The primary aim of the present study was to explore whether in healthy subjects the muscle contractions required for unrestrained voluntary wrist dorsiflexions are adjusted in strength to thixotropy‐dependent variations in the short‐range stiffness encountered in measurements of passive torque resistance to imposed wrist dorsiflexions. After a period of rest, only the first movement in a series of passive wrist dorsiflexions of moderate amplitude exhibited clear signs of short‐range stiffness in the torque response. During analogous types of voluntary movements, the extensor EMG during the first movement after rest showed a steep initial rise of activity, which apparently served to compensate for the short‐range stiffness. The passive torque resistance to minute repetitive wrist dorsiflexions (within the range of short‐range stiffness) was markedly reduced after various types of mechanical agitation. During analogous low‐amplitude voluntary wrist dorsiflexions the extensor EMG signals were weaker after than before agitation. Mechanical agitation also led to enhancement of passive dorsiflexion movements induced by weak constant torque pulses. In an analogous way, the movement‐generating capacity of weak voluntary extensor activations (as determined by EMG recordings) was greatly enhanced by mechanical agitation. The signals from a force transducer probe pressed against the wrist flexor tendons ‐ during passive wrist dorsiflexions ‐ revealed short‐range stiffness responses which highly resembled those observed in the torque measurements, suggesting that the latter to a large extent emanated from the stretched, relaxed flexor muscles. During repetitive stereotyped voluntary wrist dorsiflexions, a close correspondence was observed between the degree of short‐range stiffness as sensed by the wrist flexor tension transducer and the strength of the initial extensor activation required for movement generation. The results provide evidence that the central nervous system in its control of voluntary movements takes account of and compensates for the history‐dependent degree of inherent short‐range stiffness of the muscles antagonistic to the prime movers.

Our results though hampered by the limited number of patients and the lack of a control group suggest AHSCT to be efficacious in therapy-refractory CIDP, with a manageable complication profile. Confirmation of these results is necessary through randomised controlled trials.

No abstract

Stuttering is a complex speech disorder. Previous studies indicate a tendency towards elevated motor threshold for the left hemisphere, as measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This may reflect a monohemispheric motor system impairment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relative side-to-side difference (asymmetry) and the absolute levels of motor threshold for the hand area, using TMS in adults who stutter (n = 15) and in controls (n = 15). In accordance with the hypothesis, the groups differed significantly regarding the relative side-to-side difference of finger motor threshold (p = 0.0026), with the stuttering group showing higher motor threshold of the left hemisphere in relation to the right. Also the absolute level of the finger motor threshold for the left hemisphere differed between the groups (p = 0.049). The obtained results, together with previous investigations, provide support for the hypothesis that stuttering tends to be related to left hemisphere motor impairment, and possibly to a dysfunctional state of bilateral speech motor control.

Our patient did not benefit from the treatment with high-dose cyclophosphamide and autologous blood stem cell transplantation. The effect of treatment with high-dose cyclophosphamide in MMN seems to be difficult to predict and that should be paid attention to if this type of treatment is considered.