Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ICELAND”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Telemedicine consultations in Iceland].

OBJECTIVE: A Telemedicine project was initiated to evaluate the usefulness of medical teleconsultations in Iceland and to gain experience for further planning of Telemedicine in the country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The consultations were based on videoconference and store and forward method. Electronic stethoscope, spirometry, otoendoscope and digital pictures were used along with conventional videoconsultations. Doctors in six specialties in Landspitali University Hospital and one in private practice and Primary Care Physicians from five Health Care Centers in Iceland participated in the project. RESULTS: The results show that the Telemedicine consultations is practical and can be very useful. The doctors were content with the use of Telemedicine and the patients were pleased with the technique and the consults in general. All patients for example said that the consultation was just as or even better as if the specialist was in the room in person. The use of Telemedicine was helpful in almost all of the cases. Attention must be paid to organization of the consultations, payment, technical details and knowledge. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine have a role for Icelandic healthcare and may prove to be very useful. There are a number of factors who need preparation before the implementation of a Telemedicine service.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Identification of a single missense mutation in the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) gene from five Icelandic patients and a British patient.

We have completely sequenced the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) gene from each of six patients--five (I-V) from Iceland and one (VI) from Britain. Cases I and II shared a common ancestor six and seven generations ago, and cases I and V shared a common ancestor seven generations ago, but cases III and IV were unrelated to the above or to each other, over seven generations. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR, subcloned into M13mp18, and sequenced. Genomic and PCR-amplified DNAs were also analyzed by restriction-enzyme digestion and Southern blotting. The same missense mutation was identified in all six patients. This mutation leads to the replacement of asp (GAC) by val (GTC), at amino acid position 65. The gene sequences from all patients were otherwise identical to our wild-type sequence. The homozygous nature of the mutation was confirmed by sequencing the PCR product directly. All six patients were homozygous for the 1.25-kb TaqI RFLP. The Icelandic patients were also homozygous for the 8-kb SphI RFLP, but the British patient was heterozygous at this site. These studies suggest that a founder effect is likely to be responsible for APRT deficiency in the Icelandic population. The finding of the same mutation in a patient from Britain suggests that this mutation may have originated in mainland Europe.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗
PubMed1973

The elimination of echinococcosis from Iceland.

A century ago Iceland had the highest prevalence of human hydatid disease ever recorded anywhere. Since 1864 the disease has been gradually controlled, and today there is less than one new case per decade. The sheep population of about one million, over 95% of which is subject to inspection at slaughter, has yielded only 15 infected animals in the last 20 years. In most districts farm slaughtering still persists, though on a very limited scale, and farm dogs are subjected to very little control. The main credit for the remarkable control of E. granulosus is given to education, but many accidental social and environmental factors, peculiar to Iceland, contributed to the result. Of these, the most notable were the small human population and high rate of literacy; the very high dog mortality from distemper in the 19th century, which coincided with a major export trade in live sheep; the custom of feeding dogs on cooked household scraps, the risk of infection being confined to the short sheep slaughtering season and the rare occasions when a cow or pig is slaughtered; the absence of employed labour on Icelandic farms, all slaughtering being done by the owner, an educated man with middle-class values; the change in animal husbandry since 1920 towards the slaughter of 5-month-old lambs, too young to have viable cysts; and the meat subsidy, which since 1947 has led to the use of abattoirs for all but a handful of uneconomic animals kept for slaughter on the farm.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Tumours in Iceland. 6. Tumours of the urinary bladder, ureter and urethra. A histological classification and some epidemiological and environmental factors.

All primary tumours from the urinary bladder, ureter and urethra submitted for a histological diagnosis in Iceland during the 20 years, 1955-1974, and available for review, were typed histologically according to the World Health Organization Classification published in 1973. The series included 237 tumours, and of these 94.5 per cent were from the bladder. Transitional cell carcinomas constituted the largest group, or 120 in males and 77 in females. For transitional cell carcinomas there was a good correlation between growth patterns, grades and pathological stages. Most of the papillary carcinomas were of grades 1 and 2 and all the purely infiltrating carcinomas were of grade 3. The papillary carcinomas were predominantly superficial and the purely infiltrating were deeply invasive and the degree of cellular anaplasia increased with the depth of invasion from the lamina propria to perivesical tissue and other organs. The incidence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is rising in Icelanders and the incidence in females is the highest reported among European nations. Industrial chemical carcinogens are an unlikely cause of bladder carcinoma in Icelanders but cigarette smoking, and a high consumption of coffee and salted food may play an important role.

