[Dystonia.].

Dystonia is defined as a syndrome of sustained involuntary muscle contractions, frequently causing twisting, repetitive movements and abnormal postures. Categorisation of the dystonia syndromes is variable and depends on etiology, age at onset, distribution of symptoms or genetic causes, reflecting the variability of the clinical spectrum of these diseases and the many underlying causes. The prevalence of the dystonias is largely unknown, as few epidemiological studies have been carried out and many of these have been service based rather than community based.

[Scientific output of Landspítali University Hospital.].

Introduction: The study describes an assessment of scientific activity in Landspítali University Hospital for the period 1999-2003.

Methods: Bibliometrical methods were used to assess the quantity and quality of the scientific output for Iceland and the three main institutions active in medical sciences, Landspítali University Hospital, (LUH), deCODE genetics (dCg) and the Icelandic Heart Association (IHS). All papers registered in the International Scientific Information (ISI) database with an author affiliated with these institutions were counted and classified.

[Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and use of warfarin among patients with ischemic stroke.].

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrythmia and a significant cause of morbidity. Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are well known serious complications of AF. In the last decade, a number of studies have shown that the risk of stroke in patients with AF is reduced by anticoagulation therapy with warfarin.