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Abstract MTC is a rare neuroendocrine thyroid tumour accounting for 3% to 10% of all thyroid malignancies. It can occur in a sporadic and a hereditary clinical setting. Hereditary MTC may either occur alone (familial MTC, FMTC) or as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, or MEN 2B. These disorders are due to germline mutations in the RET (REarranged during Transfection) gene. In carriers of MEN 2B-associated RET mutations, prophylactic thyroidectomy is indicated before the first year of life. In the case of MEN 2A-associated germline RET mutations with a high-risk profile, total thyroidectomy is warranted before the age of 2 years and certainly before the age of 4 years. At that age the risk of invasive MTC and metastases is acceptably low. Depending on the type of RET mutation, thyroidectomy can take place at an older age in patients with a lower risk profile. In case of elevated basal or stimulated serum calcitonin, preventive surgery including total thyroidectomy and central compartment dissection should be performed regardless of age. When MTC presents as a palpable tumour, total thyroidectomy should be combined with extensive lymph node dissection of levels II-V on both sides and level VI to prevent locoregional recurrences.

Context: Immunization with a meningococcal tetravalent (serogroup ACWY) glycoconjugate vaccine is recommended for all US adolescents. However, the currently licensed vaccine is poorly immunogenic in infancy, when the highest rates of disease are observed.Objective: To determine the immunogenicity of a novel tetravalent CRM(197)-conjugated meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) in infants.Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized, open-label, controlled study of 225 UK and 196 Canadian 2-month-olds from August 2004 to September 2006.Intervention: UK infants received a primary course of MenACWY (at 2, 3, and 4 months or 2 and 4 months) or Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C monovalent meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccine (MenC) (at 2 and 4 months). All received MenACWY at 12 months. Canadian infants received MenACWY at 2, 4, and 6 months or 2 and 4 months; at 12 months they received MenACWY, a plain tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine, or no vaccine.Main Outcome Measure: Percentage of infants with a human complement serum bactericidal activity (hSBA) titer >or=1:4 after a primary course of MenACWY and after a 12-month booster. Safety and reactogenicity of MenACWY were also assessed.Results: According to the prespecified per-protocol analysis, the percentages (95% CIs) of MenACWY 2-, 3-, and 4-month recipients with hSBA titers >or=1:4 after primary immunization were serogroup A, 93% (84%-98%); C, 96% (89%-99%); W-135, 97% (90%-100%); and Y, 94% (86%-98%). With a post hoc intention-to-treat analysis with imputed values for missing data, these values were unchanged for serogroups C and Y; for serogroup A, values were 92% (84%-97%), and for W-135, 97% (91%-99%). For the per-protocol analysis of MenACWY 2-, 4-, and 6-month recipients, the percentages (95% CIs) of responders were A, 81% (71%-89%); C, 98% (92%-100%); W-135, 99% (93%-100%); and Y, 98% (92%-100%). With the imputed value analysis, these values were A, 83% (74%-89%); C, 98% (93%-99%); W-135, 99% (94%-100%); and Y, 98% (92%-99%). At least 84% of MenACWY 2- and 4-month recipients achieved hSBA titers >or=1:4 for serogroups C, W-135, and Y after primary immunization, as did at least 60% for serogroup A (per-protocol and imputation analysis). At least 95% of primary and booster MenACWY recipients achieved hSBA titers >or=1:4 for serogroups C, W-135, and Y at 13 months, as did at least 84% for serogroup A (per-protocol and imputation analysis). During the primary immunization course, postimmunization pain on leg movement was observed in 2% of UK MenACWY 2- and 4-month recipients and 4% of MenC 2- and 4-month recipients; a temperature of 38 degrees C or greater was observed in 4% and 2% in these groups, respectively.Conclusion: MenACWY is well tolerated and immunogenic in infancy. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00262002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a serious threat to immunocompromised patients. Routine diagnostic methods have limited performance in identifying IFDs. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) including metagenomic NGS (mNGS) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) recently emerged as diagnostic methods that could provide more accurate and timely diagnoses and management of IFDs., Areas Covered: This article describes the emergence of NGS as a diagnostic tool to address the limitations of current tests. The literature regarding its application and clinical utility in the diagnosis of IFDs is reviewed. Practical considerations, challenges, and opportunities as they relate to the development and implementation of mNGS and WGS for fungal pathogens are discussed., Expert Opinion: NGS emerged over a decade ago with the potential to solve many of the challenges in diagnosing infectious diseases, including IFDs. However, published literature has yielded conflicting data about its clinical utility. The increased clinical adoption of NGS is improving our understanding of how to interpret and use its results to guide actionable decisions. Still, several gaps remain. As the cost, effort, and expertise involved in performing NGS decrease and the reporting of its results becomes standardized, NGS is poised to fill current gaps in the diagnosis of IFDs.