Carcinogens, Environmental↗
PubMed1995

Wilson disease in Iceland: a clinical and genetic study.

A survey of Wilson disease in Iceland has revealed two large kindreds with affected individuals. We have carried out studies of haplotypes of dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms (CA repeats) flanking the Wilson disease gene. The same mutation, a 7-bp deletion, is present in both families, and the clinical features are similar. The haplotype data and nature of the mutation support the existence of a founder chromosome carrying the mutation. This Icelandic mutation was not found in patients of Irish or Scottish origins, who could share some of the Icelandic ancestral genes. Although the protein function is predicted to be completely abolished by the deletion, predicting early-onset liver disease, we find that the patients present with later-onset neurological and psychiatric symptoms. We show that alternative splicing of the transcript in the region of the deletion could contribute to later onset, suggesting that alternative isoforms of the protein might have some functional significance.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A study of the psychometric properties of the Icelandic translation of Obsessive Thoughts Checklist (OTC) with confirmatory factor analysis].

The Obsessive Thoughts Checklist (OTC) differs from several other measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in its focus on obsessive thoughts instead of compulsive behaviour. The OTC has been used in several studies in France and abroad and support for the discriminant and convergent validity of the instrument has been gathered. The authors of the OTC recently reported 3 underlying factors in this instrument: a perfectionism/verification factor, a contamination factor and a responsibility factor. In an earlier study of the OTC a 2 factor solution was however suggested. It therefore seems important to further elucidate the factorial structure of this instrument using confirmatory factor analysis. In this study data on the Icelandic translation of the OTC from three samples of Icelandic college students were submitted first to an exploratory and then to a confirmatory factor analysis. The total number of subjects was 614 college students, 254 men and 360 women with a mean age of 24.4 (sd = 5.0). The results of the exploratory factor analysis (PCA) submitted to a varimax rotation are presented in table I. The 3 expected factors were reproduced with few cross-loadings. In the confirmatory factor analysis the fit of three models to the data were evaluated: a 1 factor model, the 2 factor model of Bouvard et al. and the 3 factor model of Bouvard et al.. An initial examination of the data led to logarithmic transformation of 18 items to reduce skewness in their distributions. The data was subsequently subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis to compare the three-factor model with the two-factor and one-factor models for the OTC. The factors for the three- and two-factor models were allowed to correlate freely. The data were analysed using the EQS procedure, and the models tested were covariance structure models. Table II presents the goodness of fit indices for all three models. The results show that none of the three models provide an overall appropriate fit for the data. However, the fit indices for the three-factor model were considerably higher than found for the two or one factor models and the RMSEA index for the three-factor model suggested an acceptable fit for that model. Although the three-factor model suggests the best fit of all three models, the fit indices were still unacceptably low. Further examination of the data revealed a pattern of standardized residuals suggesting that this might in part be attributable to three items from the responsibility factor (items 26, 19 and 15) not being well specified within the model. When the residuals for these items were allowed to correlate, the fit of the model was substantially improved (CFI = 0.85; GFI = 0.87; AGFI = 0.85; RMSEA = 0.062). This indicates that a revision of the responsibility scale might be appropriate. Table III provides the means, standard deviations and the alpha coefficients for the 3 subscales of the OTC as well as for the total scale. In one subsample of the study (sample 1, n = 169) the OTC was administered together with the Padua Inventory-Washington State Revision (PI-WSUR) measuring obsessive-compulsive symptoms, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the Community Epidemiological Scale-Depression (CES-D) measuring depression. In order to investigate the convergent validity and divergent of the OTC its correlation with the PI-WSUR was compared with its correlations with PSWQ and CES-D. These correlations shown in table IV support the convergent and divergent validity of the OTC. In another subsample of the study (sample 2, n = 296) the OTC was administered together with the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI). For samples 1 and 2, zero order and partial correlations were calculated between the subscales of the OTC and the subscales of the other instruments. As shown in table V the strongest correlations between the checking/perfectionism and the contamination subscales of the OTC were with corresponding subscales of the PI-WSUR and the MOCI. It is concluded that the factorial, the convergent and the divergent validities of the Icelandic translation of the OTC are supported in a student population even though the somewhat suboptimal fit of the three-factor model may indicate that a revision of the responsibility factor might be in order. This should however be further studied in a clinical population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence from episodic seamount volcanism for pulsing of the Iceland plume in the past 70 Myr.

