The role of the left primary motor cortex in apraxia.

Background: Apraxia is a motor-cognitive disorder that primary sensorimotor deficits cannot solely explain. Previous research in stroke patients has focused on damage to the fronto-parietal praxis networks in the left hemisphere (LH) as the cause of apraxic deficits. In contrast, the potential role of the (left) primary motor cortex (M1) has largely been neglected.

Predictors, outcome and characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.

Introduction: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a clinical hallmark of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). This study investigated predictors, outcome, and characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with different types of IIM.

Methods: Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) videos of 71 IIM patients were retrospectively analyzed for bolus spillage, penetration, aspiration, and pharyngeal residue.