Ginseng has been widely used in Korea as a natural medicine due to its saponin contents. Although the total amount of ginseng stem and leaf saponins (GSLS) is 4~5 times higher than that of saponin in the root, the root is mainly used. This is due to two reasons: nervous system-stimulant activity of GSLS and pesticide residues in GSLS. In this study, residual agricultural pesticides were removed from GSLS using two types of bacterial treatments. Two GSLS treatment groups of chickens (GSLS-1 and GSLS-2) were established. The chickens were fed 0.4% GSLS-1 or GSLS-2 mixed with crop. We then evaluated the effects of GSLS on bodyweight and several immune parameters. At the end of the experiments, chickens fed GSLS-1 and red ginseng saponin had significantly higher growth rates (16.6% and 8.0%, respectively) compared to the vaccine control group treated with Noblis Salenvac-T. The group fed GSLS-1 also had the highest IgG titer that was significantly different at the end of experiments compared to the other groups. These findings imply that GSLS-1 is a good candidate feed additive for the chicken industry.
Chickens* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea ; Panax* ; Pesticide Residues ; Pesticides ; Saponins

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a rare disease of plasmacytoid lymphocyte proliferation usually presented without bone lesion which is the common presenting symptom in multiple myeloma. We report a 50-year-old female with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia presented as a bony lesion without many other features common in this diesease. She was admitted with the chief complaint of low back pain and low extremity paresthesia for two months. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, protein and immune electrophoresis showed findings consistent with Waldenstr m's macroglobulinemia. Magnetic resonance imaging of thoracic spine showed pathologic compression fracture in T6 and T7 with posterior epidural mass at T6 to T7 level. We report this unusual case of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia presented as compression fracture of thoracic spine with a review of literatures.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Electrophoresis ; Extremities ; Female ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Lymphocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Paresthesia ; Rare Diseases ; Spine* ; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia*

BACKGROUND: In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS: 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. RESULTS: 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count 995.6±505.7/mm2 in the survivor and 624.0±287.6/mm2 in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group(295.9±203.0/mm2) was lower than the survivor group(723.6±406.5/mm2) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was 6.0±1.0(2.7±0.7) g/dl in the survivor and 5.2±1.5(2.3±0.8)g/dl in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the noncurvivor group(41.7±30.0mg/dl) was higher than that of the survivor group(18.9±9.8mg/dl)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group(1.8±1.0mg/dl) than that in the survivor group(1.0±0.3mg/dl)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group (1433.0±729.5mg/dl) than in the nonsurvivor group(849.1±373.1mg/dl)(p<0.05). 5) The complement C3 level was 108.0±37.9mg/dl in the survivor group and 88.0±32.1mg/dl in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant differenne in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.
Biomarkers ; Chemistry ; Complement C3 ; Complement System Proteins ; Creatinine ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunologic Factors* ; Liver Diseases ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis* ; Prospective Studies* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum ; Survivors ; T-Lymphocytes