The North Atlantic volcanic province has been attributed to continental rifting about 60 Myr ago over an Iceland plume head with a diameter of 1,000-2,000 km (refs 1, 2). But evidence from a few igneous centres has been used to infer that earlier plume activity occurred in this region. The three seamounts in the Rockall trough off the Atlantic coast of Scotland are among the few accessible remnants of such early plume activity. Here we present 40Ar-39Ar incremental-heating ages of samples from these seamounts, which show that volcanism began there in the late Cretaceous period (70 +/- 1 Myr ago), and then continued for the next 30 Myr in at least four discrete phases: 62, 52, 47 and 42 Myr ago. We relate this activity to pulsing of large masses (approximately 10(8) km3) of hot Iceland plume material on timescales of 5-10 Myr. This significantly extends the time span for Iceland plume activity both backwards and forwards in time, and provides a possible alternative to the 'plume head' models for the formation of continental flood basalts.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental visna in Icelandic sheep: the prototype lentiviral infection.

A brief review of experimental infection of Icelandic sheep following intracerebral inoculation of neurotropic strains of visna virus is presented. In vivo replication of the virus is restricted, so that some cells carry the deoxyribonucleic acid provirus as an unexpressed genome. This cellular restriction plays a major role in the slow progression of the infection, abetted by neutralizing antibody in serum and spinal fluid. The latent provirus maintains the viral genome in the presence of an active immune response, since immune surveillance cannot recognize cells that are not synthesizing viral antigens. Infected Icelandic sheep experience two types of diseases of the central nervous system: a subclinical subacute encephalitis begins within weeks of infection in most sheep; and at irregular intervals from 0.5-8 years after infection, clinical paresis develops in the majority of Icelandic sheep and is accompanied by discrete focal demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord. The subacute encephalomyelitis is probably mediated by an antiviral cellular immune response, whereas the pathogenesis of the focal demyelinating lesions is still obscure. During persistent infection there is some selection for neutralization-resistant antigenic variants of the infecting serotype, and these are isolated at a frequency of approximately 15%. However, variants do not replace the infecting serotype, and antigenic drift does not appear essential for persistence of visna virus or for the occurrence of demyelinating lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A population study of mutations and LOH at breast cancer gene loci in tumours from sister pairs: two recurrent mutations seem to account for all BRCA1/BRCA2 linked breast cancer in Iceland.

The majority of breast cancer in high risk families is believed to result from a mutation in either of two genes named BRCA1 and BRCA2. A germline defect in either gene is usually followed by chromosomal deletion of the normal allele in the tumour. In Iceland two recurrent mutations have been identified, 999del5 BRCA2 and G5193A BRCA1. In this study, randomly selected pairs of sisters diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 60 years or younger were analysed to evaluate the proportion of breast cancer resulting from BRCA1 and BRCA2. Genotypes and allele loss in tumour tissue from 42 sister pairs were compared using markers within and around the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Eleven sister pairs were highly suggestive of BRCA2 linkage, and no obvious BRCA1 linkage was seen. Screening for the G5193A BRCA1 and 999del5 BRCA2 mutations showed the 999del5 mutation in the 11 BRCA2 suggestive pairs plus three pairs less indicative of linkage, and the G5193A BRCA1 mutation in one pair. When known mutation carriers are removed from the group, no indication of further linkage to BRCA1 or BRCA2 is seen. The results of our studies suggest that a large proportion of familial breast cancer in Iceland is the result of the 999del5 BRCA2 mutation, and it is unlikely that BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations other than 999del5 and G5193A play a significant role in hereditary breast cancer in Iceland. Furthermore it can be concluded that most families with BRCA1 or BRCA2 linkage are easily identified by studying LOH around the defective gene in as few as two affected relatives.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

