• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1727-1735
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• 2017

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections cause epidemic or sporadic acute hepatitis, which are mostly self-limiting. However, viral infection in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women may result in serious consequences, such as chronic hepatitis and liver damage, mortality of the latter of which reaches up to 20-30%. Type I interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral immunity is known to be the first-line defense against virus infection. Upon HEV infection in the cell, the virus genome is recognized by pathogen recognition receptors, leading to rapid activation of intracellular signaling cascades. Expression of type I IFN triggers induction of a barrage of IFN-stimulated genes, helping the cells cope with viral infection. Interestingly, some of the HEV-encoded genes seem to be involved in disrupting signaling cascades for antiviral immune responses, and thus crippling cytokine/chemokine production. Antagonistic mechanisms of type I IFN responses by HEV have only recently begun to emerge, and in this review, we summarize known HEV evasion strategies and compare them with those of other hepatitis viruses.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.337-339
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• 2000

Indigestion is one of the most frequent symptom in chronic hepatitis. We treated a 20 year-old female patient of chronic active hepatitis type B with Sengangeonbi-tang. The patient complained indigestion and constipation. The serum aminotransferase were higher and viral marker showed hepatitis was in active phase. 1 week later, the symptom had been changed from severe to mild and aminotransferase decreased. We continued to prescribe the medicine 2 weeks more and could observe that the symptom disappeared and the aminotransferase fell down under normal value with no side effect. Sengangeonbi-tang showed desirable effect on indigestion and more rapid recovery of aminotransferase than previous reports about treating hepatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup2
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• pp.44-49
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• 2008

The prevalence of symptomatic Hepatitis A has inclined significantly during the last several years in Korea. The average age at infection has increased, resulting in more clinically severe infections. Efforts to promote good personal hygiene have not been successful in interrupting outbreaks of hepatitis A. Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing HAV transmission among persons at risk for infection. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all children at age 1 year, for persons who are at increased risk for infection, for persons who are at increased risk for complications from hepatitis A, and for any person wishing to obtain immunity.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Comprehensive understanding of the natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is mandatory for the management and treatment of chronic hepatitis B, of which the natural course consists of immune tolerance, immune clearance, inactive carrier state, and reactivation phase. Evidence based medical approach is essential for the management of HBV carriers and treatment of active hepatitis to decrease risks of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma as well as to increase survival. In addition, education of patients or their parents are required to achieve a better therapeutic outcome and to prevent unconfirmed alternative medicine and anecdotal approaches.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.13-17
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• 2007

Owing to improvement of socioeconomic status during recent decades in Korea, incidence of hepatitis A has rapidly decreased, especially among children. However, this status has paradoxically caused a steady increase of adult patients with HAV infection, causing new medical issues associated with aggravated clinical symptoms. The present study reports an adult case of acute viral hepatitis type A treated with oriental medicine. The elevated biochemical findings(AST, ALT, gamma-GTP, bilirubin), physical symptoms (general weakness, nausea, right flank pain, itching sign), and serological makers (anti-HAV IgM and anti-HAV IgG) were normalized within four weeks. Also, sonographic examination showed a normal pattern on an enlarged liver image. This study informed us about the clinical capacity of oriental medicine for adult patients with acute viral hepatitis type A.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2016

Hepatitis B virus is the leading source of liver disorders and is a global health problem and needs advancements in its treatment against increasing problems. Recently five vanitaracin derivatives were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces species which have anti-Hepatitis B virus activity. Hence, in the present study, molecular docking was carried out with five vanitaracin derivatives isolated from Talaromyces species and three known inhibitors.The objective of this work is to study the interaction of newly isolated compounds and compare its interaction with known inhibitors. The docking results revealed that vanitaracin derivatives have good interactions and has better docking score with the Hepatitis B virus and suggest SER2, SER4 and ASP30 are important residues involved in interaction with the inhibitors. These result authenticates vanitaracin derivatives contributes to inhibitory activity of Hepatitis B virus to treat liver disorders.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2003

