• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.713-716
• /
• 2014

Objective: Connections between chronic inflammation and tumor development and progression are now generally accepted. Recent evidence indicates that hepatitis B is associated with several types of cancer, but whether endometrial carcinoma (EC) is included has not been reported. Methods: We analyzed HBV serum marker status in 398 patients with endometrial cancer, comparing them to 788 control women undergoing health examination. Results: The total prevalence of HBsAg tested positive in cancer group was significantly higher than the control group (12.8% vs 6.0%, P=0.001), while positive HBsAb was significantly lower (41.2% vs 68.5%, P=0.001). Hepatitis B carriers in endometrial cancer group were also more frequent than in the control group (9.3% vs 5.5%, P=0.013). Interestingly, in the endometrial cancer group, 147 cases were HBV serum marker negative, which was also higher than in the control group (36.9% vs 15.6%, P=0.001). Conclusion: There may be a correlation between HBV infection and endometrial carcinoma.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.245-250
• /
• 2001

Paraquat is one of the widely used herbicides. But it is fatal, if it is consumed by people. Paraquat poisoning causes acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and progressive respiratory failure. There are no effective antidotes to paraquat. This report is about one case's treatment for acute hepatitis caused by paraquat. The patient was hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Oriental Medical Hospital in Chonju. The patient received the following treatments while in an acute stage : Gamdutanggamibang(甘豆湯加味方), which consists of Radix glycyrrhizae(甘草), Semen mungo(綠豆), burned powder of Rhizoma rhei(大黃炒炭末), Succus phyllostachyos(竹瀝), chinese ink(墨汁) and fluid therapy. The patient received Sagunjatanggamibang(四君子湯加味方) while in a chronic stage. The patient improved faster with the above treatments than with the conventional treatment. We hope that this report will help widening the clinical range of oriental medicine, and improve systemic efforts in treating paraquat poisoning cases.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.320-325
• /
• 2018

E형 간염바이러스는 전세계적으로 매년 2천만건의 감염을 일으키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 흥미로운 것은 임산부에서 특히 높은 치사율을 보이는데, 무려 20-30%의 사망률을 보인다는 점이다. 면역능이 있는 감염환자에서는 E형 간염바이러스 감염은 별다른 증상 없이 자연 치유되지만, 면역능이 낮은 에이즈환자나 고령환자에서는 만성감염을 일으킬 수도 있으며 사망에 이르게 할 수도 있다. 따라서, E형 간염바이러스의 증식억제에 면역반응의 중요성이 높으며, 특히 인터페론 반응이 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료된다. 본 연구팀은 E형 간염바이러스의 프로티아제가 RIG-I 의존적 제 1형 인터페론 반응을 유의미하게 억제하는 것을 관찰하였다. 또한 바이러스 프로티아제가 RIG-I의 하위 신혼전달 분자의 하나인 MAVS의 활성도 농도 의존적으로 억제하는 것으로 분석하였다. E형 간염바이러스에 의한 제 1형 인터페론 반응 억제의 구체적인 작용 기작을 밝힌다면 효과적인 항바이러스제제의 개발의 초석을 놓을 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 대한화학회지
• /
• 제51권1호
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 2007

B형 간염 바이러스(Hepatitis B Virus, HBV)는 만성감염, 간암의 원인이 되는 등 가장 큰 공중보건문제 중의 하나이다. 그리하여 감염 초기에 바이러스의 DNA 농도를 측정하여 관찰 하는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 기존의 Real Time-PCR과 새로운 방법인 Micro-PCR를 이용하여 HBV를 검출하였다. 단국대학교 병원에서 HBV 감염 환자의 혈청 샘플 120개를 얻은 후 분석하였고 각각 장비에서의 검출한계와 재현성, 민감성, 특이성, 분석시간을 비교해 보았다. 그 결과 Micro-PCR과 Real-Time PCR은 높은 검출한계와 재현성, 민감성, 특이성을 가지고 있었다. 그러나 Micro-PCR은 Real-Time PCR보다 빠른 시간 안에 증폭이 가능하며 조작하는데 있어 간편하였고 적은 양의 시약이 소모됨을 알 수 있었다. 그러므로 Micro-PCR은 신뢰성 있고 빠른 임상적 진단이나 각종 검사가 요구되는 곳에서 이용 가치가 높은 장비라 할 수 있겠다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권20호
• /
• pp.8993-9004
• /
• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제31권4호
• /
• pp.393-397
• /
• 1998

