***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The study design was to decrease the damage of spinal cord on the experimentally induced acute spinal cord injury in rats . The objective of this study was to evaluate whether recombinant human erythropoietin ( rHu-EPO ) and methylprednisolone ( MPSS ) improve neurological function and histopathological changes if systemically administered after traumatic spinal cord injury . This study included 48 rats that underwent experimental SCI . Forty-eight animals were r and omly divided into six groups . Animals constituted a moderate compression of 0.6 N that was produced by application of an aneurysm clip at level T3 for 1 min . rHu-EPO ( 1,000 and 3,000 U ( Unit ) per kg of body weight i.p . ) and MPSS ( 30 mg/kg ) were administered 5 min after injury , and control group was saline treated . ( 1 ) Control group ( n=8 ) , ( 2 ) MPSS group ( n=8 ) , ( 3 ) rHu-EPO 1,000 U group ( n=8 ) , ( 4 ) MPSS + rHu-EPO 1,000 U group ( n=8 ) , ( 5 ) rHu-EPO 3,000 U group ( n=8 ) , and ( 6 ) MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U group ( n=8 ) . The neurological function and histopathology were evaluated at 24 and 72 h. According to the neurological functional test scores significant improvements between the control group and the other groups that had taken medical treatment were observed ( P<0.001 ) . Histopathologically severe ischemic findings were observed in the control group . A significant decrease in ischemic damage was detected in MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U group ( P<0.001 ) . The most significant neurological functional and histopathological improvements were observed after systemical administration of MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U and rHu-EPO 3,000 U. Furthermore , the MPSS + rHu-EPO 3,000 U group provides the most improved neurological functional and histopathological recovery Study design : An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of methylprednisolone and MK-801  after the compressive injury of spinal cord in rats . Objectives : To investigate the effect of methylprednisolone and non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 in long-term functional outcome after spinal cord injury ( SCI ) . Methods : A r and omized group A of Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with MK-801 ( 1.0 mg/kg , n=10 ; Group A ) after a compression injury . A group of  methylprednisolone (MP)-treated  ( 30 mg/kg , n=10 ; Group B ) and non-treated  animals ( n=9 ; Group C ) were included for comparison . The functional motor outcome such as inclined plane ( IP ) , toe spreading reflex ( TSR ) , and modified Tarlov scale ( TS ) were measured in each animal at regular time points up to 8 weeks post-treatment . Histologically the injury site was scored in four groups and immunohistochemically Wallerian Degeneration ( WD ) , astrocytosis and expression of β-amyloid protein was identified . Results : In examining the IP data , no significant difference was recognized between the group means ( P-value>0.5 ) . For the TSR , there were no differences in the group responses . For the TS , the differences were not statistically significant . Only group B showed significance in cavitation scores compared to group A ( P>0.0094 ) , WD was significantly different than group C ( P>0.03 ) , astrocytosis was significantly higher than group A ( P>0.001 ) and modest presence of β-amyloid protein . Conclusion : Our data indicate that one time bolus administration of MK-801 lacks any significant effect on axonal function in chronically injured rats . Daily bolus administration of MP at 30 mg/kg also did not ensure a better functional outcome . Immunohistochemically we have been able to show significant differences in WD , astrocytosis and small insignificant changes in β-amyloid protein PURPOSE Erythropoietin is a hematopoietic growth factor . It is also involved in neurodevelopment and neuroprotection . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of erythropoietin in enhancing the neurological recovery following experimental spinal cord injury . METHODS Rats were r and omly divided into 4 groups . Group 1 received  only laminectomy . Group 2 , 3 , and 4 have undergone a spinal contusion injury of 50 gr/cm . Group 2 received no medication .  Group 3 received 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone . Group 4 received 5000 IU/kg recombinant human erythropoietin . Following injury , neurological recovery was evaluated for 14 days , using a swimming test . RESULTS At day 1 , there was no difference between mean motor scores of group 2 , 3 , and 4 . Following day 1 , rats in group 4 exhibited a marked improvement in motor score , and this was maintained throughout the study . When compared to group 2 , mean motor score of group 4 was significantly higher at day 4 , 7 , 10 , and 14 . When compared to group 3 , mean motor score of group 4 was significantly higher at day 7 , 10 , and 14 . CONCLUSION These findings suggest that erythropoietin enhances neurological recovery following spinal cord injury and it seems to be more effective than methylprednisolone at the given doses Spinal cord injury ( SCI ) results in the loss of function below the lesion . Secondary injury following the primary impact includes a number of biochemical and cellular alterations leading to tissue necrosis and cell death . Methylprednisolone ( MP ) , by reducing edema and protecting the cell membrane against peroxidation , is the only pharmacological agent with a proven clinical ly beneficial effect on SCI . Melatonin , known as a free radical scavenger , has been shown to have an effect on lipid peroxidation following experimental SCI . The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of MP and melatonin on neurological , ultrastructural , and electrophysiological recovery .  