One Yin-Yang Wu-Xing Model of TCM
                                                    CHEN Su-Shing 1, ZHANG Wen-Ran 2
1 CAS-MPG Partner institute of Computational Biology, Shanghai institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P. R. China
 2 Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30640 USA

One  Model of TCM

[Abstract] Although Yin-Yang Wu-Xing (Yin-Yang and Five-Elements, subsystems of human body) has been the theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for more  than 5 000 years, it has been primarily analytical or empirical in nature without a formal scientific  foundation.  Based  on bipolar  set theory,  an  equilibrium/non-equilibrium computational model of Yin-Yang Wu-Xing is proposed. The Yin-Yang Wu-Xing dynamical systems are formulated so that equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions can be established and proved. Computer simulations of equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes show that this new approach can provide diagnostic decision support in TCM. Thus, this equilibrium-based approach provides aunique scientific basis for future research in TCM, Qi (vital energy), QiGong, Meridians and Collaterals (acupuncture channels) and herbal treatment. On the other hand, it provides a basic Yin-Yang cellular network architecture for modern scientific research in genomics such that regulation mechanisms of the ubiquitous YY1 protein for cell processes can be explained.
[Key Words] Yin-Yang; Five-Elements; Qi; Yoga; Meridians and Collaterals; Traditional Medicine, Chinese; Systems Biology; Computer Simulation
[CLC Number] R2-03
[Document Code] A

This research is a model of the Wu-Xing (Five-Elements) human body system with explicit Yin-Yang bipolarity developed by the second author in the past 20 years. The authors follow the conventions: A functional element (subsystem) refers not only to one organ, for example, the functional subsystem "kidney" refers not only to the kidney itself but also to the genital, urinary and endocrinal system; Other parts of the human body are weakly coupled with the five functional subsystems according to a Jing-Lou network (Meridians and Collaterals) in TCM. According to Yin-Yang theory, every matter has two sides. Yin is the feminine, negative, or cold side and Yang is the masculine, positive, or warm side.  The fusion/binding  of the two  sides  in equilibrium or harmony is considered a key role for the mental or physical health of any person, where symptoms are often diagnosed as imbalance of the Yin and the Yang. For instance, kidney Yin or Yang deficiency may cause heart Yin or Yang deficiency, respectively.  While Yin-Yang can  be used to characterize the state of any biological system in TCM, Wu-Xing (Five-Elements) theory presents a basic functional model or systems biology of the human body. According to the functions, enhancing and restricting relations (Wu-Xing relations) exist among the five interacting subsystems. The authors extend Yin-Yang (-, +) bipolar sets and logical models to a bipolar linear algebra (or control system) which is  used  for Yin-Yang bipolar dynamic modeling and analysis. Furthermore, the authors consider qi (the vital energy in TCM that flows within the natural as well as biological systems and regulates the functions of the body) as a Yin-Yang fusion or binding  with  bipolar  interaction,  equilibrium, non-equilibrium, harmony, and/or balance aspects. The authors formulate Yin-Yang Wu-Xing equations with explicit (-, +) bipolarity. The authors establish conditions of equilibrium/non-equilibrium Yin-Yang Wu-Xing processes. The authors present computer simulations of the Yin-Yang Wu-Xing equations for certain symptoms, self-healing processes, growing, and aging processes. The results showed that the new model can be used for TCM diagnostic decision support as well as for better understanding of the interactive nature of Yin-Yang and Wu-Xing in modem western biology and medicine (the discussion of YY1 proteins will appear in a subsequent paper).

3 Discussion
Based on the Yin-Yang Wu-Xing model, the authors can develop a decision support system YY-X for TCM, which is implemented in a prototype. The top-level system architecture is depicted as follows. The system is designed to be iterative in nature. After a TCM doctor diagnosed a patient, his intermediate diagnosis together with the patient symptoms can be entered into the YY-X decision support system. The YY-X is then fedback to the TCM doctor for further diagnostic analysis.

References
[1] Shi Y, Seto E, Chang LS, et al. Transcriptional Repression by YYI, a Human GLI-Kruppel-related Protein, and Relief of Repression by Adenovirus E1A Protein. Cell, 199l, 67 (2): 377-388.

Author:  CHEN  Su-shing  (1939-),  Emeritus professor, University of Florida, Principal Investigator, CAS-MPG Partner Institute of Computational Biology, main interest are TCM theory and infonnatics.