25세된 말기 심부전 환자에게 한국에서는 최초로 광배근을 이용한 심근 성형술이 성공적으로 실시되었다. 환자는 약 심근수축력이 30%인 상태로 94년과 96년에 한차례씩 심부전으로 입원한 적이 있으며 수술직전 임상상태는 NYHA functional class III 였다. 간조직 검사상 만성 활동성 간염으로 판명되었으며 환자는 간염 항원이 양성으로 심장이식대상에서 제외되었다. 1996년 7월 30일 좌측 광배근을 이용하여 심근 성형술을 실시하였다. 측와위로 광배근을 박리한후 자극전극을 설치하였으며 흉골 정중 절개로 심장을 노출한 후 광배근으로 심장을 감싸주고 심근 전극을 설치한 후 좌상부 복부에 심장근육자극기를 설치하였다. 총 수술시간은 약 7시간 30분이 소요되었으며 환자는 수술후 일시적인 심방 조동(atrial flutter)을 보여 심도자실에서 동율동으로 환원시킨 것외에는 특별한 합병증은 없었다. 환자는 수술후 6주째 자극기의 빈도가 1:4인 상태에서 퇴원하였으며 통원치료중 1:1로 근육훈련을 마친 후 현재는 수술후 6개월째 자극빈도가 1:4인 상태에서 외래 추적중이다. 심초음파상 수축력의 차이는 없으나 환자의 임상 활동은 수술전보다 양호해진 상태이다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 2014

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-${\alpha}$/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatment-naive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ${\zeta}$ expression on $CD8^+$ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-$1^+$ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ${\zeta}$ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic $CD8^+$ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ${\zeta}$ chain expression in $CD8^+$ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ${\zeta}$ chain expression.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 1985

Many investigators have been pursuing various attempts so far to produce hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) vaccines using the techniques such as isolation from plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier, recombinant DNA technique or preparation of synthetic peptides specific for immunogenic determinants. Hepatitis B virus can not grow on any cell lines by the tissue culture technique at the present time. The plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier is expensive and its source is limited. The HBsAg from the recombinant DNA technique gave still very low yield. Another approach, therefore, has been initiated to develop a synthetic hepatitis B virus vaccine. The possible use of several distinct synthetic vaccines in prophylaxis can be facilitated by availability of full synthetic immunogens. Peptides synthesized for potential application as antiviral vaccines have been mostly tested in the form of conjugates with carrier proteins, although the free synthetic peptide can be immunogenic. To understand basic knowledges on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of a synthetic peptide specific for major immunogenic determinant of HBsAg, a nonapeptide, $H_2N^{139}Cys-Thr-Lys-Pro-Thr-Asp-Gly-^{146}Asn-Aba$ COOH, which corresponds to HBsAg amino acid residues 139 to 147, was synthesized by the Merrifield's solid-phase method with a slight modification. The antigenicity and immunogenicity of this specific synthetic peptide were examined comparing with purified plasma-derived natural HBsAg. The results obtained are as follows; 1. The peptide synthesized showed the identical amino acid composition to the theoretical value. The degree of purification and molecular weight were acertained by methods of high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. 2. Using m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester as a conjugating agent, the synthetic peptide was conjugated to rabbit albumin and ${\gamma}$-globulin, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Their conjugation yields were 8.3, 9.5, 15.8, 13.5, and 11.2%, respectively. 3. The natural HBsAg was purified from plasma of chronic HBsAg carrier. By the electron microscopic observation of the purified natural HBsAg preparation, no Dane particles were observed and the preparation showed negative DNA polymerase activity. 4. Antigenicity of the synthetic peptide and the plasma-derived natural HBsAg was determined by competition radioimmunoassay using $^{125}I$-natural HBsAg. Their 50% inhibitions appeared as $90{\mu}g/ml$ and $0.12{\mu}g/ml$ for the synthetic peptide and the natural HBsAg, respectively. This indicates that the former was about 750-fold less antigenic than the latter. 5. Immunogenicity of the synthetic peptide was determined by administering the peptide-carrier conjugates into rabbits with and without Freund's complete adjuvant. Regardless the carrier proteins and adjuvant, positive immune responses to the synthetic peptide were observed. The higher antibody titers, however, were shown in the groups administered with Freund's complete adjuvant. 6. Immunizing dose 50% in mice of the various peptide-carrier conjugates was 5.47, 6.00, 65.16, 31.25 and $13.03{\mu}g/dose$ for rabbit albumin and ${\gamma}$-globulin, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin, respectively, while the natural HBsAg showed $0.65{\mu}g/dose$. 7. It was postulated that homologous proteins prefer to heterologous ones as the carriers.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2008

