13

plement fixation testswere carried out by Mr. H.
Turner and Dr, Bef. Heubner for the following
diseases: para-influenza 1, 2, and 3: respiratory
syneitial; psittacosis group: and Q fever. The
modified Bengtson method was used. * '
Sodium and Potassium Leve!
Determinations
of sodigm and potassium ur:...ry excretion and
dietary levels were carried out bv Dr. L.K. Dahl
of Brodkhaven National Laboratory. This study
was made to see whether there was any correlation between salt consumption by the Rongelapese
and blood pressure levels. Both spot and 24-hr
urine collections on about 200 people were tested

Leon N. Sussman, Beth Israel Hospital, New
York, N.Y.: and haptoglobins by Dr. B.S. Blumberg and Zora Gentile of the National Institutes
of Health. Blood samples were obtained from 176
individuals representing 70% of the inhabitants of
Rongelap for the above studies. Aliquots of urine
samples from 65 exposed and 119 unexposed
people collected for routine analysis were used for
determination of p-amino-ise-butyric acid. Eighteen urine samples from Utirik were also analyzed.
Blood Groupings. To complement studies begunin 1958, blood grouping studies were carried
out on 57 of the blood samples mentioned above.

etry. Several sample meals from the Rongelap
people were also analyzed.
Thyroid Metabolism. Since the largest dose to
anypart of the body had been received by the thy-

Utirik, and 65 at Majuro for this purpose. Dr.
Sussmantested these forABO, MN, Rh-Hr, and

for sodium and potassium levels by fame photom-

roid glands in the Marshallese, studies of the

metabolic state of the thyroid gland have been of
interest. These studies have been made by Dr. J.E
Rall at the National Institutes of Health. Sampr
from the previous years’ surveys had shown surprisingly high protein-bound iodine levels. In
order to determine whether this was a true finding
or due to contamination ofglassware, 14 samples
were again collected, with verycarefully cleaned
glassware used. In addition to protein-bound
iodine, butanol-extractable iodine and thyroxin
binding proteins were determined. Several urine
samples were analyzed for total iodine content.
Serum Vitamin B,,.
Determinations of serum
vitamin B,. concentrations done during the pre-

vious year’s survey gave values higher than normal in the majority of the Marshallese people.
Therefore, 15 samples from the 1959 survey (7
from personstested the year before) were analyzed
by Dr. D.W. Watkin of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Studies of Genetically Inherited Characteristics.
Studies of genetically inherited characteristics of
blood components and urine were continued on
samples brought back to laboratories in,the
United States. Such studies, although not directly .
related to radiation effects, are of interest in under- ‘
standing the anthropological background of the
people and in establishing a base line of genetic
-characteristics for detection of possible genetic el-

fects of radiation in future generations. These
studies includedthe following: blood groups ABO,
MN, Rh-Hr, and Duffy, Kell, and Diego by Dr.

In additnon, 54 blood samples were collected at

Duffy, Kell, andDiegofactors.

Haptoglobin and Transferrin. Further analyses
for haptoglobin by the method of Smithies were

carried out on these samples at the National In-

stitutes of Health. Transferrins were determined ~
by the discontunuous buffer starch gel method of
Poulik'’ on 66 Rongelapese sera, and on an addi-

tional 40 sera by the borate buffer, horizonrgl
method.'' No transferrin types other than CC
were seen.
Hemoglobin Types. Further starch gel electrophoretic studies of hemoglobin types were also
made on these samples by Dr. R.L. Engle, Jr., and
Dr. G. Castillo of the Cornell University Medica!
Center, New York, NY.
Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity of

Red Cells. Various studies have indicated that a deficiency of the enzyme of red cells is transmitted by
a sex-linked gene. Individuals with this deficiency
can develop a hemolytic anemia after the ingestion of certain drugs (e.g., primaquine or fava
beans’? '°).
In the present study the blood samples werecollected in ACD) solution, refrigerated (4°C), and
sent byair to Seattle, Washington, wherethe tests
were done by Dr. Arno G. Motulsky, Department
of Medicine, University of Washington. All tests
were performed within one week of collection.
Tests were done on 151 individuals: 75 males, 75
females, and one not classified.
B-Amino-iso-butyric Acid (BAIB) Excretion, Differential excretion of B-amino-iso-butyric acid
(BAIB) ts under geneuc control, and family data
indicate that a single major gene pair is responsible for most of the variations.'’’” High excretors
are homozygous for a single recessive gene, and

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