• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.309-314
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• 2016

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a heat-processed ginseng developed by the repeated steaming and air-drying of fresh ginseng. Compared with fresh ginseng, KRG has been shown to possess greater pharmacological activities and stability because of changes that occur in its chemical constituents during the steaming process. In addition to anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities, KRG and its purified components have also been shown to possess protective effects against microbial infections. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the properties of KRG and its components on infections with human pathogenic viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus, human herpes virus, hepatitis virus, norovirus, rotavirus, enterovirus, and coxsackievirus. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of KRG as an antiviral and vaccine adjuvant is discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권7호
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• pp.690-695
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• 2008

The age-specific anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rates in South Korea have changed markedly since the last 2030 years with an improvement in the socio-economic, housing, and environmental-sanitation conditions. These changes are characterized by very low anti-HAV seropositive rates among individuals less than 30 years of age; however, nowadays, most adolescents and young adults at an increased risk of developing symptomatic HAV infections. The Korea Center for Disease Control Sentinel Surveillance System has recently revealed an increase in the incidence of hepatitis A infection since 2001 and has revealed a potential endemic nature of the hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A vaccines that were introduced in 1997 in Korea have made the current anti-HAV IgG positive rates in children (less than 10 years of age) approximately 50% of the rates observed in Seoul in 2006. However, in the same year, a few children were diagnosed as having anti-HAV IgG antibodies in Busan. This suggests the presence of some difference in the vaccination policy among doctors practicing in Seoul and Busan. Thus, the current recommendation of vaccinating 12-year-old child with HAV vaccination should be emphasized and a new strategy should be developed for the vaccination program to cater to the adolescents and young adults who are not immune, as well as for persons who are at a high risk for hepatitis A viral infection such as military personnel and hospital and day care center employees. Further, urgent hepatitis A vaccinations are also needed in patients with chronic liver diseases.

• 약학회지
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.43-54
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• 2013

Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of liver cells caused by viruses, and still one of the major health-care problems worldwide. A number of viruses to cause hepatitis are type A, B, C, D, E or G. Among these viruses leading to hepatitis, B and C are more troublesome being more prone to chronic illness which can cause the potentially fatal conditions of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and/or liver failure. If immediate treatment is not initiated, liver transplant is the only option left. Over the past few decades there has been remarkable progress in diagnose and monitor all hepatitis virus infections for treatment and prevention. Nonetheless, important challenges remain to develop more effective and safe vaccines for prevention as well as antiviral agents to reduce viremia/viral load by inhibiting viral replication. The development and evaluation of antiviral agents through carefully designed clinical trials over the last 25 years has heralded a new dawn in the treatment of patients chronically infected with the hepatitis B and C viruses, but not so for the D virus. The introduction of Direct Acting Antivirals (DDAs) for the treatment of HBV carriers has permitted the long term use of these compounds for the continuous suppression of viral replication. This review aims to summarize the current status and development approaches of antiviral drugs for the treatment of viral hepatitis and future perspectives.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-15
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• 1997

To investigate the association between hepatocellular carcinema(HCC) and infection of hepatitis B virus(HBV) and hepatitis C virus(HCV) in an HBV endemic area, a case-control study of 254 patients with HCC and of 1,270 age and sex matched health control subjects was done. Among the 254 HCC patients 166(65.4%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), 49(19.3%) were positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV Ab). The crude odd ratio of patients with HBsAg was 36.1(95% CI :22.4-58.2) and with anti-HCV Ab was 9.0(95% CI :5.5-14.6). In an analysis, which HBsAg(-), HBcAb(-), anti-HCV Ab(-) group was chosen as referent group, odd ratio of HBsAg(+) group was 14.4(95% CI: 7.2-28.9) and of anti- HCV Ab(+) was 10.7(95% CI: 2.9-40.0). odd ratio of anti-HCV Ab(+), HBsAg(+) group and anti-HCV Ab(+), HBsAg(-), HbcAb(+) group for HCC were elevated to 27.3(95% CI : 9.0-82.9), 15.9(95% CI:7.1-35.8) respectly, The odd ratio of anti-HCV Ab(-), HBsAg(-), HBcAb(+) group was 2.4(95% CI : 1.1-5.0). These result suggested that HBV and HCV were associated with HCC. In HBV endemic area patients with HBcAb alone should be considered risk group for HCC.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.202-212
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• 2005

