagnosis esophageal varices for patients with cirrhosis. Especially, the electronic gastroscopy can detect the degree of esophageal varices detallly, including the diameter and red sign of varices veins. | 6 months | 
| Tongue images analysis by artificial intelligence | Tongue images of participants will be analyzed by using artificial intelligence technology. And the result will be used to test If tongue bioinformatics is related to the degree of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Specific Characteristic in Tongue Bioinformatics | Artificial intelligence technology and statistic analysis will be used to study the specific difference in tongue bioinformatics between high-risk and low-risk group esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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tongue bioinformatics, esophageal and gastric varices