Acute gastric dilatation and volvulus in a free-living polar bear

A large, adult male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) was found dead on a barrier island north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska (USA), in June 1987. There were no external signs of trauma. A twisted distended stomach, distinctive parenchymal and fascial congestion, and significant difficulty in repositioning the anterior abdominal organs, indicated that gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) was the proximate cause of death. Polar bears frequently consume large quantities of food at one time and have large stomachs that are well adapted to periodic gorging. The scarcity of food in winter and early spring, combined with voluntary fasting and protracted vigorous activity during the breeding season in late spring may have predisposed this bear to GDV. The relationship between GDV and postprandial exercise emphasizes the need for a better understanding of how the present human invasion of arctic habitats may influence polar bear activities.     

Acute gastric dilatation in two black and white colobus monkeys

Acute gastric dilatation in two black and white colobus monkeys is described. The subfamily colobini have a ruminant-like stomach and a pregastric fermentation, of important for the observations described.     

Observations on acute gastric dilatation in nonhuman primates.

In the years 1967-1977 we diagnosed 23 cases of acute gastric dilatation in monkeys. Fourteen of these animals were Macaca mulatta, five Macaca fascicularis, and one each of Macaca nemestrina, Aotus trivirgatus, Saimiri sciureus, and Colobus guereza. Fourteen of the animals were males, nine were females, and all were adults or subadults. Mortality was 78% (18 of 23 animals). Thirteen of the animals had received on anesthetic, immobilizing, or tranquilizing drug 1-2 days before developing acute gastric dilatation; seven monkeys were overfed, and two had been transferred from one area to another the day prior to developing the disease. Two animals were found dead in their cages with no apparent cause for the gastric dilatation. Five Macaca mulatta and three Macaca fascicularis recovered following treatment, but two Macaca mulatta subsequently succumbed to another episode of acute gastric dilatation. Treatment consisted of evacuation of the stomach, correction of blood volume deficits and acid-base disturbances by administration of appropriate fluids, and supportive therapy for shock.     

Acute leukaemia after busulphan.

During a double-blind study of two years'' cytotoxic chemotherapy with busulphan or cyclophosphamide in patients who had had resection of carcinoma of the bronchus the long-term effects of these two drugs were also studied. Four of the 243 patients treated with busulphan developed leukaemia compared with none of the 234 treated with cyclophosphamide and none of the 249 on placebo. None of these four patients received radiotherapy or other cytotoxic chemotherapy before leukaemia was diagnosed, and all four were among the 19 patients who developed pancytopenia while taking busulphan, five to eight years before leukaemia became clinically apparent. These findings suggest that busulphan is leukaemogenic, though its mode of action is uncertain.     

Blood endotoxin inactivation after trauma and endotoxicosis.

In contrast to the inability to demonstrate endotoxin detoxifying activity in either control rat blood, blood cells, plasma, or serum, the induction of mild endotoxemia or trauma resulted in a prompt and marked detoxifying activity in blood plasma or serum, but not in the cellular elements. The functional significance of the blood anti-endotoxin system was demonstrated by a capability for passive transfer and by its loss during severe traumatic shock. A role for the RES in elaboration of the blood anti-endotoxin system is postulated.