RAS guanyl-releasing protein 3 (RasGRP3), a member of the Ras subfamily of GTPases, functions as a guanosine triphosphate (GTP)/guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-regulated switch that cycles between inactive GDP- and active GTP-bound states during signal transduction. Various growth factors enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) proliferation via activation of the Ras/Raf-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, which depends on RasGRP3 activation. We investigated the relationship between polymorphisms in RasGRP3 and progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected HCC in a Korean population. Nineteen RasGRP3 SNPs were genotyped in 206 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and 86 patients with HCC. Our results revealed that the T allele of the rs7597095 SNP and the C allele of the rs7592762 SNP increased susceptibility to HCC (OR=1.55, p=0.04 and OR=1.81${\sim}$2.61, p=0.01${\sim}$0.03, respectively). Moreover, patients who possessed the haplotype (ht) 1 (A-T-C-G) or diplotype (dt) 1 (ht1/ht1) variations had increased susceptibility to HCC (OR=1.79${\sim}$2.78, p=0.01${\sim}$0.03). In addition, we identified an association between haplotype1 (ht1) and the age of HCC onset; the age of HCC onset are earlier in ht1 +/+ than ht1 +/- or ht1 -/- (HR=0.42${\sim}$0.66, p=0.006${\sim}$0.015). Thus, our data suggest that RasGRP3 SNPs are significantly associated with an increased risk of developing HCC.

• 한국융합학회논문지
• /
• 제8권5호
• /
• pp.79-85
• /
• 2017

본 연구는 만성 B형 바이러스성 감염 환자의 간 기능 혈액 검사 수치와 간 섬유화 스캔 검사(FibroScan(R))의 비교 분석을 통한 간 섬유화 스캔 검사의 임상적, 기기적 융합 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 2015년 7월 1일부터 2016년 2월 28일까지 대전시 B내과에 내원한 만성 B형 바이러스성 감염 환자 75명의 간 섬유화 스캔 검사 결과와 간 기능 혈액검사 수치를 분석 하고 ROC곡선을 작성하였다. 알라닌 아미노전이요소, 아스파르테이트 아미노전이요소 수치가 각각 0.572, 0.502로 섬유화 수치와 가장 높은 상관관계를 보였다(p<0.000). 감마지티피, 총 빌리루빈, 알칼리성 인산분해효소 수치도 비교적 유의한 상관관계를 보였으나 알파태아단백과 총 단백정량은 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 또한 알부민(-0.449)과 혈소판치(-0.373)도 섬유화 수치와 상관관계가 없었다(p<0.000). 간 섬유화 정도가 높은 등급일수록 ROC 곡선의 정확도가 증가하였으며 F4의 간 경변 단계에서 가장 큰 AUROC값을 나타냈다. 따라서 간 섬유화 스캔 검사는 만성 간질환 환자의 간 기능 수치인 알라닌 아미노전이요소, 아스파르테이트 아미노전이요소 수치와 유의한 상관관계를 보여 간의 염증 검사 및 만성 간질환 진단에 매우 유용한 것으로 판단된다.