• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.295-298
• /
• 2019

Fasciolopsiasis is rarely known as the parasitic disease in Nepal. Herein, we report a case of fasciolopsiasis in a 22-year-old man who was admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain, distension and loss of appetite for a month. He had previously diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis but, his abdominal pain was not resolving despite improvement in his liver function and general condition. During endoscopy an adult digenean worm was seen in the first part of the duodenum. After isolation, the worm was identified morphologically as Fasciolopsis buski. Microscogic examination of the patient's stool revealed eggs with a morphology consistent with F. buski. Eggs were yellow-brown, ellipsoidal, unembmbryonated, operculated, filled with yolk cells, with thin shell and ranging $118-130{\mu}m$ in length and $60-69{\mu}m$ in width. The abdominal pain of the patient was resolved after treatment with praziquantel. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that fasciolopsiasis is indigenously transmitted in Nepal. Accordingly, the epidemiological studies in humans and reservoir host animals should be performed intensively in near future.

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

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.44 no.9
• /
• pp.688-695
• /
• 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a global health concern. Various SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been developed and are being used for vaccination worldwide. However, no therapeutic agents against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been developed so far; therefore, new therapeutic agents are urgently needed. In the present study, we evaluated several hepatitis C virus direct-acting antivirals as potential candidates for drug repurposing against COVID-19. Theses include asunaprevir (a protease inhibitor), daclatasvir (an NS5A inhibitor), and sofosbuvir (an RNA polymerase inhibitor). We found that asunaprevir, but not sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, markedly inhibited SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effects in Vero E6 cells. Both RNA and protein levels of SARS-CoV-2 were significantly decreased by treatment with asunaprevir. Moreover, asunaprevir profoundly decreased virion release from SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. A pseudoparticle entry assay revealed that asunaprevir blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection at the binding step of the viral life cycle. Furthermore, asunaprevir inhibited SARS-CoV-2 propagation in human lung Calu-3 cells. Collectively, we found that asunaprevir displays broad-spectrum antiviral activity and therefore might be worth developing as a new drug repurposing candidate for COVID-19.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2005

Before twentieth centuries and during early twentieth centuries, communicable diseases were the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Korea. But reliable data are not available. After 1975, the overall morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases, rapidly declined. Recently many new pathogenic microbes were recognized: L. monocytogenes, Hantaan virus, Y. pseudotuberculosis, P. multocida, L. pneumophilia, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), G. seoi, H. capsulatum, C. burnetii, V. cholerae O139, C. parvum, F. tularensis, E. coli O157:H7, B. burgdorferi, S. Typhimurium DT104, Rotavirus, hepatitis C virus and so on. Since the first HIV infection recognized in 1985, the reported cases of infection and deaths from HIV/AIDS have been steady increased each year. Legionnaire's disease, E. coli O157:H7 colitis, listeriosis and crytosporidiasis have been occurring just sporadically among immunocompromized cases. Many re-emerging communicable diseases were occurred in Korea: leptospirosis, malaria, endemic typhus, cholera, tsutsugamushi disease, salmonellosis, hepatitis A, shigellosis, mumps, measles, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, brucellosis and so on. Leptospirosis and tsutsugamushi diseases have been noticed as major public health problems since 1980s. The malaria that had been virtually disappeared for a decade has reappeared from 1993 with striking increase of patients in recent 3-4 years. The distributions of salmonella and shigella serotypes have been changed a lot in recent few decades. Furthermore rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains induces more difficult and complex problems in control of communicable diseases. We must recognize on the importance of environment and ecosystem conservation and careful prescription of anti-microbial agent in order to prevent communicable diseases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.194-198
• /
• 2007

The mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-2) induces broad collapses, focal necrosis and cytolysis of hepatocytes, and leads to death after three to five days of intraperitoneal injection in mice. The present study investigated whether the combinatorial treatment of dimethyl dicarboxylate/amantadine (2:1) showed hepatoprotective and/or antiviral properties in MHV-2 infected ICR mice. In the study, we found that dimethyl dicarboxylate/amantadine group (VDDBA) increased the survival rate (30.8%) when compared to positive control, VL (7.7%) and that VDDBA lengthened the survival time (4.2 d)after MHV-2 infection. In addition, ALT and AST were well regulated when treated with VDDBA (p<0.01). Finally, we concluded that those results were probably from the inhibition of viral replication and at least antiproliferative effect on MHV-2.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 1990

