BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study are to determine the positive rate of HBV serologic markers and infection rate, and to evaluate the efficiency of hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: Study subjects included 905 persons in 1988-1989 and 744 persons in 1993-1994 living in typical rural communities in Korea. Three serologic markers(HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc) were tested by radio-immunoassay(RIA). Supplemental informations were collected by self-administered questionnaire and interview on age, sex, history and frequency of vaccination. RESULTS: 1) Among non-vaccinees, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc positive rates and infection rate in 1993-1994/1988-1989 were 5.4%/6.5%, 49.1%/45.9%, 48.3%/44.1% and 60.6%/54.5% respectively. The infection rate showed a trend of continuous increase as the age increased, while statistically significant increase was seen over age 20. 2) Overall vaccination rate was 18.1% in 1988-1989 and 37.9% in 1993-1994, showing statistically significant increase in vaccination rate. The rate in younger age groups were higher than in older groups in 1988-1989, but there was no difference by age groups in 1993-1994. Among vaccinees, anti-HBs only positive group occupied 42.7% in 1988-1989 and 41.3% in 1993-1994. HBs Ag negative and anti-HBc positive group occupied 26.2% in 1988-1989 and 36.73% in 1993-1994. CONCLUSION: 1) Among non-vaccinees, HBsAg positive rate was decreased, but the hepatitis B infection rate was not decreased. 2) The test for selection of eligible person of vaccination and education program for completion of vaccination schedule must be reevaluated to improve the efficiency of hepatitis B vaccination.
Appointments and Schedules ; Education ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Rural Population ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Vaccination* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early intestinal mucosal damage plays an important role in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). Previous studies have shown that intestinal permeability (IP), serum endotoxin and cytokines contribute to the early intestinal barrier dysfunction in AP. This study explored the predictive capacity of IP, endotoxemia and cytokines as prognostic indicators in AP patients. METHODS: Eighty-seven AP patients were included in the study. The patients were classified into three groups according to the Balthazar computed tomography severity index (CTSI). We compared the biochemical parameters, including IP, serum endotoxin level and cytokine level among the three groups. The associations of IP with serum endotoxin, cytokines, CTSI, and other widely used biochemical parameters and scoring systems were also examined. RESULTS: IP, serum endotoxin, interleukin (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha had a positive correlation with the CTSI of AP. Endotoxin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CTSI, the Ranson/APACHE II score, the duration of hospital stay, complications and death significantly affect IP in the AP patients. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that IP with subsidiary measurements of serum endotoxin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha may be reliable markers for predicting the prognosis of AP. Further studies that can restore and preserve gut barrier function in AP patients are warranted.
Cytokines ; Endotoxemia ; Endotoxins ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Length of Stay ; Pancreatitis ; Permeability ; Prognosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical impacts of obesity and hazardous alcohol use on the outcome of entecavir (ETV) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: The medical records of 88 treatment-naive patients who were diagnosed with CHB and received ETV between March 2007 and September 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Body mass index (BMI) values and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores were obtained at 6 months after the initiation of ETV (0.5 mg daily) treatment. RESULTS: A BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more was recognized as an indicator of obesity, and a total AUDIT score of 8 or more was recognized as an indicator of hazardous alcohol use. Of the cohort, 24 patients (27.3%) were obese and 17 (19.3%) were hazardous alcohol users. The rate of seroconversion, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA negativity (<300 copies/mL) at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment did not differ significantly between the normal-BMI and high-BMI groups. Moreover, the rate of seroconversion and HBV-DNA negativity at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment did not differ significantly between the nonhazardous and hazardous alcohol users. However, the frequency of ALT normalization at 12 months was significantly lower among hazardous alcohol users (91.5% vs. 70.6%; P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and hazardous alcohol drinking have no significant impact on the outcome of ETV treatment. However, the ALT normalization rate at 12 months after initiation of ETV treatment was significantly lower among the hazardous alcohol users.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; *Alcohol Drinking ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Female ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity/complications/*diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome