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Results for “Cerumen”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Effect of cerumen removal on the hearing ability of geriatric patients.

The purposes of this study were to estimate the prevalence of impacted cerumen in a population of hospitalized elderly patients, and to evaluate the effect of cerumen removal in reversing hearing impairment. The design was a pre-test/post-test static-group comparison. Over a 1-year period, a random sample (n = 226) was drawn every third day from daily admission lists of English-speaking patients aged 65 or older, admitted to non-intensive care units of one hospital. On either the second or third day of hospital stay, subjects were given a hearing test using an AudioScope and then their ear canals were examined for impacted cerumen. Ear canal irrigations were performed on those subjects with impacted cerumen. All subjects received a second hearing test. Results indicate that impacted cerumen is a common condition in the hospitalized elderly. Thirty-five per cent of the sample had impacted cerumen, 19.9% bilaterally and 15.0% unilaterally. Furthermore, removal of cerumen significantly improved hearing ability. Improved hearing scores were obtained in 75.0% of the ears after the impacted cerumen was removed, with subjects hearing from one to three more tones per ear on the second hearing test. An analysis of variance for repeated measures on hearing was computed to test for the effect of removing cerumen from individuals who had neither, one or both ears occluded. A significant interaction (F = 146.83, d.f. = 2/223, P less than 0.0001) between hearing tests and cerumen removal was found indicating that those with no occlusion had no change in hearing whereas both occluded groups increased with the greatest change for the bilateral group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Impacted cerumen: a disorder of keratinocyte separation in the superficial external ear canal?

In the majority of individuals, impaction of cerumen in the external auditory canal does not occur, and it is only a fraction of the population who regularly need to consult their physician for aural toilet. In this study we looked at the clinical features associated with recurrent cerumen impaction in 20 individuals. This was complemented by an examination of the cerumen plugs taken from their ears and hydrated to analyze the morphology of the keratin sheets, which had been observed in a previous study to constitute over one-half of the volume of impacted cerumen. In a further eight patients with cerumen, impaction plugs of cerumen were removed and subjected to histological examination. We observed that excessively long sheets of undivided keratin could be isolated from the hydrated cerumen plugs and that these sheets of keratin morphologically resembled the superficial layers of the stratum corneum of normal human deep external auditory canal skin. Based on these observations, we propose that cerumen impaction is the result of a failure in the normal keratinocyte separation which occurs in the superficial external auditory canal.

Cerumen↗

PubMed1990

Cerumen phenotype and proliferative epithelium in breast fluids of U.S.-born vs. immigrant Asian women: a possible genetic-environmental interaction.

To determine whether a genetic-environmental interaction exists between the breast, a modified apocrine gland, its secretions, and the genetic polymorphic phenotypes of wet and dry cerumen, we examined nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) for proliferative disease in 172 U.S.-born and immigrant Chinese and Japanese women. Cytologic evidence of proliferative epithelial cells (benign hyperplasia and/or atypical hyperplasia) was found in the NAF of 36 women (20.9%). A significantly higher incidence of proliferative epithelial cells was present in the NAF of U.S.-born than in immigrant Asian women (28.6% vs. 16.5%) (p = 0.05). A higher proportion of U.S.-born Asian women with wet cerumen than women with dry cerumen had proliferative epithelial cells in NAF: 39.3% vs. 20.0% (p = 0.08). No significant difference in NAF proliferative cells was found between immigrant women with wet and dry cerumen: 15.8% vs. 17.3%; p = 0.50. A strong association of proliferative epithelial cells and cerumen phenotype was found in parous U.S.-born women (wet = 47.6% vs. dry = 16.0%; p = 0.002). No significant association with wet and dry cerumen phenotype was found in parous immigrant women (wet = 12.2% vs. dry = 20%). These findings support the hypothesis that an apocrine genetic polymorphic trait differentially influences susceptibility of the breast to proliferative disease in Asian women born in environments presumed to be of high risk for breast cancer compared to women from low risk environments.

Body Fluids↗

PubMed1986

Possible influence of age on the expression of the heterozygous cerumen phenotype.

The relationship of cerumen (earwax) phenotype and age was examined in 2,618 women. An increasing proportion of white women with dry or unclassifiable cerumen was found with advancing age, ranging from 2.0% in women under 30 years to 13.3% in women 70 years and older. No statistically significant change with age was found in other racial groups. It is suggested that the increase of dry or unclassifiable cerumen in white women represents a change in the expressivity of alleles that determine cerumen type occurring with advancing age in women who are heterozygous for the trait.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Composition of cerumen lipids.

