• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1873-1880
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• 2015

Background: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) on patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with peginterferon and ribavirin (pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RBV) identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on chromosome 19 (rs12979860) which was strongly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of this study was twofold: to study the relationship between IL28B rs12979860 and sustained virological response (SVR) to pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RVB therapy among CHC patients and to detect the rs12979860 polymorphism by high resolution melting curve (HRM) assay as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Materials and Methods: The study examined outcomes in 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C in 2 provinces of Iran from December 2011 to June 2013. Two methods were applied to detect IL28B polymorphisms: PCR-sequencing as a gold standard method and HRM as a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method. Results: The frequencies of IL28B rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT alleles in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1a patients were 10% (10/100), 35% (35/100), and 6% (6/100) and in genotype 3a were 13% (13/100), 31% (31/100), and 5% (5/100), respectively. In genotype 3a infected patients, rs12979860 (CC and CT alleles) and in genotype 1a infected patients (CC allele) were significantly associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). The SVR rates for CC, CT and TT (IL28B rs12979860) were 18%, 34% and 4%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two independent factors that were significantly associated with SVR: IL-28B genotype (rs 12979860 CC vs TT and CT; odds ratio [ORs], 7.86 and 4.084, respectively), and HCV subtype 1a (OR, 7.46). In the present study, an association between SVR rates and IL28B polymorphisms was observed. Conclusions: The HRM assay described herein is rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and accurate for detecting rs12979860 alleles in CHC patients. This method can be readily adopted by any molecular diagnostic laboratory with HRM capability and will be clinically beneficial in predicting treatment response in HCV genotype 1 and 3 infected patients. In addition, it was demonstrated that CC and CT alleles in HCV-3a and the CC allele in HCV-1a were significantly associated with response to pegIFN-${\alpha}$/RBV treatment. The present results may help identify subjects for whom the therapy might be successful.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.374-380
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• 2016

Objective: Although the incidence of chronic hepatitis B has decreased around the world due to widespread national preventative control measures, mortality from the same condition can increase if the condition leads to liver cancer or liver cirrhosis. In most cases, herbal medicine does not show any statistically significant effects related to liver damage, but preconceptions do exist that herbal medicine can be toxic and cause such liver damage. To investigate this situation, this study therefore investigated a patient with hepatitis B who had combined traditional Korean medicine therapy and the use of analgesic drugs during a hospitalization period.Method: A patient with hepatitis B was given combined traditional Korean medicine therapy and the use of analgesic drugs during a hospitalization period.Results: Within 26 days, the patient was free from liver damage during the hospitalization period. She was followed up with a liver function test and was discharged after her condition improved; she also reported decreased back pain.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2013

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause viral infections that lead to chronic diseases. When they invade human body, virus specific T cells play an important role in antiviral effector functions including killing virus-infected cells and helping B cells to produce specific antibodies against viral proteins. The antiviral activity of T cells is usually affected by immune-regulatory factors that express on surface of T cells. Recently, many researchers have investigated the relationship between effector functions of virus specific T cells and characteristics of immune regulatory factors (e.g., CD28, CD25, CD45RO, FoxP3, PD-1, CTLA-4). In particular, Immune inhibitory molecules such as forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), programmed death-1 (PD-1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) are associated with T-cell dysfunction. They are shown to be up-regulated in chronic viral diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Therefore, the positive correlation between viral persistence and expression of immune regulatory factors (FoxP3, PD-1, and CTLA-4) has been suggested. In this review, the roles of immune regulatory factors FoxP3, PD-1, and CTLA-4 were discussed in chronic viral diseases such as HIV, HBV, or HCV.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5515-5519
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• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss469415590 in the interferon lambda-4 (IFNL4) gene has recently been reported to have an association with treatment response in chronic hepatitis C. However, any importance of the SNP in association with response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data for Thai patients with CHB treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) for HBeAg-positive CHB was defined as HBeAg seroconversion plus HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks post-treatment. VR for HBeAg-negative CHB was defined as an HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 48 weeks. The SNP was identified by real time PCR using the TaqMan genotyping assay with MGB probes. A total 254 patients (107 HBeAg-positive and 147 HBeAg-negative) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of TT/TT, ${\Delta}G/TT$ and ${\Delta}G/{\Delta}G$ genotypes was 221 (87.0%), 32 (12.6%) and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Patients with non-TT/TT genotypes had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA levels than patients with the TT/TT genotype. In HBeAg-positive CHB, 41.2% of patients with TT/TT genotype versus 50.0% with non-TT/TT genotype achieved VR (P=0.593). In HBeAg-negative CHB, the corresponding figures were 40.3% and 43.5%, respectively (P=0.777). There was no significant correlation between the SNP genotypes and HBsAg clearance in both groups of patients. In summary, ss469415590 genotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN in Thai patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2002