[Tolerability of Icelandic moss lozenges in upper respiratory tract diseases - multicentric drug monitoring study with 3,143 children].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Icelandic moss is a medical herb with therapeutic efficacy in inflammatory airway diseases. Although preparations based on the extract of this lichen have been marketed since the 19th century, their tolerability has not yet been investigated systematically. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The tolerability of Isla-Moos and Isla-Mint lozenges and the changes of clinical symptoms during treatment were investigated in a post-marketing surveillance study performed in 300 predominantly pediatric practices in Germany. The preparations contained 80 and 100 mg, respectively, of an aqueous Icelandic moss extract. 3,143 children between 4 and 12 years of age who suffered from upper respiratory tract diseases received Isla-Moos (n = 1,848) or Isla-Mint (n = 1,295) over a period of 1-2 weeks; 61% of the children received 4-6 lozenges per day. Tolerability was evaluated by assessing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Treatment success was assessed globally by the investigators and the patients' parents. The parents were also asked to rate their children's symptoms before and after treatment. RESULTS: During the period of observation, 73 adverse events, most of which were related to the basic disease, were reported in 57 children (1.8%). In 6 children (0.2%) and 7 events (2x itching, 2x nausea, 1x abdominal pain, 1x heartburn, 1x burning in the mouth) a causal relationship with Icelandic moss extract could not be excluded, so that they were evaluated as ADRs. All ADRs subsided spontaneously during the period of observation. The incidence of ADRs was 1 event in 3,008 (95% confidence interval: 1,504-7,019) treatment days. As regards clinical symptoms, 39% of the children were fully recovered and another 55% were improved by the end of the period of observation. CONCLUSIONS: During treatment of 4- to 12-year-old children with Isla-Moos and Isla-Mint lozenges only isolated, trivial, and transient adverse drug reactions were observed. The results thus confirm the good tolerability of both drugs and support a favorable risk-benefit assessment.

Bryophyta↗
PubMed2004

[Treatment pattern and results in an outpatient population with type 2 diabetes in Iceland.].

AIMS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major health problem all over the world. The prevalence of the disease is increasing markedly. Healthcare cost associated with type 2 diabetes is high and the long-term diabetic complications account for the greatest proportion of direct cost. Effective control of blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure can delay the development of complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors, treatment pattern and results in an Icelandic outpatient population with type 2 diabetes. Our results were compared especially with results from Sweden. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Charts were reviewed for all patients (906) with type 2 diabetes that attended the Diabetes Outpatient Clinic at the University Hospital of Iceland in the year 2001. Information about clinical characteristics for the year 2002 were prospectively reviewed for the 380 patients from the year before and for 121 newly diagnosed patients. Clinical characteristics included were age, sex, diabetes duration, glycemic control (HbA1c), office blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, use of lipid- and blood pressure lowering drugs, diabetes treatment and diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: Mean age was 66 +/-13.1 (SD) years and the mean age at diagnosis was 57 +/-13.1 (SD) years. Sixty percent were men. The mean body mass index was 29.7 kg/m(2). About 85% of patients had body mass index >25 which is much higher than in 1987 when this proportion was about 67.3%. Mean HbA1c was 7.02 the year 2001 and 6.94% in 2002. The mean cholesterol level was 5.44 mmol/L, HDL 1,22 mmol/L and LDL 3.17 mmol/L in 2002 and 27% were taking lipid lowering drugs in 2002. More patients (61%) reached the blood pressure goal 140/80 mmHg during 2002 than the year before (55%). Sixty five percent were using oral hypoglycemic agents and 17,4% insulin alone. Prevalence of smoking was 13% and of retinopathy 17.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The mean body mass index has been increasing in Iceland as in other western countries. In our survey the mean glycosylated hemoglobin of 7% is somewhat lower than in comparable European surveys, indicating a better glycemic control here. However our survey and comparable surveys indicate that treatment of dyslipidemia and blood pressure has to be more aggressive.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Extremely Low Birthweight Infants in Iceland. Health and development.].

