• 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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.31-46
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• 1988

In order to designate a present status necessary for establishment of preventive measures and guidelines of health education against hepatitis B in the course of secondary school education, knowledge and practice toward hepatitis B virus infection was surveyed by a questionnare method on total of 4,855 college entrants in the academic year of 1987 and analyzed the data collected using IBM PC(Trigem 88-II) with SAS package program. About two per cent of college entrants had past history of HBV infections not showing any difference between both sexes and geographical regions. About one third(33.7%) of total students had tested hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), only 4% had tested hepatitis B surface antibody(HBsAb) and vaccination rate amounted to 24.6%, one fourth of total subjects. Both serological tests and vaccination were most commonly performed during adolescence, showing higher rates in female students than in male students. The rates also seemed to be higher in those from urban cities than those from rural cities. Students who had acquired correct knowledge that hepatitis B was infected by virus were amounted to 78.5% of college entrants, and remaining 21.5% had misunderstood that rickettsia, bacteria, fungi or parasites were causal agents. Female students were better aware of the causal agents than male students but there was no difference between places of growth. As for mode of transmission of HBV, 51.5% of male students and 47.7% of female students had correct knowledge. A very few student had known that fact that HBV was transmitted by body fluids such as tear(6.9%), nasal discharge(10.1%) and semen or vaginal secretion(19.2%) and majority(75%) of students had misunderstood that hepatitis B virus would be transmitted per os through food ingestion. Approximately one half(48.9%) of college entrants had knew correctly whom to be vaccinated. Approximately one half of the students knew that hepatr;ma(57.8%) and liver cirrhosis(57.4%) might complicate with hepatitis B virus infection, whereas 12.0% of the students responded that bronchitis was one of the complications of hepatitis B infection. In summary of the above results, we highly recommend that health education program for eradication of hepatitis B virus infection should be introduced in curricula of secondary school education in this country.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2004

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and determine the associated risk factors among young adults in Busan, Korea, which is known to have a high incidence of liver cancer. Methods : The study population consisted of volunteer participants in a health survey during 2002, which included 1,350 students (515 males and 835 females) aged between 16 and 24 years, from three different schools in Busan. The participating students were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire which included lifestyle habits and risk factors of hepatitis. Sera obtained from the participants were studied for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and Anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and for liver function tests. Results : Among the study subjects (N=1,350), the seropositivities of HBsAg 7.9%(95% CI=7.8-8.0), 7.6%(95% CI=7.6-7.7) in male and 8.1%(95% CI=8.0-8.2) in female. And the seropositivity of Anti-HBs was 69.7%(95% CI=69.0-70.4), 70.5%(95% CI=69.8-71.2) in male and 69.2%(95% CI=68.5-69.9) in female. The seropositivity of Anti-HCV was 0.4%, 0.2% in male and 0.5% in female. The seropositivity for HBsAg in the subjects not having a hepatitis B vaccination history was twice(95% CI=1.0-4.4) that of those that did. Also, the seropositivity for HBsAg in subjects having experienced sexual intercourse was 1.7 times (95% CI=0.9-3.0) that of the subjects who had not. Conclusions : The present study confirmed the high prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity and sexual transmission of HBV among adolescents and young adults may occur. Further studies to evaluate the relationship between HBV vaccination and sexual transmission are required for the young population in Korea.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 1987

The positive rate for serum anti-HBs was analized among 424 of HB vaccinated and 2035 of non-vaccinated cases at the Yeungnam University Hospital, Computed Automated Med-screening Center. Most of them from Kyungbook province and they had the last HB vaccination in the periods of 3 to 42months prior to this study. The followings were obtained. 1. The positive rates for serum HBsAg were 0.7% in the vaccinees, 9.6% in the non-vaccinated and 8.0% in the whole cases. 2. The positive rates for serum anti-HBs were 66.3% in the vaccinees, 47.9% in the non-vaccinated and 51.0% in the whole cases. 3. The positive rates for serum anti-HBs were 51.4% in the cases with one time of vaccination and 68.6% in the cases with two times of vaccination. on the vasis of these findings the positive rate for serum anti-HBs among the vaccinees was significantly higher than thau of non-vaccinated(P<0.05). The positive rate for seaum anti-HBs shortly after vaccination was higher than that of present our study which was made relatively long period after vaccination. As the reason a natural decrease of the titers of the serum anti-HBs can be postulated as one of the contributing factors for the discrepancy. In order to keep the serum antibody of perfect protectivity against HBV, it may be better to check the serum anti-HBs just after vaccination, follow up and take booster injection when it is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3595-3604
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been one of the most fatal malignant tumors worldwide and its associated morbidity and mortality remain of significant concern. Based on in-depth reviews of serological diagnosis of HCC, in addition to AFP, there are other biomarkers: Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), descarboxyprothrombin (DCP), tyrosine kinase with Ig and eprdermal growth factor (EGF) homology domains 2 (TIE2)-espressing monocytes (TEMs), glypican-3 (GPC3), Golgi protein 73 (GP73), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) have been proposed as biomarkers for the early detection of HCC. The diagnosis of HCC is primarily based on noninvasive standard imaging methods, such as ultrasound (US), dynamic multiphasic multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some experts advocate gadolinium diethyl-enetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) MRI and contrast-enhanced US as the promising imaging madalities of choice. With regard to recent advancements in tissue markers, many cuting-edge technologies using genome-wide DNA microarrays, qRT-PCR, and proteomic and inmunostaining studies have been implemented in an attempt to identify markers for early diagnosis of HCC. Only less than half of HCC patients at initial diagnosis are at an early stage treatable with curative options: local ablation, surgical resection, or liver transplant. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered the standard of care with palliation for intermediate stage HCC. Recent innovative procedures using drug-eluting-beads and radioembolization using Yttrium-90 may exhibit beneficial effects in HCC treatment. During the past few years, several molecular targeted agents have been evaluated in clinical trials in advanced HCC. Sorafenib is currently the only approved systemic treatment for HCC. It has been approved for the therapy of asymptomatic HCC patients with well-preserved liver function who are not candidates for potentially curative treatments, such as surgical resection or liver transplantation. In the USA, Europe and particularly Japan, hepatitis C virus (HCV) related HCC accounts for most liver cancer, as compared with Asia-Pacific regions, where hepatitis B virus (HBV) may play a more important role in HCC development. HBV vaccination, while a vaccine is not yet available against HCV, has been recognized as a best primary prevention method for HBV-related HCC, although in patients already infected with HBV or HCV, secondary prevention with antiviral therapy is still a reasonable strategy. In addition to HBV and HCV, attention should be paid to other relevant HCC risk factors, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease due to obesity and diabetes, heavy alcohol consumption, and prolonged aflatoxin exposure. Interestingly, coffee and vitamin K2 have been proven to provide protective effects against HCC. Regarding tertiary prevention of HCC recurrence after surgical resection, addition of antiviral treatment has proven to be a rational strategy.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2020

