showed enlargement of the proximal and distal Table 18 interphalangeal joints and ulnar deviation ofthe hand. No rhucmatoid nodules were present. The Results of Bentonite Flocculation Test Age,yr No.in agegroup x-ray changes were consistent with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the hands, but there was noevi- BFT titer O ‘“’%43 Mw Ye ‘2 we 2 } = _ - _ _ _ _ 1 1 _ Mss Males o- 9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50~59 >60 ruled out. 14 24 17 9 13 l1 11 9 21 15 9 12 9 9 3$ 3 1 2 1 - «= + - 99 84 9 4 O 0 2 0- 9 10-19 12 13 8 10 2 - 1 2? 1 4] - - _ - 30-39 12 11 1 - - _ 40-49 6 - ~ _ Total 4. Unusual Skeletal Findings Females 20-29 18 14 ~ 3 - - 5 - - ] - _ 50-59 8 7 l= - . _ >60 16 1] 2 1 2 - _ - 85 66 6 7 5 0 0 1 Total dence for rheumatoid arthritis. The BFT was negative. This is probably a case of osteoarthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely As noted previously, hand and wrist x-rays had shown congenital hypoplasia of the middle phalanx in some children. The same condition was noted in someofthe adults (Figure 12). The middie phalanx ofthe fifth finger was shortened and slightly broadened. This was found both unilaterally and bilaterally and was occasionallyassociated with lengthening of the ulna. Twentysubjects showed definite changes, and some additional ones had only moderate shortening of the phalanx. DOE ARCHIVES DENTAL SURVEY Majuro Children 2. Rheumatoid Factor in Sera The prevalence of sera positive for “rheumatoid factor” by the bentonite flocculation test (BFT) is shown in Table 18. Individual data are listed in Appendix 6 according to age and sex. The total prevalence of positive sera is not greatly different from that reported for white American populations. There was no apparent differencein arthritis incidence between the exposed and unexposed groups. Three individuals, all in the unexposed group,had definitely positive sera (Table 19), but with no evidence ofjoint disease. One (+953) had bronchia] asthma and prostatic hypertrophy, but these findings, since they were common in the population, were probably coincidental. Thereis no apparent explanation for the presence of rheumatoid factor in these individuals. 3. Clinical Evidence of Arthritis A 59-year-old male (+878) had some clinical findings compatible with rheumatoid arthritis. He had complained of pain and swelling in his hands, wrists, and knees for 5 to 10 years, but with no limitation of function. Physical examination Thirty Majuro children were examined,ranging in age from 2 to 13 years and selected at random. Widespread caries were present in 75% of the children <12 years old. Manyerupting permanent teeth showed retained root fragmentsin the adjacent gingival crevice. Although the oral hygiene could berated fair to good, the incidence of caries remained high. Bunching of the lower incisors was a common finding in males and females in the 7 to 9-year age group. Eruption time of the bicuspids appeared advanced, possibly because of prematureloss of the deciduous molars. All the children in this age group showedsigns of retarded jaw development in comparison with children in the continental United States. Rongelap Children No significant difference was found in caries incidence, eruption time, and morphologyof the teeth, or growth of the jaws, between the exposed and the unexposed children. In both groups about 20% showed retarded jaw development which had — resulted in narrowing of the arches plus bunching of the lower anterior teeth. The Rongelap children had a much lower incidence of caries than emer ewene eee eee _ - = + a —_—we