丘脑底核电刺激术对75岁以上帕金森病患者疗效

目的研究丘脑底核电刺激术(STN-DBS)对75岁以上帕金森病(PD)患者术后1年的疗效。方法选取2003年5月至2017年5月在我院接受STN-DBS治疗的10例75岁以上PD患者进行回顾性研究,分别于术前、术后3个月、6个月、12个月进行UPDRSⅢ及帕金森非运动评分。结果 10例患者术后随访1年,开机未服药与术前未服药状态相比,UPDRSⅢ、震颤、强直、迟缓及中轴症状评分均显著降低(P0.05)。术后1年帕金森患者非运动评分ADL、HAMD、PSQI评分显著降低(P0.05),MMSE、HAMA评分有所增加(P0.05)。结论STN-DBS能显著改善75岁以上PD患者的运动症状和部分非运动症状,提高患者生活质量,减少抗PD药物用量。但仍需长期随访以评价对高龄患者的疗效。     

丘脑底核电刺激术治疗肌张力障碍3例并文献复习

目的 总结丘脑底核（STN）脑深部电刺激术（DBS）治疗肌张力障碍的经验。方法 2012年6月至2014年4月收治3例肌张力障碍患者,其中2例行单侧STN-DBS,1例行双侧STN-DBS。3例患者术后随访3~22个月。采用BFM肌张力障碍评分量表（BFMDBS）进行评分,症状改善率=（术前BFMDBS评分-术后BFMDBS评分）/术前BFMDBS评分×100%。结果 3例患者开机后症状都有不同程度的改善,1例随访22个月,症状改善率为97%;1例随访3个月,症状改善率为63%;1例随访3个月,症状改善率为37%。3例患者均未出现手术相关并发症。结论 STN是治疗肌张力障碍有效的靶点,STN-DBS可明显、长期改善肌张力障碍症状。     

丘脑底核电刺激术治疗帕金森病的疗效观察

目的 探讨丘脑底核（STN）行脑深部电刺激术（DBS）治疗帕金森病（PD）的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2016年1月至2017年9月收治的64例PD的临床资料，均采用STN-DBS治疗。术后均随访3个月，使用统一帕金森病评定量表（UPDRS-Ⅲ）评分评估疗效。结果 64例手术顺利完成，平均用时（4.39±1.01）h。共置入128根刺激电极，术后CT计算移位距离为0~1.89 mm，平均（0.91±0.42）mm。术前检测64例改善率在37.20%~82.54%，平均（55.36±5.62）%。术后抗PD药物的左旋多巴等效剂量明显低于术前（P<0.05）；术后开机状态下UPDRS-Ⅲ评分明显低于术前（P<0.05）。术后出现颅内积气29例、颅内出血2例、延伸导线移位3例、情绪改变、构音障碍2例、异动9例，末次随访时均完全改善或症状消失。结论 STN-DBS治疗PD，能有效改善病人运动功能，减少抗PD药物的使用，但围术期并发症风险高，临床应重视操作技巧。     

脑深部电刺激治疗对帕金森病患者认知功能、抑郁和焦虑的影响

目的探讨双侧丘脑底核脑深部电刺激治疗(STN-DBS)对帕金森病(PD)患者认知功能和抑郁、焦虑状态的影响。方法连续收集16例拟行双侧STN-DBS的PD患者为实验组,在术前1周、术后1月和术后3月行认知功能、抑郁和焦虑状态评估。同期在门诊收集16例优化药物治疗的PD患者为对照组,在相同时间点行同样的神经心理量表评估。结果实验组患者的Mo CA评分与术前(20.69±4.33)相比,在术后1月(19.81±4.34)及术后3月(19.44±5.35)均有下降趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组患者的抑郁症状与术前(23.56±14.60)相比,在术后1月(11.94±6.16)及术后3月(7.38±5.18)有明显改善(P0.05)。实验组患者的焦虑症状与术前(22.13±6.11)相比,在术后1月(15.13±5.62)及术后3月(8.00±6.76)有明显改善(P0.05)。抑郁焦虑的改善在任何时期均与UPDRS-Ⅲ无相关性(P0.05)。结论双侧STN-DBS治疗在术后3月时并不影响PD患者的总体认知功能,但各个认知域的改变需要更为详细的神经心理量表评估;双侧STN-DBS治疗在短期内可以显著改善PD患者的抑郁和焦虑症状,且抑郁和焦虑症状的改善与STN-DBS治疗后运动症状的改善无关。     

