Comparison of injectate spread and nerve coverage between single-injection intertransverse process block and paravertebral block at the T2 level: a cadaveric study.

Background: We compared the spread of an injectate into the thoracic sympathetic chain resulting from a single-injection intertransverse process (ITP) block with that of a single-injection PV block at the T2 level.

Methods: Sixteen soft-embalmed cadavers were used. The right hemithorax was randomly allocated to receive either an ultrasound-guided single-injection ITP block or ultrasound-guided single-injection PV block at the T2 vertebral level, with the opposite block administered to the other side.

Treatment rate and factors related to interferon-based treatment initiation for chronic hepatitis C in South Korea.

Under-recognition and under-treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important determinant of the disease outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment rate and factor of initiation of interferon-based antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients in a prospective, multicenter Korean HCV cohort. Treatment-naïve 759 patients with chronic HCV infection were prospectively followed from January 2007-2013 at six university hospitals during a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 769 (76-1,427) days.

Prospective cohort study on the outcomes of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis in South Korea.

Background And Aims: The outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis was limitedly studied in a hepatitis B virus-endemic area. This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted to elucidate the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality in the Korean patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.

Methods: From January 2007 through June 2012, 196 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled and regularly followed at six university hospitals to determine HCC occurrence and mortality.