Rauch,C.; Feifel,E.; Kern,G.; Murphy,C.; Meier,F.; Parson,W.; Beilmann,M.; Jennings,P.; Gstraunthaler,G.; Wilmes,A.; Podocytes play a critical role in glomerular barrier function, both in health and disease. However, in vivo terminally differentiated podocytes are difficult to be maintained in in vitro culture. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer the unique possibility for directed differentiation into mature podocytes. The current differentiation protocol to generate iPSC-derived podocyte-like cells provides a robust and reproducible method to obtain podocyte-like cells after 10 days that can be employed in in vitro research and biomedical engineering. [Read More]

Gill,P.; Hicks,T.; Butler,J.M.; Connolly,E.; Gusmao,L.; Kokshoorn,B.; Morling,N.; vanOorschot,R.A.H.; Parson,W.; Prinz,M.; Schneider,P.M.; Sijen,T.; Taylor,D.; The interpretation of evidence continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the forensic community. This is the first of two papers intended to provide advice on difficult aspects of evaluation and in particular on the formulation of propositions. The scientist has a dual role: investigator (crime-focused), where often there is no suspect available and a database search may be required; evaluator (suspect-focused), where the strength of evidence is assessed in the context of the case. [Read More]

Berger,B.; Berger,C.; Heinrich,J.; Niederstätter,H.; Hecht,W.; Hellmann,A.; Rohleder,U.; Schleenbecker,U.; Morf,N.; Freire-Aradas,A.; McNevin,D.; Phillips,C.; Parson,W.; We tested a panel of 13 highly polymorphic canine short tandem repeat (STR) markers for dog breed assignment using 392 dog samples from the 23 most popular breeds in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. This STR panel had originally been selected for canine identification. The dog breeds sampled in this study featured a population frequency >/=1% and accounted for nearly 57% of the entire pedigree dog population in these three countries. [Read More]

Strobl,C.; Eduardoff,M.; Bus,M.M.; Allen,M.; Parson,W.; Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) amplification and Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) using an early access version of the Precision ID Whole MtDNA Genome Panel (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and the Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) were evaluated using 15 forensically relevant samples. Samples were selected to represent typical forensic specimens for mtDNA analysis including hairs, hair shafts, swabs and ancient solid tissue samples (bones and teeth) that were stored in the freezer for up to several years after having been typed with conventional Sanger-type Sequencing and Capillary Electrophoresis. [Read More]

Bonengel,S.; Jelkmann,M.; Abdulkarim,M.; Gumbleton,M.; Reinstadler,V.; Oberacher,H.; Prufert,F.; Bernkop-Schnurch,A.; The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different hydrophobic ion pairs (HIP) on the oral bioavailability of the model drug octreotide in pigs. Octreotide was ion paired with the anionic surfactants deoxycholate, decanoate and docusate differing in lipophilicity. These hydrophobic ion pairs were incorporated in self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) based on BrijO10, octyldodecanol, propylene glycol and ethanol in a concentration of 5mg/ml. [Read More]