Effect of Electrical Stimulation of Lingual Nerve on Xerostomia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Xerostomia is a subjective sensation of dry mouth affecting millions of people worldwide. Current management has limitations, often causing side effects. This study aims to investigate whether electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve could offer effective relief for xerostomia sufferers.

METHODS

Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either the experimental or sham group, receiving electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve (n = 24) or sham stimulation (n = 23) for 12 wk. The primary outcome is the changes in xerostomia score using a 100-mm visual analog scale throughout the therapy. Participants assessed their dryness and assigned corresponding scores, with lower scores indicating more severe dry mouth. Secondary outcomes included remission rate in dry mouth frequency, changes in stimulated/unstimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR/USFR), and changes in Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire scores, where higher scores indicate greater impact on oral quality of life.

RESULTS

At week 12, the electrical stimulation group showed greater improvement in xerostomia score compared to the sham group, with a mean between-group difference of 13.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.0-17.6). The therapeutic effect of electrical stimulation was also confirmed by secondary outcomes. The remission rate of dry mouth was higher at 12 wk in the electrical stimulation group (61.9% [95% CI, 40.9%-79.3%] vs. 28.6% [95% CI, 13.8%-50.0%]). Participants in the electrical stimulation group also experienced a greater increase in USFR, with a mean difference of 14.5 (6.1-23.0) μL/min. Moreover, they exhibited significant improvement in OHIP-14 score after 12 wk of therapy, with a mean between-group difference of -10.0 (-13.9 to -6.2). No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups for SSFR (P = 0.702).

CONCLUSIONS

Electric stimulation offers promise as a noninvasive, nonpharmacological strategy for the management of xerostomia. Further research is needed to understand its long-term effectiveness, optimal parameters, and underlying mechanisms.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The study confirmed that electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve is a promising noninvasive and nonpharmacological modality for relief of xerostomia.

Search for Rare b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Transitions at Belle

We present the results of a search for the b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} flavor-changing neutral-current rare decays B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{+,0},ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{0},ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-} using a 711  fb^{-1} data sample that contains 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events. The data were collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We find no evidence for signal and set upper limits on branching fractions at the 90% confidence level in the range (3.8-47)×10^{-8} depending on the decay channel. The obtained limits are the world's best results. This is the first search for the channels B^{+,0}→(ω,ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(ω,ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-}.

Measurements of Chemical Potentials in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This Letter presents the most precise measurement to date of the matter-antimatter imbalance at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. Using the Statistical Hadronization framework, it is possible to obtain the value of the electric charge and baryon chemical potentials, μ_{Q}=-0.18±0.90  MeV and μ_{B}=0.71±0.45  MeV, with unprecedented precision. A centrality-differential study of the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios of charged pions, protons, Ω baryons, and light (hyper)nuclei is performed. These results indicate that the system created in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC is on average baryon-free and electrically neutral at midrapidity.

Measurements of the Branching Fraction, Polarization, and CP Asymmetry for the Decay B^{0}→ωω

We present a comprehensive study of B^{0}→ωω decays using 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. This process is a suppressed charmless decay into two vector mesons and can exhibit interesting polarization and CP violation. The decay is observed for the first time with a significance of 7.9 standard deviations. We measure a branching fraction B=(1.53±0.29±0.17)×10^{-6}, a fraction of longitudinal polarization f_{L}=0.87±0.13±0.13, and a time-integrated CP asymmetry A_{CP}=-0.44±0.43±0.11, where the first uncertainties listed are statistical and the second are systematic. This is the first observation of B^{0}→ωω and the first measurements of f_{L} and A_{CP} for this decay.

Search for Baryon-Number-Violating Processes in B^{-} Decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} Final State

We report the results of the first search for B^{-} decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} final state using 711  fb^{-1} of data collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The results are interpreted in terms of both direct baryon-number-violating B^{-} decay and Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations which follow the standard model decay B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}. We observe no evidence for baryon number violation and set the 95% confidence-level upper limits on the ratio of baryon-number-violating and standard model branching fractions B(B^{-}→Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})/B(B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}) to be <2.7% and on the effective angular frequency of mixing ω in Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations to be <0.76  ps^{-1} (equivalent to τ_{mix}>1.3  ps).

