title: Applications of gray relational analysis in gastroenterology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the basic methods of gray relational analysis (GRA) and to illustrate its applications in gastroenterology.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the essential formulae of GRA and several typically practical examples, the procedure of GRA was introduced. Examples were drawn from the gastroenterological studies. Thus the trait of GRA could be demonstrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The superiority of GRA in gastroenterological study was proved by the examples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GRA can be applied mechanically or flexibly in gastroenterology.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 510041, Guangdong Province, China. tanxuerui@vip.sina.com
authors.forename: Xue-Rui
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yu-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming-Zhe
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000379:methods*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical