The Department of Neurology

Internal Regulations for Students of the English Division

1. The internal regulations of the Department of Neurology are consistent with the Study Statute of the Medical University of Bialystok.

2. Didactic classes are realized consistently with the study schedule confirmed by the Dean of the Medical Faculty.

3. The course in Neurology is carried out in the didactic rooms and wards in the Department of Neurology.

4. During the lectures and classes the student is obliged to change shoes and wear a white doctor’s coat (we do not provide it!). Bags, coats, jackets, etc. should be left in the cloakroom. The student should bring a reflex hammer, a pen torch, a stethoscope (we do not provide them!), their own neurological textbooks, a notebook, and a pen.

5. During the classes mobile phones, pagers, computer equipment, and any audio devices must be absolutely switched off. The student is responsible for taking care of his/her personal belongings. In the case of damage or steal the Department of Neurology does not take any responsibility for it.

6. During the lectures and classes taking photographs is forbidden.

7. During the classes it is forbidden to leave the didactic rooms or wards without permission of an assistant.

8. It is prohibited to smoke, eat, and drink in the didactic rooms, wards, or corridors during the classes.

9. The student is obliged to take care of the didactic equipment and behave appropriately towards patients and house staff. It is absolutely forbidden to carry out the didactic equipment.

10. The student is obliged to obey the work safety and fire-control regulations. Before the beginning of the classes, the student is acquainted with them. The student must immediately inform an assistant about all accidents taking place in the Neurology Department during the classes.

11. The student is obliged to participate in all classes and lectures. Absence should be excused as soon as possible. It is demanded in the case of health reasons to show a medical certificate of a temporary disability and in other cases to present a certificate of proper authorities.

12. The course in Neurology is divided into two blocks of classes ending with credits. The first block of five classes ends with the credit and the second block of ten classes ends with the credit. During the first block of five classes, students should become familiar with the technique of neurological examination, investigations performed in neurological disorders, and the most common neurological symptoms. During the second block of ten classes, students should become acquainted with neurological signs, symptoms, and rules for differentiating diagnosis and management of the most common neurological disorders. The detailed plan of the practical classes will be announced on the notice-board at two weeks before the beginning of classes.

13. Unexcused absence during the classes excludes receiving a completing of the semester.

14. Basing on the textbooks and lectures students should be theoretically prepared for the current classes. It is mandatory to know the material from the current class and previous classes and lectures. During the first class, the student is obliged to pass the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology test. The test contains 20 questions (one point for one question). A minimum of 12 points is required to pass the test. In case of not passing the test, retest should be taken during the next class. In case of not passing the retake test, the student can not participate in the classes and is obliged to undergo the course of Neurology with the next group after successful passing the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology test.

15. At the end of each block of classes the student should pass a 20-question test. A minimum of 60% (12 points) is required to pass the test. In case of not passing the test, retest should be taken during the next class. Passing the test finishing each block of classes is mandatory to complete the Neurology course and allows the student to take the Final Exam.

16. During each class (except for the first, fifth, and last class) the student has to write a 10-question-test (it is not mandatory to pass that test). Points gained from neuroanatomy test, class tests, and block credits will be a base for counting the bonus points which will be added to the points gained in the Final Exam. The maximum number of points from all tests is 180 (12 classes x 10 points + 20 points from anatomy test + 2 block credits x 20 points). Points gained from all tests will be divided into 20. The student may gain a maximum 9 bonus points (180 : 20 = 9).

17. The student has the right to the inspection of her/his credit work within three days after announcing its results. 

18. Passing the test finishing each block of classes is mandatory to complete the Neurology course and allows the student to take the Practical Exam. The Practical Exam is the neurological examination of the patient and will take place after finishing Neurology classes within two weeks time. The term will be agreed with the assistant responsible for the organization of the teaching process. For the Practical Exam, the student may gain a maximum 5 points. To pass the Practical Exam the student has to gain a minimum 3 points (60%). If the student does not pass the Practical Exam she/he will have to appoint for retake the exam with the assistant responsible for the organization of the teaching process.

19. Passing the Practical Exam is mandatory to take the Theoretical Exam.

20. The Theoretical Exam is scheduled in the summer examination session and consists of 60 questions (multiple choice and/or true/false and/or fill-in questions – 1 point for each correct answer x 60 questions = maximum 60 points) plus five or four neurological cases (for which the student may gain maximum 10 points). Totally for the Theoretical Exam, the student may gain a maximum 70 points.

21. To pass the Theoretical Exam it is mandatory to get a minimum 60% from 70 points (it is 42 points).

22. Passing the Theoretical Exam is mandatory to pass the Final Exam.

23. In the Final Exam the student may gain a maximum 84 points (70 points for the Theoretical exam + 5 points for the Practical Exam + 9 bonus points).

24. The student will be graded as follows:

5- very good – from 80,5 to 84 points
4.5 (4+) - more than good – from 75,5 to 80 points
4- good – from 65,5 to 75 points
3.5 (3+) - fairly good – from 55,5 to 65 points
3- satisfactory (sufficient) – from 45 to 55 points
2- unsatisfactory (negative result what means the necessity of retake)
 

25. The student has the right to the inspection of the examination work within seven days after announcing the results.

26. The examination works are stored in the archive of the Department of Neurology for a period of two years and next they are damaged.

