• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.3697-3703
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• 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of malignant liver tumor and a high impact health problem worldwide. The prevalence of HCC is particularly high in many Asian and African countries. Some HCC patients have no symptoms prior to diagnosis and many of them therefore present at late stage and have a grave prognosis. The well-established causes of HCC are chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Staging System remains the most widely used for HCC management guidelines. To date, the treatments for HCC are still very challenging for physicians due to limited resources in many parts of the world, but many options of management have been proposed, including hepatic resection, liver transplantation, ablative therapy, chemoembolization, sorafnib and best supportive care. This review article describes the current evidence-based management of HCC with focus on early to advance stages that impact on patient overall survival.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.436-440
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• 2007

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant diseases worldwide and a leading cause for death in Asia, where the major risk factors are chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Because most HCC patients die within 3 to 6 months from the time of diagnosis, searching for a new treatment has become more urgent for HCC than other cancers because there is no existing effective systematic therapy. In Korea and Asia, traditional herbal medicine is frequently administered to patients with advanced HCC. We present a HCC case where complete regression was observed after taking herbal medicine. Since the specific mechanism is unknown, we cannot determine whether the herbal preparation had a direct effect on the regression of HCC. Nevertheless, this case provides us a reason and hope for further research.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.192-198
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is believed to be one of viral proteins that are capable of preventing virus-infected cell death upon various stimuli. But, the effect of the HCV core protein on apoptosis that is induced by various stimuli is contradictory. We examined the possibility that the HCV core protein affects the ceramide-induced cell death in cells expressing the HCV core protein through the sphingomyelin pathway. Cell death that is induced by $C^2$-ceramide and bacterial sphingomyelinase was analyzed in 293 cells that constitutively expressed the HCV core protein and compared with 293 cells that were stably transfected only with the expression vector. The HCV core protein inhibited the cell death that was induced by these reagents. The protective effects of the HCV core protein on ceramide-induced cell death were reflected by the reduced expression of $p21^{WAF1/Cip1/Sid1}$ and the sustained expression of the Bcl-2 protein in the HCV core-expressing cells with respect to the vector-transfected cells. These results suggest that the HCV core protein in 293 cells plays a role in the modulation of the apoptotic response that is induced by ceramide. Also, the ability of the HCV core protein to suppress apoptosis might have important implications in understanding the pathogenesis of the HCV infection.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.94-100
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• 2022

B형간염바이러스(HBV)의 만성 감염은 간경화와 간세포암 발생 빈도를 현저히 높인다. HBV 감염의 임상적 결과는 숙주 유전적 요인과 바이러스의 유전자 변이, 그리고 환경적 요인 등에 결정된다. HBV 복제를 위한 HBV의 pre-genomic RNA 전사는 바이러스의 core promoter 활성화에 의해 조절된다. Core promoter 돌연변이는 급성간 질환과 간세포암 발생에 연관되어 있다. 본 연구팀은 미얀마의 HBV 감염 환자들로부터 바이러스 유전자를 획득하여 core promoter 부위의 유전자 변이들을 파악하였다. Core promoter의 상대적 유전자 활성 차이를 분석하기 위해서 core promoter를 luciferase reporter에 재조합한 시스템을 제작하였다. 분석한 core promoter의 유전자 변이들 중에서 C1731T와 G1806A 돌연변이가 HBV core promoter의 전사 활성화를 증가에 관여하였다. 돌연변이 부위를 중심으로 전사 인자들의 가능한 결합 부위 변화를 컴퓨터 프로그램 분석을 통해 조사한 결과, C/EBPβ와 XBP1 반응 부위가 새롭게 생성되었음을 도출하였다. C/EBPβ의 세포 내 발현은 C1713T 돌연변이를 가진 core promoter의 전사 활성을 증가시켰으며, XBP1 발현은 G1806A 돌연변이를 함유한 M95 promoter를 활성을 증가시켰다. HBV 감염의 치료는 약제 내성과 백신 회피 돌연변이 발생으로 문제점을 가지고 있는 상황에서, 이 연구 결과는 HBV core promoter 돌연변이의 분자생물학적 그리고 임상학적 중요성을 제공한다.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.45-53
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• 1999

We examined the hepatitis G virus infections among 227 Koreans who were healthy or were suspected of hepatitis and determined the phylogenetic relationship based on a part of the NS-5 region of 5 positive samples. Viral RNA was extracted from sera and cDNA was synthesized and subsequently amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) or RT-nested PCR using random hexamer and NS-5 specific primers (470-20-1-77F, 470-20-1-211R, HGVNESTFO, HGVNESTRE). Five positives were found to belong to samples of patients showing symptoms of viral hepatitis. Primers used for PCR or nested PCR were derived from the NS-5 region. On the other hand, no amplification was detected using primers derived from the 5'-NCR (G-146F, G-401R). We performed TA cloning and sequencing of 5 amplified fragments, and their sequences were compared with those of foreign isolates of HGV. The phylogenetic analysis using MegAlign programme of DNAstar has shown that the Korean isolates are clustered on the phylogenetic tree. In summary, we confirmed the hepatitis G virus infection in 5 cases out of 12 patients showing the symptoms of viral hepatitis. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences of 5 amplified fragments showed that their relations to each other were closer than those to the foreign HGV isolates reported.

