Innovative Distribution Priorities for the Medical Devices Industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to set priorities for improving the medical device distribution structure and to suggest an innovative improvement plan for the distribution structure using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, focusing on stakeholders in the medical device industry. METHODS: This study conducted a survey with 35 specialists using the AHP method, which is a multiple-criteria decisionmaking methodology, in order to set priorities for improvement plans to address the problems faced by the medical device distribution structure. RESULTS: The AHP analysis showed that supply stability was the most important factor, followed by greater transparency, efficiency, smart supply, and cost reduction. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to establish a stable supply system and manage crises through supply stability, as well as to provide opportunities for fair trade through greater transparency. As steps towards those goals, we propose establishing a unique device identification system, an information disclosure system, online distribution, and a group purchasing organization system in Korea.

Bath-8-MOP-UVA Therapy for Psoriasis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: An alternative approach to oral PUVA therapy for psoriasis, psoralen bath plus UVA therapy(bath PUVA therapy) that avoids the adverse effects associated with oral PUVA therapy has increasingly been used during recent years. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bath-8-MOP-UVA therapy in the treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: Twenty patients were enrolled in this study after determination of the minimal phototoxic doses(MPD). We evaluated the total treatment number, duration, final UVA dose and total cumulative UVA dose of bath-8-MOP-UVA therapy to reach grade 4 response and categorized each patient into clearing, improvement, or failure groups based on the therapeutic efficacy. We measured the PASI score at two week intervals. Blood samples were obtained from all twenty patients 2 hours after bath-8-MOP and plasma levels of 8-MOP were quantified by a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The following results were obtained from this study. 1. Phototoxicity testing with bath-8-MOP-UVA elicited mean MPD value of 3.5+/-1.3J/cm2. 2. The mean PASI score at 10 weeks was significantly decreased to 5.8+/-1.3 from baseline PASI score 20.1+/-4.3. 3. Among 20 patients, clearing was shown in 13 patients(65%), 6 patients(30%) were improved and 1 patients(5%) showed failure. 4. In clearing and improvement groups, the mean treatment number, duration, final dose of UVA and total cumulative UVA dose reaching grade 4 were 19.3+/-5.4, 49.9+/-13.5days, 5.2+/-1.3J/cm2 and 68.6+/-30.1J/cm2, respectively. 5. Five patients experienced side-effects. Two patients had intense tan, one withdrawing because of it and the other continued treatment. Three had pruritus that was controlled on oral antihistamines. Phototoxic or other classic adverse effects of oral PUVA therapy, such as nausea, vomiting and headaches, were not observed in any of our 20 patients. 6. All twenty patients had an undetectable plasma 8-MOP level. The lower limit of detection level was 20ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Bath-8-MOP-UVA therapy for psoriasis is a very effective and safe alternative to oral PUVA therapy.