Objective: Serial procalcitonin (PCT) monitoring has been adopted to supplement clinical judgement and help guide antibiotic therapy as part of antimicrobial stewardship programs. PCT levels peak 24 to 48 h after infection onset and decline with infection resolution. We explored the role of PCT as an infection biomarker for guiding antibiotic therapy in cancer patients hospitalized for febrile neutropenia., Design: Prospective randomized study., Methods: Patients were enrolled between October 2021 and August 2023 and received empiric intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics (IVBSA) for at least 48 h. PCT was measured at baseline and 48-72 h after IVBSA initiation. PCT drop 48-72 h after IVBSA initiation was defined as a reduction of 30% from baseline or a PCT level < 0.25 ng/mL. De-escalation was defined as a switch from IVBSA to oral or simplified once-daily IV therapy., Results: Of the 89 patients with available PCT levels, 53 (60%) had a PCT drop, most of whom (79%) underwent IVBSA de-escalation. Compared with patients without a PCT drop, patients with a PCT drop had a higher de-escalation rate at 72 h (71% vs. 45%; p = 0.003) and a shorter median antibiotic duration (55 h vs. 98 h; p = 0.004). Patients with bacteremia had a significantly higher median PCT level than those without bacteremia (2.35 ng/mL vs. 0.370 ng/mL, p = 0.013)., Conclusions: In patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia, a PCT drop was associated with earlier therapy de-escalation and shorter antibiotic duration. PCT monitoring may be useful in antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in this patient population., Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT04983901.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a life-threatening fungal infection. Studies focusing on CAPA in low- and middle-income countries are limited., Methods: This retrospective matched case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care center in South India. Cases of CAPA were classified using the 2020 European Confederation of Medical Mycology/International Society for Human and Animal Mycology consensus criteria. A total of 95 cases were matched 1:1 with COVID-19 patients without CAPA. Matching was done based on age and period of admission. Inverse probability weighting was used to account for imbalances in COVID-19 severity and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Data on demographics, clinical details, microbiologic and radiologic data, and treatment outcomes were collected. A predictive score for CAPA was developed from baseline risk factors., Results: The predictive score identified lymphopenia, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer risk factors, and broad-spectrum antibiotic use as the main risk factors for CAPA. Positivity for bacterial pathogens in blood or bronchoalveolar lavage samples reduced the risk of CAPA. The predictive model performed well in cross-validation, with an area under the curve value of 82%. CAPA diagnosis significantly increased mortality and shift to ICU., Conclusions: The predictive model derived from the current study offers a valuable tool for clinicians, especially in high-endemic low- and middle-income countries, for the early identification and treatment of CAPA. With further validation, this risk score could improve patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. T. M. J. receives grant support from Illumina Inc. All other authors report no potential conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Ruxolitinib, a selective inhibitor of Janus kinases, is a standard treatment for intermediate/high-risk myelofibrosis (MF) but is associated with a predisposition to opportunistic infections, especially herpes zoster. However, the incidence and characteristics of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in these patients remain uncertain. In this report, we present the case of a 59-year-old woman with MF who developed disseminated histoplasmosis after seven months of ruxolitinib use. The patient clinically improved after ten weeks of combined amphotericin B and azole therapy, and ruxolitinib was discontinued. Later, the patient received fedratinib, a relatively JAK2-selective inhibitor, without relapse of histoplasmosis. We also reviewed the literature on published cases of proven IFIs in patients with MF who received ruxolitinib. Including ours, we identified 28 such cases, most commonly due to Cryptococcus species (46%). IFIs were most commonly disseminated (39%), followed by localized lung (21%) infections. Although uncommon, a high index of suspicion for opportunistic IFIs is needed in patients receiving JAK inhibitors. Furthermore, the paucity of data regarding the optimal management of IFIs in patients treated with JAK inhibitors underscore the need for well-designed studies to evaluate the epidemiology, pathobiology, early diagnosis, and multimodal therapy of IFIs in patients with hematological malignancies receiving targeted therapies.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infective diarrhea. Current methods for diagnosing CDI have limitations; enzyme immunoassays for toxin have low sensitivity and Clostridioides difficile polymerase chain reaction cannot differentiate infection from colonization. An ideal diagnostic test that incorporates microbial factors, host factors, and host-microbe interaction might characterize true infection. Assessing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath may be a useful test for identifying CDI. To identify a wide selection of VOCs in exhaled breath, we used thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to study breath samples from 17 patients with CDI. Age- and sex-matched patients with diarrhea and negative C.difficile testing (no CDI) were used as controls. Of the 65 VOCs tested, 9 were used to build a quadratic discriminant model that showed a final cross-validated accuracy of 74%, a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 76%, and a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.72. If these findings are proven by larger studies, breath VOC analysis may be a helpful adjunctive diagnostic test for CDI., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background: This study investigated the influence of oral microbial features on the trajectory of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck., Methods: OM severity was assessed and buccal swabs were collected at baseline, at the initiation of cancer treatment, weekly during cancer treatment, at the termination of cancer treatment, and after cancer treatment termination. The oral microbiome was characterized via the 16S ribosomal RNA V4 region with the Illumina platform. Latent class mixed-model analysis was used to group individuals with similar trajectories of OM severity. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing was used to fit an average trend within each group and to assess the association between the longitudinal OM scores and longitudinal microbial abundances., Results: Four latent groups (LGs) with differing patterns of OM severity were identified for 142 subjects. LG1 has an early onset of high OM scores. LGs 2 and 3 begin with relatively low OM scores until the eighth and 11th week, respectively. LG4 has generally flat OM scores. These LGs did not vary by treatment or clinical or demographic variables. Correlation analysis showed that the abundances of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidia, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacterales, Bacteroidales, Aerococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, Abiotrophia, and Prevotella&#95;7 were positively correlated with OM severity across the four LGs. Negative correlation was observed with OM severity for a few microbial features: Abiotrophia and Aerococcaceae for LGs 2 and 3; Gammaproteobacteria and Proteobacteria for LGs 2, 3, and 4; and Enterobacterales for LGs 2 and 4., Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential to personalize treatment for OM., Plain Language Summary: Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating after effect for patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Trends in the abundance of specific microbial features may be associated with patterns of OM severity over time. Our findings suggest the potential to personalize treatment plans for OM via tailored microbiome interventions., (© 2023 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), remains the most reliable and practical test to diagnose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Current literature is sparse regarding the rates of discordance between NPS and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with cancer., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with cancer who had BAL samples tested for SARS-CoV-2 at a comprehensive cancer center. Patients without NPS PCR for SARS-CoV-2 before BAL were excluded., Results: In a cohort of 345 patients, 12% and 17% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on NPS and BAL, respectively. There was a 6.3% NPS-/BAL+ discordance rate and a 9.5% NPS+/BAL- discordance rate. Patients with lymphoma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.06; P = .007) and Hispanic patients (aOR = 3.76; P = .009) were more likely to have NPS-/BAL+ discordance on multivariate analysis. Among patients with NPS- /BAL- for SARS-CoV-2, an alternate infectious (23%) and a noninfectious etiology (16%) were identified in BAL., Conclusions: Our discordance rates between NPS and BAL were sufficient to recommend BAL in certain patients with cancer with a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19. BAL has value in identifying alternative etiologies of illness in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. R. F. C. reports consultant and/or advisor roles for Ansun BioPharma, ADMA Biologics, Roche, Partner Therapeutics, AiCuris, Adagio Therapeutics, Karius, Shinogi, Eurofins-Viracor, Inc, Genentech, Astellas, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Merck & Co., Inc, Oxford Immunotec USA, Inc; Pulmotect, Inc, Takeda, and Xenex Laboratories; and institutional grant/research support from Ansun BioPharma, Eurofins-Viracor, Inc, Merck & Co., Inc, Takeda, Freestyle, Karius, Inc, AiCuris, and Genentech. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. M. M. B. reports consulting fees for service on bioMerieux, Inc.'s Advisory Board. R. S. M. reports research grants from CSL Behring, Kadmon, Syndax, and Orca Bioscience. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

