714
BRIEF REPORTS
Table 1.
Mean
serum
population*
uric
acid
values
Men (n)
Age
in
6.6 = 1.0(53) 5.1 + 1.2 (4)
35-44
6.5 £1.7(26) 5.4 + 1.4 (35)
6.9+ $.3¢41)
>44
Total
Marshallese
and sex composition statistically similar to the ex-
Women = 45
the time of SUA testing have been included in this
posed groups. Only persons aged 15 years or older at
years of age
Women (n)
[5-24
25-34
a
analysis.
(n)
Statistical analysis was performed utilizing
BMDP statistical software as described in the BMDP
Statistical Software 1981 Manual (University of Calli-
5.2 + 1.1 (49)
f
6.5 + 1.4(68) 6.2 + 1.3 (71)
6.6 + £.3 (188) 5.6 + 1.4 (196)
fstandy
Rongelap
Utirik
5.7 + 1.1 (64)
6.7 + 1.0(29)
5.5 + 1.3 (35)
5.6 + 1.1 G9)
vate
oo 3 (50) oe is S3, es * My 09)
ajyu
JF].
286
Dt.
“
ot
1.
oe
Radintion exposure
(e-)
High
Low
None
6.4 + 1.3 (45)
6.6 + 1.4(55)
persons evaluated included persons tested in either or
5.8 © 1.3 (62)
5.4 + 1.5 (60)
both years (n = 384).
The mean SUA was 6.6 = 1.3 SD for men (n =
188), and 5.6 + 1.3 SD for women (n = 196). The
normal range obtained using the same techniquein the
same laboratory for an unselected adult U.S. popula-
+ Excluded are 15 people who lived elsewhere.
tion is 5.6 + 0.9 SD for men, and 4.4 + 0.8 SD for
ed alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Those living
on the islands of Ebeye and Majuro are more closely
women. Mean age-specific values were similar for
men, whereas SUA levels increased with age in wom-
associated, socially and economically, with the United
en, especially after age 45 (Table 1). The cumulative
frequency probability plot of SUA values for men was
nearly Gaussian, but was skewed towardhigher values
States. They receive no U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture food. The 3 subgroups evaluated in this study can
also be classified according to history of radiation
exposure (5). The ‘‘high’’ exposure group (Table 1)
refers to those individuals who received an average
total-body gammaradiation dose of 69-175 rads, and
those in the “‘low’’ exposure group received about 14
rads, The individuals having no exposure (“‘none’’) are
from a selected comparison population that has an age
60
80
90
T
40
TT?TTtT
ff
for women. Skewness nearly disappeared after deletion of values of those women who were over 45
(Figure 1).
A significant correlation was noted between
SUA and total serum protein. This was due to the
albumin component (Table 2). The mean serum albumin of the Marshallese, however, was lower thanthat
T
CUMULATIVE PERCENT
5)
SUA values between 1974 and 1977 (t = 1.15, df =
:
169, P = 0.25). For this reason, the total number of
* Values represent the mean + 1 SD.
20
P
Results. One hundred seventy persons had SUA
determinations in both 1974 and 1977. The mean SUA
values for thee 2 years Ww were 10e
identical, > 6.0
ow mg/dl.
mer!A
paired t-test indicated no significant differences in
6.1+ 1.087) 5.1 £131) 4.7 + 0.9 (23)
6.5 + 1.4 (68)
ia
ormla FTeSS).
+
98
2
4
6
8
10
2
4
6
8
lO
IO
SERUM URIC ACID (mg/d!)
Figure 1. Cumulative probability plots of serum uric acid (SUA) (in mg/dl) forA men, B women, and C women 45 years of age and under. The
oo
wt
wrt
me
straight lines are drawn through the lower, and therefore more likely normal. SUA range in order to highlight deviations in the high range.
Si
=