Female albino rats weighing 200–250 g were r and omized into five groups of 18 rats each and six rats for the control group . Weight-drop trauma was performed for each group and a 30-mg/kg single dose of MP for rats in group 1 , a 10-mg/kg single dose of melatonin for rats in group 2 , and MP and melatonin in the same doses for rats in group 3 were administered immediately after trauma . The rats in group 4 were the vehicle group ( treated with ethanol ) and group 5 was the trauma group . The motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded at the 4th hour , the 24th hour , and on the 10th day of the study for six rats in each group . Posttraumatic neurological recovery was recorded for 10 days using “ motor function score ” and inclined plane test . After electrophysiological study the rats were terminated for an analysis of lipid peroxidation level of the injured site of the spinal cord . Electron microscopic studies were performed to determine the effects of melatonin , MP , and the combined treatment with MP and melatonin on axons , neurons , myelin , nucleus , and intracytoplasmic edema . The groups treated with MP , melatonin , and a combination of both had significantly enhanced electrophysiological , biochemical , and neurological recovery and also showed better ultrastructural findings than the trauma and vehicle groups . Although combined treatment was significantly more effective on lipid peroxidation than melatonin or MP treatments alone , at the 10th day , neurobehavioral , electrophysiological , and ultrastructural recovery were at the same level . In conclusion , MP , melatonin , and MP and melatonin combined treatment modalities improved functional recovery at the same level . Future studies involving different doses of melatonin and different dose combinations with MP could promise better results since each drug has a different antioxidative mechanism of action Abstract Aim : To investigate the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol in an experimental spinal cord injury ( SCI ) model in rats . Methods : Male Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250 g were r and omized into six groups . Weight-drop trauma was performed for SCI . Group 1 underwent laminectomy alone . Group 2 underwent laminectomy followed by SCI . Groups 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 underwent laminectomy followed by SCI and received resveratrol ( 100 mg/kg ) , methylprednisolone ( MP ) ( 30 mg/kg ) , resveratrol ( 100 mg/kg ) plus MP ( 30 mg/kg ) , and ethanol ( 2 % ) , respectively . The rats were divided into two subgroups for biochemical analysis ( killed at 24 h after surgery ) and for neurobehavioral and histopathological evaluation ( killed at 6 weeks after surgery ) . Posttraumatic neurological recovery after surgery was recorded weekly . Results : Groups 3 and 5 revealed significantly lower malondialdehyde , nitric oxide , xanthine oxidase , and higher glutathione levels than group 4 ( P<0.05 ) . Neurological recovery rates were significantly better in groups 3 and 5 than group 4 ( P<0.05 ) . When spinal trauma size ratios were compared , there was no significant difference between treatment groups . Conclusion : Resveratrol treatment revealed better biochemical recovery in the acute stage of trauma than MP treatment . Although resveratrol and combined treatment revealed better neurobehavioral recovery than MP treatment ; resveratrol , MP , and combined treatment modalities improved histopathological recovery at the same level in the final stage of the experiment . Future studies involving different doses of resveratrol and different doses combinations with MP could promise better results as each drug has a different anti-oxidative mechanism of action OBJECTIVE Melanocortins , peptides related to melanocyte-stimulating hormone ( MSH ) and corticotropin ( ACTH ) , exhibit neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity in several established models of peripheral and central nervous system damage . The beneficial effects of melanocortins on functional recovery after experimental brain damage and central demyelinating diseases have prompted us to investigate alpha MSH treatment in a weight drop model of traumatic spinal cord injury in rats . METHODS In two independent r and omized blinded experiments , treatment with either alpha MSH ( 75 micrograms/kg of body weight administered subcutaneously every 48 h for 3 weeks after trauma ) or single high-dose ( 30 mg/kg , 30 min after injury ) methylprednisolone was compared with saline treatment in rats subjected to a moderately severe 20-gcm weight drop injury . Spinal cord function was monitored using behavioral , electrophysiological , and histological parameters . RESULTS In both experiments , alpha MSH significantly improved recovery , as illustrated by Tarlov scores , thoracolumbar height , and amplitude of rubrospinal motor evoked potentials . The magnitude of the alpha MSH effect on motor performance was comparable with the one observed after treatment with methylprednisolone . CONCLUSION The reproducible neurological and electrophysiological improvement in spinal cord function of animals treated with alpha MSH  suggests a new lead in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury Beginning 30 minutes after compression trauma of the upper lumbar ( L-2 ) spinal cord , cats were treated with either a high-dose regimen of methylprednisolone ( MP ) administered as the sodium salt of the 21-succinate ester ( Solu-Medrol sterile powder ) or the MP vehicle . Animals were r and omly assigned to either treatment group ( 10 cats per group ) , and all personnel were blind as to which animals received vehicle or drug . The intensive 48-hour dosing regimen was design ed to maintain therapeutic tissue levels of MP and consisted of an initial 30 mg/kg intravenous bolus of MP ; 2 and 6 hours later additional 15 mg/kg MP doses were administered by intravenous bolus . Immediately following the bolus given at 6 hours , a continuous MP infusion of 2.5 mg/kg/hr was started . The infusion was stopped abruptly at 48 hours with no dose tapering . Animals in the vehicle group received an equivalent volume of MP vehicle . The total MP dose administered over 48 hours was 165 mg/kg . Animals were evaluated weekly for neurological recovery based upon a 12-point functional scale which assessed general mobility , running , and stair-climbing . Mean recovery scores at 1 month after injury ( + /- st and ard error of the mean ) were : vehicle group ( seven cats ) 3.7 + /- 0.9 , and MP group ( 10 cats ) 8.7 + /- 0.2 ; ( p less than 0.001 ) . Histological evaluation of the spinal cords revealed a strong negative correlation between neurological recovery and size of the spinal cord cavity at 1 month ( r = -0.88 ) . Three of 10 animals in the vehicle group became ill and had to be dropped from the study , whereas all of the 10 MP-treated animals survived in excellent health . The results demonstrate the therapeutic effectiveness and low incidence of side effects associated with an intensive MP dose regimen for treatment of experimental spinal cord injury Lipid peroxidation has been identified as a deleterious consequence of contusive spinal cord trauma and of thermal injury 
    Output:
    
The results of this study demonstrate the barriers to the accurate prediction from animal studies of the effectiveness of  MP in the treatment of acute SCI in humans .