27. Retake of the Theoretical Exam takes place in the term (in September) appointed by the Head of the Department of Neurology and has a form of the writing exam.

28. In the case of failure to Retake the further procedure will be consistent with the Study Regulations of Medical University of Bialystok available on the website of our University (www.amb.edu.pl/en/sites/engdiv.html) Study Regulations- Part IV §§ 13-18).

29. During both in-class tests and the final exam the student may not consult any written materials or electronic devices. Moreover, the student may not have verbal or non-verbal contact with any person other than the teaching assistant. Any violations of these rules will be regarded as cheating and will result in failing the test/exam.

30. Copies of credit and exam works will not be delivered to students.

31. If you have any comments, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Alina Kułakowska or the assistant responsible for the organization of the teaching process Joanna Tarasiuk MD.

The Department of Neurology

Safety Procedures

EMERGENCY PHONE NO. 112

1. Medical Emergencies and First Aid

If medical help is required, alarm the assistant to take care of the injured person!

If transport to medical help or an ambulance is required, call 999, give your name, building, floor and room number.

2. Fire

• Escape route
  Know the escape route in case of fire emergency. The routes are posted in the hallways of the building.

· The fire alarm
Look for the fire alarm nearest to your place and raise the alarm about a fire.

· Location of fire extinguisher
The fire extinguisher is located close to the nurse`s duty room. Read the instructions for its use printed on it and use the extinguisher.

1. 1. 1. remove the fire extinguisher from its holder
      2. pull the pin to break the plastic seal
      3. with your back to the exit, aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire
      4. pull the trigger sweep the extinguisher from side to side until the fire is extinguished.

· Action in case of hearing the fire alarm
If you hear the fire alarm, immediately leave and close the door behind you. Descend to the ground floor using the stairs not the elevators and leave the building by the nearest exit.

If it becomes unsafe to fight the fire, immediately leave the Department, closing the door behind you and pull the nearest fire alarm.

3. Good Practices in the Neurology Department
   1. 1. Wear a doctor`s coat.
      2. Wear changed shoes.
      3. Wear appropriate gloves when necessary. 
      4. Do not eat, drink or store food in the wards.
      5. Wash hands after examining patients.
      6. Know the hazards of the biological materials.

4. Disposing of used needles and tongue depressors

It is the policy that ALL used needles and tongue depressors should be thrown into the container appropriate for contaminated material which is near the nurse`s duty room.

Single needle or tongue depressor must be used only for one patient (!!!).

Book List for the Course in Neurology

It is also mandatory to know the material from the lectures.

OBLIGATORY BOOK

1. Neurology and Neurosurgery Illustrated – Kenneth W. Lindsay, Ian Bone; Churchill Livingstone

ADDITIONAL BOOKS

1. L/N on Neurology – Ginsberg
2. Clinical Neurology – Aminnoff, Simon G.
3. Harrison`s Neurology in Clinical Medicine – Hauser, Kasper E.
4. BRS Neuroanatomy – Fix J. D.
5. Review of Medical Physiology – Ganong W. F. – Lange Medical Books

Schedule of Classes and Lectures

 Classes:

8.00 - 11.25 - first 10 days of block

8.00 - 11.22 - last 5 days of the block

Lectures: ONLINE

Wednesday        

At 13.00 - 14.30   - on 3.04; 10.04; 17.04; 24.04; 8.05; 15.05; 22.05; 29.05; 5.06; 12.06; 19.06.2024      

At 6.15 - 17.45 - 28.02; 6.03; 13.03; 20.03; 27.03.2024               

The Department of Neurology

Schedule of the Classes for Students of the English Division

Class 1

1. The neuroanatomy and neurophysiology 20 question test
2. General approach to neurological history and examination
3. Neurological history taking
4. Higher cortical function and dysfunction (frontal, parietal, temporal lobes, occipital lobe)
5. Disorders of speech and language
6. Mini Mental Status Examination
7. Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid        

Class 2

1. Retake of the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology 20 question test
2. The 10 question test (includes questions from the first and second class issues)
3. Cranial nerve examination (I-XII nerves)
4. Impairment of vision
5. Disorders of smell
6. Pupillary disorders
7. Horner`s syndrome
8. Diplopia and impaired ocular movement
9. Disorders of gaze
10. Facial pain and sensory loss
11. Facial weakness
12. Bell`s palsy and other facial nerve disorders
13. Deafness, tinnitus and vertigo
14. Disorders of the lower cranial nerves
15. Causes of the lower cranial nerves palsies
16. Pseudobulbar palsy
17. Bulbar palsy

Class 3

1. The 10 question test
2. Examination of upper and lower limbs, trunk, posture and gait, unconscious patient
3. Brachial plexus
4. Lumbosacral plexus
5. Disorders of stance and gait
6. Conscious level assessment
7. The Glasgow coma scale
8. Coma and impaired conscious level
9. Transient loss of consciousness
10. Confusional states and delirium
11. Brain death
12. Electroencephalography (EEG)

