Bioengineered analog of stromal cell-derived factor 1α preserves the biaxial mechanical properties of native myocardium after infarction

Adverse remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) after myocardial infarction (MI) results in abnormal tissue biomechanics and impaired cardiac function, often leading to heart failure. We hypothesized that intramyocardial delivery of engineered stromal cell-derived factor 1α analog (ESA), our previously-developed supra-efficient pro-angiogenic chemokine, preserves biaxial LV mechanical properties after MI. Male Wistar rats (n = 45) underwent sham surgery (n = 15) or permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Rats sustaining MI were randomized for intramyocardial injections of either saline (100 μL, n = 15) or ESA (6 μg/kg, n = 15), delivered at four standardized borderzone sites. After 4 weeks, echocardiography was performed, and the hearts were explanted. Tensile testing of the anterolateral LV wall was performed using a displacement-controlled biaxial load frame, and modulus was determined after constitutive modeling. At 4 weeks post-MI, compared to saline controls, ESA-treated hearts had greater wall thickness (1.68 ± 0.05 mm vs 1.42 ± 0.08 mm, p = 0.008), smaller end-diastolic LV internal dimension (6.88 ± 0.29 mm vs 7.69 ± 0.22 mm, p = 0.044), and improved ejection fraction (62.8 ± 3.0% vs 49.4 ± 4.5%, p = 0.014). Histologic analysis revealed significantly reduced infarct size for ESA-treated hearts compared to saline controls (29.4 ± 2.9% vs 41.6 ± 3.1%, p = 0.021). Infarcted hearts treated with ESA exhibited decreased modulus compared to those treated with saline in both the circumferential (211.5 ± 6.9 kPa vs 264.3 ± 12.5 kPa, p = 0.001) and longitudinal axes (194.5 ± 6.5 kPa vs 258.1 ± 14.4 kPa, p < 0.001). In both principal directions, ESA-treated infarcted hearts possessed similar tissue compliance as sham non-infarcted hearts. Overall, intramyocardial ESA therapy improves post-MI ventricular remodeling and function, reduces infarct size, and preserves native LV biaxial mechanical properties.

Interrogation of a longitudinal, national pharmacy claims dataset to explore factors that predict the need for add-on therapy in older and socioeconomically disadvantaged Australians with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM)

PURPOSE

The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex. The aim of this work is to explore factors that predict the need for add-on therapy in patients with T2DM in the community.

METHODS

We accessed longitudinal, pharmacy payment claim records from the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (Subsidises costs of medicines: government pays difference between patient co-payments, lower in concessional patients, and additional cost of drug.) for the period January 2006 to September 2014 (EREC/MI3127) from a 10% random sample of the Australian population validated to be representative of the population by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Likely, T2DM patients were identified as those having been dispensed a single anti-hyperglycaemic drug (monotherapy). The time taken and possible factors that might lead to the addition of a second therapy were examined. An examination was made of trends in the co-prescription of either antihypertensive or anti-hyperlipidaemic agents in relation to the time (± 3 years) of initiating an anti-hyperglycaemic agent.

RESULTS

Most (83%) presumed T2DM patients were initiated with metformin. The average time until the second agent was added was 4.8 years (95% CI 4.7-4.9). Satisfactory adherence, age, male gender, initiating therapy after 2012 and initiating with a sulphonylurea drug all were significant risks for add-on therapy. There was no overall trend in the initiation of antihypertensive and/or anti-hyperlipidaemic agents with respect to the time of anti-hyperglycaemic initiation.

CONCLUSION

The usefulness of a longitudinal dataset of pharmacy-claim records is demonstrated. Over half of all older and socioeconmically disadvantaged T2DM patients captured in this longitudinal claims database will be prescribed a second anti-hyperglycaemic agent within 5 years of their first drug therapy. Several factors can predict the risk of prescription of add-on therapy, and these should be considered when prescribing medications to treat T2DM.

