Network analysis of stroke systems of care in Korea.

Background: The landscape of stroke care has shifted from stand-alone hospitals to cooperative networks among hospitals. Despite the importance of these networks, limited information exists on their characteristics and functional attributes.

Methods: We extracted patient-level data on acute stroke care and hospital connectivity by integrating national stroke audit data with reimbursement claims data.

Annual Endovascular Thrombectomy Case Volume and Thrombectomy-capable Hospitals of Korea in Acute Stroke Care.

Objectives: Although it is difficult to define the quality of stroke care, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with moderate-to-severe neurological deficits may benefit from thrombectomy-capable hospitals (TCHs) that have a stroke unit, stroke specialists, and a substantial endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) case volume.

Methods: From national audit data collected between 2013 and 2016, potential EVT candidates arriving within 24 hours with a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥6 were identified. Hospitals were classified as TCHs (≥15 EVT case/y, stroke unit, and stroke specialists), primary stroke hospitals (PSHs) without EVT (PSHs-without-EVT, 0 case/y), and PSHs-with-EVT.

Healthcare quality assessments: no guarantees of same outcomes for different socio-economic stroke patients.

Background: Healthcare quality assessment is being conducted in many countries. Although improving health equity is one of the major objectives of medical quality assessment, it is not clear whether different socio-economic statuses show the same health outcomes even in the same medical quality hospitals. No study has directly compared the health outcomes of different socio-economic statuses in the same hospitals nationwide.

Routing to Endovascular Treatment of Ischemic Stroke in Korea: Recognition of Need for Process Improvement.

Background: To track triage, routing, and treatment status regarding access to endovascular treatment (EVT) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) at a national level.

Methods: From national stroke audit data, potential candidates for EVT arriving within 6 hours with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥ 7 were identified. Acute care hospitals were classified as thrombectomy-capable hospitals (TCHs, ≥ 15 EVT cases/year) or primary stroke hospital (PSH, < 15 cases/year), and patients' initial routes and subsequent inter-hospital transfer were described.

Acute Stroke Care in Korea in 2013-2014: National Averages and Disparities.

Background: This study aimed to describe the current status of acute stroke care in Korea and explore disparities among hospitals and regions.

Methods: The 2013 and 2014 national stroke audit data and the national health insurance claims data were linked and used for this study. Stroke patients hospitalized via emergency rooms within 7 days of stroke onset were selected.

Hospital Volume and Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients: Effect of Adjustment for Stroke Severity.

Objective: Stroke severity of 1 hospital is a crucial information when assessing hospital performance. We aimed to determine the effect of stroke severity in the association between hospital patient volume and outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Data from National Acute Stroke Quality Assessment in 2013 and 2014 were analyzed.

Quality of acute stroke care in Korea (2008-2014): Retrospective analysis of the nationwide and nonselective data for quality of acute stroke care.

Background: There is limited information about non-selective and contemporary data on quality of stroke care and its variation among hospitals at a national level.

Patients And Methods: We analysed data of the patients admitted to 258 acute stroke care hospitals covering the entire country from the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program, which was performed by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2008 to 2014 in South Korea. The primary outcome measure was , based on six get with the guidelines-stroke performance measures (except venous thromboembolism prophylaxis).

Evaluation of the Suitability of Establishing Biological Exposure Indices of Styrene.

Background: This study was designed to provide logical backgrounds for the revision of biological exposure indices (BEIs) for styrene exposure in Korea. In order to investigate the correlation between airborne styrene and biological exposure indices, we measured urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) in workers exposed to styrene occupationally, as well as airborne styrene at workplaces.

Methods: Surveys were conducted for 56 subjects.

Transplantation of neural stem cells in anosmic mice.

Objectives: Treating olfactory dysfunction is a challenge for physicians. One of the therapeutic options could be transplantation of stem cells. In this study, neural stem cells were transplanted into anosmic mice.