The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading causative agent of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic HEV strains have been isolated from several animal species, including pigs. New HEV variants have been recently isolated from camels in the Middle East. In the present study, fecal samples from fallow deer, formosan deer, alpaca, and guanaco were analyzed for the detection of HEV. One HEV strain was detected from guanaco, a species of camelids. The nucleotide sequence of guanaco HEV was identical to those of deer HEV-3 strains, which implied the cross-species transmission of HEV-3 from deer to guanaco.

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health problem worldwide, as it is one of the main risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cross-species transmission of HBV has been reported in non-human primates, and pigs may also be infected with HBV or an HBV-like agent. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the presence of HBV antigens and anti-HBV antibodies in pig sera, providing further support for the existence of HBV or an HBV-like agent in pig populations. The HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) in pig serum samples were detected using HBsAg and HBeAg ELISA Kits, respectively. Antibodies to HBsAg and the Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in serum samples were also detected using anti-HBsAg and anti-HBcAg antibody ELISA Kits, respectively. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected in 7 of 442 (1.6%) and 7 of 184 (3.8%) pig serum samples, respectively. Furthermore, antibodies specific to HBsAg and HBcAg were identified in 45 of 442 (10.2%) and 39 of 434 (9.0%) pig serum samples, respectively. However, neither HBV DNA nor antibodies to HBeAg were detected in 409 and 298 pig serum samples, respectively. HBV antigens and anti-HBV antibodies were both present in a considerable number of pig serum samples, suggesting that pigs could be infected with a variant HBV or an HBV-like agent. Further studies will be necessary to confirm cross-species infection of pigs with HBV.

총수담관 담석에 의한 폐쇄성 황달 발생시 일반적으로 담즙정체형 간기능 이상을 보이나 일부 환자에서는 아미노전이효소가 1,000 IU/L 이상 증가되는 간세포손상형의 간기능 이상을 보여 급성 간염으로 오인되는 경우가 있다. 이에 저자 등은 아미노전이효소가 1,000 IU/L 이상 상승하였고 혈청 ALP 검사치는 정상이며 영상검사에서 담관계 질환이 관찰되지 않아 급성 간염으로 진단 후 치료 중 급성 담관염으로 재진단된 1 예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. extract (ATE) in prevention of liver injury. After oral administration of ATE to SD rats, liver injuries were induced by treatment with CCl₄, galactosamine, or ethionine. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride, and cholesterols in blood were used as indicators of liver damage. When acute hepatitis was induced by CCl₄ or galactosamine, ATE-fed rats showed a lower level of AST and ALT in plasma than ATE-unfed rats. In the case of ethionine-induced fatty liver, triglyceride levels in plasma were reduced in ATE-fed rats, compared with ATE-unfed rats. These results indicate that Acer tegmentosum Maxim. extract protected against hepatic failure.

간조직 생검은 침습적이며, 합병증의 위험을 동반함에도 불구하고 간섬유화의 정도를 예측하는 표준 진 단법으로 적용된다. 이러한 단점을 보완하기 위해 본 연구에서는 만성 C형간염 환자 200명을 대상으로 Fib roscan®을 이용하여 간섬유화 등급을 나누고, ROC 곡선을 측정하여 혈청학적검사로 계산되는 FIB-4, APR I, AAR의 유용성과 실질적인 Cut-off value를 알아보고자 하였다. 그 결과 간섬유화 평가를 위해 AAR을 적 용하는 것보다는 APRI, FIB-4를 이용하는 것이 적절할 것으로 생각되며, 경한 섬유화 등급을 예측하기 위 해서는 APRI, 간경변군인 F4등급에는 FIB-4를 사용하는 것이 유용하다고 판단된다. 혈청학적 간섬유화 표 지자의 간편하고 반복 측정이 가능하다는 장점을 이용해 간 섬유화의 경과 관찰 기간을 줄일 수 있으므로 나아가 간경변과 간암의 유병률을 감소시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of liver and gallbladder in patients with acute hepatitis A during transabdominal ultrasonography (US). In this study, we included 61 patients with acute hepatitis A and 50 controls. Wall thickness and lumen diameter of gallbladder were measured for determined the mural edema and hypertonicity of gallbladder. To evaluate the hepatic size and stiffness, two sagittal images of the left lobe of the liver were obtained during the resting state (resting image) and at full inspiration (stress image). The elongation rate was calculated by a formula: (L2-L1/L1)×100 (%); where L1 and L2 are the length of the liver for both the resting and stress image. The elongation rate was compared between controls and patients with acute hepatitis A. The wall thickness and lumen diameter of gallbladder were 7.0±3.5mm, 10.2±9.9mm, respectively. In 21 cases (34%), the lumen of gallbladder was collapsed. The mean diameter of left lobe in patients with acute hepatitis A (10.3±1.4cm)was larger than that of controls (8.2±1.1cm). The elongation rate in patients with acute hepatitis A (8.0±8.8%) was smaller than that of controls (25.5±13.4%). Robust US findings in patients with acute hepatitis A were edematous gallbladder with collapse and hepatomegaly with stiffness.

