Spss 19.0 analysis software

In both groups (methylprednisolone group, n = 12; saline group,
n = 12), AMAN rabbits were monitored daily until 30 days after
the initiation of treatment. After the follow-up period, the rabbits were
perfused transcardially and the ventral roots of their lumbar cords were excised
for the toluidine blue staining as previously described17 (link). The
number of degenerative axons from every four frame area (single frame,
0.03 mm²) in the ventral roots of the lumbar cord was
counted by a blinded observer17 (link). The frequency of degenerative
axons (the ratio of the number of degenerative axons to the total number of
axons of all frame areas) was calculated for each rabbit. The results were shown
as mean ± standard error. Mann-Whitney U test was
used to compare the frequency of degenerative axons between different groups.
Five normal rabbits without immunization or treatment constituted the histologic
controls. Life-table method was used to evaluate the effect of
methylprednisolone on AMAN rabbits surviving. A p value
of < 0.05 was considered significant. Analysis was performed
with the SPSS 19.0 analysis software by IBM (Armonk, NY).

Results are expressed as the mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 19.0 analysis software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Since the sample size is small (n = 6 per group), non-parametric statistical analysis was performed for comparison between each groups. For comparison of the results among medial and lateral sides of each groups, post-hoc multiple comparisons between groups were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test. When significant main effects were found, Wilcoxon rank sum tests were performed for comparison between each groups. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be significant.