The last decade has seen an explosion of advanced assays for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, yet evidence-based recommendations to inform their optimal use in the care of transplant recipients are lacking. A consensus conference sponsored by the American Society of Transplantation (AST) was convened on December 7, 2021, to define the utility of novel infectious disease diagnostics in organ transplant recipients. The conference represented a collaborative effort by experts in transplant infectious diseases, diagnostic stewardship, and clinical microbiology from centers across North America to evaluate current uses, unmet needs, and future directions for assays in 5 categories including (1) multiplex molecular assays, (2) rapid antimicrobial resistance detection methods, (3) pathogen-specific T-cell reactivity assays, (4) next-generation sequencing assays, and (5) mass spectrometry-based assays. Participants reviewed and appraised available literature, determined assay advantages and limitations, developed best practice guidance largely based on expert opinion for clinical use, and identified areas of future investigation in the setting of transplantation. In addition, attendees emphasized the need for well-designed studies to generate high-quality evidence needed to guide care, identified regulatory and financial barriers, and discussed the role of regulatory agencies in facilitating research and implementation of these assays. Findings and consensus statements are presented., (© 2022 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

The exact cause of the disproportionate increase in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases in India remains unknown. Most researchers consider the major cause of India's CAM epidemic to be the conjunction of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated corticosteroid treatment with the enormous number of Indians with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, excess CAM cases were not seen to the same extent in the Western world, where diabetes is prevalent and corticosteroids are also used extensively for COVID-19 treatment. Herein, we hypothesize that previously overlooked environmental factors specific to India were important contributors to the country's CAM epidemic. Specifically, we propose that the spread of fungal spores, mainly through fumes generated from the burning of Mucorales-rich biomass, like cow dung and crop stubble, caused extensive environmental exposure in the context of a large population of highly vulnerable patients with DM and COVID-19. Testing this hypothesis with epidemiologic studies, phylogenetic analyses, and strategic environmental sampling may have implications for preventing future epidemics.

Background: E. coli is an under-recognized cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of community-acquired Escherichia coli pneumonia in comparison with other gram-negative and pneumococcal pneumonias., Methods: We conducted a large retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with pneumonia to 173 US hospitals included in the Premier Research database from July 2010 to June 2015. Patients were included if they had a principal diagnosis code for pneumonia or a principal diagnosis of respiratory failure or sepsis with a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia and had a positive blood or respiratory culture obtained on hospital day 1. The primary outcome was in-hospital case fatality. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and use of vasopressors., Results: Of 8680 patients with pneumonia and positive blood or respiratory cultures, 1029 (7.7%) had E. coli CAP. Patients with E. coli pneumonia were older and more likely to have a principal diagnosis of sepsis. Patients with E. coli pneumonia had significantly higher case fatality than patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.23-1.97), but it was not significantly different than other gram-negative pneumonias (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32). Approximately 36% of the isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones; 9.3% were resistant to ceftriaxone., Conclusions: E. coli is an important cause of severe CAP; with mortality that was higher than pneumococcal pneumonia but similar to other gram-negative pneumonias. The rate of fluoroquinolone resistance was high, and empiric fluoroquinolones should be used with caution in these patients., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Growing awareness of the ethical implications of neuroscience in the early years of the 21st century led to the emergence of the new academic field of "neuroethics," which studies the ethical implications of developments in the neurosciences. However, despite the acceleration and evolution of neuroscience research on nonhuman animals, the unique ethical issues connected with neuroscience research involving nonhuman animals remain underdiscussed. This is a significant oversight given the central place of animal models in neuroscience. To respond to these concerns, the Center for Neuroscience and Society and the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania hosted a workshop on the "Neuroethics of Animal Research" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the workshop, expert speakers and attendees discussed ethical issues arising from neuroscience research involving nonhuman animals, including the use of animal models in the study of pain and psychiatric conditions, animal brain-machine interfaces, animal-animal chimeras, cerebral organoids, and the relevance of neuroscience to debates about personhood. This paper highlights important emerging ethical issues based on the discussions at the workshop. This paper includes recommendations for research in the United States from the authors based on the discussions at the workshop, loosely following the format of the 2 Gray Matters reports on neuroethics published by the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues., (The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an important infectious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, with significant morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic algorithms are based on identifying toxin by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and toxin gene by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with diarrhea. EIA's sensitivity is poor, and PCR, although highly sensitive and specific, cannot differentiate infection from colonization. An ideal test that incorporates microbial factors, host factors, and host-microbe interaction might characterize true infection, and assess prognosis and recurrence. The study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has the potential to be an ideal diagnostic test. The presence of VOCs accounts for the characteristic odor of stool in CDI but their presence in breath and plasma has not been studied yet. A cross-sectional proof-of-concept study analyzing VOCs using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) was done on breath, stool, and plasma of patients with clinical features and positive PCR for CDI (cases) and compared with patients with clinical features but a negative PCR (control). Our results showed that VOC patterns in breath, stool, and plasma, had good accuracy [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) 93%, 86%, and 91%, respectively] for identifying patients with CDI., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Mucormycosis (MCR) has been increasingly described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but the epidemiological factors, presentation, diagnostic certainty, and outcome of such patients are not well described. We review the published COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAMCR) cases (total 41) to identify risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes. CAMCR was typically seen in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) (94%) especially the ones with poorly controlled DM (67%) and severe or critical COVID-19 (95%). Its presentation was typical of MCR seen in diabetic patients (mostly rhino-orbital and rhino-orbital-cerebral presentation). In sharp contrast to reported COVID-associated aspergillosis (CAPA) cases, nearly all CAMCR infections were proven (93%). Treating physicians should have a high suspicion for CAMCR in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and severe COVID-19 presenting with rhino-orbital or rhino-cerebral syndromes. CAMR is the convergence of two storms, one of DM and the other of COVID-19.

