• 제목/요약/키워드: Chronic Hepatitis B

검색결과 248건 처리시간 0.026초

Gastrointestinal, Liver and Biliary Tract Pathology: A Histopathological and Epidemiological Perspective from Pakistan with a Review of the Literature

  • Ahmad, Zubair;Arshad, Huma;Fatima, Saira;Idrees, Romana;Ud-Din, Nasir;Ahmed, Rashida;Ahmed, Arsalan;Memon, Aisha;Minhas, Khurram;Arif, Muhammad;Fatima, Samia;Haroon, Saroona;Pervez, Shahid;Hasan, Sheema;Kayani, Naila
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • 제14권11호
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    • pp.6997-7005
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    • 2013
  • Aim: To present an epidemiological and histological perspective of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (including liver and biliary tract) at the Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology, AKUH, Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: All consecutive endoscopic biopsies and resections between October 1 and December 31, 2012 were included. Results: A total of 2,323 cases were included. Carcinoma was overwhelmingly the commonest diagnosis on esophageal biopsies (69.1%); chronic helicobacter gastritis (45.6%) followed by adenocarcinoma (23.5%) were the commonest diagnoses on gastric biopsies; adenocarcinoma (27.3%) followed by ulcerative colitis (13.1%) were the commonest diagnoses on colonic biopsies; acute appendicitis (59.1%) was the commonest diagnosis on appendicectomy specimens; chronic viral hepatitis (44.8%) followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (23.4%) were the commonest diagnoses on liver biopsies; chronic cholecystitis was the commonest diagnosis (over 89%) on cholecystectomy specimens. Conclusions: Squamous cell carcinoma comprised 88.8% of esophageal cancers. About 67% were in the lower third and 56.5% were moderately differentiated; mean ages 49.8 years for females and 55.8 years for males; 66% cases were from South West Pakistan. Over 67% patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were males; mean ages 59 and 44 years in males and females respectively, about 74% gastric carcinomas were poorly differentiated; and 62.2% were located in the antropyloric region. About 63% patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were males; mean ages 46.1 and 50.5 years for males and females respectively; tumor grade was moderately differentiated in 54%; over 80% were located in the left colon. In 21.2% appendicectomies, no acute inflammation was found. Acute appendicitis was most common in young people. Hepatitis C (66.3%) was more common than hepatitis B (33.7%); about 78% cases of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in males; females comprised 76.7% patients with chronic cholecystitis; and 77.8% patients with gall bladder carcinoma. All resection specimens showed advanced cancers. Most cancers occurred after the age of 50 years.

Economic Evaluation and Budget Impact Analysis of the Surveillance Program for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Thai Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

  • Sangmala, Pannapa;Chaikledkaew, Usa;Tanwandee, Tawesak;Pongchareonsuk, Petcharat
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • 제15권20호
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    • pp.8993-9004
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    • 2014
  • Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

초음파를 이용한 간 섬유화 스캔 검사의 융합 탄성도 측정 평가 (Evaluation of convergence Elasticity of Liver Fibroscan used measurement with Ultrasonography)

  • 김민정;한만석;장재욱
    • 한국융합학회논문지
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    • 제8권5호
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    • pp.79-85
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    • 2017
  • 본 연구는 만성 B형 바이러스성 감염 환자의 간 기능 혈액 검사 수치와 간 섬유화 스캔 검사(FibroScan(R))의 비교 분석을 통한 간 섬유화 스캔 검사의 임상적, 기기적 융합 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 2015년 7월 1일부터 2016년 2월 28일까지 대전시 B내과에 내원한 만성 B형 바이러스성 감염 환자 75명의 간 섬유화 스캔 검사 결과와 간 기능 혈액검사 수치를 분석 하고 ROC곡선을 작성하였다. 알라닌 아미노전이요소, 아스파르테이트 아미노전이요소 수치가 각각 0.572, 0.502로 섬유화 수치와 가장 높은 상관관계를 보였다(p<0.000). 감마지티피, 총 빌리루빈, 알칼리성 인산분해효소 수치도 비교적 유의한 상관관계를 보였으나 알파태아단백과 총 단백정량은 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 또한 알부민(-0.449)과 혈소판치(-0.373)도 섬유화 수치와 상관관계가 없었다(p<0.000). 간 섬유화 정도가 높은 등급일수록 ROC 곡선의 정확도가 증가하였으며 F4의 간 경변 단계에서 가장 큰 AUROC값을 나타냈다. 따라서 간 섬유화 스캔 검사는 만성 간질환 환자의 간 기능 수치인 알라닌 아미노전이요소, 아스파르테이트 아미노전이요소 수치와 유의한 상관관계를 보여 간의 염증 검사 및 만성 간질환 진단에 매우 유용한 것으로 판단된다.

