DYS STR analysis with epithelial cells in a rape case.

We report here the application of Y-chromosomal DNA analysis in a rape case, which occurred in Stuttgart, Germany. Microscopic examination of the victim's vaginal swabs and her underwear showed no sperm cells. DNA was extracted from vaginal and epithelial cells and analysed with the autosomal systems SE33, THO1 (singleplex) and with the multiplex Profiler Plus (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA). The results of these autosomal STR analysis gave no hint at a mixed sample and failed to identify a male profile. DYS STR analysis with the systems DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS19 and DYS389 I/II showed the same characteristic features as the suspect. We used this incomplete haplotype to search in the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database via Internet. In a Caucasian population sample of 3589 minimal haplotypes we found 71 matches. The suspect confessed the crime and was finally condemned to 4 years imprisonment.

Frequency data for the STR loci HumFibra (FGA) and HumACTBP2 (SE33) in a population of Germans and Turks from South-West Germany.

Population studies were carried out on German and Turkish individuals from South-West Germany using the short tandem repeat (STR) systems HumFibra (n = 138 Turkish and 1161 German individuals) and HumACTBP2 (n = 202 Turkish and 1338 German individuals). After electrophoresis 19 alleles could be identified for HumFibra and 55 for HumACTBP2. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed.

[Determination of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using digital image analysis]. / Bestimmung von Restriktionsfragment-Längenpolymorphismen (RFLP) mit Hilfe der digitalen Bildanalyse.

The use of a video system to analyse restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) was assessed concerning precision and accuracy. In comparison to a manual, ruler based measurement technique the automated system (Bioimage/Millipore) showed excellent agreement in optical resolution and precision, having a little smaller differences between multiple measurements of restriction fragments. The variation between kb-values detected with both procedures is very small and lies in the dimension of the optical resolution of both measurement techniques. Moreover the fragment sizes are scattered rather homogeneously around a fictive mean value, at which the video system in part shows slightly higher kb-numbers.

Frequency distribution of D1S80 alleles in the German population.

The locus D1S80 is a very useful genetic marker system for forensic DNA analysis. It consists of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and can be analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As accurate data about the distribution of the alleles is one of the most important prerequisites for the application in forensic biology we studied the allele distribution in the German population.

[Measuring precision in determining the length of restriction fragments within the scope of DNA analysis]. / Untersuchungen zur Messpräzision bei der Grössenbestimmung von Restriktions-Fragmentlängen im Rahmen der DNA-Analyse.

Because of the measurement error that is known from the length determination of restriction fragments during DNA analysis, it is necessary to determine the precision by which identical DNA can be evaluated. Besides the collection of frequency data from a certain population this is one of the basic prerequisites to calculate the likelihood ratio of an established polymorphism. By multiple measurement of restriction fragments from different persons indicated by the probes MS1, MS31, MS43A, g3 and YNH24 on different blots the within-laboratory variation was determined in the complete separation area from 1 to 19 kb. The values were compared to procedures used by other laboratories.

ABO and Lewis typing of secretion stains on nitrocellulose membranes using a new dot-blot-ELISA technique.

A new method for ABO and Lewis typing of body fluids is described. It combines the advantages of a good antigen binding to nitrocellulose membranes, the need of only very small amounts of stain material and the high sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antigen detection. This is of special interest because conventional ABO and Lewis typing of secretion stains need relatively large stain dimensions. The method is very easy to handle, does not need any expensive equipment and gives a permanent record. Furthermore the high sensitivity offers the possibility of analyzing even sweat and urine stains without the need of concentrating these extracts.

[Gm/Km determination in sperm traces]. / Zur Gm/Km-Bestimmung an Spermaspuren.

In the forensic laboratories of the Federal Republic of Germany and West-Berlin 23 different semen stains and in our own laboratory 20 semen stains were typed in the gm/km-system doing 125 and 61 (own) test respectively. Examination was carried out by means of the haemagglutination method, which has been used successfully in typing bloodstains. Our critical assessment based on earlier experiences with semen stains was now confirmed and statistically evaluated: typing was successful in about 35-50% of the tests, but besides false-negative results, there was also a considerable percentage (4-10%) of false-positive ones. Therefore for the present it seems best to exclude the gm/km-typing of secretion stains from forensic investigations in order to avoid false incriminations or exonerations of suspects.

Isoelectric focusing of group specific component in semen and vaginal stains on ultrathin immobilized pH gradient gels.

Subtyping of the group specific component in secretions of semen and vaginal fluids is impossible with conventional detection systems. By means of a highly sensitive alkaline-phosphatase secondary antibody system the group specific component can reliably be detected in semen stains. Results with vaginal swabs were inconsistent and in saliva stains Gc activity could not be detected.

Determination of the Lewis blood group substances in stains of forensically relevant body fluids.

Forensic investigations often demand a clear definition of secretor status. Lewis-typing of secretion stains may help to verify non-secretor results and to identify mixtures of secretions from Le (a-b-) persons and secretors (or non-secretors). Furthermore it gives an additional check on secretor status, determined by ABO-grouping. Few problems may arise, when testing prepared saliva or semen stains. Therefore our interest was focussed on the possibility of Lewis-typing in stains appearing in forensic case work such as cigarette tips, stamps and envelope flaps, semen stains and vaginal swabs, nasal secretion, sweat and urine stains. All stains with the exception of sweat and urine were successfully Lewis-typed. In saliva stains Lewis substances could be determined even after 5 years and in semen stains for at least up to 40 days.

Influence of electrical stimulation and deprivation on the electric organ discharge behaviour and metabolism of neuronal gangliosides of the tapirfish (Gnathonemus petersi, Mormyridae, Teleostei).

The influence of electrical stimulation ("attack"-frequency of 40 Hz, 2 V, 2 days) and of social and electrical deprivation on the metabolism of gangliosides of various brain structures and the electric organ of the weakly electric tapirfish (Gnathonemus petersi, Mormyridae) was investigated. After stimulation the daily average discharges of the electric organ increased from 9.4 to 11.1 Hz, whereas after deprivation they decreased to 7.9 Hz as compared with controls. There were significant and structure specific differences in some ganglioside-fractions (GM1, GD3, GD1a, GD1b and GP1) in concentration and in specific radioactive NeuAc-labelling between stimulated and deprived animals respectively, compared with controls.

[Cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetics. Study on incidence, pathogenesis and prognosis]. / Kardiale autonome Neuropathie bei Diabetikern. Untersuchungen zu Häufigkeit, Pathogenese und Prognose.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is not a rare complication of diabetes. In a selected diabetic population, the prevalence of this complication indicated by abnormal response in beat-to-beat variation during forced respiration was 26%. Patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy had a two- to threefold higher frequency of diabetic retinopathy. The mortality rate during a 5 year period was increased in diabetics with cardiac autonomic neuropathy.