Testing for Lyme disease is challenging and if done incorrectly can lead to unnecessary treatment. To interpret serologic test results, first assess the patient's pretest probability of infection based on the probability of exposure and clinical findings. Two-tiered testing remains the gold standard in diagnosing Lyme disease, although new guidelines may be published soon., (Copyright © 2019 Cleveland Clinic.)

Clostridium difficile colonizes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in either asymptomatic carriage or a spectrum of diarrheal illness. If clinical suspicion for C. difficile is low, stool samples are often submitted for analysis by multiplex molecular assays capable of detecting multiple GI pathogens, and some institutions do not report this organism due to concerns for high false-positive rates. Since clinical disease correlates with organism burden and molecular assays yield quantitative data, we hypothesized that numerical cutoffs could be utilized to improve the specificity of the Luminex xTAG GI pathogen panel (GPP) for C. difficile infection. Analysis of cotested liquid stool samples ( n = 1,105) identified a GPP median fluorescence intensity (MFI) value cutoff of ≥1,200 to be predictive of two-step algorithm (2-SA; 96.4% concordance) and toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) positivity. Application of this cutoff to a second cotested data set ( n = 1,428) yielded 96.5% concordance. To determine test performance characteristics, concordant results were deemed positive or negative, and discordant results were adjudicated via chart review. Test performance characteristics for the MFI cutoff of ≥150 (standard), MFI cutoff of ≥1,200, and 2-SA were as follows (respectively): concordance, 95, 96, and 97%; sensitivity, 93, 78, and 90%; specificity, 95, 98, and 98%; positive predictive value, 67, 82, and 81%;, and negative predictive value, 99, 98, and 99%. To capture the high sensitivity for organism detection (MFI of ≥150) and high specificity for active infection (MFI of ≥1,200), we developed and applied a reporting algorithm to interpret GPP data from patients ( n = 563) with clinician orders only for syndromic panel testing, thus enabling accurate reporting of C. difficile for 95% of samples (514 negative and 5 true positives) irrespective of initial clinical suspicion and without the need for additional testing., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.)

Safety is of utmost essence in the aviation sector, both on-ground and in the air. Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) commonly referred to as jet fuel is one of the major resources of the aviation sector, contributing significantly to the operating cost of an airline. Flight safety is a top-notch requirement in air transportation management. Jet fuel quality affects flight safety, and this makes it mandatory to ensure that, at all points in the jet A-1 aviation fuel supply chain, the jet fuel is contamination free and on-spec. Jet fuel quality is determined via various mandatory Joint Inspection Group (JIG) based quality analysis test procedures; both baseline and extensive lab tests by third party labs. Acceptable parameter range has been established for each jet fuel property, the electrical conductivity of jet A-1 fuel must be between 50 and 600 pS/m and the density at 15 °C must be between 0.775 and 0.840 g/cm 3 . Beyond this range, the fuel is deemed off-spec and unsafe for into-plane fuelling operations. This data article presents daily jet fuel test records for jet-A1 fuel. The dataset contains the date of the test, the conductivity, the specific gravity at ambient temperature, the converted specific gravity at 15 °C, and the temperature of the jet fuel sample under study. All the tests were performed at standard laboratory conditions using approved and certified equipment. The dataset provides an opportunity for developing a predictive model that can be used for jet fuel properties prediction on a given day, based on previous data trends and analysis using data pattern recognition, as an indication of the variation of jet fuel properties with daily weather variation.

The data contained in this article was acquired from the automatic gauge control system for a steel cold rolling mill production line in Nigeria. Accuracy is the one of the most important indices of productivity during a milling process. A total of 486 data points were obtained from selected feedback sensors located on the rolling mill machine via the control panel Human Machine Interface (HMI). The selected rolling parameters were gathered at different time intervals for different sample coils strips during the different milling stages. The data shows parameters such as actual thickness measured, x-ray gauge temperature, mill speed at both entry and exit and the mill power. This dataset could be used to analyze and improve the accuracy of the Automatic gauge control system and reduction in error in thickness variation.

This data article represents academic performances of undergraduate students in a select Nigerian Private Tertiary institution from 2008 to 2013. The 2413 dataset categorizes students with respect to their origins (ethnicity), pre-university admission scores and Cumulative Grade Point Averages earned at the end of their study at the university. We present a descriptive statistics showing mean, median, mode, maximum, minimum, range, standard deviation and variance in the performances of these students and a boxplot representation of the performances of these students with respect to their origins.

