• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2012

Hepatitis virus infection is one of the major problems in Korea. To establish preventive measures for hepatitis A and B virus infection, study on sero-positivity of serum anti-HAV (aHAV) and anti-HBs (aHBs) is needed. The aim of this study was to analyze the sero-positivity and related factors of aHAV and aHBs. We analysed the sero-positivity of serum aHAV and aHBs using ICA (Immunochromatography Assay) method from 102 university students and employees and questionnaire survey was obtained characteristics, vaccination history, past history test, knowledge and information sources of the study subjects. Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs were 20.6% and 52.9%, respectively. The sero-positivity rate of aHBs was significantly different by gender (M, 34.9%; F,66.1%) and that of aHAV was significantly different by age (20 age group, 2.7%; 30 age group, 14.3%; 40 age group, 70%; 50 age group, 91.7%). Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs by vaccination history rates were 4.9% and 43.1%, respectively. Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs by past history test were 10.8% and 52.9%, respectively. Sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV was low in university students. The results of this study could be used effectively as a basic data for establishing effective preventive measures for hepatitis A including vaccination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.959-962
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• 2013

Objective: HBV infection may cause damage to the immune system and induce lymphomas as a result. Some scholars have indicated that HBsAg(+) reflecting HBV infection may have a relationship with lymphoma development. This study was designed to find out the specific stage of HBV infection which may be related to lymphoma. Methods: HBV serum markers, including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb were tested among 100 lymphoma patients and 100 other patients who were diagnosed with non-lymphoma diseases in the First Hospital of Jilin University from 2010.1.1 to 2012.12.31. Three subgroups were established depending on different combinations of HBV serum markers. Subgroup 1 was HBsAg(+) representing the early stage of HBV infection. Subgroup 2 was HbsAb(+) representing convalescence and Subgroup 3 was "HbsAg and HbsAb negative combined with other positive markers" representing the intermediate stage of HBV infection. Chi square tests were used to compare the rates of three subgroups in lymphoma and control groups. Results: The rates of Subgroup were 13% and 5% respectively, an association between HBsAg and lymphoma being found (P<0.05). There was no difference between rate of Subgroup 2 of lymphoma group (15%) and that of control group (16%). In lymphoma group and control group, the rate of Subgroup 3 was different (12% vs 4%). This evidence was not specific to T cell lymphoma, B cell lymphoma or Hodgkin's lymphoma. Conclusions: Among serum markers of HBV, the combination of serum markers representing the early stage and intermediate stage of HBV infection have a relationship with lymphoma. Convalescence from HBV infection appears to have no relationship with lymphoma.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2008

Purpose: Interferon is a widely used treatment for chronic hepatitis B in children. However, additional treatment options are needed because more than 50% of hepatitis B patients are unresponsive to interferon. Although lamivudine is widely used to treat hepatitis B, there are few studies on the effect of lamivudine in hepatitis B patients unresponsive to interferon. Methods: Eight interferon unresponsive patients (6 males and 2 females) were treated with lamivudine (3 mg/kg/day, maximum 100 mg/day) from 6~12 months after interferon treatment was discontinued among 33 children with chronic hepatitis B. They were treated with interferon (interferon ${\alpha}$-2b, 10 MU/$m^2$ or pegylated interferon $1.5{\mu}g/kg$) for 6 months from January 2000 to December 2007 at the Pusan National University Hospital. The medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The age at treatment with interferon and lamivudine was 4.9${\pm}$3.1 and 6.1${\pm}$3.2 years, respectively. The serum ALT level before treatment with interferon was 148.1${\pm}$105.8 IU/L and the log HBV-DNA PCR mean value was 6.95${\pm}$0.70 copies/mL. The serum ALT level after treatment with interferon was 143.1${\pm}$90.4 IU/L and the log HBV-DNA mean PCR value was 6.46${\pm}$2.08. HBeAg negativization occurred in 2 patients. For all patients, normalization of the serum ALT levels and HBeAg seroconversion (except 2 patients with HBeAg negativization) occurred at 7.4${\pm}$2.1 and 7.9${\pm}$2.1 months respectively after lamivudine treatment. The HBV-DNA PCR became negative in 7 patients (87.5%) at 2.4${\pm}$2.8 months. Complete response was achieved in 7 patients and no recurrence was observed in 2 patients for 3 years after the completion of treatment. Five patients are still under treatment for a mean treatment duration of 24.4${\pm}$9.1 months. In one patient, viral breakthrough occurred and the treatment was stopped. Conclusion: The number of patients was small, however, lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were unresponsive to interferon was highly effective.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2005