Serum Beta-2 Microglobulin: a Possible Marker for Disease Progression in Egyptian Patients with Chronic HCV Related Liver Diseases

  • Ouda, SM;Khairy, AM;Sorour, Ashraf E;Mikhail, Mikhail Nasr
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • 제16권17호
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    • pp.7825-7829
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    • 2015
  • Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world (~14.7%). Around 10-15% of HCV-infected persons will advance to cirrhosis within the first 20 years. The incidence of HCC is expected to grow in the next two decades, largely due to HCV related cirrhosis, and detection of HCC at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. No simple reliable non-invasive marker has been available till now. B2M, a non-glycosylated polypeptide composed of 99 amino acids, is one of the components of HLA class I molecules on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. It has been reported that the level of serum B2M is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV-negative patients or healthy donors. Determining the clinical utility of serum B2M as a marker for disease progression in Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was the aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study 92 participants were included in 4 equal groups: Group (1) non cirrhotic chronic HCV; Group (2) HCV related liver cirrhosis; Group (3) HCC on top of HCV,; and Group (4) healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, routine labs and abdominal ultrasound were conducted for all patients, PCR and Metavir scores for group (1) patients, and triphasic CT abdomen and AFP for Group (3) patients. B2M levels were measured in serum with a fully-automated IMX system. Results: The mean serum B2M level of Group (1) was $4.25{\pm}1.48{\mu}g/ml$., Group (2) was $7.48{\pm}3.04$, Group (3) was $6.62{\pm}2.49$ and Group (4) was $1.62{\pm}0.63$. Serum B2M levels were significantly higher in diseased than control group (p<0.01) being significantly higher in cirrhosis ($7.48{\pm}3.04$) and HCC groups ($6.62{\pm}2.49$) than the HCV group ($4.25{\pm}1.48$) (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between B2M Level and ALK, total and direct bilirubin and INR (p<0.05), and a significant inverse correlation between B2M level and albumin, total proteins, HB andWBCS values (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between B2M level and viral load or Metavir score, largest tumour size or AFP (p>0.05). The best B2M cut-off for HCV diagnosis was 2.6 with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The best B2M cut-off for HCC diagnosis was 4.55 which yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values of 74%, 62%, 39.5, 87.8% respectively (p-value <0.01) while best cut-off for cirrhosis was 4.9, with sensitivity 74 % and specificity 74%.The sensitivity for HCC diagnosis increased upon B2M and AFP combined estimation to 91%, specificity to 79%, NPV to 95% and accuracy to 83%. Conclusions: Serum B2M level is elevated in HCV related chronic liver diseases and may be used as a marker for HCV disease progression towards cirrhosis and carcinoma.

