Lean six sigma and stroke in rural hospital - The case of Baruch Padeh Medical Center.

Purpose: This case study aims to demonstrate the strengths of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology to improve the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment rates and reduce process lead time at Baruch Padeh Medical Center (BPMC), a rural hospital in the Galilee region of Northern Israel. The LSS project redefined the BPMC stroke care pathway and increased its efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach: The LSS methodology was implemented in September 2017 by integrating lean principles and the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control).

Inhibition of endothelial Progenitor Cells Inhibition in the first 24 hours of an Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Event.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells may have a role in ongoing endothelial repair. Impaired mobilization or depletion of these cells may contribute to progression of vascular disease. Our hypothesis was that endothelial progenitor cells would be suppressed in patients with acute cerebrovascular event based on our previous study that found severe endothelial dysfunction in those patients.

Endothelial dysfunction and procoagulant activity in acute ischemic stroke.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilator function may be regarded as an index of inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction has been observed in stroke patients and has been related to stroke physiopathology, stroke subtypes, clinical severity, and outcome. Our aim was to measure systemic vascular function directly (using forearm flow mediated dilatation) in patients with acute ischemic stroke and to clarify whether recent acute ischemic stroke is associated with impaired vascular function.

The stroke trial - can we predict clinical outcome of patients with ischemic stroke by measuring soluble cell adhesion molecules (CAM)?

Background: Several studies have found that an increased concentration of haemostatic or inflammation markers was associated with worse prognosis in vascular disease. The inflammatory components in ischemic stroke are of current interest, and there is some experimental evidence that they may be linked.

Hypothesis: The study was performed to determine the association between the neurological clinical outcome and levels of cell adhesion molecules in the first four days of hospitalization in patients with acute ischemic event.