OBJECTIVE: Survival of extremely low birthweight infants (BW<1000g) in Iceland has increased in recent years, especially since the availability of surfactant therapy for Respiratory Distress Syndrome of Prematurity. This study was part of a geographically defined national study on survival, health, development and longterm outcome of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants in Iceland focusing on health, development and disabilities with reference to a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information from the National Birth Registry on births in Iceland of ELBW infants weighing 500-999g was collected in two periods 1982-90 and 1991-95, before and after surfactant therapy became available. Information on pregnancy, birth, diseases in the newborn period and later health problems was collected from hospital records. The ELBW infants born in 1991-95 and matched control children were enrolled to a prospective study on longterm health and development. The children undervent medical examinations and developmental testing at 5 years of age in 1996-2001. Comparison was made between the two groups of ELBW infants and between ELBW infants and control children born in 1991-95. RESULTS: In 1982-90 the longterm survival of ELBW infants at 5 years of age was 22% and 52% in 1991-95. In both periods 1982-90 and 1991-95 similar data was found on ELBW infants regarding mothers health, pregnancy, birth and neonatal period. Difference was found in maternal age being significantly higher (p=0.02) and significally more deliveries by cesarian section (p=0.02) in the latter period. The two groups of ELBW infants were similar regarding sex, birthweight and diseases in the newborn period. Comparison between 35 ELBW infants and 55 control children born 1991-95 showed that significantly more mothers of ELBW children smoked during pregnancy (p=0.003) and suffered from various diseases (p=0.001). More ELBW children were born by cesarian section (p=0.001) than control children and their parents reported more longterm health problems regarding astma (p=0.001), convulsions (p=0.001), difficulties in swallowing (p=0.001) and weight gaining (p=0.005). At five years of age significantly more ELBW children born in 1991-95 compared to control children had abnormal general physical examination (p</=0.001), neurological examination (p</=0.001) and motor skills (p</=0.001). Scores on developmental testing were significantly lower (p=0.002). The proportion of ELBW children with disabilities was 16% in 1982-90 and 14% in 1991-95. CONCLUSIONS: The two groups of ELBW infants born in 1982-90 and 1991-95 are similar regarding problems during pregnancy, birth and newborn period. The proportion of children with disabilities is similar in both periods although survival was significantly increased. When compared to matched control children, ELBW children born in 1991-95 suffer significantly more longterm health and developmental problems.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2003

[The use of embryonic stem cells for medical-therapeutical purposes: a study of attitudes among Icelandic physicians, lawyers and clergymen.].

OBJECTIVE: To study the bioethical standpoints among three groups of Icelandic professionals in relation to the use of embryonic stem cells for medical-therapeutical purposes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In June 2002, a questionnaire was sent by mail to a random sample of 284 doctors and 293 lawyers, as well as all 168 practicing clergymen in Iceland. The participants' position in relation to the use of embryonic stem cells for therapeutical purposes was elicited through general questions as well as case examples. 290 questionnaires (39%) were returned. RESULTS: 62% of participants believed the embryo to have an ethical status superior to that of biologically comparable life forms. 20% of respondents considered its status as equal to that of a grown human being, whilst 18% considered it equal to biologically comparable primitive life forms. There was a difference between the respondent groups (p<0,05). A vast majority believed the use of embryonic stem cells for therapeutical purposes to be justifiable, although the origin of the stem cells appeared to make a difference to many respondents. 8% of participants took an unconditional position against the use of embryonic stem cells. Among those who considered the use of embryonic stem cells with a therapeutic aim to be justifiable, 71% believed that embryonic stem cells should only be utilized to treat diseases of a severe nature. 64% of participants defended the idea of therapeutic cloning with the intention to treat a patient with Parkinson's disease, but the case history elicited considerable difference between professional groups. Clergymen and lawyers tended to hold firmer attitudes, clergymen against and lawyers for the use of stem cells, whilst medical doctors as a group positioned themselves more towards the middle. Female respondents generally took a more modest stand whilst males were more likely to take a firmer stand in both directions. A vast majority (87%) of the participants believed there to be a need for public debate in relation to the use of embryonic stem cells for therapeutical purposes. CONCLUSION: Overall, participants views in relation to the use of embryonic stem cells for medical purposes were rather liberal. There were however significant differences between professional groups. The relatively high tolerance in regard to therapeutic cloning is interesting in view of the considerable controversy over this topic in many countries. There appears to be fertile ground for a public debate about the use of embryonic stem cells for medical purposes in Iceland.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2003

[The imperfect equalizing device: Physician care discount cards and physician care out-of-pocket costs in Iceland.].

