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.

[A non-invasive method for measuring the visco-elastic properties of the skin in healthy subjects and in subjects with scleroderma]. / Un metodo non invasivo per la misurazione delle proprietà visco-elastiche della cute in soggetti sani e in soggetti affetti da sclerodermia.

The skin elasticity is a mechanic parameter of great interest for the objective evaluation of many skin disorders. The Authors present a non invasive method for the determination of skin visco-elastic properties. Four sclerodermic patients and 18 normal subjects were studied.