Lipids were extracted from "wet" cerumen and analyzed by quantitative thin-layer chromatography to determine their composition. The lipid fraction comprised 52% of the dry weight of cerumen and consisted of squalene (6.4%), cholesterol esters (9.6%), wax esters (9.3%), triacylglycerols (3.0%), fatty acids (22.7%), cholesterol (20.9%), ceramides (18.6%), cholesterol sulfate (2.0%), and several unidentified polar components (7.5%). In addition to the extractable lipids, the residue contained an additional 0.9% lipid that could be released only after saponification. This covalently bound lipid consisted of two unusual ceramides (63.4%), omega-hydroxyacids (27.7%) and nonhydroxy fatty acids (8.8%). The composition of this bound lipid resembled that recently found in human stratum corneum, which is thought to comprise a lipid envelope on the outer surface of the corneocytes. The free and covalently bound lipids may be significant determinants of the properties of cerumen. Desquamation of corneocytes and their associated lipids from the epidermal lining of the ear canal may make a major contribution to cerumen.

Cerumen↗

PubMed1985

Impacted cerumen as a reason for failure in hearing conservation programs.

To test the hypothesis that children with impacted cerumen experience more hearing or middle ear problems than children with normal cerumen, two serial audiometric screenings including otoscopic examinations, tympanometry, and audiometry were conducted. Thirty children with impacted cerumen and 30 children with normal cerumen were rescreened three months after the initial screening. Results suggest an association between impacted wax and subsequent problems.

Audiometry↗

PubMed1986

A technique for measuring the rate of cerumen production.

A technique is described for quantitatively measuring the rate of cerumen production. Two different washing solutions were tried. A mixture of alcohol/ether (3:1 v/v) appeared to be the best extracting solution yielding 2.05 +/- 0.22 versus 0.73 +/- 0.14 mg/week per ear obtained with Triton X-100 solution. In addition, reproducibility was definitely better. Triton X-100 may be useful whenever microbiologic evaluations are requested. Total lipids accounted for 73.3% of cerumen extracted with the former solution, triglycerides being 19.5%, and cholesterol 7.2%. Our extracting technique appears to be a good estimate of the cerumen global output and may supply important information about cerumen in several biologic conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Studies on hexachlorocyclohexane and DDT contents in human cerumen and their relationships to cancer mortality.

Organochlorine pesticides in cerumen were used as a biological marker to monitor the exposure of organochlorine pesticides in the human body. The amount of sample used was about 10 mg. The order of magnitude of HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) isomer content in cerumen was beta greater than alpha greater than gamma greater than delta; for DDT, the order was p,p'-DDE greater than p,p'-DDT. There was little o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD. The contents of beta-HCH and p,p'-DDE in cerumen were highly significantly correlated with those in adipose tissue of the same individuals. Approximately 3800 cerumen samples collected from 35- to 54-year-old healthy adults in the general populations of 35 counties were analyzed for HCH and DDT. The accumulation levels of beta-HCH had a geographical character with obvious gradient differences, and the levels were higher in males than in females. The accumulation levels of beta-HCH in the populations studied were highly significantly correlated with the mortality rates from liver cancer, colon/rectum cancer, and lung cancer in males as well as colon/rectum cancer in females (P less than 0.01), suggesting that the effect of HCH on the above cancers should be studied further.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1985

Characterization of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid in human wet cerumen.

A molecular species of sialic acid was isolated in a free form from cerumen of the wet type, but not of the dry type, by an ion-exchange column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural analysis of this sialic acid was performed by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with chemical ionization (CI) and electron ionization (EI). In the CI mass spectra, the protonated molecular ion of the trimethylsilyl derivative was observed at m/z 580. and that of the methyl ester-trimethylsilyl derivative was at m/z 522. In the EI mass spectrum, the methyl ester-trimethylsilyl derivative gave characteristic ions at m/z 506, 462, 418, 416, 328, 316, 238, 228, 205, 186, and 173. This mass spectrum was identical with that of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid, which was reported by Lifely and Cottee (Carbohydr. Res. 107, 187-197, 1982) as the mass spectrum of a by-product prepared from N-acetylneuraminic acid by methanolysis. These results indicate that the compound in the wet cerumen is 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid. Since this sialic acid species could not be detected in cerumens of the dry type, its formation in the wet type may be controlled by an autosomal dominant gene.

Cerumen↗

PubMed1990

Production rate and composition of cerumen: influence of sex and season.

The production rate and composition of cerumen have been studied in 11 participants (5 men and 6 women), 25 to 42 years old. The cerumen was obtained in January, May, July, and November to investigate the possible influence of the season. Only the triglyceride content decreased from November to July. Sex was not a factor, which supported the hypothesis that sex hormones play a minor role in the production rate of the lipid component of cerumen.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Swirls, wrinkles and the whole ball of wax (the source of keratin in cerumen).

Recent work carried out at the Ear Pathology Research Laboratory has demonstrated that cerumen plugs consist of a large amount of keratin debris. In this study the site of origin of this keratin was investigated. This was done by histologically examining these cerumen plugs without disturbing the natural relationship between the plug and the surrounding epithelium. We have clearly demonstrated that a cerumen plug consists of keratin arising from the migratory epithelium of the deep external auditory canal and epithelium of the superficial external auditory canal.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1986

Incidence of occlusion due to impacted cerumen among mentally retarded adolescents.