双侧丘脑底核电刺激对帕金森病患者抑郁状况的影响

目的 探讨双侧丘脑底核脑深部电刺激对帕金森病患者抑郁状况的影响.方法 设置STN-DBS组及药物治疗对照组,配对人组,有效病例27对.两组患者均只服用左旋多巴制剂且剂量前后无显著变化,均未服用抗抑郁药物.前后共6次分别评估其抑郁及运动状况.结果 与术前及药物治疗组相比,STN-DBS组术后运动功能改善,抑郁状况短期内(3～6个月)改善;STN-DBS组术后运动评分与抑郁评分短期内(5周～6个月)相关,双侧电压均值与其抑郁评分均相关;STN-DBS组术后电压均值对抑郁评分的标准回归方程及回归系数均显著,运动评分对抑郁评分的标准回归方程及同归系数在短期内(5周～3个月)显著.结论 STN-DBS对PD患者运动障碍症状的改善在短期内可改善其抑郁状况,但长期效应不明显.在STN-DBS治疗电压值范围内,双侧电压均值越高,PD患者的抑郁状况越严重.     

丘脑底核脑深部电刺激术治疗帕金森病的疗效及其影响因素分析

目的 评价丘脑底核脑深部电刺激术（STN-DBS）治疗帕金森病（PD）的疗效及影响预后的术前因素.方法 回顾性纳入2007年1月至2015年6月在武警后勤学院附属医院脑科中心神经外科行STN-DBS手术的228例PD患者.分析术后24个月内的统一帕金森评估量表（UPDRSⅡ、Ⅲ）、贝克焦虑评分（BAI）、贝克抑郁评分（BDI）及简易精神状态检查量表（MMSE）评分的变化,并根据药物关期Schwab＆England日常活动（S＆E）评分将术后患者分为预后良好组（＞70分,122例）和预后不良组（≤70分,106例）,分析影响预后的术前因素.结果 与术前比较,术后24个月,药物开、关期的UPDRSⅡ、UPDRSⅢ及S＆E评分均降低（均P＜0.05）,其中药物开期的平均改善率分别为24.2％、29.2％和12.3％,关期的平均改善率分别为43.4％、47.0％和48.1％;MMSE、BAI、BDI评分差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）.与预后不良组比较,预后良好组的平均发病年龄、手术年龄、Hoehn-Yahr分期、UPDRSⅡ评分（开期、关期）均降低,S＆E评分、MMSE评分均增高（均P＜0.05）.多因素Logistic回归分析显示,手术年龄（OR=1.200,95％ CI：1.079～1.334,P＜0.01）、术前MMSE评分（OR=0.598,95％ CI：0.423～0.846,P＜0.01）及术前关期的S＆E评分（OR=0.959,95％ CI：0.921 ～0.998,P＜0.05）是术后24个月日常生活能力的独立影响因素.结论 STN-DBS能明显改善PD患者的临床症状.手术年龄、MMSE评分和药物关期的S＆E评分是术后疗效的独立影响因素,而发病年龄、Hoehn-Yahr分级、UPDRSⅡ评分、药物开期的S＆E评分是可能的影响因素.     

丘脑底核脑深部电刺激治疗帕金森病合并抑郁障碍的长期疗效

目的研究丘脑底核（STN）脑深部电刺激（DBS）治疗帕金森病（PD）合并抑郁障碍的长期疗效并探讨其神经机制。方法对15例合并抑郁障碍的PD患者实施STN脑深部电极植入，术后3个月、6个月和12个月进行随访和临床评价。结果术后运动功能症状如肢体僵硬、震颤、运动迟缓和姿势平衡障碍改善良好，停药后PD分级量表运动评分显著下降（P〈0．01）。术后抑郁障碍症状如焦虑、绝望和激越症状改善良好，停药后汉密尔顿抑郁量表评分显著下降（P〈0．05）。结论STN-DBS能显著改善PD的抑郁障碍症状，STN在PD抑郁障碍神经机制中起重要作用。     