Albendazole is the most commonly used medication worldwide for parasitic infestation. Albendazole may induce side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and headache, however hepatotoxicity is rare. A 37-year old woman was admitted to the hospital due to headache. Her child had been repeatedly infected with enterobius vermicularis, therefore she took albendazole three times for prophylactic purposes. The patient was diagnosed with hepatotoxicity induced by Albendazole based on a history of drug use; clinical symptoms and laboratory tests improved after ceasing drug administration, with a Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) score of 12.

A 67-year-old man visited our hospital with anorexia and abdominal discomfort after taking herb for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomograpy showed splenomegaly. Blood test showed elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level, thrombocytopenia, and there was no viral or autoimmune hepatitis. Liver biopsy showed comprehensive fibrotic changes and necrosis on iver parenchyma. He recovered within 1 week after stopping the herb. There was no disease recurrence for 1 year. No case of toxic hepatitis by taking Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel has been reported. Thus, this case proved for the first time that Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel could cause drug induced liver injury.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tenofovir in HBV patients at 12 months after treatment. A total of 122chronic hepatitis B patients who took tenofovir for at least 12 months were enrolled. We measured ALT levels, HBeAg, anti-HBe, HBV DNA, and serum creatinine at six and 12 months after treatment. The virological response rate at six and 12 months after treatment in naïve patients was 27.1% and 41.7%, respectively. High virological response rate at six and 12months after treatment showed an association with initial low HBV DNA titer and initial negative HBeAg status.

식중독 유발 바이러스인 HAV는 제 1군 감염병원으로 규정되면서 감염 시 원인식품을 빠르게 분석하게 되었으며 그로 인해 정확하면서 빠른 검출기술을 요구하게 되었다. 본 연구에서는 HAV에 오염된 상추에서 신속하게 바이러스를 검사하기 위해서 IMS를 통하여 신속하게 HAV를 순수 분리 및 농축하였고, 형광물질인 quantum dot을 활용하여 형광검출을 실시하였다. 또한 일반적으로 바이러스 농축에 사용되는 PEG 농축방법과 비교하였을 때 검출능은 유사한 결과를 얻었으나, 농축시간 면에서는 IMS를 통한 방법이 효과적이었다. 또한 IMS 방법으로 확보된 항원을 Quantum dot을 활용하여 10분 이내에 바이러스를 검출할 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 제시된 검출기반은 식품 유통 과정 중 다양한 식중독 바이러스로부터 소비자를 보호 할 수 있는 검사방법으로 활용될 수 있다고 기대된다.

Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) is known to be a useful medicinal plant and leaf extract contains several flavonoids and alkaloids. To analyze the effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract (NNL) on the HBsAg production, we treated NNL on HepG2.2.15 cells which contain the hepatitis B viral genome and secrete surface antigen into media. NNL suppressed the production of hepatitis B surface antigen as a dose-dependent manner. To analyze the effect of NNL on HBV DNA replication, PCR analysis was performed. NNL was not affected the HBV DNA replication and HBsAg mRNA expression. To understand the effect of NNL on the production of HBsAg, we carried out the analysis of lipid-metabolizing gene expression using one-step RT-PCR. NNL reduced the gene expression of FASN and SREBP2 and increased the expression of LDLR. Triglyceride content of HepG2.2.15 cells was not decreased by treatment of NNL. This result suggests a possibility that NNL may have an effect for the inhibition of hepatitis B surface antigen by modulation of lipid and cholesterol metabolism.