• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2013

In Korea, most hepatitis A virus is the IA genotype, but reports of other genotypes have increased recently. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a genotypic analysis of acute hepatitis A virus. From April 2010 to April 2011, clinical specimens from 20 patients hospitalized with acute hepatitis A and 36 sera positive for anti-HAV IgM were obtained, and the genotype of the VP1/P2A region was analyzed. RNA sequences of the VP1/P2A junction region were amplified using RT-PCR, and the sequences were compared. From 50 sequences amplified, 4 sequences (8%) belonged to genotype IA. The remaining 46 (92%) belonged to genotype IIIA. The results indicate that the genotype of the hepatitis A virus has changed from IA to IIIA in Korea.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.297
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• pp.77-78
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• 2013

• 건강소식
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.30-31
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• 2011

20대는 사회활동이 왕성한 시기로 스트레스, 운동 부족, 불규칙한 생활로 몸에 이상이 생기기 시작하는 시기다. 또 졸업과 취직, 직장생활, 출산과 육아 등 긴장의 연속인 생활을 하면서 술, 담배, 스트레스 등으로 몸이 혹사당하는 시기이기도 하다. 3월에는 20대의 건강검진에 대해 알아본다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1165-1171
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the true extent of non-responsiveness in full-term infants born from HBsAg-negative or HBsAg-positive mothers and vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) at 0, 1, and 6 months of age and to evaluate the effect of revaccination among non-responders. Methods : The study included 716 full-term infants born in 2004-2007. Of 716, 662 infants (A group) were born to HBsAg-negative mothers and 54 infants (B group: 50, except HBsAg-positive infants) were born to HBsAg-positive mothers. All infants were administered DNA recombinant vaccines at 0, 1, and 6 months of age. B group infants received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth. Anti-HBs titers were tested at 7-12 and 9-15 months in A and B groups, respectively. Three revaccination doses were administered to non-responders whose anti-HBs titers were under 10 mIU/ml; revaccinated infants were retested at 1-3 months after last vaccination. The association between HBeAg seropositivity of mother and the failure of HBV immunoprophylaxis was evaluated. Results : The seroconversion rates after primary hepatitis B vaccination were higher in A group (94.1%) than in B group (78%, P<0.001). The seroconversion rates were high in revaccinated infants (A group non-responders: 96.9%, B group non-responders: 87.5%). The failure of HBV immunoprophylaxis was significantly associated with maternal HBeAg seropositivity (P<0.001). Conclusion : The seroconversion rates after primary hepatitis B vaccination were low in B group infants. Revaccination of non-responders in B group was very effective. Therefore, anti-HBs testing and revaccination of B group is very important. Revaccination of non-responders in A group was also very effective. Thus, testing the immune status of infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers even after primary hepatitis B vaccination should be considered. However, to realize this, further studies on the cost-effectiveness of anti-HBs testing in healthy full-term infants are necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.492-496
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• 1995

To evaluate the usefulness of hepatic uptake in neonatal jaundice, Tc-99m-DISIDA cholescintigraphy was reviewed for 13 infants with prolonged mired jaundice and no demonstrable excretion into bowel,even after 24hr. Five patients proved to have biliary atresia. The remainder had neonatal hepatitis. There was no distinct differentiation of the hepatic uptake of tracer at 5 and 10 minutes between biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis. The consideration of hepatic uptake rate of the tracer is not useful in differentiating neonatal hepatitis from biliary atresia.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 1990

Halothane is usually a safe and effective inhalation anesthetic agent but it rarely has damaged liver. The authors selected 11 patients who had HBsAg positive and increased SGOT, SGPT at Yeungnam university hospital. Their physical status was ASA class 1 and 2. They had no previous history of operation or liver disease. The liver function tests were performed before surgery, and on 3rd, 7th and 10th postoperative days. The result were as follows : 1) The values of SGOT and SGPT were gradually increased on 3rd postoperative day and markedly increased on the 7th and 10th postoperative day 2) Alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were not significantly changed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.212-216
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• 2000

Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis was first reported by Kikuchi and Fujimoto in 1972. Young females no more than 30 years of age are mainly affected. It usually manifests as fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. We experienced one case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis with hepatic complication in an 11-year-old boy. Symptoms presented were URI signs, diarrhea, headache, and weight loss along with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Elevated serum AST/ALT levels were also noted up to 682/1560 (IU/L) and were normalized within one month. We performed aspiration biopsy of the liver twice (at admission and 5 months thereafter). The hepatic histopathologic findings were nonspecific.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 1998

