• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2007

Chronic inflammation has been known to have a close relationship with several diseases including periodontitis, colitis, hepatitis and arthritis. Recently anti-inflammatory agents have been developed from marine natural resources. In this study, Ecklonia cava (EC) was found to have anti-inflammatory effect. Ethanolic extract of EC belonging to brown algae exhibited an excellent inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin $E_2$ by RA W264.7 cells. Furthermore, in reporter gene assay and western blot analysis, EC extract exerted anti-inflammatory effect via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factor that regulates the expression of these inflammatory mediators in macrophages. In addition, EC extract inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinase that play an important role in chronic inflammation. These results suggest that EC extract may provide a pharmaceutical potential in inhibiting chronic inflammation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2004

Purpose: Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory liver disease with unknown cause that is characterized by liver histology, circulating autoantibodies and increased levels of immunoglobulin G. Only sporadic reports are available on autoimmune hepatitis in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, biochemical, and histological features, and the long-term outcome of autoimmune hepatitis in Korean children. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 14 children diagnosed as having autoimmune hepatitis at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1990 to 2004, and analyzed clinical, biochemical, and histological features, and clinical outcomes. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 9 years and 11 of the 14 children were female. Six children presented with acute hepatitis-like manifestations. Jaundice and fatigue were the most common symptoms. Other autoimmune diseases accompanied in 6 children. Anti-nuclear antibody was detected in 13 patients and anti-smooth muscle antibody was positive in 8. All 14 patients were type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. The main histologic findings were interface hepatitis, rosette formation, and cirrhosis. Clinical and biochemical features were improved in six patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. Eight patients were treated with corticosteroid alone or in combination with azathioprine and five of them are in biochemical remission. Conclusion: Autoimmune hepatitis is an inflammatory liver disease, which has a favorable long-term outcome if it is diagnosed and treated promptly. Therefore, autoimmune hepatitis should be suspected in children with chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology, especially in female patients who show hypergammaglobulinemia or some clinical features of autoimmune disease.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 1998

Purpose : Although hepatitis B vaccine has been available to general population in Korea since 1983, it was difficult to compare various types of hepatitis B virus(HBV) vaccines primarily due to the differences in vaccination schedule, dosage, test methods and seropositive antibody level. In this study we reviewed the results of previous studies published in Korea, which include antibody positive rates and antibody titers of various vaccines, and examined the immunogenicity of these HBV vaccines. Methods : Studies published in medical journals, university journals concerning antibody positive rates following hepatitis B vaccination were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were those studies in which seroprotective antibody rate of 10mIU/mL or the sample ratio unit of 10 RU were used as the cut-off value and in which the test methods were RIA or ELISA. Exclusion criteria were; 1) unclear or inconsistent vaccine dosage, 2) no record of antibody titers or seroconversion rate, 3) no defined antibody rate or ratio for positive rating and 4) the vaccination schedule other than 0-1-2 months or 0-1-6 months. Results : 23 out of 52 studies were subjected for the review for seroconversion rates. 1) As for the immunogenicity in each age group, the seroconversion rates of Hepaccine(Cheil Jedang) were 85.1% in infants, 83.3% in children and 62.7% in adults, indicating higher rates in infants and children compared to adults(P<0.01). The seroconversion rates of Hepavax(Korea Green Cross) were 84.7%, 81.1% and 90.8%, indicating higher rates in infants and adults compared to children(P<0.01). 2) The seroconversion rate of Hepavax was 85.6% with 0-1-6 mo. schedule, 78.5% with 0-1-2 mo. schedule with a statistically significant difference(P<0.01). 4) There was no difference of seroconversion rates between the two doses of Hepavax, $5{\mu}g$ and $10{\mu}g$ in infants and children. 5) In adults the seroconversion rates were 62.7% with Hepaccine, 90.8% with Hepavax, and 94.8% with Engerix-B(SmithKline Beecham). Conclusion : In Korea, the incidence of chronic hepatitis B is high and changing the schedule in vaccination cannot contribute to the increase of the serocoversion rate. And in order to maximize immunogenicity, more effective vaccines as well as more proper vaccination methods should be used.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.337-339
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• 2000

Indigestion is one of the most frequent symptom in chronic hepatitis. We treated a 20 year-old female patient of chronic active hepatitis type B with Sengangeonbi-tang. The patient complained indigestion and constipation. The serum aminotransferase were higher and viral marker showed hepatitis was in active phase. 1 week later, the symptom had been changed from severe to mild and aminotransferase decreased. We continued to prescribe the medicine 2 weeks more and could observe that the symptom disappeared and the aminotransferase fell down under normal value with no side effect. Sengangeonbi-tang showed desirable effect on indigestion and more rapid recovery of aminotransferase than previous reports about treating hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Comprehensive understanding of the natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is mandatory for the management and treatment of chronic hepatitis B, of which the natural course consists of immune tolerance, immune clearance, inactive carrier state, and reactivation phase. Evidence based medical approach is essential for the management of HBV carriers and treatment of active hepatitis to decrease risks of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma as well as to increase survival. In addition, education of patients or their parents are required to achieve a better therapeutic outcome and to prevent unconfirmed alternative medicine and anecdotal approaches.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.823-834
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• 2007

