• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.234-236
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• 1997

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with the rapid development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been reported that the amount of HCV RNA may be correlated with the progression of hepatitis and may be a prognostic marker for treatment of HCV patients. The direct detection of HCV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is widely used to determine the presence of circulating virions. The most relevant limit of this approach is the lack of quantitative information about the viral titer. In the present study, we developed the method for HCV quantitation using competitive reverse transcription (CRT)-PCR using the deleted HCV standard. The serially diluted standard was added in titrated amounts to the target HCV RNA. The mixture was then reverse transcribed and amplified in the same reaction tube. The methods were evaluated using over 110 HCV-PCR positive samples in Koreans. About 59% of the samples were judged to contain $10^{5}-10^{6}$ copies of HCV RNA in 1 ml of serum.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 1983

By radioimmunoassay, serologic markers of Hepatitis B Virus were studied in 44 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 10 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 10 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 44 patients with liver cirrhosis and 25 patients with primary hepato cellular carcinoma. The results were follows: 1) HBsAg was present in 77.2% of AVH, 40% of CPH, 80% of CAH, 55.1% of LC and 68 % of PHC. In this HBsAg positive groups, all but one in liver cirrhosis had Anti-HBc. 2) Anti-HBs was most commonly detected in CPR and accompanied by Anti-HBc except one case in AVH. 3) Anti-HBc was the only marker detected in 11.4% of AVH, 20% of CPH, 20% of CAH, 16.3% of LC and 8% of PHC. 4) HBeAg was most commonly found in HBsAg-positive CPH but Anti-HBe was most frequently detected in PHC. 5) The absence of HBV markers was noted in 2.3% of AVH, 10% of CPH, 8% of PHC except CAH and LC.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2018

The helicase genes and hypervariable regions (HVRs) of three avian hepatitis E viruses (HEVs) detected at three different farms were sequenced and characterized. Two isolates (DW-L and GI-B2) were classified as genotype 2 and one isolate (GR-B) was classified as genotype 1. A phylogenetic tree, based on the helicase gene and HVR nucleotide sequences, revealed the newly detected viruses and other avian HEVs were classified similarly. Unlike previously reported avian HEVs, the DW-L isolate detected in broiler breeders with characteristic lesions of avian HEV had no proline-rich motif in its HVR, suggesting that the proline-rich motif is non-essential for viral replication and infection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.683-689
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• 2005

Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) is the important serological marker of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Conventionally, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) obtained from the plasma of HBV carriers is used as the diagnostic antigen for detection of HBsAb. This blood-origin antigen has some disadvantages involved in high cost, over-elaborate preparation, risk of infection, et al. In an attempt to explore the suitable recombinant HBsAg for the diagnostic purpose, the HBV S gene was expressed in Pichia pastoris and the product was applied for detection of HBsAb. Hepatitis B virus S gene was inserted into the yeast vector and the expressed product was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrolamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immunoblot, electronic microscope and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The preparations of synthesized S protein were applied to detect HBsAb by sandwich ELISA. The S gene encoding the 226 amino acid of HBsAg carrying ahexa-histidine tag at C terminus was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris. The His-Tagged S protein in this strain was expressed at a level of about 14.5% of total cell protein. Immunoblot showed the recombinant HBsAg recognized by monoclonal HBsAb and there was no cross reaction between all proteins from the host and normal sera. HBsAb detection indicated that the sensitivity reached 10 mIu (micro international unit)/ml and the specificity was 100% with HBsAb standard of National Center for Clinical Laboratories. A total of 293 random sera were assayed using recombinant S protein and a commercial HBsAb ELISA kit (produced by blood-origin HBsAg), 35 HBsAb positive sera and 258 HBsAb negative sera were examined. The same results were obtained with two different reagents and there was no significant difference in the value of S/CO between the two reagents. The recombinant HBV S protein with good immunoreactivity and specificity was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris. The reagent for HBsAb detection prepared by Pichia pastoris-derived S protein showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of HBsAb standard. And a good correlation was obtained between the reagent produced by recombinant S protein and commercial kit produced by blood-origin HBsAg in random samples.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2004