This data article presents data of academic performances of undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines in Covenant University, Nigeria. The data shows academic performances of Male and Female students who graduated from 2010 to 2014. The total population of samples in the observation is 3046 undergraduates mined from Biochemistry (BCH), Building technology (BLD), Computer Engineering (CEN), Chemical Engineering (CHE), Industrial Chemistry (CHM), Computer Science (CIS), Civil Engineering (CVE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Information and Communication Engineering (ICE), Mathematics (MAT), Microbiology (MCB), Mechanical Engineering (MCE), Management and Information System (MIS), Petroleum Engineering (PET), Industrial Physics-Electronics and IT Applications (PHYE), Industrial Physics-Applied Geophysics (PHYG) and Industrial Physics-Renewable Energy (PHYR). The detailed dataset is made available in form of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet in the supplementary material of this article.

In Nigerian universities, enrolment into any engineering undergraduate program requires that the minimum entry criteria established by the National Universities Commission (NUC) must be satisfied. Candidates seeking admission to study engineering discipline must have reached a predetermined entry age and met the cut-off marks set for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and the post-UTME screening. However, limited effort has been made to show that these entry requirements eventually guarantee successful academic performance in engineering programs because the data required for such validation are not readily available. In this data article, a comprehensive dataset for empirical evaluation of entry requirements into engineering undergraduate programs in a Nigerian university is presented and carefully analyzed. A total sample of 1445 undergraduates that were admitted between 2005 and 2009 to study Chemical Engineering (CHE), Civil Engineering (CVE), Computer Engineering (CEN), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Information and Communication Engineering (ICE), Mechanical Engineering (MEE), and Petroleum Engineering (PET) at Covenant University, Nigeria were randomly selected. Entry age, SSCE aggregate, UTME score, Covenant University Scholastic Aptitude Screening (CUSAS) score, and the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of the undergraduates were obtained from the Student Records and Academic Affairs unit. In order to facilitate evidence-based evaluation, the robust dataset is made publicly available in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file. On yearly basis, first-order descriptive statistics of the dataset are presented in tables. Box plot representations, frequency distribution plots, and scatter plots of the dataset are provided to enrich its value. Furthermore, correlation and linear regression analyses are performed to understand the relationship between the entry requirements and the corresponding academic performance in engineering programs. The data provided in this article will help Nigerian universities, the NUC, engineering regulatory bodies, and relevant stakeholders to objectively evaluate and subsequently improve the quality of engineering education in the country.

Empirical measurement, monitoring, analysis, and reporting of learning outcomes in higher institutions of developing countries may lead to sustainable education in the region. In this data article, data about the academic performances of undergraduates that studied engineering programs at Covenant University, Nigeria are presented and analyzed. A total population sample of 1841 undergraduates that studied Chemical Engineering (CHE), Civil Engineering (CVE), Computer Engineering (CEN), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Information and Communication Engineering (ICE), Mechanical Engineering (MEE), and Petroleum Engineering (PET) within the year range of 2002-2014 are randomly selected. For the five-year study period of engineering program, Grade Point Average (GPA) and its cumulative value of each of the sample were obtained from the Department of Student Records and Academic Affairs. In order to encourage evidence-based research in learning analytics, detailed datasets are made publicly available in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file attached to this article. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions of the academic performance data are presented in tables and graphs for easy data interpretations. In addition, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparison post-hoc tests are performed to determine whether the variations in the academic performances are significant across the seven engineering programs. The data provided in this article will assist the global educational research community and regional policy makers to understand and optimize the learning environment towards the realization of smart campuses and sustainable education.

Objectives: Recent development of serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines highlights the importance of pharyngeal carriage data, particularly in adolescents and young adults, to inform implementation strategies. We describe current UK carriage prevalence in this high risk population and compare methods of carriage detection., Methods: In this multisite study, pharyngeal swabs were collected on 3-4 occasions over 6-12 months, from 1040 school and university students, aged 10-25 years. Meningococcal carriage was detected by standard culture combined with seroagglutination or PCR of cultured isolates, or by direct PCR from swab. The factor H binding protein (fHBP) variants present in meningococcal isolates were determined., Results: Meningococcal serogroups B and Y were most common, with carriage up to 6.5% and 5.5% respectively, increasing throughout adolescence. Identification by seroagglutination was often unreliable, and the sensitivity of direct PCR detection was 66% compared to culture combined with PCR. Of MenB isolates, 89.1% had subfamily A variants of fHBP. The acquisition rate of MenB carriage was estimated at 2.8 per 1000 person-months., Conclusions: If vaccination is to precede the adolescent rise in MenB carriage, these data suggest it should take place in early adolescence. Studies assessing vaccine impact should use molecular methods to detect carriage., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The multicomponent serogroup B meningococcal (4CMenB) vaccine induces antibodies against indicator strains of serogroup B meningococcus under various schedules. We investigated the persistence of antibodies in 5-year-old children 18-20 months after their last dose (at about 3.5 years of age)., Methods: We assessed 5-year-old children who received the 4CMenB vaccine or a recombinant protein vaccine in a previous randomized trial. We also recruited 50 vaccine-naive 5-year-olds and administered 2 doses of 4CMenB to each child. We measured serum bactericidal antibody titres against 4 indicator strains of serogroup B meningococcus matched to each individual vaccine component and against 4 mismatched strains., Results: Of those who received the 4CMenB vaccine at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 40 months (n = 16), the percentage with protective antibody titres (≥ 1:4) at 60 months ranged from 44% to 88% against matched strains and from 13% to 81% against mismatched strains. Loss of protective titres was also observed for those who received the 4CMenB vaccine at 12, 40 and 42 months (n = 5) (80%-100% against matched strains, 60%-100% against mismatched strains) or at 40 and 42 months (n = 29) (31%-100% against matched strains, 41%-81% against mismatched strains). Administering the 4CMenB vaccine to 5-year-old children yielded protective titres against matched strains in 92%-100% and against mismatched strains in 59%-100%. The majority of these children reported injection-site pain (40/50 [80%] after dose 1, 39/46 [85%] after dose 2) and erythema (47/50 [94%] and 40/46 [87%], respectively); rates of fever were low (5/50 [10%] and 2/46 [4%], respectively)., Interpretation: Waning of immunity by 5 years of age occurred after receipt of the 4CMenB vaccine in infancy, even with an additional booster at 40 months. The 4CMenB vaccine is immunogenic and was fairly well tolerated by 5-year-old children, although injection-site pain was noteworthy., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT01027351., (© 2015 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors.)

