Ursodiol prophylaxis seemed to decrease the incidence of hepatic complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in patients who received a preparative regimen with busulfan plus cyclophosphamide.

I used blood chemistry and hematology to evaluate the physical condition of black bears (Ursus americanus). Analyses were performed on 70 blood samples taken from 55 live-captured black bears in the redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) region in northcoastal California. Blood parameters analyzed included calcium, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, SGOT, SGPT, LDH, sodium, potassium, chloride, ferrous, total globulins, WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, MVC, MCH, and MCHC. Bears captured in Aldrich foot-snares, chased up trees with trained dogs, or immobilized with sedative darts while free-roaming had significantly greater (P < 0.01) WBC and serum levels of uric acid, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH, and lower levels of inorganic phosphorus than bears captured in culvert traps. Male bears had significantly (P < 0.01) less MCH than female bears. Additional significantly different (P < 0.05) blood values between sexes suggest a differential stress response of females to immobilization and handling procedures. Adult bears had significantly (P < 0.01) higher MCV, MCH, and serum levels of triglycerides and lower levels of alkaline phosphatase than subadults or cubs. Seasonal differences were observed for inorganic phosphorus, total protein, creatinine, total globulins, MCH, and MCHC. These latter differences were probably a result of adult male capture bias in spring and subadult capture bias in fall. Six indices of physical condition were developed. Each bear was assigned a condition evaluation index (CEI) value based on subjective assessment of body fat deposits, number and types of parasites, and pelage condition. Five physical condition ratio (PCR) values were calculated by dividing body weight by each of 5 somatic measurements (total length, girth, height at shoulder, head circumference, and head length). The CEI did not reflect physical condition as well as the PCR values. The ratio body weight/total length (PCR-A) permitted objective physical condition comparisons between sex and age classes. These comparisons suggest relationships between and within sex and age classes based on intraspecific competition for available resources. Blood parameters significantly correlated (P < 0.005) with PCR-A (total protein, albumin, total globulins, triglyceride, glucose, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCH, and MCHC) may be used to monitor the nutritional status of black bear populations under a variety of conditions. Int. Conf. Bear Res. and Manage. 7:333-349 A variety of methods have been used to assess the physical condition of wild mammals (Hanks 1978). Bailey (1968) used weight and total length to index the relative condition of individual cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus); Klein (1968) used body weight measurements as an index of condition for reindeer (Rangifer tarandus); and Austin (1984) used subcutaneous fat to index mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) condition. An analysis of an animal's growth in wei...

From 1983 to 1985, 463 serum samples from 11 species of mammals in Redwood National Park (RNP) (California, USA) were evaluated for antibodies to Yerslnia pestis by the passive hemagglutination method. This is the first report of Y. pestis infection in Redwood National Park, and the first detailed report of Y. pestis activity in a temperate rainforest.

The quantity of bone marrow collected for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is based on collecting 10 to 15 cc of bone marrow/kg of recipient weight. We hypothesized that the percentage of CD34+ cells collected during a bone marrow harvest decreased at the end of the harvest because of increasing amounts of peripheral blood contamination. We performed a prospective, blinded study in which we measured CD34+ percentages and cell counts at 200-cc intervals during bone marrow harvests from 11 consecutive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling bone marrow donors. We observed that the percentage of CD34+ cells in aspirated bone marrow did not vary significantly from the start to the end of the bone marrow harvest, and the total number of CD34+ cells/kg increased in a linear fashion, thus disproving our original hypothesis. In conclusion, the percentage of CD34+ cells in aspirated bone marrow will remain constant throughout a bone marrow harvest.

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