Interferon (IFN) alpha has been the first line therapy of chronic hepatitis B in children, but HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 26% of treated children compared to 11% of controls in multinational randomized controlled study. Recently, lamivudine was shown to be a potent inhibitor of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reproduction both in HBeAg positive and in HBeAg negative (the pre-core mutant form) chronic hepatitis in randomized studies worldwide. Lamivudine therapy led to considerable improvement in the seroconversion rate of HBeAg in children with chronic hepatitis B, though long-term therapy resulted in the expansion of lamivudine-resistant mutant viruses. Combination therapy with lamivudine plus alpha-IFN does not seem to improve HBe Ag seroconversion. Above all, the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is universal HBV vaccination.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 2005

Objective: This study was done to treat autoimmune chronic active heaptitis Jaundice patient. Method: I analyzed the medical records of a case of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis Jaundice who had been treated with korean traditional medicines from 1 December 2003 through 6 July 2004. Result: Following the korean traditional medicine method, during taking medicine the hematological markers (aspartate transferase(AST), alanine aminotranferase(ALT), Total bilirubin(T.bili)) were effectively controled.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 1998

We treated 1 case of primary infertility woman. She had three clinical problems. The first was endometrosis stage II, the second was tubar obstruction and the third was chronic persistent hepatitis B. Eometrosis and tubar obstruction are similar to 'blood stagnation'. And another clinical symptoms could be considered with 'asthenia of spleen and stagnation of wetness-evil'. So our prescriptions for this case were Heylbudu.Jcgeu-Tang and Samchulgunbi-Tang. And the prescription of acupuncture therapy was consist with Sp. 6, Ren. 4, Jagung, P. 6, and St. 36. So we got a successful result from above therapies. But we have to take continued follow-up plans for endometriosis and chronic persistent hepatits B.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2018

This study investigated 2,088 economically active workers aged 20 to 65 years selected from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to evaluate the relationship between chronic diseases and oral health behaviors among economic workers and examine the risk factors for oral diseases. The results of the study were as follows. Dental caries were related to subjective oral health status, toothache experience, orthodontic treatment experience, chewing problems, speaking problems, oral examination, and dental clinic use. Periodontal disease was associated with oral health status, toothache experience, orthodontic experience, and chewing and speaking problems. The risk factors for chronic diseases and oral health behavior were as follows. Hypertension, 1.37 times; obesity, 1.48 times; diabetes, 1.5 times; low HDL-cholesterol, 1.31 times; hepatitis A antibody, 1.53 times higher. Health status was found to be 1.70 times higher in dental caries and 2.10 times higher in periodontal disease. The tooth experience was 1.30 times higher in dental caries and 1.35 times higher in periodontal disease. Problems chewing were 1.76 times for dental caries and 1.78 times for periodontal disease. The possibility of dental caries and periodontal disease was 1.44 times higher. Smokers were 1.61 times more likely to have dental caries and 1.63 times more likely to have periodontal disease. These results suggest that periodontal diseases increase the risk of chronic diseases and oral health behavior increases the risk of dental caries and periodontal disease. Although dental caries seem to have a lower risk of becoming a chronic disease if only oral health care is good, it is considered that both chronic disease and oral health care are important for periodontal disease.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.331-339
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• 2007

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate LDQOL (Liver Disease Quality of Life) and its related factors of patients with Hepatitis B. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study. The LDQOL was formally translated to Korean and reliability was examined. One hundred thirty eight patients following gastroenterology outpatient clinic of S. hospital in Seoul, Korea participated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.43 years and 87.7% were men. The mean score of LDQOL was 77.34, and mean scores of subscale were followed; symptom of liver disease (SxLD) (82.12), effect of liver disease (ELD) (25.50), concentration (Conc) (84.47), memory (Mem) (83.24), health discomfort, (HD) (75.18), sexual function (SFun) (75.71), sexual problem (SProb) (84.70), Loneliness (85.50), Hopeless (67.43), and stigma of liver disease (SLD) (91.64). Women had a lower LDQOL score for Loneliness (p=.034), and over 45 year-old patients had a lower LDQOL overall score (p=.000). Patients who were HBV carriers, or who had Chronic Hepatitis B or Liver Cirrhosis reported lower QOL respectively(p=.032). Conclusion: Although the liver disease itself seemed to be stable, patients with HBV experienced poor QOL in ELD, SProb, SFun, and Hopeless. Therefore nursing interventions in these aspects are needed.