41
progress, including chromosomecounts, enuniera-
tion of aberrations, and karyotype analysis by
paste-ups of photographs. A few dicentric chromo-
somes and certain other aberrations have been
noted in the examined group, but insufficient con-
trol material has been analyzed for any positive
statements to be madeat this time.
Diabetic Survey. Based on blood sugar determinations as part of the routine urine analyses and
fasting blood sugar determinations, it was found
that 6 people had a diabetic tendency. The fol-
lowing had elevated fasting blood sugars (mg %):
No. 853, 247; No. 893, 279; No. 936, 187; No.
991, 248; No. [042, 180; No. 835 had a 3+ urine
sugar but no blood sugar determination was done.
As has been noted, the incidence of diabetesis
fairly high in the Marshallese. It is, however, of
the type that develops in older people since no
cases have been seen in younger peopie.
Serological Studies. Protein Bounp [opine
DETERMINATIONS. Protein bound iodine levels
were determined in several groups of people during the past two surveys. The groups included 9
Marshallese living on Rongelap Atoll, 8 Marshallese living on Ebeye [sland (Kwajalein Atoll), 10
members of the medical team. and 7 Americans
who had beenresiding in the Marshal! Islands for
at least a year. The results are presented in Table
21. Again the Marshallese values are higher than
the Caucasian values. Though the numberof sam-
ples involved is too small for any positive statement to be made, the lower levels of the Marshallese living on Ebeye may have some meaning,
since their environmentis quite different from that
of the Rongelap residents (more westernized in
food, etc.). A difference berween the medical team
who hadonlybeenin the Islands a few weeks and
the Americans who had resided there for at least
a year is probably not significant. It is anticipated
that this aspect of the problem will be further investigated on the next survey.
Fourc Actp Determinations. Folic acid levels
were below orin the low range of normal in 29%
of the 129 Rongelap people tested. Fifteen per-
cent were below 4 myg/ml and 16% in the border-
line range of 4 to 7 mug/mil. The unexposed comparison population had slightly lower values than
the exposed population. The generally low level
of these Island people is attributed to a dietarv
deficiency of foods containing folic acid, mainiy
leafy vegetables. The levels were not sufficiently
low to result in any hematological changes or ap-
parentclinical effects. The individual values for
folic acid are presented in Appendix 17.
Tue Ac System. The following statements
were made by Dr. B.S. Blumberg*: “The sera of
patients who have received multiple transfusions
may contain antibodies against normal human.
serum components.'‘ The first example of such
antibodies was reported in a patient (C.deB.} who
had received 250 transfusions for the treatment
of a refractory anemia of unknownetiology.‘ By
means of the Ouchterlony double-diffusion tech-
nique, it was shown that the antibody formed a
precipitin with 55% of normal U.S. white and
Negro sera. By twin, family, and population studies'* it was shown that the presence or absence
“Associate Director for Clinical Research. Institute for Cancer
Research, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tabie 22
Serum Tests
Antisera reactors
C.deB.
Popuiation
Micronesian
Location
Total No.
Rongelap Atoil
187
98
149
68
U.S. White
Maryland
Greek
Quechua Indian
Sioux Indian
Greece
Peru
South Dakota
U.S. Negro
New York
Georgia
120
203
102
143
% Pos.
Total No.
18h
39
120
72
70
91
203
102
143
149
% Pos.
38
97
99
93
B6
78