만성 C형 간염바이러스 진단에 있어서 HCV검사법의 평가 (Estimation of HCV Test in Diagnosis for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus)

  • 장순모;양병선
    • 대한임상검사과학회지
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    • 제50권3호
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    • pp.261-266
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    • 2018
  • 만성C형 간염환자 160예를 대상으로 immunoblot방법과 RT-PCR-hybridization법을 실시하여 임상검사의 유용성을 알아보았다. 양성 150예 중 133예만 RT-PCR-hybridization 법에서 양성을 나타내어 immunoblot법의 진양성율은 88.6%를 나타났으며 두 방법 간의 일치율은 89.3%를 나타났다. 한국인의 HCV 아형을 알기 위하여 혈청형과 유전형을 실시하였다. HCV혈청형 1형과 2형 그리고 1b와 2a유전형이 가장 많은 C형간염 감염원으로 나타났다. 49예를 혈청형과 유전형을 서로 비교한 결과, 혈청형 검사에서 28예(57.1%)가 1형, 21예(42.9%)가 2형으로 나타났으며 유전자형 검사에서 1b형이 25예(51.0%), 1b/2b를 나타낸 예가 1예(2.0%), 2a형이 17예(34.7%), 2a/2c를 나타낸 예가 4예(8.2%), 그리고 2b형이 2예(4.1%)로 나타났다. 본 연구에서는 HCV 간이검출법으로는 immunoblot방법이 유용하며, immunoblot방법 양성 확진검사로는 RT-PCR-hybridization법을 실시하였다. 혈청형이 C형간염의 치료 나 진행과정을 관찰하기 위해서는 유전형보다 유용하나 인터페론 치료효과는 1형과 2형 혈청형별에 따라 차이를 보이지 않았다.

항 바이러스 치료중인 B형 간염환자에서 HBeAg 및 HBV DNA 검출에 관한 분석 (Analysis of HBeAg and HBV DNA Detection in Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Antiviral Therapy)

  • 천준홍;채홍주;박미선;임수연;유선희;이선호
    • 핵의학기술
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    • 제23권1호
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    • pp.35-39
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    • 2019
  • [목적] B형 간염바이러스(hepatitis B virus, HBV)감염은 전세계적으로 중요한 공중 보건 문제이며 만성간염, 간 경변, 간암의 주요 원인으로 알려져 있으며, 이러한 질환의 진단 및 치료에 B형 간염바이러스의 혈청학적 검사는 필수적이다. 항 바이러스 치료중인 B형 간염 환자를 대상으로 면역방사계수 측정법(IRMA; Immunoradiometric assay)과 화학발광 미세입자 면역분석법(CMIA; Chemiluminescent Micropartical Immunoassay)을 이용하여 HBe-Ag 검사를 시행하였고, 실시간 중합효소 연쇄반응(RT-PCR; Realtime-Polymerase Chain Reaction)법을 이용하여 혈청 내 HBV DNA 검출율 을 비교 분석 하였다. [대상 및 방법] 항 바이러스 치료가 시행중인 B형 간염 환자 270명을 대상으로 HBeAg 혈청 검사와 HBV DNA 정량 검사를 실시하였다. HBeAg 혈청 검사는 검출 원리가 다른 두 가지 혈청학적 검사법(IRMA, CMIA)을 적용 하였고, 혈청 내 HBV DNA는 Abbott m2000 System을 사용하여 실시간 중합효소 연쇄반응(RT-PCR; Realtime-Polymerase Chain Reaction)법으로 정량 측정 하였다. [결과] HBeAg 검출율은 면역방사계수법(IRMA)의 경우 24.1% (65/205), 화학발광 미세입자 면역 분석법(CMIA)에서는 82.2% (222/48)의 결과를 보였다. 혈청학적 검사방법(IRMA, CMIA)에 따른 HBeAg 검사결과의 일치율은 33% (89/270)이다. 실시간 중합효소 연쇄반응(RT-PCR)을 이용한 혈청 내 HBV DNA의 검출율은 29.3% (79/191)를 보였고, 혈청 내 HBV-DNA 농도는 $16IU/mL{\times}1.0{\times}10^9IU/mL$ 이며 검출한계는 <15IU/mL 이다. 면역방사계수법(IRMA)으로 HBeAg 검출결과가 양성일때 55.4%, 그리고 음성일때 20.9%의 HBV DNA 검출율과 $1.1{\times}10^8IU/mL$, $5.7{\times}10^5IU/mL$의 혈청내 HBV DNA농도를 나타냈다. 이에 반해 화학발광 미세입자 면역 분석법(CMIA)의 경우 HBeAg 검출결과가 양성일때 HBV DNA 검출율은 28.4%, 음성일때 33.3%의 결과를 나타냈으며 혈청 내 HBV DNA농도는 $6.0{\times}10^7IU/mL$, $2.4{\times}10^5IU/mL$ 이었다. 면역방사계수법과 화학발광 미세입자 면역 분석법에서 동일하게 HBeAg 검출 결과가 양성인 경우 HBV DNA 검출율은 62.3%의 결과를 보였으며, 혈청 내 HBV DNA 농도는 $1.1{\times}10^8IU/mL$ 이다. [결론] 혈청학적 검사법에 따른 HeAg 검출율은 많은 차이를 보였다. 이러한 차이는 검사kit에 사용된 Ab의 특성과 epitope, HBV의 genotype등 여러 가지 원인으로 생각된다. 혈청학적 검사 결과로 분류 된 그룹별 HBV DNA의 검출율과 농도를 비교한 결과, Group II(IRMA 양성, CMIA 양성, N=53)에서 높은 검출율과 농도를 확인할 수 있었다.