Class 4

1. The 10 question test
2. Upper motor neuron weakness
3. Lower motor neuron weakness
4. Electromyography, Nerve conduction studies (EMG; ENG) and Evoked Potentials
5. Sensory impairment
6. Pain
7. Pain syndromes (causalgia, postherpetic neuralgia, thalamic pain, phantom pain, visceral, referred pain)
8. Limb pain
9. Cerebellar disorders and involuntary movements
10. Cerebellar dysfunction
11. Nystagmus
12. Tremor
13. Movement disorders (chorea, athetosis, dystonia, ballismus, myoclonus)

Class 5

1. Spinal cord and root compression
2. Spinal cord and roots
3. Lateral compressive lesion
4. Brown-Séquard syndrome
5. Complete cord lesion
6. Central cord lesion
7. Cauda equina lesion
8. Ultrasound and angiography
9. Cerebello-pontine angle lesions
10. Meningism
11. Raised intracranial pressure
12. Revision of material
13. Credit – 20-question test

Class 6

1. The 10 question test
2. Revision of the neurological examination technique
3. Disc prolapse and spondylosis 
4. Lumbar disc prolapse
5. Lumbar spinal stenosis
6. Spondylolisthesis
7. Thoracic disc prolapse
8. Cervical spondylosis
9. Cervical disc prolapse
10. Investigations

Class 7

1. The 10 question test
2. Intracranial and spinal cord tumours
3. Pathological classification of intracranial tumours
4. Classification according to site
5. Aetiology/incidence of intracranial tumours
6. Clinical features of intracranial tumours
7. Investigations
8. Management
9. Intrinsic tumours (astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, metastatic tumours, lymphoma);
10. Extrinsic tumours (meningioma, arachnoid cystis)
11. Tumours of the posterior fossa (cerebellar metastases, haemangioblastoma, medulloblastoma, acoustic Schwannoma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma)
12. Raised intracranial pressure
13. Tumours of the spinal cord

Class 8

1. The 10 question test
2. Cerebrovascular diseases
3. Risk factors
4. Mechanisms
5. Natural history
6. Causes (occlusion, embolisation, haemorrhage)
7. Pathophysiology
8. Transient ischaemic attacks
9. Clinical syndromes of large vessel and branch occlusion
10. Lacunar stroke
11. Classification of subtypes of cerebral infraction
12. Embolisation
13. Investigations
14. Management
15. Hypertensive encephalopathy
16. Venous thrombosis

Class 9

1. The 10 question test
2. Intracerebral haemorrhage
3. Subarachnoid haemorrhage
4. Cerebral aneurysms (complications, management following SAH, unruptured)
5. Arteriovenous malformations 
6. Vascular diseases of the spinal cord
7. Dementias – classification, history and clinical examination
8. Alzheimer`s disease
9. Multi-infarct dementia and other specific diseases
10. Dementia – diagnostic approach

Class 10

1. The 10 question test
2. Epilepsy
3. Classification

4. The partial seizures
5. Generalized seizures
6. Unclassified  seizures
7. Differential diagnosis
8. Causation
9. Investigation
10. Treatment
11. Surgical treatment
12. Status epilepticus

Class 11

1. The 10 question test
2. Headache and facial pain 
3. general principles

4. Diagnostic approach
5. Tension type headache
6. Migraine
7. Cluster headache
8. Post-traumatic headache
9. Giant cell arteritis
10. Headache due to raised intracranial pressure
11. Headache due to intracranial haemorrhage
12. Non-neurological causes of headache)
13. Facial pain (diagnostic approach, trigeminal neuralgia, other causes of

facial pain)

Class 12

1. The 10 question test
2. Movement disorders
3. Extrapyramidal system
4. Extrapyramidal diseases
5. Parkinson`s disease
6. Secondary parkinsonism
7. Chorea
8. Dystonia
9. Other movement disorders

Class 13

1. The 10 question test
2. Multifocal neurological diseases
3. Multiple sclerosis
4. Acute optic/retrobulbar neuritis
5. Other demyelinating diseases
6. B12-deficiency – subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
7. Motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
8. Syringomyelia

Class 14

1. The 10 question test
2. Muscle and neuromuscular transmission disorders
3. Muscle morphology and function
4. History, examination, investigations
5. Inherited muscle disorders
6. Muscular dystrophies
7. Inflammatory myopathy: polymyositis, dermatomyositis
8. Endocrine myopathies
9. Metabolic myopathies – the periodic paralyses
10. Toxic myopathies
11. Mitochondrial disorders
12. Myasthenia gravis

Class 15

1. The polyneuropathies
2. Peripheral nerve disorders
3. Brachial plexus syndromes
4. Upper limb mononeuropathies
5. Lumbosacral plexus syndromes
6. Lower limb mononeuropathies
7. Bell`s palsy and other facial nerve disorders
8. Revision of material
9. Credit – 20-question test

On the Final Exam it is mandatory to know all symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders not only those mentioned during the classes or lectures (!!!)