MECHANICAL-BEHAVIOR OF SCALP HAIR IN PREMATURE AND FULL-TERM NEONATES

Using a new computerized methodological procedure a separate analysis and a quantitative determination of the viscous and elastic parameters of the scalp hair shaft were performed in 37 neonates of both sexes w ith a gestational age of 28-29 weeks (n = 16) and 39-40 weeks (n = 21) , respectively, A statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease in th e values of modulus of elasticity (E-alpha) was found in the hair shaf t of premature neonates, as compared to the full-term ones, whereas th e values of postyield slope (E-beta) and of S-DIS/S-STOR (viscous para meter) did not significantly differ in the two groups, The decrease in modulus of elasticity in the hair shaft of premature neonates may be interpreted in terms of an insufficient number of disulphide bonds bet ween the cl-helical keratin units of the hair cortex or of a disordere d arrangement of microfibrils within the matrix, Further studies are n ow warranted to determine the pattern of mechanical parameters of the scalp hair shaft in large numbers of newborn infants of different gest ational ages and to answer the question as to whether this pattern mig ht be useful in the accurate postnatal assessment of fetal maturation.