• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.450-455
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• 2017

Chronic liver disease, one of the most common diseases, typically arises from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatment strategies. Korean Red Ginseng has been known to have positive effects on liver disease and liver function. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of Korean Red Ginseng on chronic liver disease, a condition encompassing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as supported by experimental evaluation and clinical investigation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 1997

A method of dual-signal generation from two different enzymes was developed and utilized to simultaneously perform dual immunoassays in a single microwell. Two enzymes selected as tracers were horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and β-galactosidase (GAL). 3, 3', 5, 5'-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and chlorophenolred-β-galactopyranoside (CPRG) as chromogenic substrates for the respective enzyme were used. Although the two enzymes showed their maximum activities at distinct pH conditions (pH 5.1 for HRP and 7.5 for GAL), the enzyme reactions were able to be concurrently carried out at pH 5.75 in a dual-substrate solution without signal loss. This performance was achieved by increasing TMB concentration two-fold, introducing potassium salt as activator of GAL reaction, and extending total reaction time 50%. The signal generation method was then used for dual-enzyme immunoassays to detect antibodies with co-immobilized Hepatitis C virus antigens (core and NS5) and a Hepatitis B virus antigen (PreS(2)) in a microwell. Dose-response curves of the assays revealed cooperativity between different antigen-antibody complex formation, which suggested that dual immunoassays can only be used for qualitative screening tests unless the antigens immobilized were spatially separated.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-364
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• 2004

Internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be essential for HCV replication and most conserved among HCV variants. Hence, IRES RNA is a good therapeutic target for RNA-based inhibitors, such as ribozymes. We previously proposed a new anti-HCV modulation strategy based on trans-splicing ribozymes, which can selectively replace HCV transcripts with a new RNA that exerts anti-HCV activity. To explore this procedure, sites which are accessible to ribozymes in HCV IRES were previously determined by employing an RNA mapping method in vitro. In this study, we evaluate the intracellular accessibility of the ribozymes by comparing the trans-splicing activ­ities in cells of several ribozymes targeting different sites of the HCV IRES RNA. We assessed the intra­cellular activities of the ribozymes by monitoring their target-specific induction degree of both reporter gene activity and cytotoxin expression. The ribozyme capable of targeting the most accessible site iden­tified by the mapping studies then harbored the most active trans-splicing activity in cells. These results suggest that the target sites predicted to be accessible are truly the most accessible in the cells, and thus, could be applied to the development of various RNA-based anti-HCV therapies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2699-2703
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• 2016

Background: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have great HCC diagnostic potential and circulating miRNAs have been reported as promising biomarkers for various pathologic conditions. Aim: To explore the potential benefit of serum miR-126, miR-129, miR-155, miR-203 and miR-223 as non-invasive diagnostic markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC. Materials and Methods: The expression of miRNA was evaluated using real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 78 serum samples (30 $treatment-na{\ddot{i}}ve$ chronic HCV, 25 post-HCV compensated cirrhosis and 23 $treatment-na{\ddot{i}}ve$ HCC cases). Results: Comparing miRNA fold changes in the HCC group vs the non HCC groups, there was significant fold decrease in miR-126 (P= 0.034), miR-129 (P= 0.006), miR-155 (P= 0.011), miR-203 (P<0.001) and miR-223 (P= 0.013). The highest AUC to differentiate HCC patients from non-HCC was 0.76 for miR-203. Conclusions: Among studied miRNAs, serum miR-203 has the highest potential as a non-invasive biomarker of HCC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.459-468
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• 2020

This study established a new polymerase spiral reaction (PSR) that combines with reverse transcription reactions for HCV detection targeting 5'UTR gene. To avoid cross-contamination of aerosols, an isothermal amplification tube (IAT), as a separate containment control, was used to judge the result. After optimizing the RT-PSR reaction system, its effectiveness and specificity were tested against 15 different virus strains which included 8 that were HCV positive and 7 as non-HCV controls. The results showed that the RT-PSR assay effectively detected all 8 HCV strains, and no false positives were found among the 7 non-HCV strains. The detection limit of our RT-PSR assay is comparable to the real-time RT-PCR, but is more sensitive than the RT-LAMP. The established RT-PSR assay was further evaluated for detection of HCV in clinical blood samples, and the resulting 80.25% detection rate demonstrated better or similar effectiveness compared to the RT-LAMP (79.63%) and real-time RT-PCR (80.25%). Overall, the results showed that the RT-PSR assay offers high specificity and sensitivity for HCV detection with great potential for screening HCV in clinical blood samples.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2001

