• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.2989-2992
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• 2009

An efficient synthetic route of novel 2′(${\alpha}$)-C-fluoro-2′(${\beta}$)-C-methyl carbocyclic nucleoside analogues is described. The key fluorinated intermediate 7 was prepared from the epoxide intermediate 5 via selective ring-opening of epoxide. Coupling of 7 with nucleosidic bases under the Mitsunobu reactions followed by deprotection afforded the target carbocyclic nucleoside analogues. The synthesized compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Huh-7 cell line in vitro.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2000

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the important human pathogen that can cause acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, the third generation radiation immuno assay (RIA) method has been developed as a very sensitive test to detect anti-HCV antibody. However, false positive is the problem with RIA test. To solve this the RIA results were compared to those of 5-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay (5-RIBA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Among 12,767 serum samples tested from clinic visitors, total 275 (2.2%) samples were antibody positive by RIA. RIBA was performed with 148 RIA positives cases but among them was shown eighty five was antibody positive and sixty three (42.6%) was negative result. However, nested RT-PCR test was shown also carried out with 43 positive, 6 intermediates and 25 negatives of RIBA. As a result of the nested RT-PCR results, HCV antigen were detected in RIBA positive, 33.3% (2/6) RIBA intermediate and 12% (3/25). Clinical syndrome of all 148 patients as a with chronic active hepatitis (46.0%), cirrhosis (18.9%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.1%) and others (27.0%) and they were positive in reaction by RIA test. But RIBA positive patients with 34.9% of chronic active hepatitis, 18.6% of cirrhosis, 4.6% of hepatocellular carcinoma and 41.9% of others were detected to be positive case by nested RT-PCR.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.190-196
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• 1993

The prognosis of chronic hepatitis C is very variable. In some, the disease is progressive and cirrhosis can develop from chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C virus(HCV) may act as a trigger towards hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis. Interferon has been used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in abroad, 16 patients with chronic C liver disease were treated with ${\alpha}$-interferon (alfa-2b; "Intron A" Schering Corp. Kenilworth. NJ). All patients were given ${\alpha}$-interferon in subcutaneous doses of 3 million units three times weekly for 1 to 9 months. During therapy, CBC and ALT levels were checked weakly to monthly. After therapy, patients were followed for 1 to 8 months. Among 16 patients treated with ${\alpha}$-interferon, progressive decrease of ALT levels was observed in 14(87.5%). In 11 patients(68.8%), ALT levels fell into the normal range during therapy, and in 9 of 11, within one month after therapy, 6 months after the completion of therapy in 4 of 9 patients(44.4%) whose ALT levels were in the normal range, ${\alpha}$-interferon seems to have effect in controlling disease activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C. But the changes in the usage of ${\alpha}$-interferon, dose and duration, long term follow up and more convenient and simple tests for HCV detection are recommended for the better effect and the exact evaluation on the effect of ${\alpha}$-interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1072-1078
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• 2018

Purpose: The Korean society has moved rapidly toward becoming a multicultural society. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis viruses and investigate hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypic diversity in female marriage immigrants. Materials and Methods: Screening program was conducted at support centers for multicultural families in 21 administrative districts in Korea between July 2011 and January 2017. A total of 963 female marriage immigrants were included in this study. Blood samples were tested for hepatitis viral markers and HBV genotype. Results: Subjects' median age was 33 years (20-40 years), and they originated from nine countries including Vietnam (n=422, 43.8%), China (n=311, 32.3%), the Philippines (n=85, 8.8%), Cambodia (n=58, 6.0%), and Japan (n=39, 4.0%). About 30% (n=288) of subjects required hepatitis A vaccination. HBsAg positive rate was 5.4% (n=52). Positive HBsAg results were the highest in subjects from Southeast Asia (6.6%, n=38). Anti-HBs positive rate was 60.4% (n=582). About 34% (n=329) of subjects who were negative for anti-HBs and HBsAg required HBV vaccinations. Genotypes B and C were found in 54.6% (n=12) and 45.4% (n=10) of the 22 subjects with HBV, in whom genotypes were tested. Eight (0.8%) subjects were positive for anti-HCV. Positive anti-HCV results were the highest in subjects from Central Asia (7.9%, n=3). Conclusion: Testing for hepatitis viral marker (hepatitis A virus IgG and HBsAg/anti-HBs) is needed for female marriage immigrants. Especially, HBV genotype B is different from genotype C of Koreans. Therefore, interest and attention to vaccination programs for female marriage immigrants are necessary for both clinicians and public health institutes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was performed to determine the incidence density and the prevalence of sero-positive hepatitis C from 1999 to 2002 among adults aged 20 and over residing in Seoul and the Gyeonggi province. Method : The data for period was obtained from 114,635 adults, residing in Seoul or the Gyeonggi province, who had undertaken comprehensive health screening tests from Jan 1999 to Dec 2002 in a University hospital in Seoul. Among them, subjects with sero-negative status against hepatitis C were selected (21,408 in 1999, 28,830 in 2000) and then followed up until Dec 2002 to determine the incidence of hepatitis C during this period. The serum was tested with the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) which uses third generation HCV antibody. Age adjusted rates were estimated by direct standardization using a reference population of 2000 aged from 20 to 80 years. Results : The prevalence of anti-HCV from 1999 to 2002 was 2.1 per 1000 persons(95% CI $1.8{\sim}2.4$). Male showed 1.7 per 1000 persons (95% CI $1.4{\sim}2.1$), while female showed 2.7 per 1000 persons(95% CI $2.2{\sim}3.2$). Age?sex adjusted rate showed 2.8 per 1000 persons (95% CI $2.64{\sim}2.96$), which is lower than the results of some previous study. The prevalence showed a significantly increasing pattern with age both in males and females (p<0.05). The incidence density of anti-HCV among the population aged 20 and over was 1.1 per 104 person-years at risk (95% CI $0.6{\sim}2.4$); 1.2 (95% CI $0.6{\sim}2.7$) for males and 0.8 (95% CI $0.6{\sim}4.2$) for females. Age adjusted incidence density was 2.91 per 104 person-years at risk (95% CI $2.43{\sim}3.38$) for those aged 20 and over. It showed an increasing pattern with age (p<0.05), especially for those age over 50 years. Conclusion : The study subjects for this study were supposedly healthier than the general population so the prevalence and incidence for the general population are thought to be higher than the results of the present study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7675-7679
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• 2013