[Discussion and evaluation of several issues concerning the classification of impacted third molars]

The classification of impacted third molars is important in clinical diagnosis and surgical selection. At present, the common clinical impacted third molar classification is different in the maxillary and mandibular classification criteria. Through the review and analysis of various classification methods of impacted third molar, this paper proposes a more comprehensive and unified classification proposal for the classification of impacted third molar, in order to form a widely accepted application classification method.

Observation of Medium-Induced Yield Enhancement and Acoplanarity Broadening of Low-p_{T} Jets from Measurements in pp and Central Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration reports the measurement of semi-inclusive distributions of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum (high p_{T}) hadron trigger in proton-proton and central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. A data-driven statistical method is used to mitigate the large uncorrelated background in central Pb-Pb collisions. Recoil jet distributions are reported for jet resolution parameter R=0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 in the range 7 Collapse

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First Measurement of R(X_{τ/ℓ}) as an Inclusive Test of the b→cτν Anomaly

We measure the tau-to-light-lepton ratio of inclusive B-meson branching fractions R(X_{τ/ℓ})≡B(B→Xτν)/B(B→Xℓν), where ℓ indicates an electron or muon, and thereby test the universality of charged-current weak interactions. We select events that have one fully reconstructed B meson and a charged lepton candidate from 189  fb^{-1} of electron-positron collision data collected with the Belle II detector. We find R(X_{τ/ℓ})=0.228±0.016(stat)±0.036(syst), in agreement with standard-model expectations. This is the first direct measurement of R(X_{τ/ℓ}).

Emergence of Long-Range Angular Correlations in Low-Multiplicity Proton-Proton Collisions

This Letter presents the measurement of near-side associated per-trigger yields, denoted ridge yields, from the analysis of angular correlations of charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. Long-range ridge yields are extracted for pairs of charged particles with a pseudorapidity difference of 1.4<|Δη|<1.8 and a transverse momentum of 1 Collapse

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First Measurement of the |t| Dependence of Incoherent J/ψ Photonuclear Production

The first measurement of the cross section for incoherent photonuclear production of J/ψ vector mesons as a function of the Mandelstam |t| variable is presented. The measurement was carried out with the ALICE detector at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, using ultraperipheral collisions of Pb nuclei at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. This rapidity interval corresponds to a Bjorken-x range (0.3-1.4)×10^{-3}. Cross sections are given in five |t| intervals in the range 0.04<|t|<1  GeV^{2} and compared to the predictions by different models. Models that ignore quantum fluctuations of the gluon density in the colliding hadron predict a |t| dependence of the cross section much steeper than in data. The inclusion of such fluctuations in the same models provides a better description of the data.

ψ(2S) Suppression in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

The production of the ψ(2S) charmonium state was measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, in the dimuon decay channel. A significant signal was observed for the first time at LHC energies down to zero transverse momentum, at forward rapidity (2.5 Collapse

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Independent and Joint Associations of Socioeconomic Status and Lifestyle behaviors with Cognitive Impairment among Elderly Chinese Population

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have shown that there are socioeconomic disparities in people's health. Health behavior is considered to be an effective strategy to alleviate socio-economic differences. However, the independent or joint relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and lifestyle behaviors (LBs) on the cognition of Chinese elderly are not clear. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the impact of SES and LBs on cognitive impairment in elder Chinese.

