Disease relevance of Cerumen

• For the past 20 years, the author has been treating recurrent chronic seborrheic dermatitis with a suspension of human cerumen in glycerine [1].
• The percentages of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates that had high-level resistance (> or =8 microg/mL) were as follows: to neomycin, 28% from cerumen and 11% from the canal; to oxacillin, 28% from cerumen and 25% from the canal; and to ofloxacin, 15% from cerumen and 19% from the canal [2].
• METHODS: Forty cerumen specimens collected from the patients with hepatitis B virus DNA in their sera were prospectively analyzed for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction [3].
• In 54 patients who complained of slight itching or accumulation of cerumen, and/or who had erythema and scales in the ears, the presence of dermatophytosis was examined by potassium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfoxide (KOH-DMSO test) [4].
• Leading causes of conductive hearing loss include cerumen impaction, otitis media, and otosclerosis [5].

High impact information on Cerumen

• In 6 subjects, the alkane content of cerumen from each ear was examined to investigate whether alkanes arrive at the skin surface by a systemic route or by direct contact with environmental surfaces [6].
• Freshly collected cerumen (dry form) suspended at a concentration of 3% in glycerol-sodium bicarbonate buffer showed bactericidal activity against some strains of bacteria tested [7].
• Cerumen pigment, CK7, and p63 can help to distinguish this tumor from other neoplasms that occur in the region [8].
• Docusate sodium, triethanolamine polypeptide, and saline were compared to determine their effectiveness in relieving cerumen obstruction in children [9].
• We compared the ceruminolytic effects of triethanolamine polypeptide and docusate sodium in patients with cerumen [10].

Biological context of Cerumen

• Genetic polymorphisms of blood groups, serum proteins, red cell enzymes, PTC tasting, and cerumen types are reported for five Mongoloid populations of Buryats from the Lake Baikal region of Siberia (Russia) [11].
• Significant genetic heterogeneity between populations was demonstrated for the loci RH, MN, cerumen, PGD, ABO, GC, GLO, TF, and PGM1 [11].
• METHODS: Thirty-six children and 33 adults presenting to a community family practice clinic who had cerumen occluding at least one external auditory canal were randomly assigned to compare use of 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and 2.5% aqueous acetic acid as ceruminolytics in occlusive cerumen [12].

Anatomical context of Cerumen

• 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 [13].

Associations of Cerumen with chemical compounds

• 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%) [14].
• These results indicate that the compound in the wet cerumen is 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid [15].
• Total lipids accounted for 73.3% of cerumen extracted with the former solution, triglycerides being 19.5%, and cholesterol 7.2% [16].
• 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 [15].
• 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 [17].

Gene context of Cerumen

• Swirls, wrinkles and the whole ball of wax (the source of keratin in cerumen) [13].
• Studies on hexachlorocyclohexane and DDT contents in human cerumen and their relationships to cancer mortality [17].
• Four Mongoloid populations, viz., Garo , Hajong , Rabha and Koch, belonging to the Tibetoburman language family of Garo Hills, India, were examined for blood types ( A1A2BO , Rh, MN), secretor factor, ability to taste PTC and cerumen types [18].
• Our data indicate that the keratin antibodies stained normal epithelial structures in the head and neck except for cells with active secretory functions such as mucus, cerumen, or salivary secretion [19].
• This retrospective study examined the pattern of medical illnesses, surgical procedures, and medication usage among 249 patients with allergic rhinitis contrasted with a comparison group of 253 patients with cerumen impaction [20].

References