Hornek-Gausterer,R.; Oberacher,H.; Reinstadler,V.; Hartmann,C.; Liebmann,B.; Lomako,I.; Scharf,S.; Posautz,A.; Kübber-Heiss,A.; The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is an herbivorous mammal of high ecological impact, which is widespread throughout Europe. Despite its ability to adapt to varying habitat conditions, this species has experienced a decline in numbers since the 1960s. Pathological examinations of dead individuals from different geographical regions have shown that most animals suffer from intestinal inflammation with changes in the intestinal mucosa resulting in diarrhoea and death. [Read More]

Cemper-Kiesslich,J.; Amory,C.; Parson,W.; Wamers,E.; Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird eine molekulargenetische Analyse der aDNA (Jan Cemper-Kiesslich, Universität Salzburg, sowie Christina Amory und Walther Parson, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck) vorgelegt, die aus mehreren Proben des Gesichtsschädels eines unverbrannten Skeletts im spätmerowingerzeitlichen Kinderdoppelgrab unter der Bartholomäuskirche („Dom“) in Frankfurt am Main gewonnen wurde. Der archäologischen und anthropologischen Analyse zufolge handelt es sich um ein vier- bis fünfjähriges Mädchen aus der Oberschicht in Ostfranken. Vom als Leichenbrand mitbestatteten zweiten, etwa gleichaltrigen Kind konnte keine verwertbare Probe gezogen werden; sein Geschlecht und weitere Charakteristika bleiben unbekannt. [Read More]

Bartenbach,L.; Karall,T.; Koch,J.; Keller,M.A.; Oberacher,H.; Scholl-Burgi,S.; Karall,D.; Oemer,G.; Baumgartner,D.; Meinel,K.; Aly,S.; Odri-Komazec,I.; Geiger,R.; Michel,M.; Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) have an increased risk of aortic aneurysm formation, dissection and development of a subtle cardiomyopathy. We analyzed amino acid and lipid metabolic pathways in MFS patients, seeking biomarker patterns as potential monitoring tools of cardiovascular risk with deterioration of myocardial function. We assessed myocardial function in 24 adult MFS patients and compared traditional laboratory values and mass spectrometry-based amino acid, phospholipid and acylcarnitine metabolomes in patients with those in healthy controls. [Read More]

Stempfer,M.; Reinstadler,V.; Lang,A.; Oberacher,H.; Due to the popularity of recreational cannabis use, contamination of this drug with diverse classes of chemicals, including pesticides, mycotoxins, and synthetic cannabinoids, has been identified as major threat for public health. For the detection of these compounds in seized cannabis, a screening workflow involving non-targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) was developed. A Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method was used for the extraction of small bioorganic molecules from ground dried material. [Read More]

Iwersen-Bergmann,S.; Plattner,S.; Hischke,S.; Muller,A.; Andresen-Streichert,H.; Jungen,H.; Erb,R.; Beer-Sandner,B.; Methadone is an opioid that often leads to fatalities. Interpretation of toxicological findings can be challenging if no further information about the case history is available. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether brain/blood ratios can assist in the interpretation of methadone findings in fatalities; (2) to examine whether polymorphisms in the gene encoding the P-glycoprotein (also known as multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) or ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1)), which functions as a multispecific efflux pump in the blood-brain barrier, affect brain/blood ratios of methadone. [Read More]