We evaluated 85 cases with atrophy of left lobe among 11,133 cases performed liver scan using $^{99m}Tc-phytate$ from January 1984 to January 1990 at Kyungpook National University Hospital in association with underlying causes and related conditions. Seventeen cases seemed to be due to biliary tract diseases, eg, cholelithiasis, cholangiocarcinoma, clonorchiasis and postcholecystectomy state. Fifteen cases were patients with primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies. One case had a history of hepatic irradiation. Thirty cases comprised acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and fatty liver. However no causative abnormalities could be detected in 22 cases despite of meticulous diagnostic work-up.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.605-608
• /
• 1992

This paper dealt with the clinical and pathological observations on the experimental rabbit viral hepatitis. Rabbits with 2-14 months of ages were intramuscularly inoculated with virus suspension. The results were summarized as follows. Ninety percents of experimental rabbits inoculated with virus died within 96 hours postinoculation. Common clinical signs were inappetence, increase in body temperature, depression, mild diarrhea and in three cases, bloody foam from nostrils was recognized. At necropsy, in most of the experimental cases, there were hyperemia or haemorrhages in many organs and pale liver. Intestinal catarrh and retention of turbid urine in urinary bladder were seen in some cases. Histopathologically, liver necrosis was found in all the cases died of this disease. However, there was a difference in the severity of hepatic necrosis. Haemorrhages were Iecognized in lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and thymus, in order. Liver necrosis was marked even in the cases with no haemorrhage. Perivascular cuffing in brain and catarrhal enteritis in small intestine were seen in many cases. From these results, consistent and primary lesion in this viral disease is hepatitis in susceptible rabbits. It was concluded that rabbit hepatitis virus might have the properties of hepatotropism and consequently induce peripheral necrosis in the liver leading to acute viremia with haemorrhages.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2009

Recently, herbal drugs haver been used world wide. and generally regarded as safe with no serious adverse reaction. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of frequent cause of liver diseases. If DILI is not treated, it can be developed into liver cirrhosis, hepatoma, etc. Currently, DILI has been reported to be common cause of acute hepatitis, and oriental medicine and folk remedy are not exception. We encountered one case of DILI, cause by folk remedy. Patients complained chest discomfort, yellow skin and urine, nausea, vomiting. Lab test showed elevated level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (r-GTP), total bilirubin (TB). We estimated acute DILI and stopped taking folk medication made by himself. After 1 week of treatment, the clinical symptoms and liver function improved. Genetic and environmental factors as well as drug itself decide the hepatic toxicity, and the major DILI are belonged in acute type. So we need to get more attention to folk medication to help preventing the DILI cause by folk remedy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.411-414
• /
• 2004

Isoniazid is a first-line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. A variety of adverse reactions of isoniazid have been reported. These include hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy, skin rashes, neurologic disturbances and hematologic alterations. Among these, acute pancreatitis due to isoniazid is very rare. We report a case of acute pancreatitis due to isoniazid confirmed by rechallenge test with review of some literatures.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex, a mixture of Aloe vera and Silybum marianum, against acute liver injuries. Acute liver damages were induced by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine (GalN, 700 mg/kg), naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 40 mg/kg) and ethionine (500 mg/kg). $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 (85, 170 and 340) was administered orally 48 h, 24 h, 2 h before and 6 h after the injection of hepatotoxins. At 24 h after GalN treatment the levels of serum aminotransferases and hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione, serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol were decreased. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The serum aminotransferase activities and total bilirubin significantly increased at 48 h after ANIT treatment, but were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. The bile flow was lower after ANIT treatment, which was restored by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex reduced the ethionine-induced elevated hepatic TG contents. Histopathological analysis revealed that signs of liver injury were prominent at 24 h as result of ethionine injection, demonstrated by extensive areas of fatty change and microvesicular steatosis were observed around cells. These changes were attenuated by $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex. Our results suggest that the $ACTIValoe^{(R)}$ N-931 complex has a protective effect on acute liver injury.