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In traumatic brain injured patients the basic functions of the cognitive, behavioral, emotional and intellectual systems are disturbed. The patients' ability to regulate the interaction between the ego and the external world is diminished and they present inflexible, concrete and sometimes inappropriate behavior. We have not observed anosognostic phenomena in these patients. Most of them are preoccupied with their physical impairments and unaware of their intellectual deficits. We hypothesize that this preoccupation or 'hyperprosexia phenomenon' may be observed in traumatic brain injured patients. The various neuropsychological, medical and philological aspects of these terms are discussed.

A hypothesis is advanced concerning the relationship of poliomyelitis viruses and late developing neoplasia in the central nervous system. The literature is surveyed, and several experimental approaches based upon known evidence of viral and neoplastic behaviour are advanced. The present status of world polio incidence is discussed as it applies to this possible relationship.

Our hypothesis, based upon clinical observation and on the literature, is that chronic spinal cord injured patients are prone to premature aging. Physical and mental disabilities and prolonged immobilization change the entire homeostatic mechanisms into a new state. Thus, we feel that this lead to accelerated aging among these chronic handicapped persons.

Seven acute transverse myelitis patients are presented, in whom the course of illness suggests a vascular pathogenesis. In the absence of predisposing risk factors for vascular accidents and such systemic symptoms as occur frequently in vasculitic syndromes, association is hypothesized with isolated angiitis of the central nervous system. Combined treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide is, therefore, suggested for severe cases of acute transverse myelitis, in whom no etiology can be found.