Rte
showed enlargement of the proximal and distal
interphalangeal joints and ulnar deviation of the
Table 18
hand. No rhuematoid nodules were present. The
Results of Bentonite Flocculation Test
x-cav changes were consistent with a diagnosis of
osteoarthritis of the hands, but there was no evi-
BFT titer
0- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
30-39
>60
Total
te
bts
'h2
“64
e565
but rheumatord arthritis cannot be completely
Males
1+
24
17
9
13
tt
1
9
21
fe)
Q
12
9
9
3
30
1
-~
—
99
84
2
3
=
I
-~
1
-
=
=
|
~
~
~
|
|
-
9
44+
0
0
2
l
l
=
=
-
-
ruled out.
4. Unusual Skeletal Findings
As noted previously, hand and wrist x-ravs had
shown congenital hypoplasia of the middle phalanx in some children. The same condition was
noted in some of the adults (Figure 12). The middie phalanx of the fifth finger was shortened and
shghtly broadened. This was found both unilater-
Females
0- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
12
13
18
12
6
8
10
I4
11
5
2?
1]
I
23
3
-
t
~
oe
-
50-39
8
7
1
=
~
-
_
> 60
16
Ll
2
l
2
-
-
-
85
66
6
7
3
G
0
1
Total
dence for rheumatoid arthritis. The BFT was
negative. This is probablya case ofosteoarthritis.
ally and bilaterally and was occasionally associated with lengthening of the ulna. Twenty subjects
showed definite changes, and some additional ones
had only moderate shortening of the phaianx.
+
DENTAL SURVEY
’
Majuro Children
2. Rheumatoid Factor in Sera
The prevalence of sera positive for ‘rheumatoid
factor” bythe bentonite flocculation test (BFT)is
shown in Table [8. 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 populatrons. There was no apparent difference in 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
bronchial asthma andprostatic hypertrophy, but
these findings, since they were common in the
population, were probably coincidental. Thereis
no apparent explanation for the presence of rheu-
matord factor in these individuals.
~
“
a
3. Clinical Evidence of Arthritis
A 39-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
[1855 1b
|UOe
:
's
oy ae
O
oe
Age, yr” age group
me
No. in
Thirty Majuro children were examined, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years and selected at random. Widespread caries were present in 73% of
the children <12 vears old. Many erupting permanent teeth showed retained root fragments in
the adjacent gingival crevice. Althoughthe oral
hygiene could be rated fair to good, the incidence
of caries rematned 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 premature loss 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 morphologyofthe
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
%
_