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and determine the associated risk factors among young adults in Busan, Korea, which is known to have a high incidence of liver cancer. Methods : The study population consisted of volunteer participants in a health survey during 2002, which included 1,350 students (515 males and 835 females) aged between 16 and 24 years, from three different schools in Busan. The participating students were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire which included lifestyle habits and risk factors of hepatitis. Sera obtained from the participants were studied for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and Anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and for liver function tests. Results : Among the study subjects (N=1,350), the seropositivities of HBsAg 7.9%(95% CI=7.8-8.0), 7.6%(95% CI=7.6-7.7) in male and 8.1%(95% CI=8.0-8.2) in female. And the seropositivity of Anti-HBs was 69.7%(95% CI=69.0-70.4), 70.5%(95% CI=69.8-71.2) in male and 69.2%(95% CI=68.5-69.9) in female. The seropositivity of Anti-HCV was 0.4%, 0.2% in male and 0.5% in female. The seropositivity for HBsAg in the subjects not having a hepatitis B vaccination history was twice(95% CI=1.0-4.4) that of those that did. Also, the seropositivity for HBsAg in subjects having experienced sexual intercourse was 1.7 times (95% CI=0.9-3.0) that of the subjects who had not. Conclusions : The present study confirmed the high prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity and sexual transmission of HBV among adolescents and young adults may occur. Further studies to evaluate the relationship between HBV vaccination and sexual transmission are required for the young population in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.140-147
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• 2004

Urokinase is an enzyme with fibrinolytic activity (plasminogen activator) isolated from fresh urine of healthy men. Viral safety is an important prerequisite for clinical preparation of the protein from urine. In order to increase the viral safety of a high purity urokinase in regard to non-enveloped viruses, a virus removal process using a novel polyvinylidene fluoride membrane filter (Viresolve NFP) has been optimized. Urokinase was able to pass through the filter with recoveries of 95% in the production scale process. No substantial changes were observed in physical and biochemical characteristics of the filtered urokinase in comparison with those of the enzyme before filtration. A 47-mm disk membrane filter was used to simulate the process performance of the production scale cartridges and tested if it could remove several experimental model viruses for human pathogenic viruses, including porcine parvovirus (PPV), human hepatitis A virus (HAV), murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), and bovine herpes virus (BHV). Non-enveloped viruses (PPV, HAV, and EMCV) as well as enveloped viruses (BVDV and BHV) were completely removed during filtration. The log reduction factors achieved were $\geq$4.86 for PPV, $\geq$4.60 for HAV, $\geq$6.87 for EMCV, $\geq$4.60 for BVDV, and $\geq$5.44 for BHV. These results indicate that the virus filtration process successfully improved the viral safety of the final products.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.106-111
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• 2020

Objectives: Hepatitis A is a typical acute hepatitis caused by hepatovirus, and then most patients recover easily without progression to chronic condition. However, certain cases have the risk of severe symptoms or even death. This case report presented a hepatitis A accompanied with pancreatitis, which had been completely recovered in a Korean medicine hospital. Case presentation: A 38-year woman had felt the malaise, mild chilling, muscle pain and abdominal discomfort for 10 days, which led her visit doctors and took anti-pyretic analgesics and digestants. The symptoms, especially epigastric pain and fatigue, became worse, and then she hospitalized in a Korean medicine hospital. Based on the drastic elevations of hepatic enzymes (aspartate transaminase 1,604 IU/L and alanine transaminase 2,825IU/L) with an anti-HAV IgM positive, she was diagnosed with hepatitis A. After bed rest and herbal drug treatment (CGX and Innae-Tang) for 5 days, the laboratory abnormalities and subjective symptoms had been improved gradually, except the upper gastric discomfort and pain. Those symptoms had anticipated the comorbidity with HAV-induced pancreatitis, supported by the high level of serum lipase release. Another 5-day hospitalized treatment improved all subjective symptoms and then the laboratory results were completely normalized including detection of anti-HAV IgG within 15 days after discharge. Conclusion: This study presented a typical hepatitis A accompanied with pancreatitis, which should be considered in diagnosis and management of hepatitis A.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.997-1003
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• 2008

