ISO/TS 17938:2014

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 17938
First edition
2014-06-15
Health informatics — Semantic
network framework of traditional
Chinese medicine language system
Informatique de santé — Cadre de réseau sémantique du système de
langage de la médecine traditionnelle chinoise
Reference number
©
ISO 2014
© ISO 2014
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ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
3 Semantic networks . 2
3.1 General . 2
3.2 Principles of terminology naming and definition . 2
3.3 Semantic types . 2
3.4 Semantic relationship . 8
Annex A (informative) Semantic types structure .12
Annex B (informative)  Semantic relationship structure .14
Bibliography .15
Foreword
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iv © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This Technical Specification constitutes preparatory work for the development of a standard for semantic
network framework of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Language System.
This Technical Specification is based on the needs of semantic networks of the Traditional Chinese
Medicine Language System (TCMLS). This Technical Specification describes the semantic relations of
traditional Chinese medicine associated with the semantic concepts, terminology, and the definition of
semantic networks.
Historically, the application and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has continued for
a long period of time and the terms used vary in different geographical contexts over time. In the past,
it was less problematic for information processing because information exchange and integration were
rare. But recently, there has been a greater need for information integration processing and exchange
between different organizations, while still maintaining the accurate and unified meaning of messages.
Automated machine-aided information processing is now becoming more important, and so the
establishment of standardized concepts and relationships of TCM terms becomes important.
TCMLS consists of TCM terms, language translation, natural language processing, and language
standardized tools. The core of TCMLS is the semantic network of TCM concepts, which facilitates
machine processing.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 17938:2014(E)
Health informatics — Semantic network framework of
traditional Chinese medicine language system
1 Scope
This Technical Specification defines the structure of the semantic network by describing the semantic
types and semantic relations of TCM language system.
This Technical Specification is intended to:
a) support establishment of Unified Semantic Modelling TCM Language System;
b) support develop of standardized TCM concepts and relationships of concepts;
c) provide a conceptual framework for the concept representation of TCM Language;
d) support improvement in the processing of natural language by computer systems.
This Technical Specification has been developed for the first time. The initial content described below
is intended to be used as a starting point for the application of the content in the information system.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
traditional Chinese medicine
traditional medicine that originated in China, and is characterized by holism and treatment based on
pattern identification/syndrome differentiation
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western
Pacific Region.
2.2
Traditional Chinese Medicine Language System
TCMLS
language system that is designed to facilitate the development of computer systems that understand
the meaning of the natural language of traditional Chinese medicine, containing two sections in TCMLS,
TCM terms dictionary, and the semantic network
2.3
semantic networks
modelling framework that consists of (1) a set of broad subject categories, or semantic types, that
provide a consistent categorization of all concepts represented in the TCMLS, and (2) a set of useful and
important relationships, or semantic relations, that exist between semantic types
Note 1 to entry: The semantic network contains 96 semantic types and 58 relationships.
2.4
semantic type
node in the semantic network, which helps to organize concepts in hierarchy and assign at least one
attribute for every concept
Note 1 to entry: A semantic type is mainly classified into entity and event.
2.5
semantic relationship
relationship that connects between semantic types, divided into two classes: hierarchy and correlation
Note 1 to entry: There are 58 semantic relationships in TCM domain, which forms the skeleton of TCM semantic
networks.
3 Semantic networks
3.1 General
The TCMLS semantic network provides a consistent categorization of all concepts represented in TCM
terms dictionary and to provide a set of useful relationships between these concepts. The current release
of the semantic network contains 96 semantic types and 58 relationships.
3.2 Principles of terminology naming and definition
3.2.1 Marking with the letters TCM in superscript represents the terms which have the same
nomenclature with conventional medicine but have the different definition.
3.2.2 Concept is defined by comprehensive description using well known terms.
3.2.3 Definition is given by using standardized terms.
3.2.4 Definition explains the concept, and does not include composition terms.
3.2.5 Each concept is expressed by hierarchical classification and property definition.
3.2.6 Each concept includes both Chinese and English terminology and annotation.
3.3 Semantic types
The semantic types (given in Table 1) are the nodes in the semantic network. The network defines
semantic types for all concepts in TCM terms dictionary, both with textual descriptions and by means
of the information inherent in its hierarchies. There are two major categories of semantic types: entity
and events.
The semantic types structure is shown in Annex A.
Table 1 — Semantic types description and definition
ID Semantic types Definition
1 Entity A broad type for grouping physical and conceptual entities. (UMLS)
Physical and presenta-
1.1 An object perceptible to the sense of vision or touch. (UMLS)
tional object
Basic material in the In Chinese medicine, the basic elements, constituents, or substances of
1.1.1 human body in Chi- which the human body is composed or can be made according to TCM
nese medicine theory.
The fundamental substance that maintains body function and keeps the
Basic substance in the
1.1.1.1 physiological activity of the whole body in balance, such as qi, blood, and
human body
body fluid.
2 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Table 1 (continued)
ID Semantic types Definition
Essence means two things: (1) the fundamental substance that builds
up the physical structure and maintains body function; (2) reproductive
TCM
1.1.1.1.1 Essence essence stored in the kidney.(WHO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TER-
MINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC
REGION)
The red fluid circulating through the blood vessels, and nourishing and
moistening the whole body.
TCM
1.1.1.1.2 Blood
(WHO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRADI-
TIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION)
The basic element that constitutes the cosmos and, through its move-
ments, changes and transformations, produces everything in the world,
including the human body and life activities. In the field of medicine,
TCM
1.1.1.1.3 Qi qi refers both to the refined nutritive substance that flows within the
human body as well as to its functional activities. (WHO INTERNA-
TIONAL STANDARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN
THE WESTERN PACITIC REGION)
A general term for all kinds of normal liquid in the body, except the
blood, also known as body liquids. (WHO INTERNATIONAL STAND-
TCM
1.1.1.1.4 Liquid and humor
ARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN
PACIFIC REGION)
A collective term for internal organs, also called zang-organs and fu-
TCM
1.1.1.2 Viscera and Bowels
organs.
A system of conduits through which qi and blood circulate, connecting
the bowels, viscera, extremities, superficial organs and tissues, making
Meridian and col- the body an organic whole, the same as channels and networks; merid-
1.1.1.3
lateral ians or channels, in short. (WHO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TER-
MINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC
REGION)
The point where a needle is inserted and manipulated in acupuncture
1.1.1.4 Acupuncture point therapy. (WHO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRA-
DITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION)
Body constituent and A collective term for skin, vessels, flesh, sinews, bones and the external
1.1.1.5
orifice of sense organ opening of sense organs.
The characteristics of an individual, including structural and functional
characteristics, temperament, adaptability to environmental changes
and susceptibility to disease. It is relatively stable, being in part, geneti-
1.1.1.6 Constitution
cally determined and in part, acquired. (WHO INTERNATIONAL STAND-
ARD TERMINOLOGIES ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE WESTERN
PACIFIC REGION)
Medicinal animal plant Generally refers to all animals, plants and minerals that can be used as
1.1.2
and mineral drugs
Generally refers to those animals that have therapeutic function or can
1.1.2.1 Medicinal animal
be used to prevent and treat the disease.
Generally refers to those plants that have therapeutic function or can be
1.1.2.2 Medicinal plant
used to prevent and treat the disease.
A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a
1.1.2.3 Medicinal mineral definite chemical composition, and have therapeuti
...