In order to evaluate if there is variation on the intensity of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) response during HTLV-I associated tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) evolution we retrospectively reviewed 128 cases. The results indicate that although CSF inflammatory alterations can persist over a 10-year period, they tend to become slight or even absent after the second year of TSP evolution.

We report the cases of 5 adolescents with human T lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, acquired in all but 1 case from the mother. The first symptom in all patients was difficulty in running, which was present for many years before the final diagnosis was made. Follow-up showed an indolent progression, regardless of treatment strategy.

BACKGROUND The spastic paraparesis associated to HTLV-1 causes degenerative pyramidal tract lesions of the spinal cord and affects cortical-nuclear connections in the brain. AIM To report the findings of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spastic paraparesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord was performed in 30 patients (24 females), me...

Infection with human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) type I occurs mainly in Japan, central and west Africa, and the Caribbean basin. Infection confers a lifetime risk of 2-4% for adult T cell leukaemia or lymphoma and 0.2-5% for tropical spastic paraparesis. However, the incubation period for these conditions after naturally acquired infection may be several decades. The virus is transm...

PURPOSE Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is an inherited nervous system disorder characterized by development of leg weakness, spasms and stiffness. While generally acknowledged that health and social care services can minimise symptoms and improve quality of life, there is a lack of research exploring this from the perspective of people affected by HSP. This qualitative study explored the u...

During the 80's, the HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) was identified in regions such as the Caribe, South Africa, Southern India, Seychelles Islands, Ivory Coast and Southern Japan. Those areas were found to be endemic for the HTLV-I, the etiologic agent for HAM/TSP. Towards the end of that decade and at the beginning of the 90's, several authors have describe...

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive spasticity in the lower extremities. Mutations in the atlastin GTPase 1 (ATL1) gene cause approximately 10% of autosomal dominantly inherited HSP. For many subjects with an ATL1 mutation, spastic gait begins in early childhood and does not significantly worsen, even over many years; such cases resemb...

This work encourages the exercise of consideration, observation and critical reading of the design of handbags and the relation to the conditions imposed by tropical climate. Our purpose is to highlight some critical and conceptual thoughts on the matter of the design of fashion accessories in Brazil, ergonomics and aesthetic- functional relation. Through physical concepts is possible to propos...