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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Fractures of the facial skeleton in Reykjavik, Iceland, 1970-1979. (I) Mandibular fracture in 238 hospitalized patients, 1970-79.

Almost all facial fracture surgery in Iceland is performed in the hospitals in Reykjavik. Some information about the treatment of facial fractures at the City Hospital was published in the Icelandic Medical Journal in 1978. Apparently, no other research on facial fractures has been done here. This article, therefore, deals with 238 patients who sustained mandibular fracture in 1970-79. There was a marked increase in the incidence of fracture of the mandible during the research period, especially in 1974 and 1975. The total of fractures in women, 33%, was higher than in other countries. Assault was a major factor for both sexes. Especially interesting was the fact that beating and assault accounted for 46% of all mandibular fractures in women. Multiple fractures from beatings were commoner here in Iceland than in other countries. For the group as a whole, 52% of the patients had multiple fractures of the mandible. The incidence of fractures among those between 16 and 20 years of age was proportionately higher here than elsewhere due to car accidents and assault and battery. The types of fracture and area of occurrence in the mandible varied with the cause. Fractures of the corpus and angulus mandibulae were proportionately common, both because of the number of assault cases and also because the proportion of those who were edentulous, 19%, was higher than in other countries. Among the young, fracture of the processus condylaris was commonest, and up to age 30, when fracture of the corpus mandibulae was more likely. Fracture of the processus coronoideus never occurred alone. In all cases, it was accompanied by a fracture in another area of the mandible or zygomatic fracture, and this result is in accordance with the idea that the processus coronoideus almost never breaks alone, because of its location, its strength, and the attachment of the muscles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Paediatric burns in Iceland. Hospital admissions 1982-1995, a populations based study.

Epidemiological data of 290 children admitted to the Paediatric Department, University Hospital of Iceland, over a 14 year period, 1982-1995, are presented. The sex ratio boys/girls was 1.6. 72.8% were children four years and younger. Hot fluids was the most common cause of burn injuries, mostly caused by geothermal hot water. Only one child suffered from electricity burn injuries and none from corrosives. Most of the accidents occurred at home (81.4%). A decreasing number of children suffering from electricity and corrosive burn injuries reflects heightened awareness and improved safety in the home. We found a significant increase in the incidence of hot fluid burn injuries in Icelandic children compared to previous studies. This calls for preventive measures with regard to geothermal and other hot water burns in Icelandic children.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1992

Latent thyroid carcinoma in Iceland at autopsy.

The annual incidence rate of thyroid carcinoma in Iceland is high, 4.4 pr. 100,000 men, and 11.7 pr. 100,000 women, as published by the Icelandic Cancer Registry for the period 1955-1984. This rate is more than twice that in the other Nordic countries and one of the highest incidence rates reported anywhere. This led us to investigate the prevalence rate of latent thyroid carcinoma in Iceland. We serially sectioned and examined thyroid glands from 201 consecutive forensic autopsies. Altogether, sixteen carcinomas were identified in fourteen glands: fourteen papillary, one follicular and one medullary carcinoma. We conclude that the prevalence rate of latent thyroid carcinoma in each sex does not follow the frequency distribution of clinical disease, being 7.5% in males and 5.1% in females. Comparisons between populations show the same lack of consistency. Further, most, but not all, latent carcinomas of the thyroid gland are of the papillary type. These findings suggest that promoting factors might be of particular importance where incidence and mortality rates are high, but further research is needed into the role of host resistance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Paratuberculosis in Iceland: epidemiology and control measures, past and present.

Paratuberculosis as well as the slow virus infections maedi/visna and jaagsiekte came to Iceland in 1933 when 20 sheep of the Karakul breed were imported from Halle, Germany. At least five of these sheep were subclinical carriers of paratuberculosis. Within 16 years paratuberculosis together with the other Karakul diseases (maedi/visna and jaagsiekte) almost ruined sheep farming, the main agricultural industry in Iceland. The first clinical case of paratuberculosis in sheep was confirmed in 1938, and in cattle in 1944. The first cattle cases of paratuberculosis appeared on farms where the disease had been prevalent in sheep for years. The virulence in cattle appeared to be considerably lower than in sheep. Extensive measures were used to control the spread of paratuberculosis in sheep. Hundreds of kilometres of fences were put up and used together with natural geographic borders to restrict the movement of sheep from infected areas. Serological and other immunological tests were also used to detect and dispose of infected individuals. These measures proved inadequate and the disease could not be eradicated. Culling and restocking of uninfected sheep in endemic areas eradicated maedi/visna and jaagsiekte but not paratuberculosis. Experiments showed that vaccination against paratuberculosis could reduce mortality in sheep by 94%. Vaccination of sheep in endemic areas has been compulsory in Iceland since 1966 and as a result losses have been reduced considerably. Today, serology is used to detect and control infection in cattle herds. Furthermore, serology is used to control vaccination of sheep and screen for infection in non-endemic areas. The complement fixation (CF) test for paratuberculosis has been used until now, but recently we have started comparing the CF test with the CSL absorbed ELISA test.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2004

