GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES IN CHILDREN
In addition to the routine pediatric examinations,
certain special anthropometric measurements on
the children were recorded. Such data included
age, weight, stature, sitting height, head circum-
ference, biacromial width, bi-iliac width, and calf
circumference. Roentgenographs of the left wrists
were studied for skeletal maturation.
LABORATORY PROCEDURES
Hematological Examinations
Complete routine blood counts were carried out
with repeat counts on any persons showing abnormalities. White blood counts and red blood counts
were obtained with the electronic Coulter, which
has proved to be a very satisfactory instrument for
examinations of this type in the field. Differenual
counts were performed in the usual mannerafter
staining with Wright’s fluid. Platelet counts were
done by phase microscopy. Hemoglobin was determined by the cyan-hemogiobin technique with
the Lumitron colorimeter. Hematocrits were obtained by the microhematocrit method. Serum
proteins were determined with the Hitachi refractometer. Blood and serum samples for certain
studies to be described below were collected and
kept under refrigeration and finaily shipped back
for study.
Blood smears were obtained for differential
study, alkaline phosphatase examinations*, and
basophil counts on 4000 white ceils, as part of the
leukemia survey.
Bone marrow aspirations were done on 9
exposed people, and smears were prepared for
differential counts and morphological studies. In
addition, chromosome preparations were made on
the aspirated material.
Blood volume determinations were carried out
on 8 unexposed Rongelap people and 7 Americans
during the 1962 survey. During the 1961 survey
such studies had been made on 5 Marshallese and 5
Americans. The analyses were done by the radioactive sodium chromate (Cr°') technique.’
*We are grateful to Miss Lila Fliegelman of the Boston
City Hospital for carrying out the alkaline phosphatase
analysis of blood smears.
Blood samples were returned to the U.S. for
electrophoretic studies for glucose - 6 - phosphate
dehydrogenase and hemoglobin types.* Electrophoretic studies ot 171 sera for immune globulins
were kindly carried out by Dr. R. Biitler and Dr.
A. Hassig at the Swiss Red Cross Laboratory,
Berne, Switzeriand.
Protein-boundiodine determinations were made
on sera from 10 individuals who had previously
shownslightly elevated levels. The method of Foss,
Hankes, and Van Slyke*" was used. **
For chromosome studies, short-term blood cultures were done on 10-mi samples from about 50
people. This blood was taken at the time of sampling for routine hematological studies. A modification of the technique of Moorehead" was used.
The leukocytes were separated by centrifugation
and placed in cuiture bottles with growth medium
(Difco-199) and phytohemagglutinin (red kidney
bean extract prepared by Dr. L. Schiffer of BNL}.
Dextran (3%) was used in the initial separation
in some cases but was discontinued later since it was found to be unnecessary in view of the rapid
settling of the red cells in the Marshallese. Thecells
were cultured for 3 days at 37°C, after which
chromosome preparations were made as follows:
Cells were separated by centrifugation, washed with
Hanks’ solution, treated with hypotonic solution
(distilled water plus Hanks’ solution) for 8 to 10
min, and fixed in methyl alcohoi—glacial acetic
acid (3 to 1); smears were prepared by blowing a
drop of the cell-rich sediment on a slide and air
drving. Only occasional slides were stained with
Giemsa’s stain for evaluation in the field. Final
staining and chromosomestudies were carried out
at the Holy Ghost Hospital in Boston .t
Fasting blood sugar levels'? were obtained on
8 individuals who had shown positive urine sugars.t t Blood collected routinely for hematologi“We are grateful to Dr. Samuel H. Boyer of the Johns
Hopkins Hospital for carrying out these studies.
“*We are grateful to Dr. D. D. Van Slyke and Miss
Dorothy Ripperger of BNL for performing these analyses.
t+ Under the direction of one of us (W. C. M.). We are
grateful to Miss Geraldine Dowd and Miss Catherine
Dunn at the Holy Ghost Hospital, Boston, for their
assistance with these analyses.
+t We wish to thank Dr. D. D. Van Slyke, Dr. L. V.
Hankes, and Miss D. Ripperger at BNL for carrying out
these analyses.