Background: A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) has been licensed by the European commission for use in various infant schedules. However, data are limited on persistence of serum bactericidal antibodies (SBA), which is necessary to inform cost-effectiveness analysis., Methods: Sera were obtained from 3 groups of 5-year-old children previously immunized at 6, 8, 12 and 40 months with either 4CMenB or rMenB (which lacks the outer membrane vesicle of 4CMenB) or at 40 and 42 months with 4CMenB only. Forty-nine control children were also recruited and blood obtained before and after 2 doses of 4CMenB at 60 and 62 months of age. Sera were tested for SBA to meningococcal B reference strains., Results: At 5 years of age, 67% of those receiving 4CMenB in infancy had SBA titers ≥1:4 for strain 44/76, 100% for 5/99, 17% for NZ98/254 and 45% for M10713. Results for rMenB recipients varied from 0 (NZ98/254) to 100% (5/99). Of those immunized with 4CMenB at 40 and 42 months, 38% had SBA titers ≥1:4 at age 5 for 44/76, 100% for 5/99, 0% (NZ98/254) and 83% (M10713). Among controls, SBA titers were ≥1:4 in 4% (H44/76, 5/99), 0% (NZ98/254) and 67% (M10713) at baseline, increasing to 100% (H44/76 and 5/99), 89% (NZ98/254) and 97% (M10713) postimmunization., Conclusion: The variable rates of waning of antibody to the 4 components of 4CMenB complicates estimates of duration of protection and should be taken into account in cost-effectiveness analyses. A 2-dose schedule of 4CMenB in 5-year-old children was immunogenic.

Background: Protection against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a rapidly invading encapsulated bacteria, is dependent on maintenance of an adequate level of serum antibody through early childhood. In many countries, Hib vaccine booster doses have been implemented after infant immunization to sustain immunity. We investigated the long-term persistence of antibody and immunological memory in primary-school children following infant (with or without booster) Hib vaccination., Methods: Anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and the frequency of circulating Hib-specific memory B cells were measured before a booster of a Hib-serogroup C meningococcal (MenC) conjugate vaccine and again 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year after the booster in 250 healthy children aged 6-12 years in an open-label phase 4 clinical study., Results: Six to 12 years following infant priming with 3 doses of Hib conjugate vaccine, anti-PRP IgG geometric mean concentrations were 3.11 µg/mL and 0.71 µg/mL and proportions with anti-PRP IgG ≥1.0 µg/mL were 79% and 43% in children who had or had not, respectively, received a fourth Hib conjugate vaccine dose (mean age, 3.9 years). Higher baseline and post-Hib-MenC booster responses (anti-PRP IgG and memory B cells) were found in younger children and in those who had received a fourth Hib dose., Conclusions: Sustained Hib conjugate vaccine-induced immunity in children is dependent on time since infant priming and receipt of a booster. Understanding the relationship between humoral and cellular immunity following immunization with conjugate vaccines may direct vaccine design and boosting strategies to sustain individual and population immunity against encapsulated bacteria in early childhood. Clinical Trials Registration ISRCTN728588998.

Background: The multicomponent serogroup B meningococcal (4CMenB) vaccine was recently licensed for use in Europe. There are currently no data on the persistence of bactericidal antibodies induced by use of this vaccine in infants. Our objective was to evaluate serogroup B-specific bactericidal antibodies in children aged 40-44 months previously vaccinated at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age., Methods: Participants given 4 doses of 4CMenB as infants received a fifth dose of the vaccine at 40-44 months of age. Age-matched participants who were MenB vaccine-naive received 4CMenB and formed the control group. We evaluated human complement serum bactericidal activity (hSBA) titres at baseline and 1 month after each dose of 4CMenB., Results: Before a booster dose at enrolment, 41%-76% of 17 participants previously vaccinated with 4CMenB in infancy had hSBA titres of 4 or greater against 4 reference strains. Before vaccination in the control group (n = 40) these proportions were similar for strains 44/76-SL (63%) and M10713 (68%) but low for strains NZ98/254 (0%) and 5/99 (3%). A booster dose in the 4CMenB-primed participants generated greater increases in hSBA titres than in controls., Interpretation: As has been observed with other meningococcal vaccines, bactericidal antibodies waned after vaccination with 4CMenB administered according to an approved infant vaccination schedule of 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age, but there was an anamnestic response to a booster dose at 40-44 months of age. If 4CMenB were introduced into routine vaccination schedules, assessment of the need for a booster dose would require data on the impact of these declining titres on vaccine effectiveness. ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT01027351.

