• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.234-243
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the socioeconomic status as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection among community-dwelling adults in Korea. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including 2,617 adults. Data from hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiological investigation and information regarding three markers of socioeconomic status, education, employment, household income, were obtained. Multiple logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for hepatitis C virus infection for socioeconomic status markers, adjusting for the other soioeconomic status marker, behavioral and hepatitis-related factors. Results: Of the 2,617 study subjects, 104 subjects infected with hepatitis C virus and prevalence was 4%. When compared to subjects with a lowest education, ORs was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04-0.69) for highest education group. After adjusting behavioral and hepatitis-related factors, ORs was 0.20 (0.05-0.87) for highest education compared with lowest group. Conclusion: Low educational level was associated with an increased risk of hepatitis C virus infection.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2013

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause viral infections that lead to chronic diseases. When they invade human body, virus specific T cells play an important role in antiviral effector functions including killing virus-infected cells and helping B cells to produce specific antibodies against viral proteins. The antiviral activity of T cells is usually affected by immune-regulatory factors that express on surface of T cells. Recently, many researchers have investigated the relationship between effector functions of virus specific T cells and characteristics of immune regulatory factors (e.g., CD28, CD25, CD45RO, FoxP3, PD-1, CTLA-4). In particular, Immune inhibitory molecules such as forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), programmed death-1 (PD-1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) are associated with T-cell dysfunction. They are shown to be up-regulated in chronic viral diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Therefore, the positive correlation between viral persistence and expression of immune regulatory factors (FoxP3, PD-1, and CTLA-4) has been suggested. In this review, the roles of immune regulatory factors FoxP3, PD-1, and CTLA-4 were discussed in chronic viral diseases such as HIV, HBV, or HCV.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 1998

The genetic of a recently described virus, hepatitis G virus(HGV) was investigated. HGV envelope 1 (E1) nucleotide sequences isolated from six Korean hepatitis b virus-positive patients by using a reverse transcription-poly-merase chain reaction procedure, were analysed and compared to the seven previously reported HGV isolates. Sequence homology among the Korean isolates was 88-97% whereas among the isolates from different geographic areas was 80-92%, indicating geographical divergence of HGV. Nucleotide substitutions spread uniformly throughiut the E1 fragment. Furthermore, compared to the prototype HGV sequence, frameshift mutations were observed in most of the Korean isolating that a different translating initiation site for the polyprotein exists in the Korean type HGV.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.281-292
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• 1986

Infection by hepatitis B virus is one of the major health problems of this nation. HBsAg positive rates of general population and school children were known to be as about 8 percent and 3.9 to 5.9 percent respectively. To study the incidence rate of hepatitis B infection in school children of rural area, author had examined 475 school children of relatively isolated agricultural area for baseline prevalence of hepatitis B virus serologic markers and followed up 415 school children during 10 months to determined the frequency of serologic conversion. The major results are summarized as followings: 1) Among the 278 susceptible children who were followed up, 26 had seroconversion for HBsAg or Anti-HBs. Therefore, the cumulative incidence rate during 10 months is estimated 9.4%. 2) The incidence rate of hepatitis B infection tends to increase with age (6-9yrs: 3.2%, 10-14yrs: 9.5%, 15-17yrs: 18.9%), and the incidence rate in male (13.0%) was higher than in female (5.7%). 3) The incidence rates of hepatitis B virus infection were not different statistically among three economic classes (The rates of lower, middle and higher class were 11.8%, 7.1% and 10.5%.). 4) The incidence rates of hepatitis B virus infection were not different statistically between visitors and non-visitors of clinic or hospital, dental clinic, persons received IV and not received IV, and persons with familial history and without familial history of liver diseases. Therefore all of these factors were not identified as risk factor of hepatitis B virus infection. And the transmissibility within the class of school was not recognized, too. 5) Among the 25 children who were HBsAg positive when enrolled, 15 (60%) were still HBsAg positive, who were identified as chronic carrier 15 of 415 school children were chronic carriers, then chronic carrier rate was estimated 3.6%, and there was no difference between sexes. 6) Of 38 children who had been Anti-HBs positive when enrolled, 5 (13.2%) lost Anti-HBs. Therefore, the loss rate of Anti-HBs per year is estimated to be 15.8%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.82-82
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• 1997

The hepatitis B virus(HBV) is a small, enveloped virus with a circular, double-stranded DNA genome. HBV causes active and chronic hepatitis worldwide, including Korea, and is considered to be a major factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast to the wealth of knowledge on the gene structure and expressional regulation, immunological and pathological mechanisms for HBV-induced hepatocellular injury are not well known. In the present study, vaccinia virus which has been demonstrated to be a useful eukaryotic expression vector was used to clone the gene for HBV surface antigen, L(S+preS2+preS1). The recombinant vaccinia virus vector, pMJ-L, which contains L surface antigen gene of adr-type HBV was constructed, and subseouently used for making recombinant vaccinia virus VV-$\textrm{HBV}_{L}$. Expression of the HBV antigen was examined by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test using mouse monoclonal anti-hepatitis B surface antigen. HBsAg was detected in the recombinant virus indicating that the VV-$\textrm{HBV}_{L}$ expressed S antigen successfully. The HBV-Vaccinia Virus recombinant obtained in this study is currently being used for studying the immunological aspects of HBV infection.