목 적: Transfusion-transmitted virus는 간염과의 연관성이 아직 명확하지 않지만 특정 유전형이 원인불명의 간염 병원체로 작용하거나 다른 간염 바이러스와 중복 감염되어 임상 경과에 영향을 줄 가능성에 대한 연구가 필요하다. 본 연구는 국내 소아 B형 간염, C형 간염 및 원인 불명의 간염 환자의 TTV DNA 양성률과 유전형의 분포를 알아보기 위해 시행하였다. 방 법: 간 기능이 정상인 소아 88명을 대조군으로 하였으며 B형 간염 환자 14명, C형 간염 환아 12명, 2001년 6월부터 2004년 6월까지 인제의대 상계백병원을 방문한 원인 불명의 간염 환자 25명을 대상으로 하였다. 환아의 혈청 검체를 대상으로 N22 시발체를 이용한 PCR과 5'NCR 시발체를 이용한 PCR을 시행하였다. 또한 TLMV DNA 검출을 위한 seminested PCR을 시행 하였다. N22 primer를 이용한 PCR 양성 산물을 대상으로 염기서열의 직접 분석이 시행되었다. 결 과: 1) N22 시발체를 이용한 TTV DNA 양성률은 대조군에서 11.3%, 간염군에서 19.6%였다(p=0.105). B형 간염의 28.5%, C형 간염의 25%, 원인 불명의 간염 24%에서 TTV DNA가 양성이었으며 대조군에 비해 유의한 차이는 없었다. 2) 5'NCR 부위 시발체를 이용한 TTV DNA 양성률은 대조군에서 32.9%, 간염군에서 54.9%였다. B형 간염의 71.4%, C형 간염의 50%, 원인 불명의 간염 48%에서 TTV DNA가 양성이었다. B형 간염 환자군에서 양성률이 대조군에 비해 높았다(p=0.008). 3) 5'NCR 부위 시발체를 이용한 TLMV DNA양성률은 간염 환자군과 정상 대조군에서 각각 29.4% (15/51명), 48.9% (43/88명)였다. B형 간염 21.4% (3/14), C형 간염 16.6% (2/12), 원인 불명의 간염 환자에서 40% (10/25)였다. 4) 염기 서열 분석: N22 시발체를 이용해서 PCR 반응 산물 중 총 29예(간염 환자 8명, 대조군 11명)의 염기서열을 분석한 결과 G1 유전형은 10예(52%)였고 이 중 G1a형이 7예였다. G2 유전형은 3예, G3 유전형은 2예였으며 나머지는 정확한 분류가 되지 않았다. 결 론: 국내 소아에 감염된 TTV 유전형 중 가장 흔한 것은 G1형이었다. TTV DNA 양성률은 대조군과 원인 불명의 간염군 간에 차이는 없었으며, B형 간염군에서 대조군에 비해 높았다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.72-76
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• 2006

Plasma-derived products are produced from plasma via fractionation and chromatography techniques, but can also be produced by other methods. In the performance of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAT) with plasma-derived products, it is necessary to include an internal control for the monitoring of all procedures. In order to avoid false negative results, we confirmed the usefulness of the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) for use as an internal control in the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in plasma-derived products. These products, which were spiked with BVDV, were extracted and then NAT was performed. Specificity and sensitivity were determined via the adjustment of primer concentrations and annealing temperatures. BVDV detection allows for validation in the extraction, reverse transcription, and amplification techniques used for HCV detection in plasma-derived products.

• BMB Reports
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.180-182
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• 1996

One of the essential functions of virus surface proteins is the recognition of specific receptors on target cell membranes, and cellular receptors play an important role in viral pathogenesis. But the earliest steps of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, such as hepatocyte receptor interaction with the virus, are poorly understood. Previous work has suggested an important role of the preS1 region of HBV envelope protein in mediating viral binding to hepatocytes. Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection appears to be initiated by specific binding of virions to cell membrane structures via one or potentially several viral surface proteins, data showing the identification or isolation of the HBV receptor (s) are not yet available. The receptor-like proteins on the plasma membrane surface of HepG2 cells that bind to PreS1 were separated and identified using affinity chromatography, and the amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the receptor-like proteins were determined.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.120-125
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• 2010

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2001

CJC-50100 is a recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) expressed in yeast. The general pharmacological properties of CJC-50100 were evaluated in mice, rats, dogs and isolated guinea pig ileum. The doses were 0.33~33.3 $\mu$g/kg i.m. for mice and rats and 3.3~9.9 $\mu$g/kg i.v. for dogs. The concentrations of 0.002~0.02 $\mu$g/ml were used for the assay with guinea pig ileum. Intramuscular administration of CJC-50100 at the doses did not alter general behavior and the responses for central nervous system, smooth muscle, gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular and respiratory system, and water and electrolytes excretion. In summary, CJC-50100 had no pharmacological effect in these studies even up to the 100-fold of the expected clinical dose, 20 $\mu$g/man/60 kg.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.23-28
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• 2003

Background: Intracellular antibody specific to hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) might be useful for studying the role of HBx in hepatocellular carcinogenesis and HBV replication. Methods: With variable region genes for H7 monoclonal anti-HBx Ab, we constructed a vector for bacterial expression of single chain Ab (scFv) and a vector for eukaryotic cell expression of it. The expression of H7 scFv and its binding activity against HBx was examined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: H7 scFv expressed in bacterial cells retained reactivity to HBx. We demonstrated its intracytoplasmic expression in CosM6 eukaryotic cells. Conclusion: This is the first study showing the expression of intracellular anti-HBx Ab in eukaryotic cells. H7 scFv may be a good tool to study the function of HBx in HBV infection.