RESUMEN
Background: Kinetin is a plant‑derived compound, which is reported to possess antiaging properties. It has been used in a topical cream to manage facial photo‑damage and aging. Although studies elsewhere have shown its benefits, not many studies of the effects of kinetin in Asian skin are available. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of 0.1% kinetin cream in the treatment of facial photo‑aging. Methods: The study was designed to be open‑label and single‑blinded, without a control group. One hundred Thai female and male subjects with mild, moderate or severe facial photo‑damage were enrolled. They were asked to apply 0.1% kinetin cream twice daily for 12 weeks and follow up at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Subjective patient self‑assessment and physician assessment of facial skin photo‑damage were accompanied by digital photographic analysis using the VISIA® (Canfield Scientific Inc, Fairfield, NJ) imaging system. Results: At baseline, most patients reported moderate skin changes related to photo‑damage, skin texture, skin color and wrinkles. After 12 weeks, physician and patient assessments showed slight but statistically significant improvements in overall skin condition, skin texture, color, and wrinkles. Findings were similar with the digital photographic system analysis, especially in relation to skin color. Facial ultraviolet spots and redness also showed statistically significant improvements after 12 weeks. The treatment was generally well tolerated. Limitations: The study was designed to be pragmatic and hence no randomization was carried out; there were also no intrapatient or interpatient control observations, and no comparison arm. Conclusion: Kinetin (0.1%) cream was found to slightly improve cutaneous facial photo‑damage after 12 weeks of use in a group of Thai patients.
RESUMEN
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the cost and unit cost of Dermasurgery Unit’s services through the perspective of a healthcare provider. Methods: This was a retrospective study, based on the database of the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Finance, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, including labor cost, material cost, capital cost and number of patients from documents of Dermasurgery Unit and SAP system during April 1 – September 30, 2005. Unit cost calculation was based on the official method of Cost Controlling Unit, Department of Finance, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Results: The results demonstrated that the total direct cost of the Dermasurgery Unit was 1,302,798 baht. It composed of the labor cost of 690,752 baht, the material cost of 142,299 baht and the capital cost of 469,747 baht. Indirect cost of Dermasurgery Unit derived from 20% of the total direct cost was 260,560 baht. Finally, the full cost calculated by a summation of the total direct cost and the indirect cost was 1,563,359 baht. Unit cost of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, pulsed dye laser, skin biopsy, electrocautery and cryosurgery were 1,413.11 baht, 1,272.52 baht, 2,795.35 baht, 485.89 baht, 326.92 baht and 119.53 baht, respectively. The other treatments such as chemical peeling, intramuscular injection, intralesional corticosteroids injection, comedone extraction, wound dressing, trichloracetic acid application, suture removal, excision, iontophoresis and paring had the same unit cost of 115.15 baht. Conclusion: The study enabled us to know the unit cost of Dermasurgery Unit’s services which may be used as primary information for pricing strategy and resources allocation by the administrative board of the Department of Dermatology.