A genetic contribution to inflammatory bowel disease in Iceland: a genealogic approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic component in IBD in Iceland. METHODS: A population-based sample, representing everyone diagnosed with IBD in Iceland from 1950 to 1996, was studied using a computerized population-wide genealogic database. The relationships among the patients were analyzed by calculating the kinship coefficient and the relative risk. RESULTS: The kinship coefficients for the patients were significantly greater than the mean kinship coefficient for the controls ( P < 10 -6 ). The risk ratio for siblings of IBD, UC, and CD patients was 5.0 ( P < 0.001), 5.9 ( P < 0.001), and 4.1 ( P = 0.033), respectively. The cross-risk ratio for siblings of UC patients developing CD (or vice versa) was 2.6 ( P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the IBD patients are more closely related than the controls, which strongly supports the involvement of a genetic component in the development of IBD in Icelandic patients. We find that the increase in risk for relatives of UC probands to develop UC, or relatives of CD probands to develop CD, is greater than the increase in risk for relatives of UC probands to develop CD, or relatives of CD probands to develop UC.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMed2004

Congenital cardiac malformations in Iceland from 1990 through 1999.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: About 1% of live-born children have congenital malformations of the heart. The aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of such defects in children born in Iceland during a period of 10 years, extending from 1990 through 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information about the patients was obtained from medical records from two hospitals that cover the whole country, a private clinic of pediatric cardiologists, an echocardiography database, autopsy reports, and death certificates. We investigated the distribution of specific malformations, the age at diagnosis, the symptoms leading to the diagnosis, the source of referral, and treatment and quality of life. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 1999, there were 44,013 live births in Iceland, of which 740 patients were diagnosed with congenital cardiac malformations, accounting for 1.7% of the live-born children. The distribution was made up of 338 patients with ventricular septal defect (45.7%), 90 with atrial septal defect (12.2%), 85 with patency of the arterial duct (11.5%), 48 with pulmonary valvar stenosis (6.5%), 38 with a bicuspid aortic valve (5.1%), 28 with aortic coarctation (3.8%), 22 with tetralogy of Fallot (3.0%), 14 with transposed great arteries (1.9%), 11 with aortic stenosis (1.5%), 10 with atrioventricular septal defect and common atrioventricular orifice (1.4%), 9 with mitral valvar regurgitation (1.2%), 7 with sub-aortic stenosis (0.9%), and 5 with hypoplasia of the left heart (0.7%). Extracardiac anomalies were seen in 89 patients (12.0%). Chromosomal defects were seen in 36 patients, of whom 28 had Down's syndrome. DISCUSSION: The annual incidence of diagnosis of patients with congenital cardiac malformations increased during the period of study. This was noted for minor defects, but the incidence of the major anomalies did not alter. Our observed yearly incidence, at 1.7%, was higher than noted in a previous study covering the years 1985 through 1989, and is also higher than in other population-based studies. The most likely explanation is the fact that access to pediatric cardiologists in Iceland is very good. Diagnosis, registration, and follow-up are conducted by only a few cardiologists, and take place at a single center for pediatric cardiology.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed2006

Response of sulfate concentration and isotope composition in Icelandic rivers to the decline in global atmospheric SO2 emissions into the North Atlantic Region.