1998년 한국인 성인에서 혈청 HBsAg 양성률 추정을 위한 조사연구 (A Study on the Seropositivity of HBsAg among Biennial Health Examinees ; A Nation-wide Multicenter Survey)

  • 김대성;김영식;김재용;안윤옥
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • 제35권2호
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    • pp.129-135
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    • 2002
  • 목적 : 1998년 한국인 성인에서의 혈청 HBsAg의 양성률을 추정하는 것을 일차적 목적으로 하며, HBsAg 양성률의 연령별로 분포, 지역적 차이, 과거 간질환력, 만성간질환 가족력 및 예방접종과의 관련성을 파악하며 또한 양성자를 6개월간 추적후 재검사 하여 B형 간염의 만성보균율을 파악하고자 하는 것을 이차적 목적으로 하였다. 방법 : 1998년 전국 10개 지역에서 의료보험관리공단의 정기건강검진 수진자를 대상으로 하여 HBsAg의 혈청유병률을 조사하였다. HBsAg 양성인 사람들을 대상으로 6개월 이상 추적조사하여 B형간염 만성보균율을 파악하였다. 총 1,816명에 대한 혈청과 설문서가 수집되었다. HBsAg는 RIA로 측정하였다. 결과 : HBsAg의 혈청유병률은 5.5%(95% CI-4.5-6.6)였으며 남자에서 7.4%(95% CI=5.8-9.4), 여자에서 3.6%(95% CI=2.5-5.0)로 나타났다. 급성간질환 과거력과 만성간질환 가족력을 HBsAg 혈청검사결과와 비교한 결과 유의한 관련성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. HBsAg 양성자에서 6개월 후에 음성으로 전환한 사람은 3.2%(95% CI=0.1-16.7)였으며 따라서 B형간염의 만성보균율은 5.3%(95% CI=3.7-6.6)로 추정되었다. 결론 : 본 연구결과에서는 HBsAg의 양성률이 1980년대의 연구결과들에 비하여 비교적 낮게 추정되었으며 이는 특히 여성과 젊은 연령층에서 두드러지게 나타났다. 그러나 우리나라에서의 간암 및 만성간질환의 공중보건학적 중요성을 고려하면 지속적인 간염발생의 예방대책이 필요하다고 할 수 있다.

