24

axis deviation was normalorto the right in most

individuals. Left axis deviation, and only of mod-

erate degree, was present In six individuals, two in
the younger unexposed group,three in the older
unexposed group, and one in 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 wasintermediate and in 9 (all unexposed) it was moderately horizontal. Rotation ofthe heartelectrically
in the combined groupswasclockwise in 25 subjects and counterclockwise in 36, with about equa!
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
isoelectric line were found to be minimal; they occurred in only five of the 84 unexposed subjects

andin only one of the 38 exposed subjects. T wave
abnormalities were of appreciable degree in only a
few instancesin 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 group, whohadarteriosclerotic heartdisease and auricularfibrillation. 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 auriculoventricular conduction time as noted above.
Among the unexposed population there wasevidence of myocardial insufficiency according to
RST and T wave changes in a 51-year-old male
(#947), a 64-year-old female (#861), a 55-yearold 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 degree of arterial changes

in the peripheral vessels (radia!, 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

years of age in the exposed group, and then toa
degree compatible with age. Since there were no
individuals examined in the
pexposed group
>70 years of age for comparisonWa 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 degree premature or advanced for the given age.
2. Arterial Blood Pressures.
Blood pressures
greater than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic were
considered abnormal. On this 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 hypertension in the unexposed group, 2 in those <(50

years of age and 15 in those >50. The diastolic

blood pressure showed only infrequent increase
above the level of 90 mm; as would be expected,
this occurred chiefly in the older group. The overall incidence of hypertension for the tota! population examined was 9.2%.
3. Oscillometry Readings.

Observations were

taken on the legs at the mid-calf. In almostall
subjects the pulsation was sufficient to indicate
normal blood flow. Although the readings were
lower in the Marshallese than might be expected
in Caucasians, it appeared that peripheral vascuTable 16
Ophthalmological Findings (% Incidence)

Pterygium
Pinguecula
Corneal pigment
Corneal scars
Arcussenilis
Phthisis bulbi
Nystagmus
Strabismus
Argyll-Robertson pupil
Cataracts
Aphakia
Vitreous opacities
Retinal arteriosclerosis
Chorioretinal scars
Macular degeneration
Driisen
Congenital anomalies

Exposed

Unexposed

23.0
24.0
12.0
9.0
38.0
1.3
1.3
8.3
1.3
19.0
1.3
4.1
11.0
1.3
0.0
2.6
3.9

21.0
22.0
2.6
3.4
26.0
0.0
0.7
0.7
0,0
10.3
1.3
0.0
12.3
0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0

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