ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To establish a diagnostic model for diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). To screen the proteins or peptides associated with DAI for providing the biomarkers with theoretic foundation.@*METHODS@#Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into DAI group (n = 10) and control group (n = 5). The protein or peptide expression profiles of rat brain stem were detected by MALDI-TOF-MS. ClinProTools 2.2 software was used to find specific peaks, and a diagnostic model was established by the genetic algorithm.@*RESULTS@#There were significant differences in 61 peaks of DAI group (P < 0.05), 9 peaks were down-regulated and 52 up-regulated. The diagnostic model was established based on 5 different peaks. The specificity and sensitivity of cross validation was 96.14% and 95.98%; while the specificity and sensitivity of blind validation showed was 73.33% and 70.00%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#A specific and sensitive diagnostic model of DAI can be established by MALDI-TOF-MS to provide a potential value for determining DAI in forensic practice.