문헌 분석에 의한 B형 간염 백신의 항체 양전률의 비교 (Analysis of Immunogenicity after Hepatitis B Vaccination in Korea by Literature Review)

  • 노혜옥;이우길;손영모
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • 제5권2호
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    • pp.245-257
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    • 1998
  • 목 적 : 1983년부터 B형 간염 예방접종을 시행한 이래 국내에서 사용 중인 B형 간염 백신들의 항체 양전률에 대한 보고는 접종 일정, 접종 용량, 항체 검사 방법 및 항체 양성기준 등이 서로 상이하여 그 효과를 비교하기에 논란이 있어 왔다. 이에 저자들은 B형 간염 예방접종 후에 항체 양전률을 조사한 국내 문헌들에 대한 분석을 통해 접종되고 있는 B형 간염 백신의 효과를 맡아 보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 각과 의학회지 및 분과 학회지, 의과대학 학회지 등에서 B형 간염 백신을 접종하고 항체 양전율을 보고한 논문을 대상으로 하였다. 논문의 포함 기준은 검사 방법이 방사선 면역법 또는 효소결합 면역흡착 검사법이고 혈청 방어 항체가를 10mIU/mL 이상으로 하거나 기준 비율(sample ratio unit)를 10 ratio unit(RU) 이상으로 한 경우이며 이를 기준으로 항체 양전률을 구할 수 있는 경우로 하였다. 제외 기준은 접종 용량이 불분명하거나 불규칙한 경우, 항체 양전률이 없는 경우, 양성 기준 항체가 또는 기준 비율을 10mIU/mL 또는 10RU로 정하지 않았거나 변환할수 없는 경우, 접종 일정이 0-1-2개월 또는 0-1-6개월이 아닌 경우, 접종 백신의 기원이 명시되지 않은 경우로 하여, 52편 중 29편을 제외한 23편의 논문을 대상으로 항체 양전률을 분석하였다. 결 과 : 1) 접종 연령에 따른 항체 양전률의 가중 펑균은 Hepaccine(제일제당)의 경우 영아에서 85.1%, 소아에서 83.3%, 성인에서 62.7%로 영아와 소아에서 성인보다 항체 양전률이 높았다(P<0.01). Hepavax(녹십자)의 경우는 영아에서 84.7%, 소아에서 81.1%, 성인에서 90.8%로 소아에서 더 낮은 항체양전률을 나타내었다(P<0.01). 2) Hepavax(녹십자)를 0-1-6개월에 접종한 경우 항체 양전률의 가중 평균은 85.6%였고 0-1-2개월에 접종한 경우는 78.5%로 0-1-6개월에 접종한 경우가 항체 양전률이 더 높은 것으로 나타났다(P<0.01). 3) 영아 및 소아에서 Hepavax(녹십자)를 $5{\mu}g$ 접종한 경우와 $10{\mu}g$ 접종한 경우의 항체 양전률에는 차이가 없었다(P<0.38). 4) 성인에서 Hepaccine 접종 후 항체 양전률의 가중 평균은 62.7%. Hepavax는 90.8%였고 Engerix-B의 경우 94.8%로 Hepavax와 Engerix-B가 Hepaccine 보다 항체 양전률이 높게 나타났다(P<0.01). 결 론 : 본 조사를 동하여 만성 B형 간염 환자의 보유율이 높은 국내에서 원래 정해진 일정을 변경하는 방법은 항체 생성을 극대화하지 못하므로 주의할 필요가 있으며 백신의 면역원성을 높이기 위해서는 과거보다 더 효과적인 백신을 개발하고, 올바른 접종 방법을 지키도록 노력하여야 할 것으로 생각되었다.

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Genetic Factors, Viral Infection, Other Factors and Liver Cancer: An Update on Current Progress

  • Su, Cheng-Hao;Lin, Yong;Cai, Lin
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • 제14권9호
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    • pp.4953-4960
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    • 2013
  • Primary liver cancer is one of the most common cancers at the global level, accounting for half of all cancers in some undeveloped countries. This disease tends to occur in livers damaged through alcohol abuse, or chronic infection with hepatitis B and C, on a background of cirrhosis. Various cancer-causing substances are associated with primary liver cancer, including certain pesticides and such chemicals as vinyl chloride and arsenic. The strong association between HBV infection and liver cancer is well documented in epidemiological studies. It is generally acknowledged that the virus is involved through long term chronic infection, frequently associated with cirrhosis, suggesting a nonspecific mechanism triggered by the immune response. Chronic inflammation of liver, continuous cell death, abnormal cell growth, would increase the occurrence rate of genetic alterations and risk of disease. However, the statistics indicated that only about one fifth of HBV carries would develop HCC in lifetime, suggesting that individual variation in genome would also influence the susceptibility of HCC. The goal of this review is to highlight present level of knowledge on the role of viral infection and genetic variation in the development of liver cancer.

