• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an epidemiologically important virus with a worldwide distribution. It causes acute hepatitis in humans. HAV infection is often subclinical or asymptomatic in children; however, symptomatic acute infections become more common with age. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anti-HAV among hospital workers in Jeonbuk province. 447 (127 males, 320 females) persons were included in the study from January to June, 2011. Anti-HAV (total and IgM) in the sample serum was measured by VIDAS Hepatitis A (bioMerieux, France), and IgM positive samples were tested in terms of their serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by a HITACHI 7600-010 automatic analyzer (HITACHI, Japan). The overall prevalence of total anti-HAV was 45.9% (205/447), and rate for males (60.6%) was higher than that for females (40%). According to the age group, the prevalence rates of total anti-HAV were 20% (1/5) in those under 20 years old, 11.3% (18/160) in those 20-29 years, 49.7% (71/143) in those 30-39 years, 86.5% (83/96) in those 40-49 years, 92.9% (26/28) in those 50-59 years, and 40% (6/15) in those over 60 years old. The total prevalence of anti-HAV IgM was 0.8% (4/447), and rate for males (1.6%) was higher than that for females (0.6%). Through this study, we determined the prevalence of anti-HAV among hospital workers in Jeonbuk province. The prevalence of the HAV antibody overall was low in hospital workers under 40 years old and in those over 60 years old. Therefore, an improvement in sanitary conditions and hygiene and vaccinations against HAV in this population are recommended.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.215-225
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• 2002

Objectives: Dental personnels have high chances of exposure to various infections during many dental procedures. This study was performed to investigate the state of infection control in the private dental clinics and prevention state of hepatitis B virus infection among the dental hygiene students in Kwanju city, Korea. Methods: Questionnaires were obtained from 94 dental hygiene students who participated in dental practice in private dental clinics for more than five weeks. Results: 83.9% of dentists and 17.2% of dental hygienists routinely used the mask for treating all patients, 32.3% of dentists and 6.5% of dental hygienists routinely used the rubber gloves. The use of protective eyeware was much lower in each group. Disinfectant was used in 52.7% for sanitization of dental instruments before cleansing. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 3.8% and 67.1% respectively, 52.7% of dental hygiene students had history of accidental needle stick. Conclusion: Routine use of personal barrier techniques by dental personnels should be emphasized. Dental hygiene students were not properly immunized against hepatitis B virus and had high incidence of accidental needle stick. It is necessary to establish specific regulations or recommendations for cross infection control in dental practice and to performed scheduled vaccination program for hepatitis B virus for dental hygiene students.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.203-207
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• 2014

Hepatitis is a common and serious disease for the Korean population. It is caused by a virus, the A and B types of which are plentiful in Koreans. In this study, we tried to find genetic factors for hepatitis through genome-wide association studies. We took 368 cases and 1,500 controls from Anseong and Ansan cohort data. About 300,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 20 epidemiological variables were analyzed. We did not find any meaningful significant single nucleotide polymorphisms, but we confirmed the influence of major epidemiological variables on hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major medical challenge affecting around 200 million people worldwide. The main site of HCV replication is the hepatocytes of the liver. HCV is a positive enveloped RNA virus from the flaviviridae family. Six major HCV genotypes are implicated in the human infection. In developed countries the children are infected mainly through vertical transmission during deliveries, while in developing countries it is still due to horizontal transmission from adults. Minimal nonspecific and brief symptoms are initially found in approximately 15% of children. Acute and chronic HCV infection is diagnosed through the recognition of HCV RNA. The main objective for treatment of chronic HCV is to convert detected HCV viremia to below the detection limit. Children with chronic HCV infection are usually asymptomatic and rarely develop severe liver damage. Therefore, the benefits from current therapies, pegylated-Interferon plus ribavirin, must be weighed against their adverse effects. This combined treatment offers a 50-90% chance of clearing HCV infection according to several studies and on different HCV genotype. Recent direct acting antiviral (DAA) drugs which are well established for adults have not yet been approved for children and young adults below 18 years. The most important field for the prevention of HCV infection in children would be the prevention of perinatal and parenteral transmission. There are areas of focus for new lines of research in pediatric HCV-related disease that can be addressed in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Family Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.360-363
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• 2018

