Prevention of the immediate excitotoxic phase occurring in response to spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major issue to reduce the neuronal damage responsible for any ensuing motor deficits. The present study evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of three noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists: Gacyclidine (GK-11), a new compound, Dizocilpine (MK-801), and Cerestat (CNS-1102) in a rat spinal cord contusion model. To mimic human SCI, a standardized model of rat spinal cord closed contusion in which animals spontaneously and progressively recover from the induced paraplegia was employed. Such model, characterized by a slow recovery of hindlimb locomotor function enables easy quantification of the neuroprotection at both the behavioral and cellular level. The animals were treated intravenously with the respective drugs 10 min after the spinal contusion. The dose range study suggested that 1 mg/kg of Gacyclidine was the most effective dose to promote functional recovery in reducing by half the time needed to reach full locomotor recovery. Racemate and enantiomers of Gacyclidine showed similar neuroprotective effects, but treatment with the enantiomers were not as efficacious in promoting full functional recovery. Similarly, a prolonged treatment with the racemate was not as efficious as a single dose, suggesting that a prolonged blockade of the amino-excitatory neurotransmission may be deleterious. Finally, Dizocilpine and Cerestat treatments induced only a partial and delayed neuroprotective effect compared to Gacyclidine. Neuroprotection characterized by a reduction of the cystic cavity and of the astrogliosis was observed with all treatments. As Gacyclidine is already in clinical trials, the present findings suggest the premise that it is a promising agent for limiting the initial neuronal damage induced by CNS trauma leading to better functional recovery.
At the time of this study, Sir Sandford Fleming College's (Lindsay, Ontario, Canada) Ecosystem Management (EM) diploma program offered two mandatory third year college community based (CCB)courses. These team-based courses were designed to promote an understanding of scientific methodology and to refine field research and team skills. Although CCB curriculum entailed workgroups consisting of students (two to three), an EM agent (i.e., from the community), and a faculty member, it offered no formal training in collaboration or natural resource conflict resolution; nevertheless, these were expected outcomes. Through this descriptive study, the authors sought to comprehend the shared and unique views of the CCB curriculum in terms of its contribution, if any, in the preparation of individuals to resolve natural resource conflict through collaboration for ecohealth (referred to as NRCE herein). The key finding indicated that the CCB curriculum required moderate change to help individuals prepare for NRCE. The primary finding suggests the introduction of a preparatory CCB course (i.e., replacing the fall semester CCB course), which focuses on: (a) teams, collaboration, conflict, and participation; (b) the roles of the participants (students, agents, and faculty); and (c) assessment of the individuals (i.e., in terms of previous related experiences). This new course would also provide opportunities for the administrators to ensure that resources (i.e., human and other), time, and the infrastructure (i.e., facilities and technology) required for each team project in the subsequent CCB course are available, efficient, and adequate. Additionally, secondary curriculum changes were recommended for the preparation of individuals to resolve natural resource conflict through collaboration for ecohealth.
Academic decathlons and continuing education high schools seem an unlikely mixture, but not for students at Alta Vista High School, a continuing education school in Southern California for teenagers who have had difficulty in traditional high schools. The students made an impressive showing in the academic decathlon sponsored by the Orange County Department of Education. In keeping with the esprit de corps of the academic decathlon, teachers at Alta Vista High School created the Environmental Studies Academic Pentathlon (ESAP) for its students.
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