Search for CP Violation and Measurement of the Branching Fraction in the Decay D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}

We report a study of the decay D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0} using 921  fb^{-1} of data collected at or near the ϒ(4S) and ϒ(5S) resonances with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The measured time-integrated CP asymmetry is A_{CP}(D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0})=(-0.02±1.53±0.02±0.17)%, and the branching fraction is B(D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0})=(1.321±0.023±0.036±0.044)×10^{-4}, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the normalization mode (D^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0}). These results are significantly more precise than previous measurements available for this mode. The A_{CP} measurement is consistent with the standard model expectation.

A dosing algorithm for metformin based on the relationships between exposure and renal clearance of metformin in patients with varying degrees of kidney function

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between metformin exposure, renal clearance (CL_R), and apparent non-renal clearance of metformin (CL_NR/F) in patients with varying degrees of kidney function and to develop dosing recommendations.

METHODS

Plasma and urine samples were collected from three studies consisting of patients with varying degrees of kidney function (creatinine clearance, CL_CR; range, 14-112 mL/min). A population pharmacokinetic model was built (NONMEM) in which the oral availability (F) was fixed to 0.55 with an estimated inter-individual variability (IIV). Simulations were performed to estimate AUC_0-τ, CL_R, and CL_NR/F.

RESULTS

The data (66 patients, 327 observations) were best described by a two-compartment model, and CL_CR was a covariate for CL_R. Mean CL_R was 17 L/h (CV 22%) and mean CL_NR/F was 1.6 L/h (69%).The median recovery of metformin in urine was 49% (range 19-75%) over a dosage interval. When CL_R increased due to improved renal function, AUC_0-τ decreased proportionally, while CL_NR/F did not change with kidney function. Target doses (mg/day) of metformin can be reached using CL_CR/3 × 100 to obtain median AUC_0-12 of 18-26 mg/L/h for metformin IR and AUC_0-24 of 38-51 mg/L/h for metformin XR, with C_max < 5 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed dosing algorithm can be used to dose metformin in patients with various degrees of kidney function to maintain consistent drug exposure. However, there is still marked IIV and therapeutic drug monitoring of metformin plasma concentrations is recommended.

Lepton-Flavor-Dependent Angular Analysis of B→K^{*}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-}

We present a measurement of angular observables and a test of lepton flavor universality in the B→K^{*}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} decay, where ℓ is either e or μ. The analysis is performed on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 711  fb^{-1} containing 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider KEKB. The result is consistent with standard model (SM) expectations, where the largest discrepancy from a SM prediction is observed in the muon modes with a local significance of 2.6σ.

Energy Scan of the e^{+}e^{-}→h_{b}(nP)π^{+}π^{-} (n=1, 2) Cross Sections and Evidence for ϒ(11020) Decays into Charged Bottomoniumlike States

Using data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider, we measure the energy dependence of the e^{+}e^{-}→h_{b}(nP)π^{+}π^{-} (n=1, 2) cross sections from thresholds up to 11.02 GeV. We find clear ϒ(10860) and ϒ(11020) peaks with little or no continuum contribution. We study the resonant substructure of the ϒ(11020)→h_{b}(nP)π^{+}π^{-} transitions and find evidence that they proceed entirely via the intermediate isovector states Z_{b}(10610) and Z_{b}(10650). The relative fraction of these states is loosely constrained by the current data: The hypothesis that only Z_{b}(10610) is produced is excluded at the level of 3.3 standard deviations, while the hypothesis that only Z_{b}(10650) is produced is not excluded at a significant level.

First Observation of the Doubly Cabibbo-Suppressed Decay of a Charmed Baryon: Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{+}π^{-}

We report the first observation of the decay Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{+}π^{-} using a 980  fb^{-1} data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. This is the first observation of a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay of a charmed baryon. We measure the branching ratio of this decay with respect to its Cabibbo-favored counterpart to be B(Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{+}π^{-})/B(Λ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})=(2.35±0.27±0.21)×10^{-3}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Observation of Z_{b}(10610) and Z_{b}(10650) Decaying to B Mesons

