• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.906-918
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• 2019

MicroRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) is one of the potential microRNAs that have been shown to alleviate inflammatory responses in pre-clinical investigations and is highly encased in exosomes derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes). MSC-exosomes are able to function as carriers to deliver microRNAs into cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is one of the challenging liver diseases with no effective treatment other than steroid hormones. Here, we examined whether MSC-exosomes can transfer miR-223-3p to treat autoimmune hepatitis in an experimental model. We found that MSC-exosomes were successfully incorporated with miR-223-3p and delivered miR-223-3p into macrophages. Moreover, there was no toxic effect of exosomes on the macrophages. Furthermore, treatments of either exosomes or exosomes with miR-223-3p successfully attenuated inflammatory responses in the liver of autoimmune hepatitis and inflammatory cytokine release in both the liver and macrophages. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of miR-223-3p level and STAT3 expression in the liver and macrophages. These results suggest that MSC-exosomes can be used to deliver miR-223-3p for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2002

Hepatitis B viral infection which affect about 10% of Korean population manifests asymptomatic carrier, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and even associates with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical manifestations induced by hepatitis B virus vary depending on the degree of immune response by cytotoxic T cells against viral epitope-presenting liver cells. Since hepatitis B virus presents high rate of mutaton that might change the presented epitope and eventually alter immune response, viral mutations, especially in promoters and enhancers, have an important implication in hepatic inflammation and viral replication. To identify mutations related to the hepatic inflammation, we investigated sequence variations of hepatitis B viral promotor regions in the presence or absence of symptoms in hepatitis B carriers. For this, sera from persistently hepatitis B virus-infected mother-child pairs were collected. After PCR amplifiation of all hepatitis B viral promoters (C promoter, S1 promoter, S2/S promoter, X promoter) using serum DNA from each pair, viral promotors were sequenced by automatic sequencer and then sequence data were analyzed by ClustalW. In most cases, the dominant type of maternal virus was transmitted to the child. However, in some children, some new host specific viral variants could be observed in Cp, S1p and S2/Sp. The mutations in C promoter did not seem to be vertically transmitted but arose in new host independently after the wild type had been transmitted. Enhancer I containing X promoter revealed high host specific variations as has been reported before. Two S promoters, S1p and S2/Sp, have shown some point mutations in children, but no deletion mutations were detected as in chronic hepatitis patients in whom deletion mutations are frequently found. In conclusion, the children with the vertically transmitted hepatitis B virus mostly retain the dominant type virus that had been transmitted. However, host specific variants tended to accumulate over time, possibly as clinical symptoms develop.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 1988

Gamiinjinoryung-San is composed of eight crude drugs including Artemisiae capillaris Herba which is widely used for the treatment of acute jaundice, acute and chronic hepatitis at the Oriental hospital of Kyung-Hee Medical Center. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of water extract of Gamiinjinoryung-San on the liver function. The results obtained were as follows; the extract markedly reduced LDH and ALP activities, but slightly decreased GOT and GPT activities elevated with D-galactosamine in rat serum. The liver protective activities were shown in $CCl_4-intoxicated\;rats$. The extract prevented the prolongation of sleeping time in $CCl_4-intoxicated\;rats$. The bile flow and the biliary bile acid secretion were significantly increased in normal rats.

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

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.228-237
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• 2002

Acute hepatitis is caused by virus, alcohol. toxins and drugs. Clinical symptoms of acute hepatitis are severe fatigue, jaundice, nausea, hepatomely, lymphadenopathy. We encountered two cases of acute hepatitis, one C type viral hepatitis and the other hepatitis by overuse of medicine. The symptoms of the latter are severe fatigue, petechia and heartburning. The symptoms of the latter are severe fatigue, nausea, dyspepsia, yellow urine and skin. We recognized that total bilirubin. direct bilirubin, serum transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase were elevated. We treated both patients with herb medicine(Gagamsaenggan-tang). Gagamsaenggan-tang has been used to hepatic diseases and have been known to have beneficial effects. The patients' symptoms began to improve after about two weeks of treatment. After 3 weeks on medication, the clinical symptoms and liver function of two patients were improved.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.690-695
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• 2008

The age-specific anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rates in South Korea have changed markedly since the last 2030 years with an improvement in the socio-economic, housing, and environmental-sanitation conditions. These changes are characterized by very low anti-HAV seropositive rates among individuals less than 30 years of age; however, nowadays, most adolescents and young adults at an increased risk of developing symptomatic HAV infections. The Korea Center for Disease Control Sentinel Surveillance System has recently revealed an increase in the incidence of hepatitis A infection since 2001 and has revealed a potential endemic nature of the hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A vaccines that were introduced in 1997 in Korea have made the current anti-HAV IgG positive rates in children (less than 10 years of age) approximately 50% of the rates observed in Seoul in 2006. However, in the same year, a few children were diagnosed as having anti-HAV IgG antibodies in Busan. This suggests the presence of some difference in the vaccination policy among doctors practicing in Seoul and Busan. Thus, the current recommendation of vaccinating 12-year-old child with HAV vaccination should be emphasized and a new strategy should be developed for the vaccination program to cater to the adolescents and young adults who are not immune, as well as for persons who are at a high risk for hepatitis A viral infection such as military personnel and hospital and day care center employees. Further, urgent hepatitis A vaccinations are also needed in patients with chronic liver diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.836-843
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• 2005