METHODS

The data from the 2017-2018 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey was used. SES was created using latent class analysis based on annual per-capita household income, education level, and occupation. Six LBs were considered in calculating LB scores. Restricted cubic splines were used to model the association of LB scores and cognitive impairment to investigate the dose-response relationship. LB scores were divided into three groups: unhealthy, intermediate, and healthy lifestyle. Multivariate Logistic regression models were applied to explore both the independent and joint effects of SES and LB scores on cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Among 10,116 participants, 1,872 (18.51%) were recorded as having cognitive impariment. After adjusting for multivariable confounding factors, compared with participants of high SES, those of low SES had higher risks of cognitive impairment [Odds ratio (OR): 1.385; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.137-1.689]. In contrast to those with unhealthy lifestyle, participants adhering to a healthy lifestyle were found to be associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment (OR: 0.198; 95%CI: 0.150-0.263). A non-linear relationship was observed between LB scores and cognitive impairment (Pnonlinearity =0.001), indicating a protective effect on cognitive impairment when having more than two LBs. Participants with high SES and engaged in healthy lifestyle had the lowest risk of cognitive impairment compared to those with low SES and unhealthy lifestyle (OR: 0.123; 95% CI 0.073-0.207).

CONCLUSION

Cognitive impairment has socioeconomic disparities among the elderly Chinese population. A healthy lifestyle may attenuate the impact of socioeconomic inequality on cognitive impairment, emphasizing the important role of LBs modification in reducing the disease burden of cognitive impairment, especially in the elderly population with low SES.

Tests of Light-Lepton Universality in Angular Asymmetries of B^{0}→D^{*-}ℓν Decays

We present the first comprehensive tests of the universality of the light leptons in the angular distributions of semileptonic B^{0}-meson decays to charged spin-1 charmed mesons. We measure five angular-asymmetry observables as functions of the decay recoil that are sensitive to lepton-universality-violating contributions. We use events where one neutral B is fully reconstructed in ϒ(4S)→BB[over ¯] decays in data corresponding to 189  fb^{-1} integrated luminosity from electron-positron collisions collected with the Belle II detector. We find no significant deviation from the standard model expectations.

Precise Measurement of the D_{s}^{+} Lifetime at Belle II

We measure the lifetime of the D_{s}^{+} meson using a data sample of 207  fb^{-1} collected by the Belle II experiment running at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The lifetime is determined by fitting the decay-time distribution of a sample of 116×10^{3} D_{s}^{+}→ϕπ^{+} decays. Our result is τ_{D_{s}^{+}}=(499.5±1.7±0.9)  fs, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This result is significantly more precise than previous measurements.

Regional heterogeneity in short-term associations of meteorological factors, air pollution, and asthma hospitalizations in Guangxi, China

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify and evaluate the short-term and lag effects of environmental factors on asthma hospitalizations in different regions.

STUDY DESIGN

The ecological study on asthma is performed in three regions of Guangxi, China, that are distinctly different in geography and climate.

METHODS

We used distributed lag non-linear models to investigate the exposure-response-lag relationship between meteorological factors, air pollutants, and asthma hospital admissions across the three regions during 2015 (January 1 to December 31).

RESULTS

Cold was an important meteorological factor affecting asthma. At lag 0, the relative risk (RR; 23°C as reference) of cold in the Northwest, Northeast, and South was 1.10 (10°C), 1.14 (8°C), and 1.30 (11°C), respectively. NO2 was identified as the most important air pollutant affecting asthma. The RR of asthma hospitalization increased by 10.9% (at lag 4), 8.1% (at lag 0), and 4.2% (at lag 2) for every 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 concentration in the Northwest, Northeast, and South, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In the three regions of Guangxi, there were differences in the dominant factors affecting asthma hospitalizations. Differences in geography can inform governments as to how to prepare the healthcare system to meet the expected peaks.

The Value of Progression-Free Survival at Three Years as a Primary Endpoint for Studies on Radiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Individual Patient Data and Validation From 27 Randomized Trials

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A traditional endpoint for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) clinical trials is overall survival (OS) with five years of follow-up. At present, many clinical trials evaluating concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for LACC are underway in worldwide. The use of a shorter-term endpoint could significantly speed the translation of research findings into practice. The primary hypothesis was that PFS with three years of follow-up (PFS36) is an appropriate primary endpoint to replace OS with five years of follow-up (5-year OS).