Viral safety is a prerequisite for manufacturing clinical antihemophilic factor VIII concentrates from human plasma. With particular regard to the hepatitis A virus (HAV), a terminal dry-heat treatment ($100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min) process, following lyophilization, was developed to improve the virus safety of a solvent/detergent-treated antihemophilic factor VIII concentrate. The loss of factor VIII activity during dry-heat treatment was of about 5%. No substantial changes were observed in the physical and biochemical characteristics of the dry-heat-treated factor VIII compared with those of the factor VIII before dry-heat treatment. The dry-heat-treated factor VIII was stable for up to 24 months at $4^{\circ}C$. The dry-heat treatment after lyophilization was an effective process for inactivating viruses. The HAV, murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were completely inactivated to below detectable levels within 10 min of the dry-heat treatment. Bovine herpes virus (BHV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were potentially sensitive to the treatment. However porcine parvovirus (PPV) was slightly resistant to the treatment. The log reduction factors achieved during lyophilization and dry-heat treatment were ${\geq}5.55$ for HAV, ${\geq}5.87$ for EMCV, ${\geq}5.15$ for HIV, 6.13 for BHV, 4.46 for BVDV, and 1.90 for PPV. These results indicate that dry-heat treatment improves the virus safety of factor VIII concentrates, without destroying the activity. Moreover, the treatment represents an effective measure for the inactivation of non-lipid-enveloped viruses, in particular HAV, which is resistant to solvent/detergent treatment.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.136-145
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• 2020

Background: Hepatitis B is an important public health problem as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the theoretical and practical knowledge levels of dental assistant students about Hepatitis B Virus. Methods: The 1st and 2nd grade students of the Oral and Dental Health program were invited to participate in the survey. Out of the 68 invited students, 61 completed the questionnaire. The average ages of the male and female students surveyed were 20.27±1.45 and 19.56±1.16, respectively. A total of 34 questions were asked, of which 15 measured basic theoretical knowledge and 19 assessed basic practical knowledge. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the students' knowledge for each question according to their sex and grade. When the questionnaire was grouped into basic theoretical and basic practical knowledge levels, both were observed to be high. While the lowest correct answer rate was 35.00% for the questions about practical applications, it was 31.14% for the questions measuring the level of theoretical knowledge. There was no statistically significant difference when the levels of knowledge of 1st and 2nd grade students were compared. Students answered the majority of the questions correctly, and ranged between 71% and 100%. Conclusion: Students' high level of basic theoretical knowledge can be a result of their in-class education on the fundamentals. However, their knowledge about the correct approaches in practical applications indicates the beneficial role of having well-defined criteria and prevention protocols that are required in hospitals and the effectiveness of their environmental orientations.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2013

CD8+T cells are key factors mediating hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance. However, these cells are killed through HBV-induced apoptosis during the antigen-presenting period in HBV-induced chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. Interferon-inducible protein 6 (IFI6) delays type I interferon-induced apoptosis in cells. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFI6 could affect the chronicity of CLD. The present study included a discovery stage, in which 195 CLD patients, including chronic hepatitis B (HEP) and cirrhosis patients and 107 spontaneous recovery (SR) controls, were analyzed. The genotype distributions of rs2808426 (C > T) and rs10902662 (C > T) were significantly different between the SR and HEP groups (odds ratio [OR], 6.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64 to 26.52, p = 0.008 for both SNPs) and between the SR and CLD groups (OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.25 to 15.26; p = 0.021 and OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.18 to 14.44; p = 0.027, respectively). The distribution of diplotypes that contained these SNPs was significantly different between the SR and HEP groups (OR, 6.58; 95% CI, 1.63 to 25.59; p = 0.008 and OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.61; p = 0.008, respectively) and between the SR and CLD groups (OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.25 to 15.26; p = 0.021 and OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.18 to 14.44; p = 0.027, respectively). We were unable to replicate the association shown by secondary enrolled samples. A large-scale validation study should be performed to confirm the association between IFI6 and HBV clearance.