13
plementfixation tests were carried out by Mr. H.

Turner and Dr. R. J. Heubnerfor the following
diseases: para-influenza 1, 2, and 3; respiratory
syncitial; psittacosis group; and Q fever. The
modified Bengtson method was used.**"'?
Sodium and Potassium Levels. Determinations
of sodium and potassium urinary excretion and
dietary levels were carried out by Dr. L.K. Dahl
of Brookhaven National Laboratory. This study

was madeto 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
for sodium andpotassium levels by flame photom-

etry. Several sample meals from the Rongelap

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 B-amino-7so-butyric acid. Eighteen urine samples from Utirik were also analyzed.
Blood Groupings.

To complement studies be-

gun in 1958, blood groupingstudies were carried
out on 57 of the blood samples mentioned above.
In addition, 64 blood samples werecollected at

Utirik, and 65 at Majurofor this purpose. Dr.

people werealso analyzed.

Sussman tested these for ABO, MN, Rh-Hr, and

roid glands in the Marshallese, studies of the

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

Thyroid Metabolism. Since the largest dose to
anypartof the body had been received by the thy-

metabolic state of the thyroid gland have been of

interest. These studies have been made by Dr. J.E.

Rall at the NationalInstitutes of Health. Samples
from the previous years’ surveys had shownsur-

Duffy, Kell, and Diego factors.

carried out on these samples at the NationalIn-

stitutes of Health. Transferrins were determined

by the discontinuous buffer starch gel method of

prisingly high protein-bound iodine levels. In

Poulik'* on 66 Rongelapese sera, and on an additional 40 sera by the borate buffer, horizontal

or due to contamination of glassware, !4 samples
were again collected, with very carefully cleaned
glassware used- In addition to protein-bound

Hemoglobin Types. Further starch gel electrophoretic studies of hemoglobin types were also

order to determine whetherthis was a true finding

iodine, butanol-extractable iodine and thvroxin

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 CancerIn-

stitute, 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 backgroundofthe
people and in establishing a baseline of genetic
characteristics for detection of possible genetic effects of radiation in future generations. These
studies included the following: blood groups ABO,
MN, Rh-Hr, and Duffy, Kell, and Diego by Dr.

method.'* No transferrin types other than CC
were seen.
made on these samples by Dr. R.L. Engle, Jr., and
Dr. G. Castillo of the Cornell University Medical

Center, New York, N.Y.
Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity of
Red Cells. Various studies have indicated that a deficiency of the enzymeofred 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., primaquineor fava

beans'*"'5).
In the present study the blood samples were collected in ACD solution, refrigerated (4°C), and

sent by air to Seattle, Washington, wherethetests
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 onenotclassified.
B-Amino-iso-butyric Acid (BAIB) Excretion. Dif-

ferential excretion of B-amino-iso-butyric acid

(BAIB) is under genetic control, and family data
indicate that a single major genepair is responsible for most of the variations.'*-?° High excretors
are homozygousfor a single recessive gene, and

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