MATERIALS/METHODS

The primary hypothesis was developed from our individual data, was further investigated using phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and then externally validated by phase II trials and retrospective studies up to 2022. Correlation analysis at the treatment-arm level was performed between 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year PFS rates and 5-year OS, using the Pearson correlation coefficient r in weighted linear regression, with weight equal to patient size. The MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases, together with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched from January 1, 1999, to February 2, 2023. Articles eligible for inclusion contained complete survival data.

RESULTS

A total of 613 patients with histologically confirmed, FIGO 2009 stage IB-IVA cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy at our institute from January 2010 to December 2013 were eligible. Individual patient data were pooled to explore the correlation between PFS and the OS trend. The recurrence rates for years 1 through 5 were 12.9%, 7.3%, 3%, 2.3%, and 1.8%, respectively. The median recurrence time was 13 months and the median time from recurrence to death was 12.2 months. Within all the recurrence, 47.3% of recurrences occurred during the first year, 71.4% in the first two years, and 85% in the first three years. Patients who did not achieve PFS36 had a 5-year OS rate of 30.3%. In contrast, a 5-year OS rate of 98.2% was observed in patients who achieved PFS36. Further data were extracted from 27 RCTs on locally advanced cervical cancer. The trials included 57 arms, with a pooled sample size of 7,692 patients. Formal measures of surrogacy were satisfied. Quality control was performed, where studies with a high risk of bias were excluded. In trial-level surrogacy, PFS36 (r2, 0.778) was associated with 5-year OS. The correlation between PFS36 and OS was externally validated using independent phase II trials and retrospective data. In total, 23 studies representing 5,174 patients were included. PFS36 (r2, 0.719) was found to be associated with OS.

CONCLUSION

The patients who achieved PFS36 had excellent outcomes, whereas patients that experienced earlier progression had poor survival. A significant correlation was found between PFS36 and 5-year OS in clinical trials on patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. These results suggest that PFS36 is an appropriate endpoint for LACC clinical trials of radiotherapy-based regimens.

Search for a τ^{+}τ^{-} Resonance in e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}τ^{+}τ^{-} Events with the Belle II Experiment

We report the first search for a nonstandard-model resonance decaying into τ pairs in e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}τ^{+}τ^{-} events in the 3.6-10  GeV/c^{2} mass range. We use a 62.8  fb^{-1} sample of e^{+}e^{-} collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB collider. The analysis probes three different models predicting a spin-1 particle coupling only to the heavier lepton families, a Higgs-like spin-0 particle that couples preferentially to charged leptons (leptophilic scalar), and an axionlike particle, respectively. We observe no evidence for a signal and set exclusion limits at 90% confidence level on the product of cross section and branching fraction into τ pairs, ranging from 0.7 to 24 fb, and on the couplings of these processes. We obtain world-leading constraints on the couplings for the leptophilic scalar model for masses above 6.5  GeV/c^{2} and for the axionlike particle model over the entire mass range.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0} Decays at Belle II

We report a measurement of the CP-violating parameters C and S in B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0} decays at Belle II using a sample of 387×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events recorded in e^{+}e^{-} collisions at a center-of-mass energy corresponding to the ϒ(4S) resonance. These parameters are determined by fitting the proper decay-time distribution of a sample of 415 signal events. We obtain C=-0.04_{-0.15}^{+0.14}±0.05 and S=0.75_{-0.23}^{+0.20}±0.04, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.

Gelanxinning capsule improves coronary microvascular dysfunction by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function

OBJECTIVE

Gelanxinning capsule (GXSC) is a Chinese medicine to cure coronary artery disease (CAD) and a compound of Pueraria lobata, hawthorn extract, and gypenosides. However, whether GXSC could improve coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is unknown. We aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effect of GXSC on CMD and its underlying mechanisms in CAD patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a single-center, randomized control trial. A total of 78 patients diagnosed by selective coronary angiography (CAG) participated in this study. Patients' demographics, medical history, medications, and results of laboratory testing were collected. The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were obtained by CAG and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) separately. Fasting blood samples were obtained on the morning following the admission day. Concentrations of several molecules of inflammation, endothelial function, and coronary microvascular function were measured by ELISA. Patients were followed-up two months after discharge and fasting blood samples were also acquired.