The familial environment may also play an important role in the epidemiology of HCV infection through vertical and horizontal transmission by infected household members. However, it is still controversial whether familial clustering of HCV occurs. We experienced a case of familial clustering of hepatitis C virus. A 10-year old girl presented with nausea, vomiting and anorexia for a month was diagnosed as hepatitis C. Her mother, grandmother, a maternal aunt and her daughter had contracted with HCV. Her laboratory findings showed AST/ALT 63/122 IU/L, positive anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA ($3.54{\times}10^5copies/mL$). Pathologic findings of the liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with minimal lobular activity, mild porto-periportal activity and mild portal fibrosis. After treatment with interferon-${\alpha}$ 2b for 6 months, the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings were normalized.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2017

Lamivudine belongs to the set of antiviral agents effective against hepatitis B virus infection. Given case reports on liver injuries after certain antiviral agent treatments, this study examined the effects of lamivudine on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) using a medical system database. A total of 1,321 patients taking lamivudine alone or with others were evaluated using laboratory hits in an electronic medical system at Seoul National University Hospital from 2005 through 2011. The patients were grouped according to prior ALT results: G#1, ALT < 40 IU/L; G#2, 40 IU/L ${\leq}$ ALT < 120 IU/L; G#3, 120 IU/L ${\leq}$ ALT < 240 IU/L; and G#4, ALT ${\geq}$ 240 IU/L. In G#1 and G#2 patients, lamivudine or adefovir treatment decreased ALT and TB compared to prior values. In G#3 and G#4 patients with three times the upper limit of normal (ULN) ${\leq}$ ALT < 15 times the ULN, both ALT and TB were decreased after treatment with lamivudine alone, or adefovir following lamivudine therapy, indicating that lamivudine therapy ameliorated liver functions. However, in G#4 patients who experienced severely advanced hepatitis (ALT ${\geq}$ 15 times the ULN, or ${\geq}$ 600 IU/L), lamivudine augmented TBmax ($6.3{\rightarrow}13.3mg/dL$) despite a slight improvement in ALT ($839{\rightarrow}783IU/L$), indicative of exacerbation of bilirubinemia. Patients who used adefovir after lamivudine also showed a high incidence of hyperbilirubinemia when they experienced severely advanced hepatitis. Treatment with adefovir alone did not show the effect. In conclusion, lamivudine may increase the risk of hyperbilirubinemia in patients with severely advanced hepatitis, implying that caution should be exercised when using lamivudine therapy in certain patient populations.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.285-291
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• 2005

The nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which is the essential catalytic enzyme for the viral replication and is an appealing target for the development of new therapeutic agents against HCV infection. A small amount of serum from a single patient with hepatitis C was used to get the genome of a Korean HCV isolate. Sequence analysis of NS5B 1701 nucleotides showed the genotype of a Korean isolate to be subtype 1b. The soluble recombinant HCV NS5B polymerase lacking the C-terminal 24 amino acids was expressed and purified to homogeneity. With the highly purified NS5B protein, we established in vitro systems for RdRp activity to identify potential polymerase inhibitors. The rhodanine family compounds were found to be potent and specific inhibitors of NS5B from high throughput screening (HTS) assay utilizing the scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system. The binding mode of an inhibitor was analyzed by measuring various kinetic parameters. Lineweaver-Burk plots of the inhibitor suggested it binds not to the active site of NS5B polymerase, but to an allosteric site of the enzyme. The activity of NS5B in in vitro polymerase reactions with homopolymeric RNA requires interaction with multiple substrates that include a template/primer and ribonucleotide triphosphate. Steady-state kinetic parameter, such as Km, was determined for the ribonucleotide triphosphate. One of compounds found interacts directly with the viral polymerase and inhibits RNA synthesis in a manner noncompetitively with respect to UTP. Furthermore, we also investigated the ability of the compound to inhibit NS5B-directed viral RNA replication using the Huh7 cell-based HCV replicon system. The investigation is potentially very useful for the utility of such compounds as anti-hepatitic agents.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 2018

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of lamivudine in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: During July 2003 through October 2015, children with chronic hepatitis B who visited our institution were included in this study. Fifty-five patients, who received first-line treatment of lamivudine (3 mg/kg, 100 mg maximum) for over three months, were enrolled. After initiating lamivudine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBV-DNA, and HBV markers were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, and every 3 months, thereafter. The treatment endpoint was determined as 1) normalization of ALT, 2) HBeAg seroconversion, and 3) anti-HBe positivity for twelve consecutive months. Results: Thirty-one male (56.4%) and 24 female (43.6%) patients were included. The mean age at treatment initiation was 8.1 years. The mean duration of treatment was 23.4 months. ALT normalization was found in 98.2% (54 of 55). Anti-HBe seroconversion was found in 70.6% (36/51). Loss of HBsAg was found in 10.9% (6/55). All biochemical responses occurred under age seven. The rate of virologic response (defined as HBV-DNA <2,000 IU/mL) at six months after treatment initiation was 78.7% (37/47). At twelve months after reaching treatment endpoint, 87.2% (34/39) maintained their virologic response. Resistance to lamivudine was found in 16.4% (9/55). Conclusions: Lamivudine treatment in Korean pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis B showed better outcomes compared with other studies that implemented similar protocols in foreign populations. Further studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of newly recommended antiviral drugs on the Korean pediatric population.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.211-220
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• 1985