• 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.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2011

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a causative agent of triggering acute hepatitis which is transmitted by person-to-person contact and or fecal-oral route. In previous studies, most hepatitis A virus (HAV) isolates had been genotype IA in Korea. Recently, a small number of different genotypes were reported with an upsurge of acute hepatitis by HAV. Therefore, the distribution of HAV genotypes was investigated. RNA was extracted from anti-HAV IgM positive sera which were collected from February to August 2009, at a tertiary care hospital in eastern Jeonnam, Korea. Nested reverse transcription PCR and direct sequencing for VP1/P2A region of the HAV were performed. A total of 365 cases with suspected acute hepatitis were tested for anti-HAV IgM and positive results were obtained in 24 sera (9.0%), which were collected 2 to 15 days (median, 7 days) after the onset of symptoms. Of the 24 seropositive samples, 14 (58.3%) samples were positive for HAV RNA, among which 4 isolates (28.6%) were genotype IA and the other 10 (71.4%) were genotype IIIA. Both IA and IIIA genotypes were isolated from 5~6 neighboring administrative districts throughout the year without geographic or seasonal restrictions. HAV genotypes (IA and IIIA) were observed from the eastern Jeonnam for the studied.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1979

Up to the present there were the blood transfusion and the use of apparatus not to sterilize at surgical operation and medical treatments in well known infectious ways of hepatitis B virus. But all its ways were still not surely known. As the other ways of hepatitis B virus infection, it was suggested that contagion such as kissing, sexual contact, homosexuality, and varieties discharged out human body urine, stool, tear, salivary, menstrual blood, Vaginal discharge etc, and low economic status, unsanitary environmental life, alcohol and smoking related to hepatitis B virus infection. From 800 waitress who frequently contact with a lot of drinker with low economic status and unclear environmental life, this study were investigated HBs Ag (Hepatitis B surface antigen) known marker for hepatitis B virus infection in their serum, and a few conditions of their private life in order to known dangerous rate b~ing exposed to the source of hepatitis B virus infection as comparison with control group. The results were summarlized as following 1. The positive rate of HBs Ag (4.3%) was significantly higher in waitress than in control group(1.1%). 2. In waitress old, 20-24 ages group was the most as 59.5%, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in twenties than thirties. 3. Among the waitress, one that it was less than a year were the most (62.4%) in the period to work at restaurant business, and positive rate of HBs Ag was trend of higher in propotion to period to work at there. 4. Among the waitress, one who entertained to beer hall was the most (46%), and they were trend of higher in positive rate of HBs Ag (6.3%) than other waitress. 5. Among the waitress, one to drink with smoking, and only to drink, and only to smoke, and not to drink and smoke 66.1%, 21.5%, 4.6% and 7.8%. Espically in one to drink with smoking, ther was trend of indicating the high positve rate of HBs Ag, and it was made suspicion of the relationship of alcohol smoking, contact with a lot of drinker, unclear environment to hepatitis B virus infection. In the above results, it was found that dangerous rate being exposed in hepatitis B virus infection was high in the waitress. Therefore there are required for active preventions against hepatitis B virus infection them. Also as it is possible to be infectious source in public health that waitress infected to viral hepatitis, it is thought that appropriate rules about them.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.399-402
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• 1992

The causative virus causing rabbit hepatitis has been further characterized by evaluating viral proteins and viral nucleic acids of purified viruses from the liver of the experimentally infected rabbits. Rabbit hepatitis virus has one major structural protein of 54 kilodaltons and some minor proteins. Vrial RNA was resistant to DNAse I. The size of viral nucleic acid of this virus was calculated to be about 7.5 kilobases. These findings indicate that rabbit hepatitis virus belongs to the family Caliciviridae.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.125-129
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• 1993

An acute fatal infectious disease in rabbits has been outbroken in Korea since 1985. This disease has been characterized as an acute hepatitis caused by viruses. However, viral pathogenesis in rabbit viral hepatitis leading to sudden death remain unclear. This report dealt with the electron microscopic findings on the spleen of experimentally infected rabbits, because spleen is one of the affected organs which have high titer of virus by a haemagglutination test. A typical crystalline array of virus was not found in the splenic cells of infected rabbits with acute hepatitis. Virus-like particles were seen within the phagosome of macrophages of the spleen. Ultrastructural changes in the spleen were severe with the lapse of time after inoculation. From these results, virus-like particles in the spleen were supposed to be phagocytosed by macrophage during viremia, while active replication of virus occurred in the liver. It was concluded that sudden death in this viral disease was caused by hepatic coma and/or circulatory disturbance.