Peg-interferon and ribavirin has been the standard therapy of chronic hepatitis C for the past 15 years in Korea. However, the treatment paradigm is changing. Direct acting agents (DAAs) are oral pills that can be easily taken. In addition, DAAs are more effective and have less adverse reactions compared to the previously used drugs. Chronic hepatitis C is hard to treat because the virus is error-prone virus. Host immunity is helpless against the hepatitis C virus since it evades the host immunity through various complex mechanisms. There are 6 genotypes. Quasispecies can co-exist even in the same patients. The treatment strategy is based on the combination of the individual drug corresponding to each step of viral replication process. NS5B nucleosides are the most powerful and effective drug available until now. Other drugs with different mechanisms of action can be used to provide synergy. NS5A and NS5B inhibition drugs currently belong to the leading group amongst many DAAs. These drugs will soon be available in Korea. We have to know the merits and adverse drug reactions of the new drug.
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Genotype ; Guidelines as Topic ; Hepacivirus/genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy/immunology/virology ; Humans ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Entecavir is a synthetic nucleoside analogue, cyclopentyl guanine nucleoside, which has a potent antiviral effect and the least viral breakthrough in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Entecavir has been available in Korea since 2007 but there are few reports on its effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virological response (VR) and biochemical response (BR) to entecavir in HBV patients at 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment with entecavir. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who took entecavir for at least 9 months were enrolled. We investigated VR and BR by retrospectively reviewing medical records. Patients who satisfied the following criteria were chosen: 1) initial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels = 1.5upper limit of normal (ULN) and 2) initial HBV DNA levels = 5 log10 copies/ml. We measured ALT levels every 3 months until month 9. HBV DNA was measured every 2 or 3 months by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Most patients taking entecavir showed good BR (ALT < 40 IU/L). The BR rates were 61%, 73% and 67% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. VR (HBV DNA < 5 log(10) copies/ml or 2 log lower than initial HBV DNA) rates were 82%, 91% and 91% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Undetectable HBV DNA (HBV DNA < 4 log(10) copies/ml) rates were 49%, 73% and 85% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Two patients presented with virological breakthrough without adverse effects until month 9. CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir showed good BR and VR from month 3 and these effects continued through the 9-month observation period. This suggests that entecavir is also a good choice for the first line treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Further studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy and drug resistance of entecavir in Korean CHB patients.
Alanine Transaminase ; DNA ; Drug Resistance ; Guanine ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Condoms* ; Education* ; Humans ; Intention*

A 38-year-old man, with recurrent oral ulcers for 10 years, was admitted because of recent aggravation of odynophagia and sore throat. About 4 years earlier, he had been performed abdominal surgery for intestinal perforation. Gastrofiberscopic examination showed small round ulcers at hypiopharynx and 6cm sized longitudinal linear ulcer at mid esophagus. Biopsy specimens at mid-esophagus showed chronic inflammation. Besides oral ulcer, he had perianal ulcers and skin rashes. He was managed with steroid, colchicine and sulfasalazine under the diagnosis of esophageal involvement in Behcet's disease. After 3 months from discharge, esophagogram and gastrofiberscopic examination showed some improved appearance, but symptoms recurred for steroid tapering. He has been followed in much improved status for 8 months after discharge.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Colchicine ; Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Perforation ; Oral Ulcer ; Pharyngitis ; Sulfasalazine ; Ulcer*

A study conducted 15-year ago showed that only 13.5% of chronic alcoholics developed alcohol-induced liver damage, which misled some people to believe a lack of relationship between the amount of alcohol and the occurrence of liver disease. However, it is true that a significant correlation exists between per capita consumption and the prevalence of cirrhosis. Alcoholic fatty liver is observed in most of chronic alcoholics even though the severity is not uniform. Abstinence remains the cornerstone of therapy for alcoholic liver disease (ALD). There is also consensus for the use of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline in severe alcoholic hepatitis maintaining good nutritional status to treat comorbidities in all forms of ALD, and liver transplantation in the end-stage ALD patients who can stop drinking for 6 months pre-transplantation period. Several clinical trials targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and reducing oxidative stress have not been successful at this time. There is still a large field of alcohol research to explore in order to go farther in the area of pathophysiology. We need to understand a role of various cytokines and immune cells in the development of ALD to have more treatment tools to cope with ALD.
Alcohols/metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1/metabolism ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/pathology/therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/pathology/therapy ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/*etiology/pathology/therapy ; Oxidative Stress