Background: Acute alcoholic intoxication patients (AAIP) are a common public health problem. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive laboratory analysis for these patients to investigate the co-morbid medical problem. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed laboratory findings of AAIP who were transferred to the emergency department (ED) from January 2017 to June 2017. Results: A total of 160 male patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients (16/160, 10.0%) and three patients (3/160, 1.9%) had macrocytic anemia and microcytic anemia, respectively. A total of 33 patients (33/160, 20.6%) showed thrombocytopenia ($<150{\times}10^9/L$). Twelve patients (12/159, 7.5%) showed low serum albumin level (<3.5 g/dL). Three patients (3/160, 1.9%) had chronic kidney disease stages 3-4 based on estimated glomerular filtration rate. Six patients (6/27, 22.2%) had high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (>7.0%). Positive rates of hepatitis B surface antigen and antiHBs antibody (anti-HBs Ab) were 3.5% (5/141) and 49.0% (68/141), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with AAIP who were transferred to ED had various laboratory abnormalities (anemia, thrombocytopenia, high HbA1c). They had low positive rate of anti-HBs Ab. This might be a public health problem, suggesting the need of hepatitis B virus vaccination program for AAIP. Our data suggest the need of further nationwide studies.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.168-176
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• 2013

In the last few years major progress has been made in better understanding the role of natural killer (NK) cells in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This includes multiple pathways by which HCV impairs or limits NK cells activation. Based on current genetic and functional data, a picture is emerging where only a rapid and strong NK cell response early on during infection which results in strong T cell responses and possible subsequent clearance, whereas chronic HCV infection is associated with dysfunctional or biased NK cells phenotypes. The hallmark of this NK cell dysfunction is persistent activation promoting ongoing hepatitis and hepatocyte damage, while being unable to clear HCV due to impaired IFN-${\gamma}$ responses. Furthermore, some data suggests certain chronically activated subsets that are $NKp46^{high}$ may be particularly active against hepatic stellate cells, a key player in hepatic fibrogenesis. Finally, the role of NK cells during HCV therapy, HCV recurrence after liver transplant and hepatocellular carcinoma are discussed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 2003

Of many viral causes of human cancer, few are of greater global importance than the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Over 250 million people worldwide are persistently infected with HBV. A significant minority of these develop severe pathologic consequences, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Earlier epidemiological evidence suggested a link between chronic HBV infection and HCC. Further, the existence of related animal viruses that induce acute and chronic infections of the liver, and eventually HCC, confirms the concept that HBV belongs to one of the few human oncogenic viruses. Although it is clear that chronic HBV infections are major risk factors, relatively little is understood about how the viral factors contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. This review will introduce molecular aspects of the viral infection, and highlight recent findings on the viral contribution to hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2003

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), previously referred to as enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis, is responsible for sporadic infections as well as large epidemics of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries. The disease generally affects young adults and reportedly has a mortality rate of up to 20％ in infected pregnant women. HEV was once considered to be a member of the family Caliciviridae, but the unique genomic organization of HEV has led to the removal of HEV from the family and it was provisionally classified in an unassigned family of HEV-like viruses. In situ hybridization provides any cellular detail and histological architecture.[1] However, use of in situ hybridization is largely restricted to the laboratories because this technique is the greater technical complexity and expense compared with immunohistochemistry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop the immunohistochemistry for the detection of swine HEV from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded hepatic tissues. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.638-642
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• 2012

Human pathogenic viruses such as hepatitis A and E virus (HAV and HEV), which lead to acute liver failure and death, are foodborne pathogens associated with the consumption of virus-contaminated meats, filter-feeding bivalves, fruits, and salads. Two of the three swine farms examined in this study had HAV and HEV positive stool samples in a nested RT-PCR assay. The use of the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) facilitated the separation of HAV through interactions between the ligand on the virion surface and the antibody from the swine feces containing both HAV and HEV. The nested RT-PCR analysis was performed for the detection of HAV obtained from hepatocarcinoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) contaminated with eluent fraction of IMS. This indicated that IMS has the potential to simultaneously isolate and concentrate target viruses by changing antibodies linked on the magnetic beads.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2016

Purpose: We sought to examine the relationship between the clinical manifestations of nonspecific reactive hepatitis and respiratory virus infection in pediatric patients. Methods: Patients admitted to the pediatric unit of Konyang University Hospital for lower respiratory tract disease between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 and who underwent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests were examined. The patients were divided into those with increased levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and those with normal ALT or AST levels. Further, patients with increased ALT and AST levels were individually compared with patients in the normal group, and the blood test results were compared according to the type of respiratory virus. Results: Patients with increased ALT or AST levels had one more day of hospital stay, on average, compared with patients in the normal group ($5.3{\pm}3.1$ days vs. $4.4{\pm}3.0$ days, p=0.019). Patients in the increased ALT level group were younger and had a longer mean hospital stay, compared with patients in the normal group (p=0.022 and 0.003, respectively). The incidences of increased ALT or AST were the highest in adenovirus infections (6/24, 25.0%), followed by enterovirus (2/11, 18.2%) and respiratory syncytial virus A (21/131, 16.0%) infections. Conclusion: Nonspecific reactive hepatitis is more common among patients with adenovirus, enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infection, as well as among those infected at a younger age. Compared with AST levels, ALT levels are better indicators of the severity of nonspecific reactive hepatitis.