Objective      To observe the effect of Xingnaojing injection (a traditional Chinese medicine injection) on N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) metabolism in the brains of patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI).        Methods      Forty patients with moderate/severe DAI were randomly divided into a control group (n=20) and a treatment group (n=20). The control group received conventional treatment

while the treatment group had 20 mL/d of Xingnaojing injection for 30 d in addition. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores and hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (

1

H-MRS) were employ

ed for quantitative analysis of brain NAA/creatine (Cr) and Cho/Cr at 24 h after injury and on the 15th and 30th days after treatment.        Results      The GCS scores of the treatment group were higher than those of the control group on the 15th and 30th days after treatment. Compared with the control group

the treatment group showed higher NAA/Cr and lower Cho/Cr (P0.05

P0.01).        Conclusion      Xingnaojing injection can alleviate neurologic impairment of the patients with DAI through affecting NAA and Cho metabolism in the brain

and has brain protective function.