41
progress, including chromosome counts, enumeration of aberrations, and karyotype analysis by

NOELAP

paste-ups of photographs. A few dicentric chromosomes and certain other aberrations have been
noted in the examined group, but insufficient control material has been analyzed for any positive
statements to be made at this time.
Diebetic Survey. Based on biood sugar determinations as part of the routine urine analyses and
fasting blood sugar determinations,it was found
that 6 peopie had a diabetic tendency. Thefollowing had elevated fasting blood sugars (mg %):
No. 853, 247; No. 893, 279; No. 936, 187: No.

991, 248; No. 1042, 180; No. 835 had a 3+ urine

sugar but no blood sugar determination was done.

lese living on Ebeye Island (Kwajalein Atoll), 10

members of the medical team, and 7 Americans
who had been residing in the Marshall Islands for
at least a year. The results are presented in Table
21. Again the Marshallese values are higher than
the Caucasian values. Though the numberof samples involved is too smail for any positive statement to be made, the lower levels of the Marshallese living on Ebeye may have some meaning,
since their environmentis quite different from that
of the Rongelap residents (more westernized in

_body water in
me vear or more.

copic examinaod cultures is in

who had only been in the Islands a few weeks and
the Americans who had resided there for at least
a year is probably not significant.It is anticipated
that this aspect of the problem will be further investigated on the next survey.
Fouic Acip Determinations. Folic acid levels
were below or in the low range of normal in 29%
of the 129 Rongelap people teated. Fifteen percent were below 4 myg/mi and 16% in the borderline range of 4 to 7 myug/ml. The unexposed comparison population had slightly lower values than
the exposed population. The generally low level
of these Isiand people is attributed to a dietary
deficiency of foods containing folic acid, mainly

leafy vegetables. The levels were not sufficiently
low to result in any hematological changes or apparentclinical effects. The individual vaiues for
folic acid are presented in Appendix 17.
Tue Ac System. The following statemens
were made by Dr. B.S. Blumberg*: “The sera of
patients who have received multiple transfusions
may contain antibodie- against normal human

serum components.'' The first example of such
antibodies was reported in a patient (C.deB.) who
had received =50 transfusions for the treatment
of a refractory anemia of unknown etiology.'* By
means of the Ouchterlony double-diffusion technique, it was shown that the antibody formed a
precipitin with =55% of normal U.S. white and
Negro sera. By twin, family, and population stud-

ies'" it was shown that the presence or absence
*Amociate Director for Clinecal Research, Inmiute for Cancer

Research, Philadeiphua, Pa.

Table 72

—

Re wae

ut Istanps

As has been noted, the incidence of diabetes is
tairly high in the Marshallese. I: is, however, of
the type that develops in older people since no
cases have been seen in younger people.
Serelegicel Stwdies. Prorein Bounp loping
Deteaminations. Protein boundiodine levels
were determined in several groups of peapie during the past two surveys. The groups included 9
Marshallese living on Rongelap Atoll, 8 Marshal-

food, etc.). A difference between the medical team

Serum Tests
Antisera reactors
C deB.
Population

New York

Location

Total No.

U.S. Negro

Rongelap Atoll
Maryland

Georma

187
120

98
59

181
120

38
37

Greek

Greece

203

72

203

38

Stoux Indian

South Dakow

143

91

143

78

Micronesian
U S. White

Quechua Indian

Peru

149
102

% Pos.

68
70

Total No.

149

102

% Pos.

9
36

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