This study presents the changes in dissolved sulfate concentration and isotope composition of Icelandic river waters between the peak of SO2 emissions in the United States and Europe and the present. Chloride concentration in Icelandic rivers has not changed much since 1972. The overall average change from 1972-1973 to 1996-2004 was -3%, indicating insignificant sea-salt contribution changes. More than 99% of the river-dissolved sulfur was in the form of sulfate. There are three main sources for dissolved sulfate in the rivers: rocks, sea-salts, and anthropogenic. Total dissolved sulfate, tdSO4(2-), and non-sea-salt sulfate, nssSO4(2-), decreased in all of the rivers from the early 1970s to 1996-2004. The percentage decrease varies from 13% to 65%. The decrease is smallest in rivers were there is considerable rock-derived dissolved SO4(2-). The overall average decrease was 39% for tdSO4(2-) and 46% for nssSO4(2-). The anthropogenic sulfate fraction has declined making most of the river waters delta34S values of sulfate higherthrough time. The overall decline in river sulfate and increase in delta34S, while SO2 emissions from Iceland has been increasing, demonstrates the response of river chemistry in the remote North Atlantic to the decline in man-made emissions of SO2 in North America and Europe.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

Quality assessment of drug sales data: the case of antibacterials in Iceland.

BACKGROUND: Two sets of drug sales data, published by the Icelandic Ministry of Health, did not match for antibacterials in 1989. The search for causes turned out to be a project in itself. OBJECTIVE: To analyze quality problems in the sales data on antibacterials and describe a method for systematic quality assessment of drug sales data. METHODS: Documentary analysis based on the following sources: 1) Nordic Statistics on Medicines, 1975-95; 2) Drug Use (Notkun Iyfja), 1975-93; 3) Icelandic Drug Market, 1975-94; 4) Unpublished data from the Icelandic Ministry of Health. The following framework was developed to evaluate the quality of drug sales data: 1. Completeness of registration; 2. Accuracy and degree of completeness of data; 3. Size and coverage of the data source; 4. Data format; 5. Data accessibility, availability and cost. RESULTS: Four discrepancies were found, two due to changes in DDD, and two larger ones stemming from errors in calculating DDD, resulting in an overestimation of the contribution of the respective products to the total DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. Errors were detected in available sales data at least back to 1980, resulting in sales being overestimated by up to 13%. The reasons for the discrepancies were found mostly under point 2 in the framework. CONCLUSION: The errors uncovered by this study indicate a possible low quality of drug statistics which might lead to wrong conclusions about the level and development of sales of drugs. As a tool, the framework might be used for quality assessment of drug sales data.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2002

Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis in Iceland.

The aim of this study was to determine the nationwide incidence of collagenous and lymphocytic colitis in Iceland and the location of histopathological changes in the large bowel. All pathology reports of patients diagnosed with or suspected of having collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis in the period 1995-1999 were identified. All pathology samples were reevaluated using strict diagnostic criteria. After reevaluation 125 patients fulfilled our diagnostic criteria, 71 as collagenous colitis and 54 as lymphocytic colitis. The mean annual incidence for collagenous colitis was 5.2/100,000 inhabitants, and the mean age at diagnosis was 66.1 years. The mean annual incidence for lymphocytic colitis was 4.0/100,000 inhabitants, the mean age at diagnosis was 68.7 years. Both diseases more commonly involved the colon than the rectum. The incidence of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis is high in Iceland. The mean annual incidence of collagenous colitis is much higher in Iceland than hitherto reported elsewhere.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Macular corneal dystrophy in Iceland.

This study includes the fourteen Icelanders who had penetrating keratoplasty for macular corneal dystrophy during 1974 through 1988, and a further five patients whose deterioration of vision has so far not led to surgery. The clinical presentation, mode of inheritance and the course of the disease were similar to those seen in other studies. The genealogical part of this study indicates that the gene responsible for the disease was already present in Iceland in the 18th century. Though consanguinity, as usually defined, was found to be uncommon, the relatively small pool of genes in the Icelandic population which numbers at present about 250,000 has led to higher prevalence of macular corneal dystrophy than elsewhere. The histopathological findings concur with the conventional description of macular corneal dystrophy, with the exception of two patients with unusually severe photophobia. In these two cases, electron microscopy revealed that the most anteriorly situated deposits were sometimes associated with increased electron-density of small clusters of basal epithelial cells in the overlying epithelium, such cells also being reduced in size and exhibiting few organelles other than swollen mitochondria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A single BRCA2 mutation in male and female breast cancer families from Iceland with varied cancer phenotypes.