Background: In a previous study, 60 infants receiving an investigational serogroup B meningococcal vaccine containing recombinant meningococcal proteins alone (rMenB) or combined with an outer membrane vesicle from Neisseria meningitidis (4CMenB) at 6, 8 and 12 months of age produced serum bactericidal antibodies (SBAs) against meningococcal strains expressing vaccine antigens. We studied persistence of this response and the response to a booster dose of vaccine., Methods: In this extension study, SBA titers were evaluated before and after a booster dose of rMenB or 4CMenB at 40 months of age. MenB vaccine naïve age-matched children served as a control group., Results: Before the booster doses, the proportions of 4CMenB recipients with SBA titers ≥1:4 were 36% (n = 14, 95% confidence interval: 13-65%) for strain 44/76-SL, 100% (77-100%) for 5/99, 14% (2-43%) for NZ98/254 and 79% (49-95%) for M10713. These percentages were 14% to 29% for rMenB recipients (n = 14), except for 5/99 (93%, 66-100%). For controls (n = 40), these proportions were ≤3% for all strains except M10713 (53%, 36-68%). One month after the boosters, ≥93% of 4CMenB recipients had SBA titers ≥1:4 for all 4 strains. For controls receiving their first dose of 4CMenB, 23% (11-39%) had SBA titers ≥1:4 for NZ98/254, compared with 62% to 87% for the remaining strains., Conclusions: Bactericidal antibodies wane after infant immunization with rMenB or 4CMenB, but there is an anamnestic response to a booster dose. Booster doses of 4CMenB may be required to maintain immune protection through childhood and adolescence.

Background: Genomic and transcriptomic studies underpin much investigation in biology and should be included routinely in clinical trials such as vaccine studies to provide new insight into the development of immunity and the genetic basis for adverse reactions. Interest in collecting and storing genetic material for subsequent high-throughput meta-analyses has increased substantially in recent years. Participants in clinical trials represent an important and invaluable source of clinical material and data., Methods: Here, the experience of a single center in obtaining informed consent for the collection and long-term storage of genetic material from children, adolescents and adults, involved in clinical vaccine trials is presented and discussed., Results: In 11 completed vaccine studies involving almost 3000 individuals, high rates of consent (in excess of 96%) for biobanking and future genetic testing were obtained. Rates were high for participants from all age groups; however, there was a significant increase toward greater uptake by older study participants., Conclusions: These high acceptance rates demonstrate that participants (and parents of young children) in vaccine studies are willing to consent and engage in genetic research, which provides support for routinely collecting genetic material in research involving healthy participants such as clinical vaccine trials., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Antibodies against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis (MenC) persist better to 3½ years of age after a 12-month booster dose of a combination Hib-MenC glycoconjugate vaccine (Hib-MenC-TT) in children primed in infancy with Hib-MenC-TT and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis-inactivated poliovirus vaccine (DTaP-IPV) than in those who received a monovalent MenC-CRM197 and DTaP-IPV-Hib (also TT conjugated). Pertussis antibodies against filamentous hemagglutinin and pertactin are higher at 5 and 12 months in children who received DTaP-IPV compared with those immunized with DTaP-IPV-Hib. We evaluated whether these differences persisted to later childhood, following a preschool booster of DTaP-IPV at 3½ years of age., Methods: Children in the United Kingdom and Poland previously enrolled in the aforementioned randomized-controlled trial had a blood sample taken at 5 years of age. Antipolyribosylribitol phosphate (Hib) IgG and MenC bactericidal antibody (baby rabbit complement) titers were compared between those immunized in infancy (at 2, 3 and 4 months) with DTaP-IPV/Hib-MenC-TT (Hib-MenC-TT group) and those who received DTaP-IPV-Hib with a monovalent MenC-CRM197 (control group). Antibody concentrations against filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin and pertussis toxin were also measured at this visit., Results: Two hundred sixty-eight participants aged 58-64 months were enrolled. MenC baby rabbit complement titers ≥1:8 were seen in 115 of 194 of the Hib-MenC-TT group (59.3% [52.0-66.3%]) and 26 of 58 (44.8% [31.7-58.5%]) of control group participants. MenC baby rabbit complement geometric mean titers were 30.4 and 11.3, respectively (ratio 2.70 [1.55- .73]). Antipolyribosylribitol phosphate (Hib) IgG concentrations ≥ 1.0 μg/mL were seen in 171 of 197 (86.8% [81.3-91.2%]) of the Hib-MenC-TT group and 36 of 58 (62.1% [48.4-74.5%]) of control group participants. Antipolyribosylribitol phosphate IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) were 3.82 and 1.67, respectively (ratio 2.29 [1.59-3.28]). Sixty-eight UK participants aged 58-63 months had sera analyzed for the pertussis antigens (44 DTaP-IPV recipients, 14 DTaP-IPV-Hib recipients). Antipertussis toxin IgG GMCs were similar for participants immunized with DTaP-IPV and DTaP-IPV-Hib: 8.2 EL.U/mL (6.1 - 10.9) compared with 7.2 EL.U/mL (3.9 - 13.4). Antifilamentous hemagglutinin IgG GMCs were higher for DTaP-IPV recipients (164.7 EL.U/mL [119.4-227.1]) compared with DTaP-IPV-Hib recipients (66.8 EL.U/mL [43.8-101.7]), as were antipertactin IgG GMCs: 102.8 EL.U/mL (67.1-157.3) compared with 23.4 EL.U/mL (15.1-36.2)., Conclusion: Vaccines used for infant immunization against Hib and MenC differ in their ability to prime responses to a booster dose of Hib-MenC-TT, and this difference persists to at least 5 years of age. Persistence of antipertussis antibody following a preschool booster of DTaP-IPV is also influenced by immunizations received at 2, 3 and 4 months of age, underlining the importance of infant immune priming in the maintenance of antibody levels through childhood.