• 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.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.346-353
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• 2009

이식을 위해 사용하는 사람 양막은 기증자로부터 수혜자에게 바이러스, 세균, 진균과 같은 감염성 위해인자를 전파할 위험이 있다. 따라서 적절한 소독 및 멸균 공정을 통해 이식용 양막 내재 또는 혼입 가능한 감염성 위해인자를 완벽하게 불활화하여야 한다. 본 연구에서는 인체조직은행에서 사용하고 있는 소독 공정과 멸균 공정의 바이러스 및 세균, 진균 불활화 효과를 검증하기 위해 국제적 가이드에 따라 5종의 바이러스[human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), bovine herpes virus (BHV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), porcine parvovirus (PPV)]와 2종의 세균(Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis), 1종의 진균(Candida albicans)을 생물학적 지표로 사용하였다. 양막에 각 생물학적 지표를 첨가한 후 70% 에탄올 소독 공정, 감마선 조사 공정, 산화에틸렌 가스 멸균 공정을 실시한 다음 각 바이러스, 세균, 진균을 회수하여 정량한 후 불활화 정도를 비교하였다. 70% 에탄올 처리 공정에서 HIV-1, BHV, BVDV 같은 외피 바이러스는 처리 시간 2.5분 안에 불활화되었지만, HAV와 PPV 같은 비-외피 바이러스는 에탄올에 매우 큰 저항성을 나타내었다. 감마선 2.5 kGy 조사에 의해 HIV-1, BHV, BVDV는 검출한계 이하로 완벽하게 불활화되었다. HAV와 PPV는 각각 5 kGy와 25 kGy 조사에 의해 검출한계 이하로 불활화되었다. 산화에틸렌 가스 처리에 의해 본 연구에 사용한 모든 바이러스가 검출한계 이하로 불활화되었다. 70% 에탄올 처리 공정에서 E. coli와 C. albicans는 모두 5분 안에 완벽하게 사멸하였다. 하지만 B. subtilis는 큰 저항성을 나타내었다. 감마선 조사 공정과 산화에틸렌 가스 멸균 공정에서 E. coli, B. subtilis, C. albicans 모두 완벽하게 불활화되었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7213-7218
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• 2014

Background: Egypt has one of the highest prevalences of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide. Although the IL28B gene polymorphism has been shown to modify the course of chronic HCV infection, this has not been properly assessed in the Egyptian population. Materials and Methods: The IL28B rs12979860 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was therefore examined in 256 HCV-infected Egyptian patients (group II) at different stages of disease progression and in 48 healthy volunteers (group I). Group II was subdivided into GII-A (chronic hepatitis patients, n=119), GII-B (post hepatitis cirrhosis, n=66) and GII-C (HCC on top of cirrhosis, n=71). Results: The C/T genotype was the commonest in all groups. It was more frequent in GI (52%) than in GII (48%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of C/T and C/C or T/T genotypes between groups and subgroups (p=0.82). Within the subgroups; the C/C genotype was more common in GII-B while C/T and T/T genotypes were more common in GII-C, though with no significant difference (p=0.59 and p=0.80). There was no significant association between IL28B rs12979860 SNP and viral load, ALT, AFP level, METAVIR scores for necro-inflammation and fibrosis, and Child-Pugh classification. Conclusions: 1) IL28Brs12979860 C/T genotype is the commonest genotype in HCV-associated CH and HCC in Egypt. 2) IL28Brs12979860 polymorphisms are not associated with disease progression or aggression (histological staging, severity of fibrosis in CH or the incidence of post-HCV HCC). 3) Differences in IL28Brs12979860 genotypes could be a consequence of environmental or ethnic variation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.431-458
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• 2006

As we approach the completion of the first 25 years of the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) epidemic, there have been dramatic improvements in the care of patients with HIV infection. These have prolonged life and decreased morbidity. There are twenty currently available antiretrovirals approved in the United States for the treatment of this infection. The medications, including their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and dosing are reviewed. In addition, the current approach to the use of these medicines is discussed. We have included a section addressing common comorbid conditions including hepatitis B and C along with tuberculosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.113-120
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• 2010

To understand protozoan, viral, and bacterial infections in diarrheal patients, we analyzed positivity and mixedinfection status with 3 protozoans, 4 viruses, and 10 bacteria in hospitalized diarrheal patients during 2004-2006 in the Republic of Korea. A total of 76,652 stool samples were collected from 96 hospitals across the nation. The positivity for protozoa, viruses, and bacteria was 129, 1,759, and 1,797 per 10,000 persons, respectively. Especially, Cryptosporidium parvum was highly mixed-infected with rotavirus among pediatric diarrheal patients (29.5 per 100 C. parvum positive cases), and Entamoeba histolytica was mixed-infected with Clostridium perfringens (10.3 per 100 E. histolytica positive cases) in protozoan-diarrheal patients. Those infected with rotavirus and C. perfringens constituted relatively high proportions among mixed infection cases from January to April. The positivity for rotavirus among viral infection for those aged $\leq$ 5 years was significantly higher, while C. perfringens among bacterial infection was higher for $\geq$ 50 years. The information for association of viral and bacterial infections with enteropathogenic protozoa in diarrheal patients may contribute to improvement of care for diarrhea as well as development of control strategies for diarrheal diseases in Korea.