Background: A missense mutation in exon 7 (R249S) of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is characteristic of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure. AFB1 is believed to have a synergistic effect on hepatitis virus B (HBV) carcinogenesis. However, results of studies comparing R249S prevalence among patients are conflicting. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the R249S mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with or without positive HBsAg. Materials and Methods: Paraffin embedded liver tissues were obtained from 124 HCC patients who underwent liver resection and liver biopsy in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was utilized to detect the R249S mutation. Positive results were confirmed by direct sequencing. Results: Sixty four (52%) patients were positive for HBsAg and 18 (15%) were anti-HCV positive. 12 specimens tested positive by RFLP. Ten HCC patients (8.1%) were confirmed to be R249S positive by Sanger sequencing (AGG to AGT). Out of these 10, six were HBsAg positive, and out of the remaining 4, two were anti-HCV positive. The R249S prevalence among HCC patients with positive HBsAg was 9.4% compared to 6.7% for HBsAg negative samples. Patients with the R249S mutation were younger ($55{\pm}10$ vs $60{\pm}13$ year-old) and tended to have a more advanced Edmonson-Steiner grade of HCC, although differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study shows moderate prevalence of aflatoxin B1-related p53 mutation (R249S) in HCC with or without HBsAg. HBsAg positive status was not associated with R249S prevalence.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2012

Purpose: The aims of this study was to compare and evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis for infants under age 1 year with CMV hepatitis and those with viral hepatitis of unknown etiology. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of infants under age 1 year who were admitted with acute hepatitis. The exclusion criteria consisted of: autoimmune, genetic, metabolic, toxic, HAV, HBV, HCV, toxoplasma, rubella, herpes simplex, and Epstein-Barr virus. The 30 patients included were divided into two groups based on markers for CMV (IgM anti-CMV, CMV PCR in urine, CMV culture in urine). Results: The median age of patients (n=15) was 2.8 months. No other organ involvement was detected in any patient. Peak serum total bilirubin levels (n=4) ranged from 2.6 to 6.7 mg/dL. Peak serum ALT levels ranged from 51 to 1,581 IU/L. The duration of ALT elevation ranged from 1.5 weeks to 26 weeks (median 9 weeks). All had recovered in full without ganciclovir; there were no cases of hearing loss. The median age of controls (n=15) was 2.5 months. Peak serum total bilirubin levels (n=4) ranged from 1.6 to 9.1 mg/dL. Peak serum ALT levels ranged from 26 to 1,794 IU/L. No significant differences were observed between both groups regarding the peak serum ALT levels, peak serum total bilirubin levels, duration of hyperbilirubinemia and ALT elevation. Conclusion: Although it was not possible to differentiate congenital infection with perinatal infection in this study, the prognosis of patients with CMV hepatitis without other organ involvement was good without ganciclovir treatment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.837-850
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• 2013

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a major pathogen of cattle, is a well-characterized pestivirus which has been used as a good model virus for HCV. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) plays a key role in the RNA replication process, thus it has been targeted for antivirus drugs. We employed two-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (2D-QSAR) and molecular field analysis (MFA) to identify the molecular substructure requirements, and the particular characteristics resulted in increased inhibitory activity for the known series of compounds to act as effective BVDV inhibitors. The 2D-QSAR study provided the rationale concept for changes in the structure to have more potent analogs focused on the class of arylazoenamines, benzimidazoles, and acridine derivatives with an optimal subset of descriptors, which have significantly contributed to overall anti-BVDV activity. MFA represented the molecular patterns responsible for the actions of antiviral compound at their receptors. We conclude that the polarity and the polarizability of a molecule play a main role in the inhibitory activity of BVDV inhibitors in the QSAR modeling.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1785-1788
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• 2006

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) may progress to advanced liver disease. The diagnosis is made on liver biopsy when investigating a patient with raised transaminases and an otherwise negative biochemical and serological work-up. The subject was a obese male patient who had unexplained raised GOT, GPT. He had no alcoholic consumption and drug ingested. On serological examination, HBsAg and Anti-HCV test are negative. The subject was diagnosed as NASH, and was treated with oriental treatment for obesity. After 2months treatment the raised GOT, GPT decreased to normal range.