Chemical composition of chicken eggshell and shell membranes.

This study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of uronic acid in chicken eggshell membranes and to compare chemical compositions among the inner and outer eggshell membranes and the organic matter of eggshell. We report here for the first time the occurrence of uronic acid in chicken eggshell membranes. Uronic acid concentrations were similar (P > 0.05) between the inner shell membrane and outer shell membrane but approximately fivefold higher (P < 0.05) in the organic matter of eggshell. Sialic acid concentrations were the highest (P < 0.05) in the organic matter of eggshell and higher (P < 0.05) in the inner than in the outer shell membrane. Nitrogen concentrations were the lowest (P < 0.05) in the organic matter of eggshell but relatively constant between the two shell membranes. Amino acid analysis showed that the contents of glycine and alanine were higher (P < 0.05) and those of proline and hydroxyproline were lower (P < 0.05) in the organic matter of eggshell compared to shell membranes.

Galactosaminoglycan composition in chicken eggshell.

Galactosaminoglycans, isolated from decalcified chicken eggshell by papain digestion and ion-exchange chromatography, were fractionated by selective precipitation at varying concentrations of ethanol and characterized by chemical and enzymatic methods. The eggshell contained 0.15 microg galactosaminoglycan uronic acid/mg dry weight. Most (to approximately 87% of total) galactosaminoglycans were found to be chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate copolymers with iduronic acid contents being approximately 20 to 30% of uronic acid. The remaining (to approximately 12% of total) galactosaminoglycans were chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate copolymers with higher iduronic acid contents averaging 59% of uronic acid. Results of chondroitinase-ABC digestion demonstrated 4-sulfated disaccharides to be the major repeating units in the chicken eggshell galactosaminoglycans.

Hepatic histopathologic range compared with virological studies of hepatitis viruses among autopsy cases in Tokyo.

Few reports exist comparing virological studies on hepatitis viruses with histopathological studies of autopsy cases other than those of liver clinics. Relations between hepatitis virus-related markers and hepatic histopathology were studied in 1044 autopsy cases (779 men and 265 women) at the Medical Examiner's Office, Tokyo. Heart blood was obtained at the autopsy, and the sera were submitted for virus-marker detection of HBV, HCV, and HGV/GBV-C. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin sections were used for histological assessment. Histopathologically, 463 cases were determined as so-called normal liver; among them 440 cases (95.0%) were negative for all hepatitis virus-related markers, but HBV-DNA was positive in 13 cases, three cases were positive for HCV-RNA (indicating a healthy carrier rate of HCV-RNA of 4.1%), and seven cases were positive for HGV/GBV-C RNA. The incidence of these three virus-related markers was low in cases with fatty liver and micronodular cirrhosis, but in cases with chronic hepatitis, macronodular cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the incidence of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA increased with advancing disease. A positive rate of anti-HBs or anti-HBc (HBV-Ab) or both was found between 30 and 50% in all histopathological groups, and no noticeable relations between the positive rate and microscopical changes were detected. The presence of HGV/GBV-C RNA seemed to be unrelated to hepatic inflammation or generalized inflammatory changes or both occurring together. The decadal age incidence of the virus-related markers and their incidence in various hepatic diseases are also reported.

Extraction of glycosaminoglycans from chicken eggshell.

The objectives of this study were to analyze glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and mineral composition in the chicken eggshell. Eggshells were decalcified with acetic acid, and GAG was extracted from the decalcified shell by digestion with papain. The eggshell contained an average of 0.024% of its dry weight as uronic acid, a carbohydrate moiety of GAG. The eggshell GAG consisted of approximately 48% hyaluronic acid and and 52% galactosaminoglycan. In the latter, chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate copolymers were the major galactosaminoglycans with dermatan sulfate disaccharide as a relatively minor component. The inorganic material recovered after decalcification accounted for approximately 140% of dry weight of the eggshell and contained 24.11% calcium, 0.04% phosphorous, and 0.23% magnesium, with an undetectable amount of nitrogen.

Liver weight of adult Japanese, especially recent weight values.

Cases of 445 adult Japanese autopsies of the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner's Office were used in this study. They were either negative for all hepatitis virus-related markers examined or had little or no histopathological hepatic changes. The maximum liver weight was observed in the fifth decade in both sexes, and after the fifth decade the liver weight decreased markedly with increasing age. The sexual difference in the liver weight was most predominant in the third to fifth decades, but the sexual difference was not marked in the older age groups. The highest liver weight to body weight ratio was observed in the fifth decade of both sexes, and a total decadal pattern of the ratio was similar to a parabola. An interesting finding was that the male liver weights in the third to fifth decades considerably increased in recent years, but the female liver weights in the third decade were almost the same despite the difference in investigation period. We suggest the data of this study may be a standard for Japanese people.