RESULTS

All patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: GXSC, 38 (48.7%), and control, 40 (51.3%). The intergroup comparison revealed no significant differences with respect to all baseline variables. As for inflammation biomarkers, proinflammatory NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin (IL)-1 were significantly decreased in GXSC compared with the control group (0.71±0.08 vs. 1.04±0.07, p<0.01 and 7.16±0.59 vs. 10.93±1.04, p<0.01). Anti-inflammatory adropin was increased in the GXSC group (7.75±0.59 vs. 5.71±0.68, p=0.03). As for indexes of endothelial function, the concentrations of syndecan (SDC) 1, SDC4 and heparan sulphates (HS) were significantly downregulated in 2 months GXSC treatment (3.31±0.28 vs. 4.85±0.43, p<0.01, 3.79±0.56 vs. 5.69±0.68, p=0.03 and 21.31±2.79 vs. 35.18±4.11 p<0.01). In addition, the level of SIRTUIN 1 (SIRT1), which is a vascular protective protein, was upregulated in GXSC group (5.63±0.30 vs. 4.22±0.37, p<0.01). As for molecules of coronary microvascular function, endocan, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), and growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 were significantly decreased consistently in GXSC compared with the control group (0.09±0.01 vs. 0.19±0.03, p<0.01, 4.44±0.40 vs. 5.73±0.40, p=0.03 and 2.08±0.17 vs. 2.69±0.18, p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, GXSC could improve CMD by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function. GXSC might be an effective drug in CAD patients without obstructive epicardial coronary arteries but suffering from angina.

Test of Light-Lepton Universality in the Rates of Inclusive Semileptonic B-Meson Decays at Belle II

We present the first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic B-meson decays, R(X_{e/μ})=B(B→Xeν)/B(B→Xμν), a precision test of electron-muon universality, using data corresponding to 189  fb^{-1} from electron-positron collisions collected with the Belle II detector. In events where the partner B meson is fully reconstructed, we use fits to the lepton momentum spectra above 1.3  GeV/c to obtain R(X_{e/μ})=1.007±0.009(stat)±0.019(syst), which is the most precise lepton-universality test of its kind and agrees with the standard-model expectation.

Enhanced Deuteron Coalescence Probability in Jets

The transverse-momentum (p_{T}) spectra and coalescence parameters B_{2} of (anti)deuterons are measured in p-p collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV for the first time in and out of jets. In this measurement, the direction of the leading particle with the highest p_{T} in the event (p_{T}^{lead}>5  GeV/c) is used as an approximation for the jet axis. The event is consequently divided into three azimuthal regions, and the jet signal is obtained as the difference between the toward region, that contains jet fragmentation products in addition to the underlying event (UE), and the transverse region, which is dominated by the UE. The coalescence parameter in the jet is found to be approximately a factor of 10 larger than that in the underlying event. This experimental observation is consistent with the coalescence picture and can be attributed to the smaller average phase-space distance between nucleons in the jet cone as compared with the underlying event. The results presented in this Letter are compared to predictions from a simple nucleon coalescence model, where the phase-space distributions of nucleons are generated using pythia8 with the Monash 2013 tuning, and to predictions from a deuteron production model based on ordinary nuclear reactions with parametrized energy-dependent cross sections tuned on data. The latter model is implemented in pythia8.3. Both models reproduce the observed large difference between in-jet and out-of-jet coalescence parameters, although the almost flat trend of the B_{2}^{Jet} is not reproduced by the models, which instead give a decreasing trend.

First Measurement of the Michel Parameter ξ^{'} in the τ^{-}→μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}ν_{τ} Decay at Belle

We report the first measurement of the Michel parameter ξ^{'} in the τ^{-}→μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}ν_{τ} decay with a new method proposed just recently. The measurement is based on the reconstruction of the τ^{-}→μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}ν_{τ} events with subsequent muon decay in flight in the Belle central drift chamber. The analyzed data sample of 988  fb^{-1} collected by the Belle detector corresponds to approximately 912×10^{6} τ^{+}τ^{-} pairs. We measure ξ^{'}=0.22±0.94(stat)±0.42(syst), which is in agreement with the standard model prediction of ξ^{'}=1. Statistical uncertainty dominates in this study, being a limiting factor, while systematic uncertainty is well under control. Our analysis proved the practicability of this promising method and its prospects for further precise measurement in future experiments.

