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Introduction: The influence of cold temperatures on neuropathies has been reported previously, but its impact on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is not well analyzed., Methods: We analyzed the frequency of CTS among neurophysiological evaluations according to seasonal variation in 9574 consecutive patients (4260 with CTS)., Results: A higher frequency of CTS was found in the winter (50.8%), and the lowest number for CTS diagnosis was found in the summer (38.9%). In both autumn and spring the prevalence remained stable at an intermediate level between summer and winter at 42.8% and 43.5%, respectively., Conclusion: CTS frequency was much higher in winter in this center., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Brazil. Among the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, some have more influence than others in certain stroke subtypes. Little data are available in the literature on the prevalence of stroke subtypes in Latin America. We analyzed data from 688 patients with acute ischemic stroke (52.3% women; mean age, 65.7 years) who were enrolled in a stroke data bank. Standardized data assessment and stroke subtype classification were used. The most common stroke subtype was large-artery atherosclerosis (n = 223; 32.4%), followed by cardioembolism (n = 195; 28.3%), and microangiopathy (n = 127; 18.5%). Stroke risk factors differ among stroke subtypes. The population of South America is ethnically diverse, and few previous studies have describe the distribution of risk factors among stroke subtypes in this population. In this study, the most important risk factors were hypertension and dyslipidemia., (Copyright © 2013 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)