The BRCA2 gene on chromosome 13 has been shown to be associated with familial male and female breast cancer. Here we describe a study on BRCA2 in 21 Icelandic families, including 9 with male breast cancer. We have previously reported linkage to the BRCA2 region in an Icelandic male breast cancer family and subsequently found a strong indication of linkage to BRCA2 and the same BRCA2 haplotype in breast cancer cases from 15 additional families, indicating a common origin. We describe a five base-pair deletion in exon 9 of BRCA2 in an affected male from the male breast cancer family. The same mutation occurs in all the families with the shared BRCA2 haplotype indicating a founder effect. Among mutation carriers there are 12 males with breast cancer, which accounts for 40% of all males diagnosed with breast cancer in Iceland over the past 40 years. Three of them have no family history of breast cancer indicating that this mutation may have variable penetrance. The same BRCA2 mutation appears to be associated with different cancer phenotypes in this population including male and female breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreas cancer and ovarian cancer.

BRCA2 Protein↗
PubMed2004

Iron status in 2-year-old Icelandic children and associations with dietary intake and growth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of food and nutrient intake at 2 y and growth from birth on iron status at 2 y in a population with high birth weight. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study, children's food consumption and body size measurements were recorded and blood samples taken. Weighed 3-day food records were used to analyse food and nutrient intake. SETTING: Children were recruited from across Iceland from the Icelandic National Registry by the University of Iceland, Computing Services. The children in the sample were born over a 1-y period. SUBJECTS: Parents of randomly selected 2-year-old children (n=130) were contacted, and 72% (n=94) participated. Blood samples were analysed in 76% (n=71) of participating children. RESULTS: In total, 9% of the children were iron-deficient (serum ferritin (SF)<12 microg/l and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <74 fl) and 1.4% were also anaemic (Hb<105 g/l), while 27% of children were iron-depleted (SF<12 microg/l). Iron status indices were negatively associated with cow's milk consumption. Half of children consuming>500 g cow's milk/day (n=10) were iron-deficient, while one child in 58 consuming<500 g cow's milk/day had iron deficiency (P<0.001). In multiple regression analyses, also biscuits and crackers consumption was positively associated with MCV. Weight gain from birth to 2 y was negatively associated with SF (adjusted R(2)=0.15; P=0.002; n=58). Iron-depleted children were heavier than children not iron-depleted (14.7+/-1.3 vs 13.8+/-1.7 kg; P=0.043), had higher BMI (17.7+/-1.5 vs 16.7+/-1.4 kg/m(2); P=0.028) and gained more weight from birth (11.2+/-1.3 vs. 10.0+/-1.6 kg; P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that cow's milk consumption above 500 g/day should be avoided at the age of 2 y for better iron status. Iron depletion at 2 y is associated with faster growth from birth.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed1998

Inflammatory bowel disease in Iceland, 1980-89. A retrospective nationwide epidemiologic study.

BACKGROUND: A previous nationwide epidemiologic study of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Iceland in 1950-79 showed a low but steadily rising incidence. The incidence of IBD in Iceland in 1980-89 was investigated and compared with reports from neighboring countries. METHODS: Cases were retrieved by a review of all small- and large-intestinal tissue specimens with any type of inflammation submitted to the only two departments of pathology in Iceland. All small-intestinal X-ray records suggestive of Crohn's disease (CD) in the three major hospitals were also screened. All hospital and outpatient records of cases suggestive of IBD were then reviewed using accepted criteria for confirmation or exclusion. RESULTS: The mean annual incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) was 11.7/100,000, and that of CD 3.1/100,000. The highest age-specific incidence of UC was in the group 30-39 years old and for CD in the group 60-69 years old. The most frequent involvement at diagnosis of UC was proctitis only, in 54%, and in CD colon only, in 54.7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a continuing increase in the incidence of both diseases. Compared with the period 1970-79, there has been an almost twofold increase in the mean annual incidence of UC and more than a threefold increase of CD, a statistically significant increase in both instances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Changing profile of HIV-1 serotypes in Iceland during 1989-96.

A total of 63 HIV-1 strains collected in Iceland during the years 1989-96 were typed into serotypes A-E using a peptide-based enzyme immunoassay. The majority of the strains were of serotype B (66.6%). 22.2% were untypeable by this method. Until 1993 only serotype B was found, but in 1993 and after that date other serotypes, especially E (7.9%) were detected, indicating the spread of serotypes previously confined to developing countries. This may reflect the increase in the number of Icelanders travelling to distant countries and the increased immigration into Iceland from developing countries.