In order to analyze the positive rate of hepatitis B surface antibody by age before and after hepatitis B vaccination, 13,855 serum specimens who were referred for the hepatitis B surface antibody test at the General Hospital of Jeju Hospital were examined by CMIA method. The positive rate of HBs Ab was 5,176 (37.36%). The positive rate according to gender was 40.13% for female and 34.77% for male. The age group with the highest HBs Ab average was in their 40's (399.86 mIU/mL), while the lowest age group was in the 90's (211.50 mIU/mL). It is remarkable that the age group with the highest HBs Ab positive rate is in the 30's, and that teenagers (age group of 10-20 years) had the lowest positive rate. Especially 15, 18, 19 years old was statistically significant. Consideration should be given to determining the titer of vaccination and to clarify the timing of vaccination.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in health belief related to vaccination among dental hygiene students, identify the factors affecting hepatitis B vaccination, and provide basic data for health education concerning hepatitis B prevention. Hepatitis B vaccination was positively correlated (r=0.179, p=0.003) with seriousness of believing that hepatitis B would affect psychological, physical, and social activities and negative correlation (r=-0.183, p=0.002) was also found between perceived barriers related to hepatitis B. As for the factors affecting hepatitis B vaccination, juniors were 0.39 times (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.21, 0.71) more likely to have it affected than seniors and those who were more serious, and who had greater barriers were more likely to have it affected-1.80 times (95% CI=1.29, 2.52), 0.61 times (95% CI=0.41, 0.90) respectively (p<0.05). It is therefore urgent to develop a program within a curriculum that can begin with freshmen along with specific education with the objective of obliging dental hygiene students to receive hepatitis B vaccination. It is also necessary to provide consecutive sessions of education rather than one-time education and to develop a specific plan for obligatory hepatitis B vaccination through correct and thorough education.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.1 s.19
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• pp.91-99
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• 1986

To determine relationships of supposed risk factors to positives for HBsAg and Anti-HBs and also relationships of subjective symptoms to positives for HBsAg and Anti-HBs, study of 658 people working in the hospital, university, bank and other office was performed. Positive rate for HBsAg was about 7.9% and positive rate for Anti-HBs was about 20.0%. Odds ratio of HBsAg was high and significant in individuals who are married and who have previous hepatitis B(P<0.001), medical personnel in family, more than 4 people in a room(0.01

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to survey the anti-HBs positivity and titers of antibody in current students who received nationwide vaccination against Hepatitis B virus which targeted infants in 1995. The subjects were 262 students in Gyeongnam province from April 2014 to October 2014. The positive rate of anti-HBs was 55.3% (145 people) and the negative rate of anti-HBs was 44.7% (117 people). Positivity was shown to be higher in women than men. However, there was no statistically significant difference. Of the HBV-vaccinated subjects, 117 (44.7%) had anti-HBs titer <10, which is judged to be negative, 126 (47.8%) had anti-HBs titer 10-499.9 mIU/mL, which is judged to be positive, and 22 (7.3%) had anti-HBs titer more than 500 mIU/mL. The rate of anti-HBs with lower titer (10-99.9 mIU/mL) was 62% in the positive group. Classifying the antibody titer according to age, the rate of anti-HBs positivity in titer with less than 100 mIU/mL was indicated to be 78.3% in cases of 19-20 year old and 46.7% in 21-22 year old, 52.3% in 23-24 year old. A case of the lower titer with 10-99.9 mIU/mL, showed significant difference according to age. As a result of research, the antibody titers is decreased depending on the passage of time. Hence, the checking of anti-HBs titer is needed after Hepatitis B vaccination and many healthy adults will need periodic boosters of hepatitis B vaccine to maintain production of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.