The authors present a rare clinical case of a 41-year-old patient with a spinal teratoma in the caudal region which manifested as sphincter difficulties. Following previous graphic examinations and the assessment of the intraoperative finding, the tumour was managed with endocapsular extirpation. A histological examination confirmed the finding of a mature teratoma. In the discussion, the authors briefly present the knowledge concerning the aetiopathogenesis and therapy for spinal teratoma.

This study aimed to introduce a Czech version of the Disability Assessment for Dementia to evaluate activities in daily living (ADL) in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). We translated items from the original source and back to English. Then we created a user-friendly questionnaire named DAD-CZ. Caregivers assessed ADL of 42 patients with AD (mean Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE, ± SD 17 ± 6) by filling up the questionnaire within 5–10 minutes in the waiting room. DAD-CZ was not related to age, education or sex. We observed the moderate correlation with MMSE (Spearman´s r = 0,5; p = 0.001). The DAD-CZ questionnaire extends options for structured measurements of basic and instrumental ADL in patients with dementia, namely AD, in the Czech Republic.

Prophylactic drug treatment is foregrounded in attempt to reduce frequency, duration or severity of migraine attacks, further after inefficiency or contraindications of acute therapy. Drugs of the first choice are initially administrated, i. e. valproate, topiramate, metoprolol, flunarizine. If these drugs are not effective, are contraindicated or in case of comorbidity, we use drugs of the second choice (amitriptylin) or another prophylactic drugs. Monotherapy is preferred at first, prophylactic drugs may be combined. Duration of prophylaxis is usually 6–9–12 months. During menstrual migraine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen) or triptans (frovatriptan, naratriptan) are administrated intermittently, another option is hormonal prophylaxis. Using of magnesium is without risk during pregnancy. In resistant cases metoprolol can be applied. The failure of prophylaxis can be caused by the wrong diagnosis of the headache.

The physiotherapy of the spinal cord injuries takes, due to its high demands in costs, skills and specific needs, place at the specialized wards – the Spinal cord units. With respect to those requirements the special ASIA neurological assessment (performed according to the American Spinal Injury Association, ASIA) has been currently used. This examination permits an assessment of the level and extent of the neurological impairment. The rehabilitation begins immediately the SCI patients are admitted to the SCU. The main attention is paid to the respiratory and pain management. A wide range of specific physiotherapy methods have been used in order to minimize neurological and functional deficits after SCI (e. g., techniques based on the clinical neurology approach, performance of passive and active movements, verticalization, physical therapy, functional electrical stimulation, using MotoMed and Lokomat devices etc). The specialized physiotherapeutic management during the acute, sub-acute and chronic phase after SCI has been focused on a recovery of disturbed functions, a restoration of the remaining muscle potential, a creation of compensatory mechanisms to achieve as high as possible level of self-sufficiency and especially to reach the acceptable quality of life.

In this review article, general information is expressed concerning available biochemical, cytological, ammunological and microbiological metodologies of cerebrospinal fluid evaluation. Basic and advanced criteria of investigation are distiguished, including advanced parameters of CSF. Basic algorithm of laboratory evaluation of CSF is recommended, in association with concrete neurological diagnosis.

Event-related synchronization and desynchronization (ERD/S) represents a quantitative non-linear EEG signal analysis method, that enables to evaluate the changes of the background activity in any frequency ranges. These changes are related to an external or internal stimulus and are linked to the brain activation. It is widely used in the neuroscience research as a form of functional brain mapping. Especially the intracerebral recording data analysis have a big importance.

This contribution addresses the challenge of chronic non-specific lower back pain (LBP), a matter often accompanied by a degree of unpleasantness for family doctors, vertebrologists, and many other carers. LBP sufferers search various segments of the health care system with considerable energy, sometimes approaching the point of abuse. Most physicians approach this problem through the so-called „biological” model of pain, i. e. by means of imaging and other diagnostic work-up they try to identify the pathological issue leading to the pain and remove it by pharmaceutical and/or surgical means. This classic model has not proved appropriate in chronic non-specific LBP and mirrors one of the causes of unsatisfactory results in more widespread treatment. An increasing number of studies published in recent years recommend the employment of what is known as the operant conditioning model, and present evidence of high efficacy

The article shortly summarizes the associations of intracranial hypertension and its symptoms in the light of its pathophysiological bases. The main symptoms of intracranial hypertension are listed as well as the clinical descriptions mentioned in the past by reputable Czech neurologists.

A 49-year-old female diabetic patient with hypertension presented to a neurological unit with a mild, recurrent central monoparesis of the right arm. Brain imaging failed to demonstrate any pathology. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed an inferior wall scar. Echocardiography disclosed a left ventricular thrombus; coronarography showed a severe diffuse disease. Cardiac surgery consisting of aortocoronary bypass and thrombectomy was indicated. Cardiac diseases resulting in thrombus formation as well as investigations which are most beneficial in their detection are discussed.

Every neurologist is familiar with usage of osmotically active substances and glucocorticoids in the treatment of intracranial hypertension – these medicaments were introduced into clinical practice more than 50 years ago and the abundant literature supporting their role in this indication is convincing. Bearing this in mind, it is even more interesting that we still don’t know the precise mechanism of their action and there is no consensus regarding the ideal dosage of osmotically active substances, timing of treatment and their effectiveness in different indications. Established treatment algorithms are, however, universally accepted and practiced. We briefly summarize the current state of knowledge and practical approach to the management of intracranial hypertension using the above substances and we also point to certain widely accepted fictions that probably lack any rational background.

Bladder atonia and areflexia are functional consequences of spinal shock following SCI. Sphincters are inactive, voiding is not possible. The bladder is distended. During this acute phase the therapeutic aim occurs in ensuring of the urine derivation preventing complications. Following procedures are used: permanent indwelling catheter, suprapubic drainage, intermittent cathe terization, reflex voiding by bladder tapping and suprapubic manual pressure. First days after injury on the ICU, a permanent indwelling catheter is used, later on changed to suprapubic drainage. It is recommended to change to intermittent catheterization as early as possible. Related to the level of injury the catheterization by themselves is trained for. Presence of urine infection can influence these algorithms. An adequate therapy of urine infection prevents bladder stone formation. Basic diagnostic for detrusor-sphincter dyssynergy during the chronically phase is the video-urodynamical assessment. Therapy is difficult, it occurs in a sufficient derivation. Pharmacological therapy mainly is focused to reduce the hydrostatic pressure in the urine system. Beside suprapubic epicystostomy surgical procedures are described. Those procedures support continence or provide for permanent incontinence (urinal).

Epileptic as well as non-epileptic seizures are frequent problem in teenage. Both intrinsic (e. g. estrogens/gestagens rate) and exogenic (e. g. sleep deprivation and first experiences with alcohol). Psychosocial and neurovegetative instability should be causative factor of high incidence of non-epileptic or migrenous attacks.

The complexity of the topographic relations of the spine, spinal cord, and spinal nerves is a result of the incongruous growth of the spine and the spinal cord, the growth of which is retarded from the third month of embryonic development. The spinal cord only extends to the upper portion of the lumbar spine and the spinal nerves run obliquely down the spinal canal. Those spinal cord segments that were originally situated at the level of the corresponding vertebrae are located above the vertebral bodies. From the level of the second lumbar vertebra down the spinal canal, only spinal roots are found resembling a horse's tail (cauda equina) in appearance. In contrast to the intracranium, the morphology of the epidural space and of venous drainage is different.