Hepatitis B viral infection which affect about 10% of Korean population manifests asymptomatic carrier, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and even associates with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical manifestations induced by hepatitis B virus vary depending on the degree of immune response by cytotoxic T cells against viral epitope-presenting liver cells. Since hepatitis B virus presents high rate of mutaton that might change the presented epitope and eventually alter immune response, viral mutations, especially in promoters and enhancers, have an important implication in hepatic inflammation and viral replication. To identify mutations related to the hepatic inflammation, we investigated sequence variations of hepatitis B viral promotor regions in the presence or absence of symptoms in hepatitis B carriers. For this, sera from persistently hepatitis B virus-infected mother-child pairs were collected. After PCR amplifiation of all hepatitis B viral promoters (C promoter, S1 promoter, S2/S promoter, X promoter) using serum DNA from each pair, viral promotors were sequenced by automatic sequencer and then sequence data were analyzed by ClustalW. In most cases, the dominant type of maternal virus was transmitted to the child. However, in some children, some new host specific viral variants could be observed in Cp, S1p and S2/Sp. The mutations in C promoter did not seem to be vertically transmitted but arose in new host independently after the wild type had been transmitted. Enhancer I containing X promoter revealed high host specific variations as has been reported before. Two S promoters, S1p and S2/Sp, have shown some point mutations in children, but no deletion mutations were detected as in chronic hepatitis patients in whom deletion mutations are frequently found. In conclusion, the children with the vertically transmitted hepatitis B virus mostly retain the dominant type virus that had been transmitted. However, host specific variants tended to accumulate over time, possibly as clinical symptoms develop.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2006

Objective : Report on a hepatitis B patient with abnormal AST/ALT, HBeAg(+), and habitual diarrhea stemming from irritable colon. Methods : Lab-evaluation of intervals of herb medicine treatment for a patient with hepatitis B with HBeAg and irritable colon. Result & Conclusion : AST/ALT level was normalized and did not rise again. Seroconversion to HBeAb repeatedly appeared just druing the time of the treatment, but typically repeated seroconversion between treatment period and no treatment period confirmed that the treatment was effective for the immune system against hepatitis B. The exact mechanism is not clear but the result provides an indication that oriental herbal medicine has potential capacity to treat liver diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4509-4513
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• 2013

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some aspects of the pathogenesis of HBV infection and genesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still inconclusive. An increasing number of published studies indicate that hepatitis B virus mutations are associated with risk of HCC. These variations include, in particular, mutations in ORF S,C,X gene regions. This mini-review summarizes results of clinical studies and molecular mechanisms on the possible relations of HBV mutations with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 1981

Serum HBsAg and Anti-HBs obtained by radioimmunoassay were studied in 109 cases of various liver diseases who visited or were admitted to National Medical Center from December, 1980 to July, 1981. The results were as follows; 1) HBsAg was detected in 67.0% of total 109 cases; 71.9% of 32 cases with acute viral hepatitis, 71.4% of 14 cases with chronic hepatitis, 65.2% of 46 cases with liver cirrhosis and 58.8% of 17 cases with hepatoma. 2) Anti-HBs was detected in 32.1% of total 109 cases; 37.0% of 46 cases with liver cirrhosis, 29.4% of 17 cases with hepatoma, 28.6% of 14 cases with chronic hepatitis, 28.1% of 32 cases with acute viral hepatitis. 3) HBsAg or Anti-HBs, the markers of Hepatitis B virus was detected in 89.0% of total 109 cases; 93.6% of 32 cases with acute viral hepatitis, 89.1% of 46 cases with liver cirrhosis, 85.7% of 14 cases with chronic hepatitis and 82.4% of 17 cases with hepatoma, which strongly suggested that the various liver diseases were associated with hepatitis B virus infection.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.367-369
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• 2018

• Korean Journal of Family Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.360-363
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• 2018

Background: Acute alcoholic intoxication patients (AAIP) are a common public health problem. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive laboratory analysis for these patients to investigate the co-morbid medical problem. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed laboratory findings of AAIP who were transferred to the emergency department (ED) from January 2017 to June 2017. Results: A total of 160 male patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients (16/160, 10.0%) and three patients (3/160, 1.9%) had macrocytic anemia and microcytic anemia, respectively. A total of 33 patients (33/160, 20.6%) showed thrombocytopenia ($<150{\times}10^9/L$). Twelve patients (12/159, 7.5%) showed low serum albumin level (<3.5 g/dL). Three patients (3/160, 1.9%) had chronic kidney disease stages 3-4 based on estimated glomerular filtration rate. Six patients (6/27, 22.2%) had high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (>7.0%). Positive rates of hepatitis B surface antigen and antiHBs antibody (anti-HBs Ab) were 3.5% (5/141) and 49.0% (68/141), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with AAIP who were transferred to ED had various laboratory abnormalities (anemia, thrombocytopenia, high HbA1c). They had low positive rate of anti-HBs Ab. This might be a public health problem, suggesting the need of hepatitis B virus vaccination program for AAIP. Our data suggest the need of further nationwide studies.