Study design: Survey. Objective: To determine the disability profile of a group of patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), using the Functional Independence Measure (FIMt) to identify the most affected functional areas. Setting: Reference center for HTLV Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: A total of 72 patients (49 female and 23 male), consecutively referred by tertiary care centers, were assessed using the FIMt. Results: The average FIMt score was 108 (712 SD) ranging from 58 to 122. The lowest items scores were obtained in locomotion and bladder management. When divided into two groups (above, and below or equal to the average score), there were significant differences (Po0.05) in age at time of assessment, in the degree of muscular power and in low back pain. There were no significant differences in terms of age of onset and duration of the disease. Conclusions: The most affected areas in FIMt motor items were locomotion (walk and stairs) and bladder management. Age, strength in lower limbs and low back pain interfere with functional activities in patients with HAM/TSP. The duration of the disease is not a significant factor for patient disabilities. The goals of rehabilitation in HAM/TSP patients should target the modifiable factors, such as pain, strength and the neurogenic bladder.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 236-240.

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Novel and effective biosensors based on Ag or Au nanoparticles dispersed in ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF(6)) and laccase (Lac) from Aspergillus oryzae immobilized in chitosan (Chi) chemically cross-linked with cyanuric chloride (CC) were constructed. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of luteolin to the corresponding o-quinone, which is electrochemically reduced back to luteolin at 0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Square-wave voltammetry was used for the electrochemical determination of luteolin at the Lac-nanoparticles-BMI.PF(6) biosensors. The best performance was obtained with 50:20:15:15% (w/w/w/w) as the graphite powder:Chi-CC:Nujol:Ag-BMI.PF(6) or Au-BMI.PF(6) composition (Lac 0.29 units mL(-1)) in 0.1 M acetate buffer solution (pH 4.0) with frequency, pulse amplitude and scan increment at 50 Hz, 100 mV, and 5.0 mV, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the cathodic currents increased linearly for the luteolin concentration range of 0.099-5.825 microM with detection limits of 0.054 +/- 0.004 microM (Ag-BMI.PF(6)) and 0.028 +/- 0.002 microM (Au-BMI.PF(6)). These biosensors demonstrated high sensitivity, good repeatability and reproducibility, and long-term stability (13% decrease in response over 70 days). The recovery study for luteolin in chamomile tea samples gave values of 91.8-104.8%. The influence of Lac immobilized in Chi-CC and nanoparticles-BMI.PF(6) contributes to the excellent performance of the biosensors.