INTRODUCTION: Research shows that out-of-pocket health care costs in Iceland and other Western European countries have increased in recent years, and unequal access to health services has been documented. In an attempt to contain out-of-pocket-costs and avoid service inequities, Icelandic health authorities have for a number of years issued health care discount cards. OBJECTIVE: The purpose ot the study was to investigate the distribution of out-of-pocket physician costs and discount cards, and the extent to which the cards reach those who are entitled to them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on a national panel survey titled Health and Living Conditions in Iceland. A random sample of 18-75 year olds was drawn from the National Register. 1924 respondents participated in the first wave (69% response rate) and 1592 of them (83%) in the second wave. Cross-tabular analysis was used to investigate variations in out-of-pocket physician costs and discount card status across sociodemographic groups. RESULTS: 19.9% of the respondents had accumulated out-of-pocket costs that made them eligible for a discount card. Furthermore, there was considerable variation in the percentage of eligible individuals across population groups. The discount card was poorly distributed, as only 45.7% of eligible individuals had actually obtained a card. This lack of coverage was greatest among younger individuals, parents of young children, individuals in larger households, the full-time employed, and those who had more education and income. CONCLUSIONS: The purpose of the discount card is to even out and contain out-of-pocket physician care costs, and sustain equal access to physician services. The purpose is no more than partially reached, as only a minority of eligible individuals are actual cardholders. This can be largely explained by the fact that health authorities have done little to promote the card, and make it cumbersome for patients to obtain it.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Erosive drinks on the icelandic market.].

OBJECTIVE: Dental erosion seems to be a growing health problem in Iceland. The international literature indicates that beverages such as carbonated drinks and fruit juices have considerable potential to causes tooth erosion. The aim of this study was to assess the erosive potential of drinks on the Icelandic market. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This study measured, on three occasions: (1) pH before titration and (2) the volume of 1.0M sodium hydroxide required to raise the pH of 50 ml of the beverages to pH 5.5, pH 7.0 and pH 10.0. RESULTS: The pH before titration ranged from pH 2.03-6.79 and the volume of 0.1M sodium hydroxide required to bring the beverages to pH 5.5 ranged from 0.54 to 5.92ml, pH 7.0 ranged from 0.42 to 7.73ml and pH 10.0 ranged from 2.23 to 9.10ml. This study showed that citrus fruit juices (grapefruit and orange juice) needed the most base to neutralize of the beverages tested. The milk-based beverages had an initial pH above 5.5 and are therefore non-erosive, with the exception of milk-derived lactic acid and drinks containing lactic acid aimed especially at the child market. Carbonated drinks, sport drinks and energy drinks were relatively easy to neutralize despite having a lower pH than fruit drinks. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that many soft drinks have considerable erosive potential and several of these are particularly targeted at the age groups found in other Icelandic studies to consume large amounts of soft drinks and to have tooth erosion.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2002

[Carcinoma of the colon in Iceland 1955-1989. An investigation of survival according to various pathological parameters.].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate various pathological parameters of colon carcinoma over a 35 year time period and evaluate their effect on survival of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All pathological specimens from patients diagnosed with colon carcinoma in Iceland in the period 1955 to 1989 were re-evaluated in order to determine the following pathological parameters: Tumour size, gross appearance, tissue type, grade, Dukes stage, lymphatic and/or blood vessel invasion, lateral margin involvement, Jass-group of tumour, peritumoural lymphocytic infiltrate, limitation of tumour growth to bowel wall, lymph node metastases, invasive tumour margin and colloid component in adenocarcinoma. Also the following parameters were determined in every case: Age at diagnosis, sex, year of diagnosis and tumour location within the bowel. All these parameters were evaluated with respect to survival of the patients. RESULTS: According to the Icelandic Cancer Registry 1265 patients were diagnosed with colon cancer in Iceland in the period under investigation. After re-evaluation 1205 patients fulfilled the criteria of a primary colon cancer and of those we were able to re-evaluate specimens from 1109 patients to determine histopathological parameters. In a univariable analysis most of the parameters investigated proved significant with respect to survival, except sex, anatomical location of tumour within the bowel, and the proportion of colloid component of tumour. In a multivariable analysis the age at diagnosis proved important as well as the year/period of diagnosis. The following pathological parameters evaluated had a significant prognostic input with regard to survival: Tumour grade, Dukes stage, number of lymph nodes with metastases, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate, lateral margin involvement in the surgical specimen and invasive growth pattern of tumour margin. CONCLUSIONS: Many pathological parameters are important in regard with prognostic evaluation of patients diagnosed with colon cancer. We suggest that pathologists should include in their surgical pathology specimen reports of colon cancer, in addition to traditional parameters, an evaluation of peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate, lateral margin involvement with tumour and the growth pattern of tumour at the invasive margin.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2002

[Central nervous system tumours in Icelandic children; diagnoses, treatment results and late effects.].