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Injinchunggan-tang on Hepatitis C virus infection, and to clarify the mechanism of treatment by indentifying the effect of Injinchunggan-tang on cytokine secretion. Methods : In vitro model of HCV infection in MOLT 4 cell was used. The effect of Injinchunggan-tang on the attachment of HCV on MOLT 4 cell was studied by PCR method. The change of cytokine secretion according to Injinchunggan-tang treatment was investigated by ELISA. Results : Injinchunggan-tang inhibited the attachment of HCV on MOLT 4 in the concentration of $10-2{\mu\textrm{g}}/\mu\textrm{\ell}$ and $10-1{\mu\textrm{g}}/\mu\textrm{\ell}$. In cytokine assay, Injinchunggan-tang increased the secretion of IL-4 of mouse splenocytes and PBMC in 48 hour culture as well as the secretion of IL-12 of mouse splenocytes and PBMC in 48 hour culture, whereas it decreased the secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ of mouse splenocytes in 24 and 48 hour culture. Conclusion : The results of this study show that Injinchunggan-tang has an inhibitory effect on the attachment on HCV on Mo1t4 Cell, and that it increases the secretion of IL-4 and IL-12 of mouse splenocyte and PBMC.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 1996

C형 간염바이러스 (HCV)는 각 개체간에 뉴클레오티드 서열상의 다양성을 나타내고, 이러한 유전적 다양성이 임상병리적 증상과 밀접한 연관이 있을 것으로 고려되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 HCV E1과 NS5B 부위의 염기서열 분석을 통해 한국의 C형 간염바이러스의 분포와 다양성에 관해 분석하고, 발생계통도를 그려 HCV간의 진화적 거리를 확인하였다. 염기서열분석은 서울대학교 병원과 충남대학교 병원으로부터 얻은 56개의 HCV-양성 혈청을 대상으로 RT-PCR과 PCR 과정을 통해 얻은 유전자 산물을 클로닝하여 수행되었다. 56개의 혈청중 53개의 샘플에서 HCV RNA가 검출되었다. 이들 53개 샘플에 대한 분석 곁과, 유전형 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 7a가 각각 5.7, 45.3, 45.3, 1.9, 1.9%로 분포하고 있고, 1b형과 2a형이 한국에서의 주요한 HCV 유전형으로 밝혀졌다. 본 연구는 염기서열 분석을 통해 한국에서 1b형과 마찬가지로 2a형도 높은 빈도로 분포하고 있고, 비록 분포 빈도는 낮지만 1a 형과 7a 형도 존재하고 있음을 밝힌 최초의 보고이다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8837-8842
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• 2014

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of liver cancer in Thailand. The highest prevalence of anti-HCV positive among Thai blood donors is found in the northeastern region. The present analysis of the genotype distribution among anti-HCV positive northeastern-Thai blood donors was conducted to provide a base for the epidemiological pattern of HCV infection in this region. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 HCV seropositive healthy blood donors were randomly selected and tested for the presence of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR. HCV-RNA positive samples were genotyped by direct sequencing at core region genomes and confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: HCV viremia was found in 94.6% (106/112) of HCV seropositive blood donors. There were 3 major genotypes distributed among this population. HCV genotype 3a was the most prevalent (71.7%) followed by genotypes 1a (7.5%), 1b (7.5%), 6i (3.8%), 6f (2.8%) and 6n (1.9%). Conclusions: HCV genotype 3a in asymptomatic infections in northeastern Thailand is significantly higher than other previous reports. Subgenotype 6 prevalence is less than in neighboring countries and distribution patterns differ. The findings are relevant as predictors for using interferon therapy in this population.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2020

Background: Immunomodulatory properties of interferon (IFN) have been documented. It may induce autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis with hypo- or hyperthyroidism. In addition, it may impair thyroid hormone synthesis through affecting iodide organification in thyroid gland. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe thyroid function tests disturbances in children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG IFN-α) plus ribavirin. Methods: Fifty children with CHC virus infection who received combined pegylated interferon-alpha with ribavirin were selected. Other 50 apparently healthy children of matched age and sex (considered as control group) were selected. All children (100) were subject to liver function tests, virological studies, and follow-up of thyroid function test during and after the treatment course. Results: Our study showed that 28% of children received combined PEG IFN-α plus ribavirin showed subclinical hypothyroidism. After 24 weeks treatment with combined therapy of IFN plus ribavirin, the mean level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 3.23±88 mU/mL, while TSH was 1.16±0.77 mU/mL before starting treatment. On the other hand, mean TSH was 1.09±0.92 mU/mL in normal control group. Conclusion: This study revealed an association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin in children. Further studies on larger number of patients and longer follow-up duration are recommended for further confirmation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1634-1639
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• 2006

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-encoded nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) possesses RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, which is considered essential for viral proliferation. Thus, HCV NS5B is a good therapeutic target protein for the development of anti-HCV agents. In this study, we isolated two different kinds of nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers with 2'-fluoro pyrimidines against the HCV NS5B from a combinatorial RNA library with 40 nucleotide random sequences, using SELEX technology. The isolated RNA aptamers were observed to specifically and avidly bind the HCV NS5B with an apparent $K_d$ of 5 nM and 18 nM, respectively, in contrast with the original RNA library that hardly bound the target protein. Moreover, these aptamers could partially inhibit RNA synthesis of the HCV subgenomic replicon when transfected into Huh-7 hepatoma cell lines. These results suggest that the RNA aptamers selected in vitro could be useful not only as therapeutic agents of HCV infection but also as a powerful tool for the study of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase mechanism.