脑深部电刺激对帕金森病患者伴发的抑郁的临床效果

目的探讨脑深部电刺激(Deep Brain Stimulation,DBS)对帕金森病患者伴发的抑郁的临床效果。方法收集我院2014年2月~2016年12月期间收治的300例伴有抑郁的帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)患者,接受丘脑底核(subthalamic nucleus,STN)DBS(STN-DBS)治疗,术后对患者随访观察6个月。结果患者均成功完成STN-DBS治疗和随访,术后3个月、6个月HAMD评分、UPDRS-III总分较术前有显著降低,术后6个月HAMD评分、UPDRS-III总分低于术后3个月,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗及随访期间,无明显不良反应。结论脑深部电刺激有助于改善PD患者抑郁症状,且安全性好。     

双侧丘脑底核脑深部电刺激术可改善中晚期帕金森病患者的症状

目的 探讨双侧丘脑底核(subthalamic nucleus,STN)脑深部电刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)术,对中晚期帕金森病(Parkinson's disease,PD)患者运动、生活质量、情绪、睡眠、认知及术后用药剂量的影响.方法 10例接受双侧STN-DBS治疗的中晚期PD患者分别于术前1周及术后3个月、6个月、12个月应用统一帕金森病评分量表(unified Parkinson's disease rating scale,UPDRS)、Hoehn&Yahr分级、帕金森病生活质量问卷(PDQ-39)、帕金森病睡眠评估量表中文版(PDSS-CV)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA),简易智能状态检查(MMSE)评价其临床情况,同时记录各时间点抗帕金森病药物的剂量及其变化,并对相关结果进行描述性分析.结果 10例PD患者术后均获得了显著疗效,震颤、肌强直、动作迟缓等都有明显改善,术后6个月开机未服药状态下改善率分别为68%、53%、35%,开机服药状态下改善率分别为86%、78%、69%,其中以震颤改善最为显著.术后UPDRSⅢ评分及Hoehn&Yahr分级均降低,术后6个月服药状态下改善率分别为67%、32%;日常生活质量提高,PDQ-39术后6个月改善率为71%,睡眠质量较术前改善,焦虑抑郁情况较术前有不同程度减轻,认知功能尤明显影响.抗帕金森病药物用量术后6个月较术前减少45%.结论 双侧STN-DBS能明显改善中晚期PD患者的运动症状及非运动症状.     

脑深部电刺激治疗肌张力障碍的疗效分析

目的 探讨脑深部电刺激（DBS）丘脑底核（STN）与苍白球内侧部（Gpi）治疗肌张力障碍的疗效。方法 采用STN-DBS与Gpi-DBS治疗肌张力障碍患者34例,术后1、3、6、12和24个月采用Burke-Fahn-Marsden（BFM）肌张力障碍量表评估疗效。结果 34例患者均顺利完成DBS,其中4例未获得缓解和1例因术后感染行二次手术取出刺激装置。29例患者二期手术开机后随访1~2年,症状均得到不同程度的改善,其中21例原发性患者疗效较好,术后BFM运动评分及残疾评分均较术前有明显改善（P<0.05）。继发性患者行DBS术后上述两项评分有所下降,但较术前比较改善不明显。结论 STN-DBS与Gpi-DBS对原发性肌张力障碍患者疗效明显,对继发性患者疗效差。两个靶点刺激均可使肌张力障碍得到不同程度改善,患者STN-DBS比GPi-DBS术后较早期获得改善。     