Objective : Liver cirrhosis is a disease of the liver in which normal cells are replated by scar tissue. Chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis are the foutth ranked causes of death in Korea. However, clinical data on liver cirrhosis is not accumulated in oriental medicine. Therefore, clinical characteristics of 33 liver patients admitted to Hana Oriental Hospital from May 2004 to May 2005 were studied. Methods : Clinical characteristics of liver cirrhosis, such sex, age, causes, Child-Pugh class, chief complain, abdomen ultrasonography, disease duration, past history, blood test and urinalysis were reviewed. Results : The results of this study were as follows: 1 The distribution of sex and age in our study is similar to already reported statistics. 2. Hepatitis B and alcohol are the major factors to cause the liver cirrhosis. Diabetes and hypertention contribute more to cause than they have in previous histories. 3. Major symptoms are following: fatigue 87.9%, ascites 84.8%, jaundice 78.8%, leg edema 72.7%, dyspepsia 45.5%. 4. Most liver cirrhosis patients have pancytopenia. Standard Deviation accentuates the big differences between total bilirubin and serum amonia. 5. In urinalysis, Urobilinogen 19 patients (57.6%), bilirubin 12 patients (36.4%), blood 15 patients (45.5%) are positive. 11 cases of 15 in blood positive results scored $3{\sim}4+$. Contusions : In oriental medicine, it will be necessary to research and develop oriental medical therapies for liver disease including liver cirrhosis.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 2018

Backgrounds/Aims: The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiological, laboratory, and serological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal transaminases. The study also aimed to evaluate liver damage by measuring the liver fibrosis (LF) grade and to identify possible factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with chronic HBV infection and classified as inactive carriers or immune-tolerant. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, immigrant, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as virological variables (HBV DNA) and transaminase level were collected throughout the follow-up. The LF grade was evaluated by transient elastography. The cutoff value for significant fibrosis (SF) was liver stiffness ${\geq}7.9kPa$. Results: A total of 214 patients were included in the analysis, and 62% of them had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$. During follow-up, 4% of patients showed transaminase elevation (<1.5 times normal). Most patients had a viral DNA level <2,000 IU/mL (83%). Data on LF were available in 160 patients; of these, 14% had SF, 9% F3, and 6% F4. The variables associated with the presence of SF were transaminase alteration during follow-up, as 23% of patients with SF had elevated transaminases versus 3% of patients without SF (P<0.005), and BMI, as the vast majority of patients with SF (88%) had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ versus 56% of patients without SF (P<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HBV infection and normal transaminases, liver damage does not seem to be related to DNA levels, alcohol consumption, or immigrant status. SF seems to be associated with transaminase alteration during follow-up and elevated BMI. It is therefore recommended to measure LF grade with validated non-invasive methods in such patients.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 1999

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been identified as an important cause of posttransfusion hepatitis, but vertical transmission of chronic infected HCV RNA positive mothers has been documented in some cases. The reports of the risk of perinatal infection have been widely varied in the literature. The authors experienced one case of vertical transmission of HCV in an infant of a mother who had hepatitis C during pregnancy. At admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+) and Ig M anti HCV (+) were found in the mother. Also at admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+), Ig M anti HCV (+), elevation of liver aminotransferase level and hepatosplenomegaly on ultrasonography were found in the baby on day 31. HCV RNA (-), Ig M anti HCV (-) and normal of liver aminotransferase level were noted on day 250 in the serum of the infant. We used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to find a very small amount of HCV RNA in the serum. All the findings suggest vertical transmission of HCV RNA from mother to infant during 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2006

Objective : Report on a hepatitis B patient with abnormal AST/ALT, HBeAg(+), and habitual diarrhea stemming from irritable colon. Methods : Lab-evaluation of intervals of herb medicine treatment for a patient with hepatitis B with HBeAg and irritable colon. Result & Conclusion : AST/ALT level was normalized and did not rise again. Seroconversion to HBeAb repeatedly appeared just druing the time of the treatment, but typically repeated seroconversion between treatment period and no treatment period confirmed that the treatment was effective for the immune system against hepatitis B. The exact mechanism is not clear but the result provides an indication that oriental herbal medicine has potential capacity to treat liver diseases.