OBJECTIVE: Tumours in the central nervous system are the second most common malignant diseases in children. With improved treatment, the number of survivors is increasing. Therefore, better knowledge of the long-term effects of the disease and the therapy is needed. The aim of the current study was to find the incidence of central nervous system tumours in Iceland, evaluate the treatment results and study the long-term effects on the individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on diagnosis and treatment as well as demographic data were gathered from hospital records from the Reykjavik City Hospital and The University Hospital and operating lists at the Department of Neurosurgery were reviewed. On survivors, physical examination was carried out, blood tests and urine-analysis were done and hearing was tested. Social adaptation, school performance, memory, concentration and general well being were studied by a questionnaire. RESULTS: In the years 1970-1995, 57 children, aged 16 and younger, were diagnosed in Iceland with central nervous system tumours, 30 girls and 27 boys. Two children with brain metastases were excluded. Of the 55 individuals, 38 are alive today, 19 girls and 19 boys. Seventeen children had astrocytoma, grade 1 or 2 and seven had astrocytoma of grade 3 or 4. Seven children had medulloblastoma, other tumours were less common. Four patients with benign tumours in the spine were excluded from the study; three are living abroad and three refused participation. Therefore, 28 patients were included in the further study, 15 males and 13 females. The mean age at diagnoses was 7 years and 8 months (7:8) (median 6:7 years, span 0:0-15:11), the mean age at study was 21:4 years (median 20:2 years, span 7:6-39:9) and the mean time from diagnosis until study was 12:8 years (median 11:5 years, span 2:5-26:3). The mean standard deviation score for height (SDS) was -0.63 at the time of study, five of the patients had SDS below two. Five individuals need hormone replacement therapy and one patient has scoliosis. Three patients have disabilities; two of those are incapable of activities of daily life. Three patients have hearing impairment; one of them is also blind. Of five patients who had seizures when diagnosed, two still have convulsions. Of 28 patients, twelve (43%) had learning difficulties in school and ten (36%) needed remedial teaching. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of central nervous tumours in Icelandic children is comparable to what has been reported in other countries. The results of the treatment are similar to what has been found in the other Nordic countries which maybe better than in other countries. The most prominent long-term effects among the survivors are endocrine dysfunctions and specific learning disabilities. Other, severe long-term complications are rare but have considerable effect on the individuals. We emphazise that organised, long-term follow-up is essential for these individuals, paying special attention to learning difficulties and endocrine dysfunction.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2000

[Deaths attributable to anesthesia: a survey in Icelandic hospitals.].

OBJECTIVE: During the past 50 years many studies have been carried out to investigate deaths attributable to anesthesia. It can by difficult to interpret and compare the outcome as studies differ considerably in the methodology employed. However the trend seems to be that anesthetic mortality has indeed decreased over the years. No investigation of this kind is known to have taken place in Iceland. Therefore it was decided to conduct a survey in Icelandic hospitals in order to make comparison with these studies in other countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective survey was carried out in Icelandic hospitals during the five year period from 1992 to 1996. A letter was sent to all anesthesiologists in the country and also other health care professionals known to administer anesthesia. The purpose and the protocol were explained. At each year during the study period the chairmen of the departments of anesthesiology in the larger hospitals and those who administered anesthesia in the smaller hospitals were contacted in order to seek information as to whether any deaths due to anesthesia had taken place during the year and the number of anesthesias performed. The chief anesthesia nurses in the larger hospitals as well as the operating room nurses in other hospitals were asked if they were aware of any such deaths. The Directorate of Health was contacted to find out if any complaints had been filed during this period related to deaths under anesthesia. RESULTS: No reports of deaths came from individuals. There were 14 hospitals which proveded information. During the study period 134,762 anesthesias were performed. No death was considered to be caused directly by anesthesia. No complaints related to anesthetic deaths were filed with the Directorate of Health. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents a low anesthetic mortality and compares favorably with results in other countries.

English Abstract↗