New analytical techniques were used to study the kinetic behavior of 5-(hydroxmethyl) furfural (HMF) and blockage of available lysine in milk and model systems. Both determination of HMF by the chromatographic method and estimation of available lysine by the ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) method at sterilization temperatures proved valid. Activation energies for the lysine loss reaction were 91.14, 112.41 and 66.67 kJ·mol-1 in the model systems and the milk respectively in fluorimetric determination with OPA. Activation energy for HMF determination ranged from 118.5 to 93.04 kJ·mol-1.

UNASSIGNED: In the randomized controlled Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA), the efficacy of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against first episodes of vaccine-type community-acquired pneumonia in adults aged ≥65 years was 46%. The long-term immunogenicity of PCV13 in pneumococcal vaccine-naive older adults was investigated as part of CAPiTA.
UNASSIGNED: We determined the immune responses to PCV13 before and at 1, 12, and 24 months after vaccination in 1006 PCV13 recipients and 1005 controls with 3 age-stratified study participant cohorts. PCV13 serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) titers and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were determined.
UNASSIGNED: Sample collection completeness was at least 93.4% at each time point. In all 3 age categories, a single dose of PCV13 elicited OPA titers and IgG concentrations for all 13 serotypes that were significantly higher than baseline and the corresponding responses in the placebo group at all time points. In the eldest subjects (≥80 years of age at vaccination), OPA titers and IgG concentrations remained above baseline and there was no apparent difference in OPA titers and IgG concentrations between those with self-reported comorbidities and healthy older adults. However, the study was not powered to determine statistical significance between different age and comorbidity groups, and thus these results are exploratory.
UNASSIGNED: In immunocompetent adults ≥65 years of age, PCV13 elicits significant increases in OPA titers and IgG concentrations that persist 2 years postvaccination for all 13 serotypes, regardless of age and comorbidity.
UNASSIGNED: NCT00744263.

BACKGROUND: The increasing importance of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing in cervical cancer screening warrants evaluation of HPV DNA tests with an equivocal zone requiring retesting of samples in the low positive range.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of the digene hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test (hc2), which has a manufacturer\'s recommended retesting zone with the cobas HPV Test, a real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification test without an equivocal range.
METHODS: A retrospective subanalysis of the ATHENA study comparing results for hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test and the cobas HPV Test using the LINEAR ARRAY HPV Genotyping Test (LA) and Sanger sequencing as comparators was performed. The ability of each test to detect high-grade cervical disease in the equivocal range was also evaluated.
RESULTS: 5.2% of samples fell within the equivocal zone (RLU/CO 1.0-2.5) and required retesting with the hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test. In this low-positive range the cobas HPV Test showed better positive percent agreement (PPA) than hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test for LA and sequencing (84.2% vs.70.9% and 92.1% vs.82.5%, respectively). hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test and the cobas HPV Test demonstrated comparable sensitivity for detection of high-grade disease in the equivocal range. In the low cobas HPV Test range (cycle threshold [Ct] 40-35), the cobas HPV test again demonstrated a better PPA than hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test with LA and sequencing as comparators and more high-grade disease was detected by the cobas HPV Test than hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test.
CONCLUSIONS: The cobas HPV Test demonstrates reliable performance in the hc2 High Risk HPV DNA Test equivocal zone, thus supporting it as an option for HPV testing that avoids the need for retesting.