B형간염(型肝炎) 표면항원(表面抗原)의 주면역원(主免疫原) 결정기(決定基)에 특이(特異)한 합성(合成) Peptide의 면역원성(免疫原性)에 관한 연구(硏究) (Immunogenicity of Synthetic Peptide Specific for Major Immunogenic Determinat of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen)

  • 신광순;한수남
    • 대한수의학회지
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    • 제25권1호
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    • pp.7-17
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    • 1985
  • Many investigators have been pursuing various attempts so far to produce hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) vaccines using the techniques such as isolation from plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier, recombinant DNA technique or preparation of synthetic peptides specific for immunogenic determinants. Hepatitis B virus can not grow on any cell lines by the tissue culture technique at the present time. The plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier is expensive and its source is limited. The HBsAg from the recombinant DNA technique gave still very low yield. Another approach, therefore, has been initiated to develop a synthetic hepatitis B virus vaccine. The possible use of several distinct synthetic vaccines in prophylaxis can be facilitated by availability of full synthetic immunogens. Peptides synthesized for potential application as antiviral vaccines have been mostly tested in the form of conjugates with carrier proteins, although the free synthetic peptide can be immunogenic. To understand basic knowledges on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of a synthetic peptide specific for major immunogenic determinant of HBsAg, a nonapeptide, $H_2N^{139}Cys-Thr-Lys-Pro-Thr-Asp-Gly-^{146}Asn-Aba$ COOH, which corresponds to HBsAg amino acid residues 139 to 147, was synthesized by the Merrifield's solid-phase method with a slight modification. The antigenicity and immunogenicity of this specific synthetic peptide were examined comparing with purified plasma-derived natural HBsAg. The results obtained are as follows; 1. The peptide synthesized showed the identical amino acid composition to the theoretical value. The degree of purification and molecular weight were acertained by methods of high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. 2. Using m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester as a conjugating agent, the synthetic peptide was conjugated to rabbit albumin and ${\gamma}$-globulin, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Their conjugation yields were 8.3, 9.5, 15.8, 13.5, and 11.2%, respectively. 3. The natural HBsAg was purified from plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier. By the electron microscopic observation of the purified natural HBsAg preparation, no Dane particles were observed and the preparation showed negative DNA polymerase activity. 4. Antigenicity of the synthetic peptide and the plasma-derived natural HBsAg was determined by competition radioimmunoassay using $^{125}I$-natural HBsAg. Their 50% inhibitions appeared as $90{\mu}g/ml$ and $0.12{\mu}g/ml$ for the synthetic peptide and the natural HBsAg, respectively. This indicates that the former was about 750-fold less antigenic than the latter. 5. Immunogenicity of the synthetic peptide was determined by administering the peptide-carrier conjugates into rabbits with and without Freund's complete adjuvant. Regardless the carrier proteins and adjuvant, positive immune responses to the synthetic peptide were observed. The higher antibody titers, however, were shown in the groups administered with Freund's complete adjuvant. 6. Immunizing dose 50% in mice of the various peptide-carrier conjugates was 5.47, 6.00, 65.16, 31.25 and $13.03{\mu}g/dose$ for rabbit albumin and ${\gamma}$-globulin, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin, respectively, while the natural HBsAg showed $0.65{\mu}g/dose$. 7. It was postulated that homologous proteins prefer to heterologous ones as the carriers.

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