“Exposure to External and Internal Radiation os gy Medical Studies of Marshall Islanders and Study of Radiation ~.. . Project Title: Effects on Intracellular Mechanisms ~ RX-O1-O1-(a) > 13. Publications: Oh, Y. H., and Conard, R. A. Effect of aging on acetate incorporation in nuclei of lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. Life Sci. 11, _—_— 677-84 (1972). Oh, Y. H., | and Conard, R, A. [G//5 Further studies on mitogenic components of phaseolus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin: Biophys. 152, 631-7 (1972). Oh, Y. H., and Conard, R. A. subunit structure. Arch. Biochem. Job G4 Effect of aging on histone acetylation of Che normal and regenerating rat liver. Science (in press). 4 693 Demoise, C. F,, and Conard, R, A. Effects of age and radiation exposure on chromosomes in a Marshall Island population. J. Gerontol. 27,,;No. 2, 197- 201 (1972). 4 . | /)43S Scope: A) 200 Word Summary: The continuing primary objective is the determination of the Life-time effects of fallout radiation on the people of the Marshall Islands who were accidentally exposed to radioactive fallout in 1954. Medical surveys are now conducted at six-month intervals. An unexposed Rongelap population is . ° also examined for comparison. These surveys are carried out jointly by ' Brookhaven National Laboratory, under the auspices of the Atomic Energy , Commission, and the Trust Territory, Department of Interior. The results of the surveys are of great importance in regard to the development of thyroid - mg Fa ee lesions, acute Leukemia, and growth impairment in exposed children. Research studies are carried on to elucidate the intracellular mechanisms triggered by mitogens in normal cultured human lymphocytes and to determine tras, ae the defects in lymphocytes from patients with disorders of cellular immunity. A purified substance, isolated from phytohemagglutinin causes widespread transformation and cell division of lymphocytes in culture. Tagged with tritium, this molecule is used to study possible altered function of human lymphocytes in immunodeficient diseases, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Intracellular localization and action of the tagged mitogen is - -O studied by autoradiography and by biochemical studies of subcellular fractions. -- Supplement to 200 Word Summary: mo, ‘Gee 19th year post-exposure surveys of the Marshall Islands have been ares completed. . In addition to the 239 people originally exposed, over 300 unexposed Marshallese are examined for a “comparison population" to assess late effects of radiation from fallout. The development of thyroid neoplasms and growth impairment in exposed children indicates the need for examinations to be as complete as possible. In additon to routine physical, hematological and other laboratory examinations, the surveys involve special (See Continuation Sheet) ‘- F119165 RX-5