Se ane ys wees SRFee Ce Aeee ee akin cee marinege COR tartanMae I am a aa atlI ea eae 6 tion must be exercised in evaluating the results of these studies on genetically inherited characteristics because of the small number of samples tested. The data do seem to indicate relative homogeneity of the population and closest kinship with people of Southeast Asia. These data also may be useful as a base line should genetic changes appear in later generations, possibly related to radiation exposure. Results of other laboratorystudies included the following: Serum protein levels were generally on the high side of normal; electrophoretic patterns showed the increase in proteins was largely due to an increase in the gammaglobulin fraction. The reason for this is not apparent. Numerous chronic infections maybe an explanation. Sodium levels in the urine and food indicated about the same consumption of NaCl as in Americans. The generally lower incidence of hypertension in the Marshallese might be related to the fact that the former native diet was probablylower in salt content than the present, more westernized diet. It will be interesting to see whetherthe incidence of hypertension will later increase. Serum cholesterol levels (1957, 1959) were somewhat lowerin the exposed population than in the comparison or Utirik populations, but were in the low normal range. No abnorally low readings were noted. Serum creatinine levels (1957) were in the normal range with no abnormallevels noted. Serum vitamin B,. concentrations (1958, 1959) were generallysignificantly higher than American levels. The possibility of contamination of the sam- ples with bacteria producing vitamin B,. must be considered, since myeloproliferative and liver discases were not seen. Serumprotein bound wodine levels (1957, 1959) were generally slightly elevated. Evidence for thyroid dysfunction was not apparent in the people. Glucosuria and elevated blood sugar were found in 4 unexposed individuals, which indicated a rather high incidence of diabetes. A surveyfor intestinal parasites (1958) showed 75% of the people to be infected with varioustypes. For the three major pathogens found, the over- all infection rates were, for Entamoeba histolytica, 18.2%; for hookworm, 3.5%: and for Trichuris trich- mura, 34.3%. Eosinophilia >3% has consistently been noted somewhat lower in the exposed people. DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXAMINATIONS As mentioned in previous reports, several difhculties were associated with carrying out the examinations as well as interpreting the findings. 1. The language barrier made examinations difficult, since verylittle English is spoken bythe Marshallese. However, there weresufficient English-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical team In most Instances. 2. The lack ofvital statistics or demographic data on the Marshallese imposed a seriousdifhculty in interpretation and evaluation of the medical data. Recordsof births, deaths, etc., have been made by the health aides or magistrates ofthe villages and supposedly forwarded to the district administrator; however, such records have been in- complete or lost in most instances, and vitalstatistics are therefore inadequate. Trust Territory officials are nowattempting to assemble such data. 3. There is uncertainty on the part of some of the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particularly amongthe older group. This imposes certain diffculties in interpreting some ofthe studies to be outlined. COMPARISON POPULATIONS During thefirst 2 years, two separate groups of Marshallese people were used for comparison, each of comparable size to the exposed Rongelap group and matchedfor age and sex. However,this population was found to be unstable, with a large attrition rate over the 2 years, which madeit unsatisfactory. At the time of the 3-year survey, it was found that during the preceding 12 months the Rongelap population at Majuro Atoll had ee ee eal in about half the people. The fact that half the cases with eosinophilia showed no helminthicinfections at all suggests that other factors besides parasitic infections must be responsible. The eosinophilia maybe related to chronic fungus and other infections, particularlyof the skin. Complementfixation studies for parainfluenza1, 2, and 3, respiratorysyncitial, psittacosis, and Q fever showed antibodies to all groups of viruses except that for Asian influenza, which probably had not yet seriously involved the people of the Marshall Islands. The antibodytiters appeared to be