• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2006

Delivery of DNA vaccines to airway mucosa would be an ideal method for mucosal immunization. However, there have been few reports of a suitable gene delivery system. In this study we used a cationic emulsion to immunize mice via the intranasal route with pCMV-S coding for Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Complexing pCMV-S with a cationic emulsion dramatically enhanced HBsAg expression in both nasal tissue and lung, and was associated with increases in the levels of HBs-specific Abs in serum and mucosal fluids, of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the spleen and cervical and iliac lymph nodes, and of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) against HBsAg. In contrast, very weak humoral and cellular immunities were observed following immunization with naked DNA. In support of these observations, a higher proliferative response of spleenocytes was detected in the group immunized with the emulsion/pCMV-S complex than in the group immunized with naked pCMV-S. These findings may facilitate development of an emulsion-mediated gene vaccination technique for use against intracellular pathogens that invade mucosal surfaces.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1997

We evaluated Immunochromatographic assay kit to screen HBsAg in human serum. When the reference HBsAg was applyed to ICA, HA and EIA kits, the limit of detection for HBsAg were found out to be 4, 2 and 0.25 ng/ml respectively. But ICA kit required 5 minutes to read the result whereas HA and EIA kit more than one hour. The sensitivity was 97% (29 of 30 samples) and the specificity 100% (45 samples) compared with conventional EIA. The ICA kit needs no instrument or machine to perform the test contrary to the conventional methods. Therefore, this rapid and sensitive ICA kit can be used for HBsAg-screening, especially in the emergency room and in the scene of the accident.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5463-5467
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• 2012

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is contagious with transmissiobn vertically or horizontally by blood products and body secretions. Over 50% of Iranian carriers contracted the infection prenatally, making this the most likely route of transmission of HBV in Iran. To evaluate the resistance to adefovir (ADV) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, a study was conducted on 70 patients (63 males and 7 females), who had received in first line lamivudine and second line adefovir. All were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg), serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) level and HBV DNA load before and after treatment with ADV. In all samples, resistance to lamivudine and ADV was tested with real time PCR. Among seventy patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, 18 (25.7%) were resistant to LAM and 8 (11.4%) were resistant to ADV. Only one patient was negative for the presence of HBS-Ag (5.6%) and two were negative for HBe-Ag (11.1%). In this study we used a new method (ALLGIO probe assay) that has high sensitivity in detection of adefovir resistance mutants, which we recommend to other researchers. Mutant strains of the YMDD motif of HBV polymerase can be found in some patients under treatment with lamivudine and ADV. ADV has been demonstrated to be efficient in patients with lamivudine resistant HBV.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2003

The 5 year follow up study was conducted to assess the positive seroprevalence of HbsAg and magnitude of new cases in a steel manufacturing big scale workpalce. About 2,000 serum samples collected from 1998 to 2002 for hepatititis B surface antigen(HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg(anti-HBs), sAST, sALT, r-GTP, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were tested. The commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized in serologic test of hepatititis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibody to HBsAg(anti-HBs). The preceived seroprevalence rates in the study were ranged 6.3~6.9%. The seroprevalences of HbsAg were 4.3~4.9% among the age of thirties, a significantly decreased seroprevalence compared with those among other age groups(in forties, 7.1~8.2%, and in fifties 7.1~7.6%). The positive seroprevalence of anti-HBs were 71.0~77.9%. A new case was not detected in the group.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1979

Up to the present there were the blood transfusion and the use of apparatus not to sterilize at surgical operation and medical treatments in well known infectious ways of hepatitis B virus. But all its ways were still not surely known. As the other ways of hepatitis B virus infection, it was suggested that contagion such as kissing, sexual contact, homosexuality, and varieties discharged out human body urine, stool, tear, salivary, menstrual blood, Vaginal discharge etc, and low economic status, unsanitary environmental life, alcohol and smoking related to hepatitis B virus infection. From 800 waitress who frequently contact with a lot of drinker with low economic status and unclear environmental life, this study were investigated HBs Ag (Hepatitis B surface antigen) known marker for hepatitis B virus infection in their serum, and a few conditions of their private life in order to known dangerous rate b~ing exposed to the source of hepatitis B virus infection as comparison with control group. The results were summarlized as following 1. The positive rate of HBs Ag (4.3%) was significantly higher in waitress than in control group(1.1%). 2. In waitress old, 20-24 ages group was the most as 59.5%, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in twenties than thirties. 3. Among the waitress, one that it was less than a year were the most (62.4%) in the period to work at restaurant business, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in propotion to period to work at there. 4. Among the waitress, one who entertained to beer hall was the most (46%), and they were trend of higher in positive rate of HBs Ag (6.3%) than other waitress. 5. Among the waitress, one to drink with smoking, and only to drink, and only to smoke, and not to drink and smoke 66.1%, 21.5%, 4.6% and 7.8%. Espically in one to drink with smoking, ther was trend of indicating the high positve rate of HBs Ag, and it was made suspicion of the relationship of alcohol smoking, contact with a lot of drinker, unclear environment to hepatitis B virus infection. In the above results, it was found that dangerous rate being exposed in hepatitis B virus infection was high in the waitress. Therefore there are required for active preventions against hepatitis B virus infection them. Also as it is possible to be infectious source in public health that waitress infected to viral hepatitis, it is thought that appropriate rules about them.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1999

