Cross-cultural adaptation and construct validity of the Chinese Version of Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale by using structural equation modeling.

BACKGROUND: Visual vertigo (VV) is a disease characterized by various visual signal-induced discomforts, including dizziness, unsteady balance, activity avoiding, and so forth. Distinguishing it from other kinds of dizziness is important because it needs the combination of visual training and vestibular rehabilitation together. However, there is no appropriate tool to diagnose VV in China, thus we would like to introduce an effective tool to China. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of visual vertigo analogue scale (VVAS-CH) and to achieve its crosscultural adaptation in order to promote its further usage in China. METHODS: A total of 1681 patients complaining of vertigo or dizziness were enrolled and they were asked to complete the VVAS-CH. The cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and construct validity of the VVAS-CH were determined. RESULTS: Split-half reliability was 0.939, showing a good reliability. Factor analysis identified only one common factor for the nine items that explained 64.83% of the total variance. Most fit indices reached acceptable levels, proving the good fit of the VVAS-CH model. CONCLUSIONS: The VVAS-CH validated in this study can be used as an effective tool for diagnosing and evaluating VV in patients whose native language is Chinese.

The Correlation Between Detection Value of Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions and the Early Prognosis of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

BACKGROUND: To explore the correlation between the detection value of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions and the early prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with first-onset sudden sensorineural hearing loss (all frequencies) from April 2018 to July 2019 were included in this study. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions and pure-tone audiometry tests were performed at days 0, 3, and 6 of admission. Repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the changes in the signal-to-noise ratio for different distortion-product otoacoustic emissions frequencies over time and the interaction of grouping factors and time factors. RESULTS: The distortion-product otoacoustic emissions evocation rate in the 4 groups was significantly different starting at day 3 of treatment. It was higher in the cured (35.3%) and obviously effective (20.0%) groups than in the other 2 groups (0%, 0%). At the 6 f2 frequencies of 1105 Hz, 1560 Hz, 2211 Hz, 3125 Hz, 4416 Hz, and 8837 Hz, the signal-to-noise ratio was different among the groups (P < .05) and was notably higher in the cured group. The analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio change before and after treatment at the intermediate f2 frequencies of 1105 Hz, 1560 Hz, and 2211 Hz in all patients indicated a linear correlation between the signal-to-noise ratio change and the pure-tone hearing threshold change, with a correlation coefficient of 0.481. CONCLUSION: Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions evocation in the early stage (within 3 days of treatment) or the signal-to-noise ratio trend over time at intermediate frequencies may predict the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Investigations of Chirality Effects on Undifferentiated State of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Soft Nanofibrous Oligopeptide Hydrogels.

Soft nanofibrous oligopeptide hydrogels consisting of self-assembled l- and d-form Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Cys networks photo-cross-linked by poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethacrylate, which are referred to as l- and d-gel, respectively, were developed for investigation of chirality effects on the undifferentiated state of mesenchymal stem cells. Encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells in d-gel showed slower growth and less spreading, resulting in higher maintenance of the undifferentiated state, compared to in l-gel. This indicates that d-form peptide materials might be useful as scaffold materials for regenerative medicine using stem cells.

Analysis of Chirality Effects on Stem Cell Fate Using Three-dimensional Fibrous Peptide Hydrogels.

Chirality effects on stem cell fate were investigated in three-dimensional culture using soft fibrous hydrogels consisting of self-assembled l- and d-form Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Cys networks photo-cross-linked by poly(ethylene glycol) (l- and d-gel, respectively). Encapsulated human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were all alive, spread, and grown in both hydrogels. Interestingly, the cells preferably spread and grew in l-gel compared to in d-gel under mixed induction, and cell osteogenesis and adipogenesis differentiation in d-gel were suppressed compared to in l-gel. These results revealed that stem cell function and fate can be regulated in three-dimensional hydrogel culture systems with chiral motifs.