Purpose: Hepatic allografts from donors with hepatitis B core antibody have been demonstrated to transmit hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to recipients after liver transplantation (LT). The efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIg) to prevent de novo hepatitis B was investigated by comparing active immunization in the early phase to HBIg monotherapy in the late phase of pediatric liver transplants at Samsung Medical Center. Methods: Among pediatric liver transplants, from May, 1996 to June, 2002, 15 recipients who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (-) received an allograft from a donor with hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) (+). Except two who died from unrelated causes, eleven of 13 recipients were HBsAb (+), and 2 were naive (HBsAb(-), HBcAb(-)). All patients were vaccinated for HBV before LT. In the early phase (January, 1997~November, 1997, 3 patients), HBsAb (+) recipients received booster vaccination after LT. In the late phase (December, 1997~, 10 patients), all recipients were given booster vaccination and received HBIg therapy in order to maintain HBsAb titer greater than 200 IU/L. Lamivudine was given in one case because of severe side effect of HBIg. We retrospectively analyzed the effect of the preventive therapy for de novo hepatitis B through medical records. Results: De novo hepatitis B developed in three of 13 recipients (23.1%). All of 3 patients who received active immunization in the early phase became HBsAg (+) at 7~19 months after transplantation. One of them was naive before LT and the other two were HBsAb (+). All of 10 recipients who were given HBIg in the late phase remained HBsAg (-) at 7~55 months' follow-up. Conclusion: Passive immunization with HBIg was effective for prevention of de novo hepatitis B in HBsAg (-) recipients of hepatic allografts from HBcAb (+) donors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2015

Background: Healthcare workers' practices regarding hepatitis B have an important effect on the control of this problem in workplaces. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was used to investigate the role of knowledge, cues to action, and risk perceptions as predictors of preventive behavioral intentions for hepatitis B among healthcare works in Broujen, Iran (n = 150). History of hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B surface antigen test, and demographic characteristics were investigated. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were established. Results: Those who had a history of hepatitis B surface antigen test had a statistically significant higher level of risk perceptions ($30.89{\pm}4.08$ vs. $28.41{\pm}3.93$, p < 0.01) and preventive behavioral intentions ($5.05{\pm}1.43$ vs. $4.45{\pm}1.29$, p < 0.01). The mean score of cues to action was significantly correlated with age and work history (r = 0.20, p = 0.02 and r = 0.19, p = 0.02). Preventive behavioral intentions were significantly correlated with cues to action and risk perceptions but not with knowledge level. Cognitional factors were responsible for a 17% change in observed variance of preventive behavioral intentions, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Risk perceptions were the most important determinant of preventive behavioral intentions for hepatitis B among health personnel; thus, emphasizing risk perceptions is recommended in educational programs aimed at increasing health personnel's practices regarding hepatitis B.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.257-271
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• 2017

Purpose: The hepatitis B virus is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The clinical guidelines recommend that inactive chronic hepatitis (ICH) patients also check their liver function every 6 to 12 months and manage the potential risks. This study compared the hepatitis B knowledge, self-care practice, and quality of life in patients with HBV according to the disease activity. Methods: This study was conducted in a university hospital and surveyed on 65 ICH patients and 68 progressive chronic liver disease (PCLD) patients from November in 2012 to September in 2013. Results: The knowledge of hepatitis B was lower in the group of a lately perceived HBV infection and ICH. Self-care practice was lower in the male and the patients group with a perceived HBV infection within 5 years. The "taking regular liver function test" score was lower in the ICH. Eight out of 12 Liver Disease Quality of Life instrument (LDQOL) subscales were lower in PCLD. Conclusion: The hepatitis B knowledge and self-care practice are relatively lacking in ICH and the patients group with a perceived HBV infection within 5 years. More effective education programs will be necessary to enhance the hepatitis B knowledge and self-care for patients with HBV and even for ICH.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.164-173
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• 2012

Objectives: Over the past several years, the incidence of hepatitis A infection has been increasing rapidly in the young-adult population in Korea. We examined the effects of area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene on the incidence of hepatitis A. Methods: This study is based on the registered national population of Korea and the national health insurance data from 2004 to 2008. A total of 73 459 individuals were confirmed to have had hepatitis A. The standardized incidences of hepatitis A in 232 districts adjusted for sex and age of people were calculated for each year, and the rate ratios of the incidence rates were estimated according to area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene using multiple Poisson regression models. Results: The incidence rates of hepatitis A infection were 15.6 (per 100 000) in 2004, 19.0 (per 100 000) in 2005, 27.2 (per 100 000) in 2006, 25.1 (per 100 000) in 2007, and 61.7 (per 100 000) in 2008. The analysis of the area-level effects showed that residential areas of the less deprived than other regions, areas with higher levels of education, and heavily populated areas were significantly associated with increased risk. Conclusions: There is a very strong possibility that both area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene play a role in increasing the risk of hepatitis A infection in Korea. Therefore, to reduce hepatitis A infection, we need a nationwide strategy that considers these area-level characteristics.