HIV-1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The life of family trees and the Book of Icelanders.

This article discusses the tracing of family histories and competing assumptions about identities and relatedness in the era of biotechnology and biopower. Although the fascination with genealogical trees and family histories is common throughout the West, in Iceland this attraction is extreme. A genealogical database for most of the Icelandic population, the so-called Book of Icelanders, is being constructed as part of a larger biogenetic enterprise that seeks to establish the presumed genetic causes of common diseases for the purpose of developing pharmaceutical products. The discussion explores the changing implications of family trees as they become enmeshed in biomedical projects and political debates. Genealogical records, I suggest, are never innocent phenomena; this is because they have a social life of their own, a biography informed by the contours of the cultural landscapes to which they belong.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1999

Chronic bronchitis in Icelandic males: prevalence, sleep disturbances and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of chronic bronchitis in Iceland and some aspects of quality of life among those suffering from chronic bronchitis. DESIGN: Postal questionnaires. SETTING, SUBJECTS: All Icelandic males born in the years 1913 and 1943 who were alive on 1 November 1993. Altogether 1175 (69.7%) responded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical symptoms of chronic bronchitis, stress symptoms, symptoms of dyspnea and sleep disturbances. RESULTS: 7.1% of those 50 years old and 16.7% of those 80 years old and a history of daily sputum expectoration for at least 3 months during the preceding 2 years. These individuals with chronic bronchitis had a higher prevalence of other respiratory symptoms than did the others, such as "wheezing or whistling" (59.6% vs. 7.2%), and "awakened by breathlessness" (35.2% vs. 6.0%). Complaints of dyspnea were more common among those with symptoms of chronic bronchitis, e.g. "dyspnea when walking" (19.4% vs. 1.4%) and "stops walking because of dyspnea" (22% vs. 1.6%). They also complained more often of insomnia and daytime sleepiness and found themselves more stressed than those without chronic bronchitis. These symptoms were all more common among the 80-year-old men. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that chronic bronchitis is a frequent illness among Icelandic males. Men with chronic bronchitis often have decreased quality of life, difficulties in moving and frequently sleep complaints.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective assessment of menstrual and premenstrual experiences of Icelandic women.

In the only Icelandic study on premenstrual symptoms, a retrospective one conducted in 1991, investigators found 30% of the sample to have severe premenstrual changes. In light of critique that retrospective data primarily reflect socioculturally held beliefs about menstruation, the present study was undertaken in order to assess prospectively Icelandic women's premenstrual and menstrual symptoms and experiences. A total of 211 menstrual cycles were recorded by 83 women using a daily health diary. A symptom pattern was defined for each woman. A small majority of the women (51.8%) displayed a low symptom pattern. Two women (2.4%) demonstrated a premenstrual syndrome pattern, and 5 women (6.0%) exhibited a premenstrual magnification pattern. The remaining women displayed mixed symptom patterns indicating wide variability in women's experiences. These findings differ from the Icelandic retrospective study and from a USA study using prospective data. Therefore, it is concluded that menstrual socialization influences symptoms expectation and reporting.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Iceland - a national comparison by gender drawing on four different criteria.

The study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Iceland. No previous prevalence studies known to us have been undertaken in Iceland or in Scandinavia. A 95-item custom-made questionnaire was sent to 4000 randomly selected people. The response rate was 63%. The questionnaire was constructed to include questions on all the items found in the four most common criteria for diagnosing CFS; the criteria being Australian, British and American. Results show very different prevalences according to the criteria used. The prevalence ranged from 0 to 4.9%, with the most established criteria yielding a prevalence of 1.4%. Re-test validity of the questionnaire was good, the following results are based on the selection criteria by Fukuda et al. (Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, Sharpe MC, Dobbins JG, Komaroff A, et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Int Med 1994;121:953-9). Women were in a majority (78%); their mean age was 44, they were fully employed and worked long hours. They believed that the onset of their symptoms was stress related. The type of work was unskilled in the majority of cases. A significant proportion of the males felt a constant buzzing in their ears (P < 0.05). Food suppliants were used daily by significantly more women than men (P < 0.01). Men had more frequently phobic symptoms (P < 0.001) than did women. Differences were found in the prevalence of phobia and panic (P < 0.001) between women in the CFS group compared to healthy ones. A positive correlation was found in the prevalence of phobia between women in the CFS group and those with Iceland Disease.

Adult↗