A COVID-19 vaccine can be an important key for mitigating the spread of the pandemic, provided that it is accepted by a sufficient proportion of the population. This study investigated parents’ intention to get vaccinated and to have one’s child vaccinated against COVID-19. In May 2020, 612 parents participating with their child in the KUNO-Kids health study completed an online survey. Multivariable logistic regression models were calculated to analyze predictors of intention to vaccinate. Fifty-eight percent of parents intended to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and 51% intended to have their child vaccinated. Significant predictors for the intention to get vaccinated and for having the child vaccinated included stronger parental confidence in one’s knowledge about prevention measures and lower beliefs that policy measures were exaggerated.Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was considerable in our sample of parents in Germany. However, our study revealed some potentially modifiable factors which should be addressed by a comprehensive and tailored communication and education strategy. What is Known?• A COVID-19 vaccine can mitigate the spread of the pandemic.• Many parents are skeptical about vaccinations in general. What is New?• COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was considerable in our sample of parents from Germany, not only for getting vaccinated but also for having the child vaccinated.• Negative parental attitudes regarding policy measures to contain the pandemic were associated with a lower intention to vaccinate.

Birth cohort studies can contribute substantially to the understanding of health and disease — in childhood and over the life course. The KUNO-Kids birth cohort study was established to investigate various aspects of child health, using novel omics technologies in a systems medicine approach. After 3 years of recruitment, 2515 infants and their families have joined the study. Parents with higher education are overrepresented as in many other birth cohorts and are more likely to complete follow-up assessments via self-report questionnaires. The vast majority of participants consented to clinical examinations of their child and to the non-invasive collection of diverse biosamples, which were processed specifically for their integrated use in omics technology covering genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbiome analyses of the skin, oral cavity, and stool. The data and diverse biomaterial collected in the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study will provide extensive opportunities for investigating child health and its determinants in a holistic approach. The combination of a broad range of research questions in one study will allow for a cost-effective use of biomaterial and omics results and for a comprehensive analysis of biological and social determinants of health and disease. Aiming for low attrition and ensuring participants’ long-term commitment will be crucial to fully exploit the potential of the study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) comprises a spectrum of liver diseases, ranging from liver steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fibrosis within MASLD is critical for disease development; therefore, the identification of fibrosis-driving factors is indispensable. We analyzed the expression of interleukin 32 (IL-32) and chemokine CC ligand 20 (CCL20), which are known to be linked with inflammation and fibrosis, and for their expression in MASLD and hepatoma cells. RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blotting analyses were performed in both human liver samples and an in vitro steatosis model. IL-32 and CCL20 mRNA expression was increased in tissues of patients with NASH compared to normal liver tissue. Stratification for patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) status revealed significance for IL-32 only in patients with I148M (rs738409, CG/GG) carrier status. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between IL-32 expression and steatosis grade, and between IL-32 as well as CCL20 expression and fibrosis grade. Treatment with the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid (PA) induced mRNA and protein expression of IL-32 and CCL20 in hepatoma cells. This induction was mitigated by the substitution of PA with monounsaturated oleic acid (OA), suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress. Consequently, analysis of stress-induced signaling pathways showed the activation of Erk1/2 and p38 MAPK, which led to an enhanced expression of IL-32 and CCL20. In conclusion, cellular stress in liver epithelial cells induced by PA enhances the expression of IL-32 and CCL20, both known to trigger inflammation and fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the diagnostic findings of MRI, CT and CEUS in children with benign and malignant and portal venous anomalies of the liver. MATERIALS/METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the diagnostic findings of CEUS, MRI and CT scans in 56 children (age 0–17 years) with a total of 60 benign and malignant liver lesions and anomalies of the portal vein/perfusion. All patients underwent CEUS using sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles and a multi-frequency probe (1–5 MHz, 6–9 MHz). Cine-loops were stored up to 3 minutes. MRI was performed in 38 lesions. CT was performed in 8 lesions. RESULTS: Out of the 56 patients 49 liver lesions (48 benign, 1 malignant), 9 anomalies of the portal vein/perfusion and 2 of the biliary system were detected. 16/49 lesions were analyzed histopathologically. Using CEUS, the characterization of the lesions was possible in 45 out of 49 cases. In 32 cases, CEUS provided the exact diagnosis. Only two benign lesions were falsely categorized as malignant. Findings of MRI and CEUS were concordant in 84% of cases ( n = 32/38). CEUS considered 1 benign lesion to be malignant. 2 lesions were not detectable and in 3 lesions no definite diagnosis was established using MRI. Findings of CT and CEUS were concordant in 5 of 8 cases. In 21 lesions CEUS as the only imaging modality was found to be sufficient for diagnostics. CONCLUSION: Despite the restricted indications for using CEUS in children, it offers a high diagnostic detection rate (93%) for characterization of liver lesions and portal vein anomalies.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major complication in liver resection and transplantation. Here, we analyzed the impact of recombinant human augmenter of liver regeneration (rALR), an anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic protein, on the deleterious process induced by ischemia reperfusion (IR). Application of rALR reduced tissue damage (necrosis), levels of lipid peroxidation (oxidative stress) and expression of anti-oxidative genes in a mouse IRI model. Damage associated molecule pattern (DAMP) and inflammatory cytokines such as HMGB1 and TNFα, were not affected by rALR. Furthermore, we evaluated infiltration of inflammatory cells into liver tissue after IRI and found no change in CD3 or γδTCR positive cells, or expression of IL17/IFNγ by γδTCR cells. The quantity of Gr-1 positive cells (neutrophils), and therefore, myeloperoxidase activity, was lower in rALR-treated mice. Moreover, we found under hypoxic conditions attenuated ROS levels after ALR treatment in RAW264.7 cells and in primary mouse hepatocytes. Application of rALR also led to reduced expression of chemo-attractants like CXCL1, CXCL2 and CCl2 in hepatocytes. In addition, ALR expression was increased in IR mouse livers after 3 h and in biopsies from human liver transplants with minimal signs of tissue damage. Therefore, ALR attenuates IRI through reduced neutrophil tissue infiltration mediated by lower expression of key hepatic chemokines and reduction of ROS generation.