24
ately horizontal. Rotation of the heart electrically
in the combined groups was clockwise in 25 sub-
jects and counterclockwise in 36, with about equal
distribution between the exposed and unexposed
groups.
4. RSTandT Waves. Abnormal variations were
carefully noted for indications of coronaryor myocardial insufficiency and/or myocardial disease or
damage. Deviations ofthe RST segment from the
isoelectric line were found to be minimal; thev oc-
curred in only five of the 84 unexposed subjects
and in onlyone of the 38 exposed subjects. T wave
abnormalities were of appreciable degree in only a
few instancesin the older group. The abnormalities
were chiefly in lower T waves and wererelated to
hypertensive disease. T wave changes were most
marked in a 51-year-old male ( #80) of the exposed group, who had arteriosclerotic heart dis-
ease and auricular fibrillation. Marked RST and
T wave changes were noted in an 81-year-old
male (#46) of the exposed group, who had
amount of arteriosclerosis was fairly well distributed between both populations, as can be seen in
Table 14. [t was not observed in a degree premature or advanced for the given age.
2. Arterial Blood Pressures.
Blood pressures
greater than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic were
considered abnormal. Onthis basis in the exposed
group none of the 24 subjects <.50 ofage and seven
of the 16 subjects >>50 had hypertension, but
mostly of mild degree. There were 17 cases of hy-
pertension in the unexposed group, 2 in those <(50
vears of age and 15 in those >50. The diastolic
blood pressure showed only infrequent increase
above the leve! of 90 mm; as would be expected,
this occurred chiefly in the older group. The overall incidence of hypertension for the total popula-
tion examined was 9.2%.
Ed
3. Oscillometry Readings. Observations were
taken on the legs at the mid-calf. In almost all
subjects the pulstion was sufficient to indicate
normal blood flow. Although the readings were
lower in the Marshallese than might be expected
in Caucasians, it appeared that peripheral vascu-
marked hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardio-
vascular disease, and had prolonged auriculo-
ventricular conduction time as noted above.
Among the unexposed population there was evidence of myocardial insufficiency according to
RST and T wave changes in a 51-year-old male
(#947), a 64-year-old female { #861), a 55-yearold male ( #993), a 64-year-old female (#858),
and a 64-year-old male (7884); the last had
changes sufficient to indicate a healed anterior
septal cardiac infarct.
Other Cardiovascular Observations
1. Peripheral Vascular Findings. Clinical estimation was madeof the degree of arterial changes
in the peripheral vessels (radial, brachial, and dorsalis pedis). The degree of abnormality was graded
by 0 to 4+ sclerosis (see section on aging studies).
Arterioscleraosis was seen chiefly in subjects >>50
year of age in both exposed and unexposed groups.
It was not marked except in four individuals ~>70
Table 16
Ophthalmological Findings (% Incidence)
Exposed
Unexposed
Pterygium
Pinguecula
Corneal pigment
Corneal scars
Arcus senilis
Phthisis butbi
Nvystagmus
23.0
24.0
12.0
9.0
38.0
1.3
1.3
21.0
22.0
2.6
3.4
26.0
0.0
0.7
Argyll-Robertson pupil
Cataracts
Aphakia
Vitreous opacities
Retinal arteriosclerosis
Chorioretinal scars
Macular degeneration
Drusen
Congenital anomalies
1.3
13.0
1.3
4.1
11.0
1.3
0.0
2.6
3.9
0.0
10.3
1.3
0.0
12.3
0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
Strabismus
8.3
0.7
A
group. The electrical position of the heartina
gregt majority of both the unexposed and exposed
subjects was vertical. In 22 subjects it was intermediate and in 9 (all unexposed) it was moder-
> 70 vears of age for comparison, any assumption
that the artertosclerosis was increased in these four
individuals by their exposure to fallout radiation is
unwarranted. Otherwise the presence and the
wa
unexposed group, and one in the older exposed
vears of age in the exposed group, and thentoa
degree compatible with age. Since there were no
individuals examined in the unexposed group
ann
axis deviations normal or to the right in most
individuals. Leftaxis deviation, and only of moderate degree, was present in six individuals, two in
the younger unexposed group, three in the older