GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES IN CHILDREN

In addition to the routine pediatric examinations,

certain special anthropometric measurements on

the children were recorded. Such data included

age, weight, stature, sitting height, head circum-

ference, biucromial width, bi-iliac width, and calf
circumference. Roentgenographs of the Icft wrists
were studied for skeletal maturation.

LABORATORY PROCEDURES
Hematological Examinations

Complete routine blood counts were carried out
with repeat counts on any persons showing abnormalitics, White blood counts and red blood counts
were Obtained with the clectronic Coulter, which

has proved to be a very satisfactory instrument for
examinations of this type in the ficld. Differential

counts were performed in the usual manner after

stuining with Wright's Muid. Platelet counts were
done by phase microscopy. Hemoglobin was determined by the cyan-hemoglobin technique with

the Lumitron colorimeter, Hematocrits were ob-

taincd by the microhematocrit: method, Serum
proteins were determined with the Hitachi refractometer. Blood and serum samples for certain
studies to be described below were collected and
kept under refrigeration and finally shipped back
for study.

Blood smears were obtained for differential
study, alkaline phosphatase examinations®, and
basophil counts on 4000 white cells, as part of the
leukemia survey.

Bone marrow aspirations were done on 9

exposed people, and smears were prepared for
differential counts and morphological studies. In
addition, chromosome preparations were made on
the aspirated material,
Blood vole determinations were carried out

on S$ unexposed Rongelap people and 7 Americans
during the 1962 survey. During the 1961 survey
such studies had been made on § Marshallese and 5
Americans. The analyses were done by the radioactive sodium chromate (Cr*!) technique.”
*We ure grateful to Miss Lila Fliegelman of the Boston
City Hospital for currying out the alkaline phosphatase
analysis of blood smears.

Blood samples were returned to the U.S. for
electrophoretic studies for glucose - 6 - phosphuatc

dchydrogenase and hemoglobin types.* Electro-

phorctic studies or 171 sera for immuneglobulins

were kindly carried out by Dr. R. Buller and Dr.
A. Hassig at the Swiss Red Cross Laboratory,
Berne, Switzerland.
Protein-bound iodine determinations were made
on sera from 10 individuals who had previousl'
shownslightly clevated levels. The method of Foss,
Hankes, and Van Slyke" was uscd.**
For chromosome studies, short-term blood cultures were done on 10-m! samples from about 50
people, This blood was taken at the time of sampling for routine hematological studies. A modifi-

cation «-f the technique of Moorehead! was used.
The leukocytes were separated by centrifugation

and placed in culture bottles with growth medium
(Difco-199) and phytohemagglutinin (red kidney
bean extract prepared by Dr. L. Schiffer of BNL).
Dextran (3% ) was used in the initial separation
in some cases but was discontinuce later since it
was found to be unnecessary in view of the rapid
settling of the red cells in the Marshallese, The cells
were cultured for 3 days at 37°C, after which
chromosome preparations were made as follows:
Cells were separated by centrifugation, washed with
Hanks’ solution, treated with hypotonic solution
(distilled water plus Hanks’ solution) for 8 to 10
min, and fixed in methyl] alcohol—glacial acctic
acid (3 to 1); smears were prepared by blowing a
drop of the cell-rich sediment on a slide and air
drying. Only occasional slides were stained with
Giemsa's stain for evaluation in the field. Final
stuining and chromosome studics were curried out
at the Holy Ghost Hospital in Boston .+
Fasting blood sugar levels'* were obtained on
8 individuals who had shown positive urine sugars.t t Blood collected routinely for hematologi°We are prateful to tr. Samuel PE Hoyer of the Johns
Hopkins Hospital for carrying out these studies.
“*We are grateful to Dr. D. D. Van Slyke and Miss
Dorothy Ripperger of BNL. for performing these analyses.

+ Under the direction of one of us (W. C. M.). We are

grateful to Miss Geraldine Dowd and Miss Catherine
Dunn at the Holy Ghost Hospital, Boston, for their
assistance with these analyses.
+t We wish to thank Dr. D. D. Van Slyke, Dr. L. VY.
Hankes, and Miss D. Ripperger at BNL for carrying out
these analyses.

Select target paragraph3