彩色血流全程成像和灌注血容量成像在富血管脑膜瘤术前栓塞中的作用

目的探讨彩色血流全程成像（iFlow）和灌注血容量（PBV）成像在富血管脑膜瘤术前栓塞中的作用。 方法回顾性纳入解放军南京总医院神经外科2015年6月至2017年6月收治的富血管脑膜瘤患者,共21例。所有患者术前均行数字减影血管造影（DSA）,采用iFlow、PBV软件行造影后影像学后处理,评估肿瘤的供血情况,其中供血动脉为ManelfeⅠ、Ⅱ型者行栓塞治疗,Ⅲ型者不行栓塞治疗。栓塞术后1～3 d行肿瘤切除术。 结果21例患者iFlow、PBV成像均显示肿瘤血供极其丰富。其中17例行选择性血管栓塞,栓塞后肿瘤供血动脉不显影,肿瘤无明显染色;4例未栓塞。栓塞的患者术中出血量平均为（544±276）ml,未栓塞者为（975±171）ml,差异有统计学意义（P＝0.008）。多元线性回归分析显示,术前是否栓塞是影响术中出血量的独立影响因素（F＝8.774,R2＝0.316,P＝0.008）。21例患者肿瘤均为全切除（Simpson分级Ⅰ级）。患者均未发生与栓塞和手术相关的严重并发症。 结论iFlow、PBV成像可很好地显示富血管脑膜瘤的供血情况,有助于决策是否行术前栓塞;可提高肿瘤的全切除率,降低并发症的发生率。     

6个月婴儿母亲育儿压力调查

目的:调查南京市主城区6个月婴儿母亲的育儿压力,并分析相关的影响因素。方法:采用简式育儿压力问卷(PSI-SF)和自编基本情况调查表对随机抽取的南京市11个主城区420对6个月婴儿及婴儿母亲进行调查与分析。结果:母亲的文化程度与育儿压力呈负相关;婴儿的性别、家庭收入及母亲年龄与母亲的育儿压力差异无统计学意义。结论:婴儿母亲的受教育程度与婴儿母亲的育儿压力有显著相关性。     

长链非编码RNA SNHG12在脑胶质瘤中的表达及其功能研究

目的研究长链非编码RNA核仁小分子宿主基因12(SNHG12)在脑胶质瘤组织中的表达及其对胶质瘤细胞增殖、侵袭以及迁移能力的影响,并探讨其可能的作用机制。方法分析中国脑胶质瘤基因组计划(CGGA)数据库中SNHG12在不同病理学级别脑胶质瘤(220例)组织中的表达情况,并采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)在27例胶质瘤组织和5例正常脑组织中进行验证。将靶向SNHG12的特异性小干扰RNA运用脂质体介导法转染胶质瘤细胞U251和U87,通过qRT-PCR检测SNHG12的表达改变情况,然后应用CCK-8方法检测细胞的增殖活性,以Transwell实验检测细胞的侵袭和迁移能力。采用Pearson相关分析检测CGGA数据库中与SNHG12表达相关的基因,并应用Western blot方法在蛋白水平上验证SNHG12与这些基因的表达关系。结果SNHG12在脑胶质瘤组织中的表达水平明显高于正常脑组织(P<0.05),并且在世界卫生组织(WHO)Ⅱ级胶质瘤中的表达水平低于WHOⅢ、1V级胶质瘤组织(均P<0.05)。抑制SNHG12的表达后胶质瘤细胞的增殖、侵袭以及迁移能力明显下降(均P<0.05)。CGGA数据库中SNHG12的表达水平与CDK4、CDK6、Vimentin以及基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)均呈正相关(均P<0.01),下调SNHG12的表达后这些蛋白的表达水平亦有下降。结论。长链非编码RNA SNHG12在胶质瘤组织中高表达,并且其表达水平与肿瘤的恶性程度有关。SNHG12可能通过调节CDK4、CDK6、Vimentin以及MMP-9的表达提高胶质瘤细胞的增殖、侵袭以及迁移能力。SNHG12可能能够作为治疗胶质瘤的一个新的潜在靶点。     

ATP as a marker of excitotoxin-induced nerve cell death in vivo

Summary In an attempt to find an marker for nerve cell death in vivo, the ATP content was measured in the rat dorsal hippocampus within hours or days following in the local injection of the excitotoxins quinolinic or kainic acid. Beginning or completed neuronal degeneration is accompanied by significant decreases in ATP levels. Selective blockade of the quinolinic acid-induced decrement in ATP content by D-(–) 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid indicates that ATP measurements may of value for the rapid in vivo screening of the anti-neurotoxic properties of pharmacologically distinct excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists.Dr. Wu is on leave from Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing College of Pharmacy, Nanjing, The People's Republic of China.     

