Fear of recurrence: A mediator of the relationship between physical symptoms and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients suffer from symptoms and fear of recurrence (FoR), which both affect their quality of life (QoL). Based on a self-regulation model, the purpose of the study was to examine patients' FoR as a mediator of the relation between symptoms and QoL, and to identify which symptoms may trigger FoR. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using convenience sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data at a medical centre in Northern Taiwan. The analytic methods included descriptive statistics, structural equation modelling and linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 103 participants were recruited. Patients experienced a medium level of symptom severity and QoL but a moderate to high level of FoR. Symptom severity, FoR and QoL were significantly correlated. FoR was a significant partial mediator between symptom severity and QoL. The significant factors of the overall FoR and the subscale of health worry were "pain in general" and "pain in the mouth, throat or neck." "Pain in general" was a significant factor for the subscale of cancer worry. CONCLUSIONS: This theory-driven study supports a mediation model of FoR among HNC patients and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the antecedents and consequences of FoR.

[Key contents of disease prevention in Chinese medicine: to understand, regulate and take care of meridians].

The key contents of disease prevention through 3 aspects of understanding, regulating and taking care of meridians were expounded in this article. It discussed how to understand meridian through its main functions of relating with life and death, concerning various diseases, regulating deficient and excessive conditions, and also the importance of being kept smooth. It also expounded how to check the affected meridians through the diagnostic methods of inspection, pulse feeling, pressing along meridians, fixed pressing and palpation, how to regulate meridians through scribing, sucking, cutting, pulling and twisting etc., and how to take care of meridians through removing stagnation from meridians and collaterals, regulating emotions, diet and living style, so as to reach the aim of diseases prevention and inherite and develop the theory of meridians and collaterals of the past generations.

[Essentials of the treatment based on syndrome differentiation belonging to the meridian theory by professor Wang Ju-yi].

This paper states the essentials of the treatment based on syndrome differentiation practiced by professor WANG Ju-yi's and his experience in clinic. The understanding of basic theory is a key for clinical practices using meridian theory. Based on the understanding of mutual transformations among six meridians, six qi, six zang, and six fu, the theory of meridians and collaterals can be applied to daily acupuncture clinical practices. Doctors should follow the processes of observing meridian, inspection of meridian, selection meridian, selection acupoints in the clinical practices. This paper lists the clinical examples of treating patients with thalamic lesion by using the method of diagnosis and examination practiced by professor WANG Ju-yi's.