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is currently used as a degreasing agent in the jewelry manufacturing industry. The characteristic sign arising after the exposure of TCE are hepatitis and contact dermatitis. The incidence of toxicity is relatively rare, therefore, the mechanism of occurrence is considered as hypersensitivity. A previously healthy 21-year-old male began to work at jewelry industry. The solvent used in that place was TCE. Over the next month, he experienced symptoms of weakness, fever, dry skin, red rash and bumps, peeling face, and jaundice. At that time, he had marked liver enzyme elevation with evidence of cholestasis. After two weeks of avoidance of TCE exposure, his liver enzymes showed a marked reduction in ALT from a peak of 1132 to 131 IU/L. The total bilirubin reduced from 9.3 to 4.6 mg/dL. Tests for hepatitis A, B, and C, CMV, HIV were all negative. The patch test showed primary irritant reaction to TCE and its metabolite, trichloroethanol. This is the second report of TCE induced hepatotoxicity in Korea. We consider this case as a TCE induced hepatotoxicity due to possibly hypersensitivity mechanism.
Bilirubin ; Cholestasis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis* ; HIV ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Jewelry ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Occupational Exposure* ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Trichloroethylene ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The standard regimen of SBP is cefotaxime 2 g IV, every 8 hours for 10 days, and the success rate is approximately 90%. It was reported that 5-day therapy was as effective as 10-day therapy, but, generally, the 5-day therapy has not been accepted in practice. This study was done to confirm whether the short-term therapy is as effective as long-term therapy, and additionally whether the opsonin capacity influences the final output of antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Of the 27 patients who met strict criteria for SBP or culture negative neutrocytic ascites, 14 were randomized to a group receiving 5 days and 13 to a group receiving 10 days of single agent cefotaxime 2g IV every 8 hours. Many variables (clinical data, standard liver and kidney function results, ascitic fluid data, complement proteins) were obtained at admission, the 2nd day, and the last day(the 5th or 10th day) of the study. RESULTS: Hospitalization mortality(7% vs 15%), recurrence rate(21% vs 0%), infection related mortality(7% vs 0%) and therapeutic response(86% vs 92%) were not significantly different between the 5- and 10-day treatment groups. The opsonic activity was not significantly different between the recurrence(n=3) group and non-recurrence group(n=26), but the indices of opsonic activity in recurrence group showed lower tendency than those in non-recurrence group. Early response rate was significantly different between the high and low protein concentration in ascitic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Short course treatment of SBP is as effective as long-course therapy and significantly less expensive.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Cefotaxime ; Complement System Proteins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Peritonitis* ; Recurrence

Lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypphysitis(LINH) is a newly classified disorder and proposed as a common cause of idiopathic central diabetes insipidus. It is characterized by thickening of the infundibulum and/or pituitary stalk and absence of high signal in the neurohypophysis in sellar MRI and the microscopic findings of diffuse lymphocytic infiltration within the neurohypophysis. A 12year-old boy presented polyuria and headache. The result of water deprivation test was compatible with central diabetes insipidus. Brain MRI showed thickening of the pituitary stalk and loss of high signal in the neurohypophysis. Craniotomy and excisional bi6opsy was done under the impression of pituitary tumor. Microscopically, neurohypophysis showed dense lymphocytic infiltration and no malignant cells. Six months after the operation, the previously thickened pituitary stalk and neurohypophysis appeared normal in follow-up MRI.
Brain ; Craniotomy ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Posterior ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Polyuria ; Water Deprivation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the one of the most common causes of the liver diseases in Korea. Since the discovery of Australia antigen (hepatitis associated antigen, or HBsAg later), hepatitis associated antigen was tested widely. HBsAg was detected in 6.6~8.6% in 1980's. Later, it decreased to 5.7% in 1990's. Remarkably, seropositivity of the children deceased to 0.2% after the nationwide vaccination program. Although hepatitis B vaccines are highly effective, the failure rate of perinatal prophylaxis in babies born to HBsAg positive mother was reported to be 4.25%. Treatment of chronic hepatitis B was initiated after the introduction of interferon alpha. Lamivudine opened a new era of oral antiviral agent, and it has been widely used in Korea since 1999. Adefovir was proven to have a good efficacy for lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B. Newer potent antiviral agents such as entecavir, clevudine, and telbivudine are available currently. Further studies are warranted for understanding factors influencing natural history, improving treatment outcomes, and overcoming vaccine non-response.
Acute Disease ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B/diagnosis/drug therapy/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Common bile duct ligation will induce cholestatic fibrosis or cirrhosis in the rat. However, the degree of histologic changes following ligation of the common bile duct appears to vary widely due to recanalization of the bile duct in the distensible extrahepatic system. The purpose of this study is to compare liver damages induced by traditional simple ligation of bile duct with those induced by ethanolic sclerosis of bile duct and ligation. METHODS: Twenty rats of 7 weeks-aged Spraugue-Dawley (body weight 200~250 gm) were divided into 2 groups, common bile duct ligation (BDL group n=10), and 60% ethanol infusion into the common bile duct before bile duct ligation (ETL group n=10). After 7 weeks, all animals were sacrificed. Gross findings, histologic findings (Ki-67 and Masson- trichrome staining), and liver function test were compared. RESULTS: During the experiment, 5 rats of BDL group and 4 rats of ETL group died. In the operative findings, diameter of bile duct in BDL group was dilatated 8~15 mm, but there was no dilatation in ETL group. In the histologic findings of extrahepatic bile duct, epithelial cells were maintained well in BDL group, but they were all cast off or destroyed in ETL group. Liver fibrosis and cell proliferation are more prominent in the ETL group. Also, ETL group showed worse liver function test than that of BDL group. CONCLUSION: Liver fibrosis or cirrhosis by prolonged bile duct ligation is a well-known experimental model. In this study, we demonstrated that a new method of bile duct ligation (ethanol infusion before bile duct ligation) which abolishes bile duct distention accompanied with simple bile duct ligation is more effective to produce liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Animals ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile* ; Cell Proliferation ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Epithelial Cells ; Ethanol* ; Fibrosis ; Ligation ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver* ; Models, Theoretical* ; Rats ; Sclerosis*