We report the analysis of the three-body e^{+}e^{-}→BB[over ¯]π^{±}, BB[over ¯]^{*}π^{±}, and B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}π^{±} processes, including the first observations of the Z_{b}^{±}(10610)→[BB[over ¯]^{*}+c.c.]^{±} and Z_{b}^{±}(10650)→[B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}]^{±} transitions that are found to dominate the corresponding final states. We measure Born cross sections for the three-body production of σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[BB[over ¯]^{*}+c.c.]^{±}π^{∓})=[17.4±1.6(stat)±1.9(syst)]  pb and σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[B^{*}B[over ¯]^{*}]^{±}π^{∓})=[8.75±1.15(stat)±1.04(syst)]  pb and set a 90% C.L. upper limit of σ(e^{+}e^{-}→[BB[over ¯]]^{±}π^{∓})<2.9  pb. The results are based on a 121.4  fb^{-1} data sample collected with the Belle detector at a center-of-mass energy near the ϒ(10860) peak.

Observation of the Decay B_{s}^{0}→K^{0}K[over ¯]^{0}

We measure the decay B_{s}^{0}→K^{0}K[over ¯]^{0} using data collected at the ϒ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 121.4  fb^{-1}. We measure a branching fraction B(B_{s}^{0}→K^{0}K[over ¯]^{0})=[19.6_{-5.1}^{+5.8}(stat)±1.0(syst)±2.0(N_{B_{s}^{0}B[over ¯]_{s}^{0}})]×10^{-6} with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. This measurement constitutes the first observation of this decay.

Understanding and improving the use of allopurinol in a teaching hospital

BACKGROUND

An emphasis on renal function in deciding maintenance doses of allopurinol to prevent allopurinol hypersensitivity has resulted in ineffective prevention of attacks of gout. New therapeutic guidelines for gout have shifted the focus back to titrating maintenance doses to reach a serum uric acid (SUA) concentration target of ≤ 0.36 mmol/L.

AIMS

To examine trends in the prescribing of allopurinol in a teaching hospital and their concordance with the new guidelines for gout management, and to explore prescribers' approaches and attitudes to the use of allopurinol.

METHODS

An audit was conducted of all inpatients prescribed allopurinol at a teaching hospital between January 2008 and December 2012. Allopurinol dose, SUA, serum creatinine concentrations and estimated glomerular filtration rates were extracted from the hospital databases. Doctors from medical units who regularly prescribed allopurinol were interviewed.

RESULTS

The allopurinol dose prescribed in gout patients most commonly was a continuation of the pre-admission dosage. Dosage change during admission was rarely observed. Dosages reflected a consideration of renal function. SUA concentrations were measured in only 21% (n = 269) of gout patients. Prescriber interviews (n = 12) reflected adequate knowledge regarding allopurinol use, but most maintained that the primary care setting was more suitable for the management of dose titration in gout.

CONCLUSIONS

SUA concentrations were not routinely measured in the majority of admitted gout patients taking allopurinol. Without SUA measurements and allopurinol dose titration, patients with SUA > 0.36 mmol/L are at increased risk for acute attacks of gout in hospital.

The incidence, mortality and timing of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia after hematopoietic cell transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Little is known about PJP infections after HSCT because of the rarity of disease given routine prophylaxis. We report the results of a Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research study evaluating the incidence, timing, prophylaxis agents, risk factors and mortality of PJP after autologous (auto) and allogeneic (allo) HSCT. Between 1995 and 2005, 0.63% allo recipients and 0.28% auto recipients of first HSCT developed PJP. Cases occurred as early as 30 days to beyond a year after allo HSCT. A nested case cohort analysis with supplemental data (n=68 allo cases, n=111 allo controls) revealed that risk factors for PJP infection included lymphopenia and mismatch after HSCT. After allo or auto HSCT, overall survival was significantly poorer among cases vs controls (P=0.0004). After controlling for significant variables, the proportional hazards model revealed that PJP cases were 6.87 times more likely to die vs matched controls (P<0.0001). We conclude PJP infection is rare after HSCT but is associated with high mortality. Factors associated with GVHD and with poor immune reconstitution are among the risk factors for PJP and suggest that protracted prophylaxis for PJP in high-risk HSCT recipients may improve outcomes.