Family planning and child mental health in China: the Nanjing Survey

The authors studied the impact of China's one-child-per-couple family planning policy on child development in 697 preschool children in the city of Nanjing and in two rural areas surrounding Nanjing. A home-visit questionnaire survey including a Chinese version of Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist was used. The behavior problem profiles of children who were their parents' only children and those who had siblings were compared, revealing a significant difference between girls who were only children and those who had siblings. Girls who were only children tended to have slightly higher scores on the factors of depression, moody, and temper.     

A multi-channel collagen scaffold loaded with neural stem cells for the repair of spinal cord injury

Collagen scaffolds possess a three-dimensional porous structure that provides sufficient space for cell growth and proliferation,the passage of nutrients and oxygen,and the discharge of metabolites.In this study,a porous collagen scaffold with axially-aligned luminal conduits was prepared.In vitro biocompatibility analysis of the collagen scaffold revealed that it enhances the activity of neural stem cells and promotes cell extension,without affecting cell differentiation.The collagen scaffold loaded with neural stem cells improved the hindlimb motor function in the rat model of T8 complete transection and promoted nerve regeneration.The collagen scaffold was completely degraded in vivo within 5 weeks of implantation,exhibiting good biodegradability.Rectal temperature,C-reactive protein expression and CD68 staining demonstrated that rats with spinal cord injury that underwent implantation of the collagen scaffold had no notable inflammatory reaction.These findings suggest that this novel collagen scaffold is a good carrier for neural stem cell transplantation,thereby enhancing spinal cord repair following injury.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital(the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School),China(approval No.2019AE02005)on June 15,2019.     

两种不同关节软骨替代材料对兔肝肾功能毒性的比较*★

背景：目前已对纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇水凝胶及聚乙烯醇/吡咯脘酮水凝胶材料进行了细胞毒性、致敏、刺激及局部反应试验，证明均具有良好的生物相容性和安全性，但是对肝肾功能的影响尚不清楚。 目的：观察两种不同关节软骨替代材料纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇水凝胶及聚乙烯醇/吡咯脘酮水凝胶植入兔骨组织后对其肝肾功能的毒性反应。 设计、时间及地点：血液生化指标观察，随机对照动物实验，于2008-11/2009-03在解放军南京军区总医院比较医学科完成。 材料：纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇水凝胶及聚乙烯醇/吡咯脘酮水凝胶均由南京理工大学生物材料研究所熊党生教授提供。 方法：健康清洁级新西兰大白兔30只，随机分成3组，纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇水凝胶组10只，聚乙烯醇/吡咯脘酮水凝胶组10只，空白对照组10只。分别将两种关节软骨材料植入已制备好的兔模型股骨软骨缺损部位。空白对照组施行同样的手术，但不作任何材料植入。 主要观察指标：于术后1，4，8，12周行肝肾功能检测，对比3组动物植入前后肝肾功能变化。 结果：植入前3组肝肾功能指标差异无显著性意义(P均 > 0.05)。3组植入后丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、白蛋白、球蛋白、尿素氮、肌酐水平分别与植入前比较，差异无显著性意义(P均 > 0.05)。植入后3组各项肝肾功能指标差异也无显著性意义(P均>0.05)。 结论：两种不同的软骨替代材料对兔肝肾功能无影响。 关键词：纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇水凝胶；聚乙烯醇/吡咯脘酮水凝胶；关节软骨；肝肾功能；毒性     

Effect of Yishen Qiqiao Fang on dopamine content in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative statec