Serum HBsAg, AntiHBs, HBeAg, AntiHBe and AntiHBc were detected by radioimmunoassay in 39 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 79 patients with chronic hepatitis, 30 patients with liver cirrhosis, 16 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 14 patients of HBsAg carriers and 129 cases of controls:78 cases of normal level of SGOT, SGPT, and 51 cases of elevated level of SGOT, SGPT. Following results were obtained: 1. HBsAg was detected in 66.7% of acute viral hepatitis, 63.3% of chronic hepatitis, 36.7% of liver cirrhosis, 81.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 27.1% of controls. 2. AntiHBs was positive in 0% of acute viral hepatitis, 21.5% of chronic hepatitis, 36.7% of liver cirrhosis, 31.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 0% of carrier and 44.2% of controls. 3. HBeAg was detected in 45.6% of chronic hepatitis, 23.3% of liver cirrhosis and 31.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. 4. Among chronic liver diseases, antiHBe was positive in 56.3% of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 23.3% of liver cirrhosis and 20.3% of chronic hepatitis. 5. AntiHBc was detected in most of all examines and the significance of presence of AntiHBc does not seem to represent liver disease itself but the evidence of infection of HBV. 6. Among 14 HBV carriers, 6 cases presented with abnormal SGOT, SGPT. 7. All HBV markers were negative in 5.1% of acute viral hepatitis, 5.1% of chronic hepatitis and 14.7% of controls: 17.6% of subjects with abnormal SGOT, SGPT and 12.8% of subjects with normal SGOT, SGPT. 8. Beside of HBV, other causes, such as non A, non B virus, Delta-agent, other viruses or related factors should be excluded among the patients with evidence of HBV infection associated with elevation of SGOT & SGPT.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.323-333
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• 2000

Objectives : Chronic HBsAg carriers are the principal source of infection for other susceptible people, and are themselves at high risk of developing serious liver diseases. In Korea, it has been estimated that 65-75% of the HBsAg positives remained as persistent carriers. Additionally, familial clustering of MBV infection has frequently been observed among carriers. Some would become progressive, chronic hepatitis patients, and others would not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between various factors, such as the duration of infection, type of virus, mutation of precore/core region in HBV, major histocompatibility class-I, and developing chronic liver diseases among familial HBV carriers. Methods : Chronic carrier status was identified by repeated serological tests for HBsAg at intervals of six months or more. A familial chronic carrier was defined when the disease was observed in a family member over two generations. Two families were recruited, among which a total of 20 chronic HBsAg carriers(11 carriers in No.1, and 9 in No.2 family) were identified. Data on the general characteristics and liver disease status were collected. Identification of the HBV-DNA was successful only for 13 subjects among the 20 carriers. Analysis of viral DNA in terms of subtype, pre-core and core region mutations was carried out. The type of major histocompatibility class-1 for the 13 subjects was also analysed. Results & Conclusions : Seven of 10 chronic HBV carriers of the 1st generation and one of 10 of the 2nd generation were clinical patients with chronic hepatitis, the others, three of the 1 st and nine of the 2nd generation, were asymptomatic carriers. This data indicates that the duration of HBV carriage is one of the major factors for disease severity. The subtype of HBsAg analysed using MBV-DNA identified in 13 carriers were adr, and the pattern of precore nonsense mutation in HBV-DNA was identical among family members, which meads that the same virus strains were transmitted between the family members. The association between the precore or core mutations in HBV-DNA and the disease severity was not observed. While it was suggested that a specific type of MHC class-I may be related to disease progression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.1034-1036
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• 2005

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. napus var. pekinensis Makino) seeds/seedlings were transformed via vacuum-infiltration with recombinant Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 cells. The agroinfiltration method was determined to be unsuccessful for Chinese cabbage transformation during the analysis of hepatitis B surface antigen expression by ELISA. However, treatment of sodium hypochlorite solution, prior to agroinfiltration, to pregerminated or germinating 1 day- or 2 days-old seeds was proven effectively to enhance transformation efficiency, suggesting that chemical wounding caused by sodium hypochlorite reaction might facilitate Agrobacterium infection and, therefore, transient gene expression in Chinese cabbage sprouts.