[Antithymocyte globulin used for treatment of severe acute graft versus host disease after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation].

The objective of study was to investigate the effect of low-dose antithymocyte globulin (ATG) on steroid-resistant severe acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD). Six patients with steroid-resistant severe aGVHD after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) received the treatment with ATG at a low dose of 1.25 mg/kg for 3 - 5 doses every other day.

[Effects of different feeding methods on the iodine status of the infants during the weaning period].

Objective: To investigate the iodine levels of urine from 1 month old breast-fed infants and the ones of milk and urine from the lactating women, and to observe the effects of different feeding methods (breast-feeding, mixed-feeding, bottle-feeding) on the iodine status of the infants during the weaning period in Beijing.

Methods: From March, 2001 to March, 2002, the iodine levels of urine from 97 breast-fed infants 1 month of age and the ones in milk and urine from lactating women were measured and compared. The infants followed up were divided into 3 groups (breast-fed, mixed and bottle-fed) until 6 months old.

[Thyroid squamous-cell carcinoma showing thymus-like element (CASTLE): a report of eight cases].

Objective: To report 8 cases of squamous-cell carcinoma showing thymus-like element (CASTLE) of the thyroid.

Methods: Clinical data and pathological sections were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: CASTLE of the thyroid differed from ordinary squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) in that it not only presented typical squamous pattern of differentiation, but also admixed with thymic architecture, such as Hassall's corpuscles, lymphoepithelial-like structure and mature lymphocyte infiltration in the stroma.

Correlative studies of MR findings with neuropathology in Shy-Drager syndrome and striatonigral degeneration.

Objective: To determine the pathologic bases of the abnormal signal intensities detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Shy-Drager syndrome (SDS) and striatonigral degeneration (SND).

Methods: The correlation of MRI and pathological findings was prospectively evaluated by postmortem scanning of the brain in a case of SDS and another of SND. MRI was performed by using a 1.