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that the attack of persistent vegetative state is associated with the damaged neuron, which produces dopamine, and nervous pathway, the reduce of dopamine or malfunction of dopamine. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of self-made traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Yishen Qiqiao Fang, which has the functions of supplementing qi and nourishing blood, resolving phlegm by promoting blood circulation, restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation, on the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state. DESIGN: An open randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTINGS: Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Zijin Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight inpatients of persistent vegetative state were selected from the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Zijin Hospital from August 2005 to November 2006. The patients were diagnosed according to the diagnostic standards set by the summary of a meeting for specialists in Nanjing. Informed contents were obtained from their relatives. According to the order of admission, the enrolled patients were divided into control group (n =20) and TCM treated group (n =20). METHODS: In the control group, the patients were treated with routine treatments for the symptoms. In the TCM treated group, the patients were treated with Yishen Qiqiao Fang besides the same treatments in the control group. TCM dispensing granules: each bag of mongolian milkvetch root, Chinese angelica and peach seed equaled to 10 g crude drug respectively; each bag of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome and dahurian angelica root equaled to 6 g crude drug respectively; Musk 0.05 g. The daily dosage for adults: 4 bags of mongolian milkvetch root, 2 bags of Chinese angelica, 0.05 g musk, 1 bag of peach seed, 2 bags of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome and 2 bags of dahurian angelica root, which should be given though nasal feeding or gastrostogavage before breakfast and supper every day, the course lasted for 2 months. The contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined with enzyme immunoassay analyzer before and after treatment in both groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid before and after treatment in both groups. RESULTS: Totally 38 patients of persistent vegetative state were enrolled, 33 of them were involved in the final analysis of results, and the other 5 missed. The contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid had no obvious differences between the two groups both before and after treatment (P > 0.05). In the control group, the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid had no obvious differences before and after treatment (P > 0.05). In the TCM treated group, the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment (t =2.174, 2.485, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Yishen Qiqiao Fang can significantly increase the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state, which may be one of the mechanisms for ameliorating persistent vegetative state.     

Epidemiological and clinical features of Moyamoya disease in Nanjing,China

Objective

The epidemiology of Moyamoya disease in mainland China has not been documented. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features of Moyamoya disease in Nanjing, a provincial capital in China.

Methods

Patient records from multiple hospitals in Nanjing from January 2000 to December 2007 were collected. The clinical features of Moyamoya disease were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

A total of 202 patients were identified. There were 94 males and 108 females, with ages ranging from 2 to 78 years. There was a dual age peak, one in the group of patients 5–9 years of age and another in the group of patients 35–39 years of age. The initial symptoms included cerebral ischemia (81 patients, 40%), cerebral hemorrhage (113 patients, 55.9%) and asymptomatic disease (8 patients, 3.9%). An increasing incidence rate of Moyamoya disease was observed during the period of 2000–2007, with an average detection rate of 0.43 cases/100,000 persons/year (prevalence 3.92/100,000 persons). The incidence of ischemia associated with the disease was 0.16 cases/100,000 people-years and the incidence of hemorrhage was 0.22 cases/100,000 people-years.

Conclusion

This first study on the epidemiological and clinical features of Moyamoya disease in mainland China indicated an increasing incidence of Moyamoya disease with bimodal incidence distribution appearing more frequently in adults.     

Early methylprednisolone impact treatment for sensory and motor function recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury★ A self-control study

BACKGROUND： For the treatment of spinal cord injury, any pathological changes of the injured tissue should be primarily corrected or reversed. Any remaining fibrous function and neurons with intact structure should be retained, and the toxic substances caused by ischemia-hypoxia following spinal cord injury, should be eliminated to create a favorable environment that would promote neural functional recovery. OBJECTIVE： This study was designed to investigate the effects of the impact of early methylprednisolone-treatment on the sensory and motor function recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury. DESIGN： A self-control observation. SETTING： Department of Spine Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. PARTICIPANTS： Forty-three patients with acute spinal cord injury were admitted to the Department of Spine Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, between October 2005 and September 2007. These patients were recruited for the present study. The patients comprised 33 males and 10 females, and all met with the inclusive criteria namely, the time between suffering from acute spinal cord injury and receiving treatment was less than or equal to eight hours. METHODS： According to the protocol determined by the State Second Conference of Acute Spinal Cord Injury of USA, all patients received the drop-wise administration of a 30-mg/kg dose of methylprednisolone （H200040339, 500 mg/bottle, Pharmacia N.V/S.A, Belgium） for 15 minutes within 8 hours post injury. After a 45-minute interval, methylprednisolone was administered at 5.4 mg/kg/h for 23 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Prior to and post treatment, acupuncture sense and light touch scoring were performed at 28 dermatomic area key points, including occipital tuberosity and supraclavicular fossa. At the same time, motor scoring of key muscles among 10 pairs of sarcomeres was also performed. RESULTS： All 43 patients participated in the final analysis. There was no s