Search for the Lepton Flavor Violating Decays B^{+}→K^{+}τ^{±}ℓ^{∓} (ℓ=e, μ) at Belle

We present a search for the lepton flavor violating decays B^{+}→K^{+}τ^{±}ℓ^{∓}, with ℓ=(e,μ), using the full data sample of 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] pairs recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We use events in which one B meson is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode. We find no evidence for B^{±}→K^{±}τℓ decays and set upper limits on their branching fractions at the 90% confidence level in the (1-3)×10^{-5} range. The obtained limits are the world's best results.

Search for an Invisible Z^{'} in a Final State with Two Muons and Missing Energy at Belle II

The L_{μ}-L_{τ} extension of the standard model predicts the existence of a lepton-flavor-universality-violating Z^{'} boson that couples only to the heavier lepton families. We search for such a Z^{'} through its invisible decay in the process e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}Z^{'}. We use a sample of electron-positron collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV collected by the Belle II experiment in 2019-2020, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 79.7  fb^{-1}. We find no excess over the expected standard-model background. We set 90%-confidence-level upper limits on the cross section for this process as well as on the coupling of the model, which ranges from 3×10^{-3} at low Z^{'} masses to 1 at Z^{'} masses of 8  GeV/c^{2}.

[Efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical decortication for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema]

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy, safety and feasibility of "double-portal" video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical(VATS) decortication among patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema, and then to evaluate the recovery of chest deformity. Method: This study was a single center retrospective study. A total of 49 patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who underwent VATS pleural decortication at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu between June 2017 and April 2021 were enrolled, including 38 males, and 11 females, aged 13-60 (27.5±10.4) years. The safety and feasibility of VATS were further evaluated. The inner circumference of the chest on sternal and xiphoid planes on chest CT scans before and 1, 3, 6, 12months after decortication were collected through the measuring software of the CT. The samples in-pair test was used to compare the changes in the chest to reflect the recovery of the chest deformity. Results: In the 49 patients, The surgical time was (186±61) min, and the volume of blood loss was (366±267) ml. There were 8 cases (16.33%) with postoperative complications during the perioperative period. Constant air leak and pneumonia were the main postoperative complications. No relapse of empyema or dissemination of tuberculosis occured during the period of follow-up. Before surgery, the inner thoracic circumference of the thorax at the level of the carina plane was (655±54) mm, and the inner thoracic circumference of the thorax at the level of the xiphoid plane was (720±69) mm. Patients were followed for 12-36 months. The inner thoracic circumference of the thoracic cavity at the level of carina was (666±51), (667±47) and (671±47) mm at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months after operation, which were significantly larger than that at the level of carina before operation (all P<0.05). The inner thoracic circumference diameter of the thoracic cavity measured at the xiphoid level at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months after the operation was (730±65), (733±63) and (735±63) mm respectively(all P<0.05).The inner thoracic circumference of the thoracic cavity increased significantly than that before surgery (P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, there was significant difference in the improvement of the inner thoracic circumference of the carina plane in patients with age less than 20 years and FEV₁% less than 80% (P=0.015, P=0.003). The improvement in the inner thoracic circumference of the carina plane in patients with pleural thickening≥8 mm compared with those with less than 8 mm was not statistically different(P=0.070). Conclusions: For some patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema, pleural decortication under thoracoscopy is safe and feasible, and can significantly restore the inner thoracic circumference of the patient's chest, improve the collapse of the patient's chest, and have significant clinical effect. The "double-portal VATS" surgical technology has the advantage of less trauma, wide operation field, large operation space and is easy to master, which is worth further exploring for clinical application.