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the seroepidemiology of hepatitis A and hepatitis B in Korean children. Methods: 801 children aged 6 to 12 years were enrolled. IgG antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), and IgG antibody to HBc (anti-HBc) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Of the 801 children, the seroprevalence of anti-HAV was 0%. Three (0.4%) were seropositive for HBsAg. The seroprevalence of anti-HBs was 61.8%. Two (0.4%) of 495 anti-HBs positive subjects were positvie for anti-HBc. Of the 801 children, 658 (82.1%) had received hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusions: Since natural anti-HAV is not acquired in the childhood, the outbreak of hepatitis A is possible in adolescents and young adults. The decrease in seroprevalence of HBsAg and the increase in seroprevalence of anti-HBs might result from hepatitis B vaccination program in childhood.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1992

To evaluate the possible route of intrafamilial transmission among carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen ($HB_sAg$), epidemiologic and serologic data were obtained on 107 household contacts of 35 carriers of HBsAg and on 71 household contacts of 25 controls who were negative for serologic markers of hepatitis B virus. The HBsAg prevalence was 26.5% among the contacts of carriers compared to 0.0% among the contacts of controls. And the combined prevalence for all hepatitis markers was 48.5% among the contacts of carriers compared to 26.0% among the contacts of controls(p<0.05). Especially the offspring of carriers showed significantly higher risk in the combined prevalence for all hepatitis markers (p<0.05). There were no significant relationship between HBV infection and past history like acupuncture, transfusion, operation and tattooed. Factors associated with the risk of intrafamilial transmission of HBV were not found in the sharing of household articles such as razor, towel, drinking glass, nail clippers, toothbrush and tableware.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.11
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• pp.416-421
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• 2019

Background: The seropositivity rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) antibodies is known to be ≥95% after hepatitis B virus vaccination during infancy. However, a low level or absence of anti-HBs in healthy children is discovered in many cases. Recent studies in adults reported that a reduced anti-HBs production rate is related to obesity. Purpose: To investigate whether body mass index (BMI) affects anti-HBs levels in healthy children following 3 serial dose vaccinations in infancy. Methods: We recruited 1,200 healthy volunteers aged 3, 5, 7, or 10 years from 4-day care centers and 4 elementary schools. All subjects completed a questionnaire including body weight, height, and vaccine type received. Levels of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs in all subjects were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The standardized scores (z score) for each sex and age were obtained using the lambda-mu-sigma method in the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Results: Our subjects (n=1,200) comprised 750 males (62.5%) and 450 females (37.5%). The overall anti-HBs seropositivity rate was 57.9% (695 of 1,200). We identified significant differences in mean BMI values between seronegative and seropositive groups (17.45 vs. 16.62, respectively; P<0.001). The anti-HBs titer was significantly decreased as the BMI z score increased adjusting for age and sex (B=-15.725; standard error=5.494; P=0.004). The probability of anti-HBs seropositivity based on BMI z score was decreased to an OR of 0.820 after the control for confounding variables (95% confidence interval, 0.728-0.923; P=0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant association between anti-HBs titer and BMI z score after adjustment for age and sex. Our results indicate that BMI is a potential factor affecting anti-HBs titer in healthy children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2003

Purpose: Hepatic allografts from donors with hepatitis B core antibody have been demonstrated to transmit hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to recipients after liver transplantation (LT). The efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) to prevent de novo hepatitis B was investigated by comparing active immunization in the early phase to HBIg monotherapy in the late phase of pediatric liver transplants at Samsung Medical Center. Methods: Among pediatric liver transplants, from May, 1996 to June, 2002, 15 recipients who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (-) received an allograft from a donor with hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) (+). Except two who died from unrelated causes, eleven of 13 recipients were HBsAb (+), and 2 were naive (HBsAb(-), HBcAb(-)). All patients were vaccinated for HBV before LT. In the early phase (January, 1997~November, 1997, 3 patients), HBsAb (+) recipients received booster vaccination after LT. In the late phase (December, 1997~, 10 patients), all recipients were given booster vaccination and received HBIg therapy in order to maintain HBsAb titer greater than 200 IU/L. Lamivudine was given in one case because of severe side effect of HBIg. We retrospectively analyzed the effect of the preventive therapy for de novo hepatitis B through medical records. Results: De novo hepatitis B developed in three of 13 recipients (23.1%). All of 3 patients who received active immunization in the early phase became HBsAg (+) at 7~19 months after transplantation. One of them was naive before LT and the other two were HBsAb (+). All of 10 recipients who were given HBIg in the late phase remained HBsAg (-) at 7~55 months' follow-up. Conclusion: Passive immunization with HBIg was effective for prevention of de novo hepatitis B in HBsAg (-) recipients of hepatic allografts from HBcAb (+) donors.