39

age 54) died of a genitourinary infection complicating diabetes even thoughshe (along with the
other cases) had been placed on oral therapy with
Orinase (tolbutamid tablets). (It was later found
that these patients did not take the tablets consistently.)
Table 26 compares the mortality from diabetes
in the United States?’ and the Marshall Islands.
The incidence appears higher in the Marshall
Islands and on Rongelap Island (based onits
small population). It should be noted that, since
only routine urine examinations were doneon the
Rongelap people, the incidence of diabetes may
actually be higher. The greater incidence of deaths
due to diabetes in the Marshall Isiands than in the

for all age groups,.a relatively low figure compared with that for Japanese and American
societies.
Thyroid Metabolism

Table 24 shows results of protein boundiodine,

total iodine, and butanol extractable iodine deter-

minations. The 12 samples obtained in 1959

showed values definitely lower than the 1958

values, although several readings werestill somewhat high. It was thought that the high 1958
levels must have been due to contaminated glassware in spite of the great care taken to maintain
strict cleanliness.
Glucosuria

United States in 1956 and 1957?’ is statistically

Onroutine urine analysis during the 1959 survey one male and four females(all in the unexposed group) were found to have glucosuria; all

significant (0.01 >p>0.001).

sugar level* (see Table 25). “hese individuals
were considered to have mild diabetes mellitus.

1959 again showed, as in 1958, vitamin B,, levels

Serum Vitamin B ,,

Analysis of the 15 serum samples obtained in

but one ofthese also had an elevated fasting blood

slightly higher than normal. The mean value was -

Later during the year one of these cases (854,F,

714 pyg/ml, with a range of 312 to 1500. A scatter-

gram oflevels for both years was plotted against

white blood count, since it has been shown that in

*We are grateful to Dr. W.W. Fennei at Kwajalein for having

leukemia the white cells have a higher B,. binding

the blood sugar analvzed.

Table 23

Results of Complement Fixation Tests on Rongelap Peopie, 195%. by Age and Sex
(Positive Reactions of Serum Dilutions 1-10)

Age,

vr

No.in
age

FluA

group No.

Long
HA 1
HA 2
CA
(Respiratory
(Parainfluenza3) (Parainfluenza!) (Parainfluenza2) syncitial, CCA)

FluB

% No.

%

No.

%

No.

To

No.

Adeno

LGV
(Psittacosis
OF
Mumps
group)
(Q fever)

%o

No.

%

No.

&% No.

%

No

“%

No %

1
1

4
5

6
14
6

35
58
30

14
16
10

82
67
50

2
6

12
25

1!
3
I

6
13
5

2
2
1

12
8
5

2

3

26

43

40

66

8

13

#5

8

5

8

11
ll
9

100

10
6

33
29
29

1

2
1

4
6
5

92
52
53

3
5

4
29

1
1
3

8
5
18

1

8

3

6

15

29

32

63

8

16

5

10

1

2

4

41

37

72

6416

14

#10

9

6

5

Females
1- 5
6-15
16-40
>40

0
17
24
20

4
4

#17
20

9
7

38
35

8
19
16

47
79
80

Total

61

8

13

16

26

43

70

0

Males
1- 5

1

6-15
16-40
>40

12
21
17

1
4
6

Total

51

11

8
19
35

2
8
12

I
38
71

11
18
14

92
86
82

22 22

43

43

84

0

Females Plus Males
Total

112

19

17 38

34

86

77

0

5

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