• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2011

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fi fth most common malignancy in the world and complicates liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in many cases. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of Korean red ginseng extract (KGE) in patients with chronic liver diseases. Thirty male and female patients with HCC and another thirty with liver cirrhosis were included. Each category was divided into two groups; the first was used as control group, and received medical therapy only and the second group received the medical therapy supplemented with KGE capsules. The treated group with HCC received three KGE capsules/day (900 mg) while the treated group with HCV received two KGE capsules/day (600 mg) for 11 weeks along with their medical therapy. All patients were subjected to clinical examination and laboratory investigations, including liver function tests (at baseline, after 6 weeks of treatment and at the end of the study) and abdominal ultrasonography. Patients showing focal hepatic lesions were subjected to triphasic spiral abdominal computerized tomography and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). HCV RNA was determined quantitatively by Roche for patients in the HCV group. Results showed that the medical therapy alone failed to normalize the liver enzymes or decrease the virus concentration. KGE administration induced a significant improvement in liver function tests, decreased the tumor marker (AFP) levels, and decreased the viral titers in HCV patients. Thus, KGE demonstrated powerful therapeutic effects against HCV and liver cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2020

Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), also known as infectious tracheobronchitis or kennel cough occurs in a multiple-dog environment such as a shelter. In this study, we were collected 300 of nasal swab samples from dogs and 145 of environmental samples from a shelter to investigate respiratory pathogens of dogs in the Gwangju metropolitan city animal shelter from February to October, 2019. Bacteria cultures for isolation of Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were performed for detection of eleven canine respiratory pathogens, namely Mycoplasma (M.) cynos, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine influenza virus (CIV), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), alpha-coronavirus (CCoV), canine pneumovirus (CnPnV), canine hepacivirus (CHeV), canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2), canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) and canine bocavirus (CBoV). Among 300 nasal swab samples, 148 samples (49.3%) were positive for at least one pathogens. CHV-1 was the most common pathogen, found in 95/300 (31.7%) samples. Subsequently, M. cynos (22.0%), B. bronchiseptica (2.3%), CPIV (2.0%), CBoV (1.7%), CCoV (0.7%) were detected. The detection rates of M. cynos and CHV-1 according to the duration of stay in the shelter were statistically significant. Among environmental samples, M. cynos, CCoV, CBoV and CHV-1 were detected in 45/145 (31.0%). These results indicated the need for disease control and prevention systems in the shelter.