24

axis deviation was normalorto the right in most
individuals. Left axis deviation, and only of mod-

erate degree, was presentin six individuals, two in
the younger unexposed group,three in the older
unexposed group, and onein the older exposed
group. The electrical position of the heart ina
great majority of both the unexposed and exposed
subjects was vertical. In 22 subjects it was intermediate and in 9 (all unexposed) it was moderately horizontal. Rotation of the heartelectrically
in the combined groups was clockwise in 25 subjects and counterclockwise in 36, with about equal
distribution between the exposed and unexposed
groups.
4. RSTandT Waves. Abnormalvariations were
carefully noted for indications of coronary or myocardial insufficiency and/or myocardial disease or

damage. Deviations of the RST segmentfrom the

tsoelectric line were found to be minimal; they occurred in only five of the 84 unexposed subjects
and in only oneof the 38 exposed subjects. T wave

abnormalities were of appreciable degree in only a
few instances in 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 groups who hadarteriosclerotic 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
marked hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and had prolonged auriculo-

years of age in the exposed group, and then toa

degree compatible with age. Since there were no
individuals examined in the unexposed group
> 70 years of age for comparison, any assumption

that the arteriosclerosis was increased in these four

individuals by their exposureto fallout radiationis

unwarranted. Otherwise the presence and the
amountofarteriosclerosis was fairly well distributed between both populations, as can be seen in
Table 14. It was not observed in a degreepremature or advanced for the given age.
2. Arterial Blood Pressures. Biood pressures
greater than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic were
considered abnormal. Onthis basis in the exposed
group noneofthe 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 tn the unexposed group,2 in those <50 .
years of age and 15 in those >50. The diastolic
blood pressure showed only infrequent increase

abovethe level of 90 mm; as would be expected,
this occurred chiefly in the older group. The overall incidence of hypertension for the total population examined was 9.2%.
3. Oscillometry Readings.

Table 16

ventricular conduction time as noted above.

Amongthe unexposed population there wasevidence of myocardial insufficiency accordingto
RST and T wave changes in a 51-year-old male
(#947), a 64-year-old female (#861), a 55-year-

old male (#993), a 64-year-old female ( 858),
and a 64-year-old male (#884); the last had

changes sufficient to indicate.a healed anterior
septal cardiac infarct.
Other Cardiovascular Observations

1. Peripheral Vascular Findings. Clinicalestimation was madeofthe degreeofarterial changes
in the peripheralvessels (radial, brachial, and dorsalis pedis). The degree of abnormality was graded
by 0 to 4+ sclerosis (see section on aging studies).
Arteriosclerosis was seen chiefly in subjects >50
year of age in both exposed and unexposed groups.
It was not marked exceptin four individuals >70

Observations were

taken on the legs at the mid-calf. In almostall
subjects the pulsation was sufficient to indicate
normal blood How. Although the readings were
lower in the Marshallese than might be expected
in Caucasians. it appeared that peripheral vascu-

Ophthalmological Findings (% Incidence)

Pterygium
Pinguecula
Corneal pigment
Corneal scars
’ Arcus senilis
Phthisis bulbi
Nystagmus
Strabismus
Argyll-Robertson pupil
Cataracts

Aphakia

Vitreous opacities

Exposed

Unexposed

23.0
24.0
12.0
9.0
38.0
1.3
1.3
8.3
1.3

21.0
22.0
2.6
3.4
26.0
0.0
0.7
0.7
0.0

19.0

1.3

4.1

10.3

1.3

0.0

Retinal arteriosclerosis
Chorioretinal scars

11.0
1.3

12.3
0.7

Driisen
Congenital anomalies

2.6
3.9

0.0
0.0

Macular degeneration

0.0.

0.0

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