The incidence of occlusion of the external auditory canal due to impacted cerumen was determined for 44 mentally retarded subjects in comparison with 44 nonretarded subjects. Otoscopic data were taken by qualified personnel for both groups and subjected to statistical analysis. Results confirmed that retarded adolescents have a significantly higher incidence of occlusion of the external auditory canal due to impacted cerumen than do nonretarded adolescents. Routine otoscopic examinations should be performed on the former group to ameliorate loss of hearing due to impacted cerumen.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Cerumen phenotypes in certain populations of Eurasia and Africa.

Cerumen polymorphism was studied in several populations of Eurasia and Africa. The frequencies of dry cerumen were shown to be high in Mongoloid populations and low among Europoids. Intermediate frequencies were found among peoples of subequatorial Africa. Special attention is paid to the potential for using this marker in population and anthropological studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Do patients with otitis externa produce biochemically different cerumen?

As polyunsaturated fatty acids have better antibacterial properties than saturated fatty acids, the cerumen of seven patients with recurrent otitis externa and seven unaffected subjects was analysed to determine their ratio. There was no significant difference in either the overall ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids or in the amounts of the individual fatty acids from the cerumen of either group.

Cerumen↗

PubMed1975

Association of race, age, menopausal status, and cerumen type with breast fluid secretion in nonlactating women, as determined by nepple aspiration.

Biologic and physiologic factors associated with the availability of breast secretions by a nipple aspiration technique were investigated in 606 normal, non-lactating women. Data obtained on race, age, menstrual status, parity, contraceptive pill use, hormone use, and cerumen type indicated that availability of secretions was related to race, age, and menopause, and to genetic factors associated with apocrine bland function. Fluid aspirates were obtained most often from Caucasians (70.2% success), least often from Chinese (24.1% success). The percentage of successful aspirations declined in women over 50 years of age in all racial groups, but distinctly less so in Caucasians. Chinese and Japanese women with dry-type cerumen had a lower percentage of successful aspirations than those with wet type, which suggested that genetic factors may be associated with breast fluid secretion in nonlactating women.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1989

Identification of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from human cerumen by the use of picolinyl and nicotinate esters.

Human cerumen was hydrolysed with base and the constituents were examined as trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl ester/TMS, picolinyl/TMS and nicotinate/TMS derivatives by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A sample was also reacted with osmium tetroxide for double bond location. The major constituents were cholesterol, squalene and several series of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols. These latter compounds had chain lengths of 12-26 carbon atoms and were predominantly either straight-chain saturated or straight-chain unsaturated compounds. Saturated branched-chain acids with methyl groups predominantly on even-numbered carbon atoms were present but were less abundant. Unsaturated, branched-chain acids were also present. The major unsaturated acids contained unsaturation at the delta-6-position or were derived from these acids by chain elongation. The compounds were similar to those found in vernix caseosa. The mass spectra of picolinyl esters were, for the first time, shown to be capable of determining both the position of unsaturation and methyl branching in the same molecule.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Managing cerumen impaction.

The external auditory canal is self-cleaning. Excessive cerumen accumulation usually results from misguided attempts to remove wax and may go unnoticed until a hearing loss occurs. Mechanical removal of the wax or use of a ceruminolytic agent to soften it is recommended--irrigation may contaminate the middle ear space.

Cerumen↗

PubMed1991

Detection of proteins related to a salivary glycoprotein (EP-GP). Concentrations in human secretions (saliva, sweat, tears, nasal mucus, cerumen, seminal plasma).

With a highly specific monoclonal antibody against a previously isolated and characterized human salivary 19-20-kDa glycoprotein, designated as extra-parotid glycoprotein [Rathman et al. (1989) J. Biol. Buccale 17, 199-208], a common epitope was detected on proteins in several excretory human body fluids. With a quantitative ELISA the EP-GP epitope was measured in widely different concentrations in several secretory human body fluids in the descending order of seminal plasma much greater than tears approximately nasal mucus approximately sweat much greater than saliva. Crossreactivity was also observed in cerumen but not in milk, cerebrospinal fluid, blood plasma and urine. The relative amount of EP-GP in the positively reacting secretions was however, in the same order in each fluid per mg of protein on an average of 1% of the total protein amount. The EP-GP-epitope bearing proteins found in the various human secretions were further characterized by means of electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The molecular masses and the isoelectric points of the proteins in the different secretions display strong resemblance to values found for the salivary glycoprotein EP-GP (molecular masses 19 and 20 kDa; pI values between 4.8 and 5.4). All these findings point to the presence of proteins related to EP-GP in human secretions other than saliva.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