Purpose: Though many antiviral or immunomodulatory agents have been used in patients with chronic HBV hepatitis, interferon is considered to be the only effective therapeutic agent so far. Among immunomodulatory agents, thymodulin, the oral form of thymosin, is currently in clinical trial. We compared the efficacy of alfa-interferon therapy alone with a combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin in children with chronic active hepatitis B. Method: Twenty three children aged 4.4~13.7 years who were known to be positive for HBsAg and HBeAg in serum for at least 6 months and who had biopsy-proven chronic active hepatitis were given either combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin or alfa-interferon alone, and all children were HBV DNA positive in their serum at the beginning. Follow-ups have been done for at least 1 year after a 6 month course of therapy and clearance of viral replication markers has been evaluated. Results: 1) During follow up period, 11 (48%) children were seroconverted to anti-HBe and were cleared of HBV DNA from their serum. However, 2 of them relapsed after discontinuance of interferon therapy. 2) Seroconversion occurred more frequently among those who had not been vertically transmitted, had elevated serum ALT levels and low HBV DNA levels before interferon therapy. 3) There was no significant advantage of the combined therapy with thymodulin compared to interferon therapy alone. Conclusion: Combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin failed to demonstrate synergistic effect. We think that combination therapies of alfa-interferon with other antiviral or immunomodulatory agents need to be studied in order to achieve better therapeutic responses.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

Purpose: We previously reported that concurrent reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in children with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis. However, the incidence of concurrent reactivation was not accurate because the detection of EBV reactivation was based on serologic methods. Therefore, we studied the effects of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven EBV reactivation, thus a more precise concurrence, on acute HAV infection in children. Methods: PCR were conducted in 34 patients, who had enrolled previous study and diagnosed with acute HAV infection between January 2008 and June 2010. Their medical records were reviewed. Results: Among 34 patients with acute HAV infection, 12 patients (35.3%) had EBV reactivation which was proven using serologic and molecular biologic techniques. There were significant differences in the peak levels of AST and ALT between the reactivated and non-reactivated groups (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The duration of full recovery from hepatitis was more prolonged in the reactivated group (p<0.001). Clinical parameters, such as serum protein (p<0.001) and albumin concentrations (p<0.001), atypical lymphocyte count (p=0.001), prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR, p<0.001), and splenomegaly (p<0.001), showed significant differences. The clinical features in the reactivated sub-group >10 years of age revealed more liver dysfunction compared to the non-reactivated sub-group. A comparison with a previous study was performed. Conclusion: PCR-proven reactivation of latent EBV in children with HAV infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis, especially in older children.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 1998

Purpose : Although hepatitis B vaccine has been available to general population in Korea since 1983, it was difficult to compare various types of hepatitis B virus(HBV) vaccines primarily due to the differences in vaccination schedule, dosage, test methods and seropositive antibody level. In this study we reviewed the results of previous studies published in Korea, which include antibody positive rates and antibody titers of various vaccines, and examined the immunogenicity of these HBV vaccines. Methods : Studies published in medical journals, university journals concerning antibody positive rates following hepatitis B vaccination were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were those studies in which seroprotective antibody rate of 10mIU/mL or the sample ratio unit of 10 RU were used as the cut-off value and in which the test methods were RIA or ELISA. Exclusion criteria were; 1) unclear or inconsistent vaccine dosage, 2) no record of antibody titers or seroconversion rate, 3) no defined antibody rate or ratio for positive rating and 4) the vaccination schedule other than 0-1-2 months or 0-1-6 months. Results : 23 out of 52 studies were subjected for the review for seroconversion rates. 1) As for the immunogenicity in each age group, the seroconversion rates of Hepaccine(Cheil Jedang) were 85.1% in infants, 83.3% in children and 62.7% in adults, indicating higher rates in infants and children compared to adults(P<0.01). The seroconversion rates of Hepavax(Korea Green Cross) were 84.7%, 81.1% and 90.8%, indicating higher rates in infants and adults compared to children(P<0.01). 2) The seroconversion rate of Hepavax was 85.6% with 0-1-6 mo. schedule, 78.5% with 0-1-2 mo. schedule with a statistically significant difference(P<0.01). 4) There was no difference of seroconversion rates between the two doses of Hepavax, $5{\mu}g$ and $10{\mu}g$ in infants and children. 5) In adults the seroconversion rates were 62.7% with Hepaccine, 90.8% with Hepavax, and 94.8% with Engerix-B(SmithKline Beecham). Conclusion : In Korea, the incidence of chronic hepatitis B is high and changing the schedule in vaccination cannot contribute to the increase of the serocoversion rate. And in order to maximize immunogenicity, more effective vaccines as well as more proper vaccination methods should be used.