The maintenance of adequate serum Ab levels following immunization has been identified as the most important mechanism for individual long-term protection against rapidly invading encapsulated bacteria. The mechanisms for maintaining adequate serum Ab levels and the relationship between Ag-specific memory B cells and Ab at steady state are poorly understood. We measured the frequency of circulating serogroup C meningococcal (MenC)-specific memory B cells in 250 healthy 6- to 12-y-old children 6 y following MenC conjugate vaccine priming, before a booster of a combined Haemophilus influenzae type b-MenC conjugate vaccine and then 1 wk, 1 mo, and 1 y after the booster. We investigated the relationship between circulating MenC-specific memory B cell frequencies and Ab at baseline and following the booster vaccine. We found very low frequencies of circulating MenC-specific memory B cells at steady state in primary school-aged children and little association with MenC IgG Ab levels. Following vaccination, there were robust memory B cell booster responses that, unlike Ab levels, were not dependent on age at priming with MenC. Measurement of B cell memory in peripheral blood does not predict steady state Ab levels nor the capacity to respond to a booster dose of MenC Ag.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) carriage and disease studies in Nepali children suggest a significant burden of infection. Hib conjugate vaccines (HibCV) do not have uniform immunogenicity between populations. We determined the immunogenicity of HibCV in Nepali infants, before its introduction into the routine immunization schedule., Methods: Ninety infants recruited at Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, received 3 doses of the HibCV with routine immunizations (diphtheria, tetanus, whole cell pertussis-hepatitis B vaccine + oral polio vaccine) at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, and a HibCV booster at 52 weeks. Anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) concentrations were measured at 18, 52 and 56 weeks, and the antibody persistence at 52 weeks was compared with antibody values in unimmunized controls (n = 30)., Results: After 3 doses of primary immunizations, at 18 weeks of age (n = 74), all infants had anti-PRP concentrations above the accepted thresholds for short- and long-term protection (0.15 and 1.0 µg/mL, respectively). At 1 year of age, before administration of the booster of HibCV, the anti-PRP geometric mean antibody concentration was 2.76 µg/mL (confidence interval: 1.88-4.07) in sera from the immunized children compared with 0.11 µg/mL (95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.17) in the nonimmunized control group (n = 30). Twenty-seven percent (20/74) of participants, however, had anti-PRP concentrations <1.0 µg/mL. Four weeks after the booster dose of HibCV, 98.5% of infants had anti-PRP concentrations above 1.0 µg/mL., Conclusion: Immunization with HibCV given as part of the Expanded Program on Immunization schedule in Nepal elicits robust antibody responses. Though the antibody wanes during the first year of life, most 1-year-old infants remain protected and respond robustly to a booster dose of the vaccine.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a systemic disorder with a high mortality, commonly associated with rheumatological conditions, but which can also occur as a complication of several infections. Here we present a case of MAS following Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis. Early institution of therapy with prednisolone, cyclosporine, colistin, and polymyxin resulted in a prompt clinical recovery. There are very few reported cases of Acinetobacter-related MAS that have been successfully treated., (Copyright © 2012 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: We investigated antibody persistence in children 1 year after 2 doses of either an AS03(B)-adjuvanted split-virion or nonadjuvanted whole-virion monovalent pandemic influenza vaccine and assessed the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a subsequent dose of trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV)., Methods: Children previously immunized at age 6 months to 12 years in the original study were invited to participate. After a blood sample was obtained to assess persistence of antibody against swine influenza A/H1N1(2009) pandemic influenza, children received 1 dose of 2010/2011 TIV, reactogenicity data were collected for 7 days, and another blood sample was obtained 21 days after vaccination., Results: Of 323 children recruited, 302 received TIV. Antibody persistence (defined as microneutralization [MN] titer ≥1:40) 1 year after initial vaccination was significantly higher in the AS03(B)-adjuvanted compared with the whole-virion vaccine group, 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.1%-100%) vs 32.4% (95% CI, 21.5%-44.8%) in children immunized <3 years old and 96.9% (95% CI, 91.3%-99.4%) vs 65.9% (95% CI, 55.3%-75.5%) in those 3-12 years old at immunization, respectively (P < .001 for both groups). All children receiving TIV had post-vaccination MN titers ≥1:40. Although TIV was well tolerated in all groups, reactogenicity in children <5 years old was slightly greater in those who originally received AS03(B)-adjuvanted vaccine., Conclusions: This study provides serological evidence that 2 doses of AS03(B)-adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine may be sufficient to maintain protection across 2 influenza seasons. Administration of TIV to children who previously received 2 doses of either pandemic influenza vaccine is safe and is immunogenic for the H1N1 strain.

Background: Bactericidal antibody induced by immunization of infants with serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis (MenC) vaccines wanes rapidly during childhood. Adolescents are at particular risk from meningococcal disease, therefore they might benefit from a booster dose of vaccine. The duration of serologic response to such a booster in adolescents is unknown., Methods: In a previous study, English schoolchildren, aged 9 to 12 years, who had received a monovalent MenC glycoconjugate vaccine in 1999-2000, were given either a plain polysaccharide vaccine (MenC-PS group, n = 150) or a glycoconjugate vaccine (MenC-CRM group, n = 95) at 13 to 15 years of age. In this follow-up study, serum bactericidal antibody titers and specific immunoglobulin G concentrations were assessed 1 year later. Results were compared with unboosted controls of similar age (control group, n = 298)., Results: Compliance with study protocol was achieved for 146 of the MenC-PS group, 92 of the MenC-CRM group, and 293 of the control group. Compared with the control group, both the MenC-PS and MenC-CRM groups had a significantly higher (P < 0.0001) geometric mean serum bactericidal antibody titers 1 year after the booster dose (geometric mean titers for MenC-PS group 3388 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 2460-4665]; MenC-CRM group 4417 [95% CI: 2951-6609]; control group 316 [95% CI: 252-396]). Specific immunoglobulin G concentration also rose and remained elevated 1 year after the booster., Conclusions: A booster dose of MenC vaccine given to adolescents produced a marked rise in bactericidal antibody, which remained elevated 1 year later. Introduction of an adolescent booster of MenC vaccine might provide enhanced long-term population control of the disease.