Observation of B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{(*)-}

We report the first observation of the decays B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{(*)-}. The data sample of 711  fb^{-1} used in this analysis corresponds to 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We observe 19.8σ and 10.8σ excesses of events for the two decay modes and measure the branching fractions of B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{-} and B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{*-} to be (25.1±2.6±3.5)×10^{-6} and (33.6±6.3±4.4)×10^{-6}, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are not compatible with the predictions based on the generalized factorization approach. In addition, a threshold enhancement in the dibaryon (pΛ[over ¯]) system is observed, consistent with that observed in similar B decays.

First Observation of the Hadronic Transition ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P) and New Measurement of the h(b)(1P) and η(b)(1S) Parameters

Using a sample of 771.6×10(6) ϒϒ(4S) decays collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider, we observe, for the first time, the transition ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P) with the branching fraction B[ϒ(4S)→ηh(b)(1P)]=(2.18±0.11±0.18)×10(-3) and we measure the h(b)(1P) mass M(h(b)(1P))=(9899.3±0.4±1.0)  MeV/c(2), corresponding to the hyperfine (HF) splitting ΔM(HF)(1P)=(0.6±0.4±1.0)  MeV/c(2). Using the transition h(b)(1P)→γη(b)(1S), we measure the η(b)(1S) mass M(η(b)(1S))=(9400.7±1.7±1.6)  MeV/c(2), corresponding to ΔM(HF)(1S)=(59.6±1.7±1.6)  MeV/c(2), the η(b)(1S) width Γ(η(b)(1S))=(8(-5)(+6)±5)  MeV/c(2) and the branching fraction B[h(b)(1P)→γη(b)(1S)]=(56±8±4)%.

First Observation of CP Violation in B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} Decays by a Combined Time-Dependent Analysis of BABAR and Belle Data

We report a measurement of the time-dependent CP asymmetry of B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} decays, where the light neutral hadron h^{0} is a π^{0}, η, or ω meson, and the neutral D meson is reconstructed in the CP eigenstates K^{+}K^{-}, K_{S}^{0}π^{0}, or K_{S}^{0}ω. The measurement is performed combining the final data samples collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance by the BABAR and Belle experiments at the asymmetric-energy B factories PEP-II at SLAC and KEKB at KEK, respectively. The data samples contain (471±3)×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded by the BABAR detector and (772±11)×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded by the Belle detector. We measure the CP asymmetry parameters -η_{f}S=+0.66±0.10(stat)±0.06(syst) and C=-0.02±0.07(stat)±0.03(syst). These results correspond to the first observation of CP violation in B[over ¯]^{0}→D_{CP}^{(*)}h^{0} decays. The hypothesis of no mixing-induced CP violation is excluded in these decays at the level of 5.4 standard deviations.

Search for the dark photon and the dark Higgs boson at belle

The dark photon A^{'} and the dark Higgs boson h^{'} are hypothetical constituents featured in a number of recently proposed dark sector models. Assuming prompt decays of both dark particles, we search for their production in the so-called Higgstrahlung channel e^{+}e^{-}→A^{'}h^{'}, with h^{'}→A^{'}A^{'}. We investigate ten exclusive final states with A^{'}→e^{+}e^{-}, μ^{+}μ^{-}, or π^{+}π^{-} in the mass ranges 0.1  GeV/c^{2} <m_{A^{'}}<3.5  GeV/c^{2} and 0.2  GeV/c^{2} <m_{h^{'}}<10.5  GeV/c^{2}. We also investigate three inclusive final states 2(e^{+}e^{-})X, 2(μ^{+}μ^{-})X, and (e^{+}e^{-})(μ^{+}μ^{-})X, where X denotes a dark photon candidate detected via missing mass, in the mass ranges 1.1  GeV/c^{2} <m_{A^{'}}<3.5  GeV/c^{2} and 2.2  GeV/c^{2} <m_{h^{'}}<10.5  GeV/c^{2}. Using the entire 977  fb^{-1} data set collected by Belle, we observe no significant signal. We obtain individual and combined 90% credibility level upper limits on the branching fraction times the Born cross section, B×σ_{Born}, on the Born cross section σ_{Born}, and on the dark photon coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the standard model photon and the dark photon, α_{D}×ε^{2}. These limits improve upon and cover wider mass ranges than previous experiments. The limits from the final states 3(π^{+}π^{-}) and 2(e^{+}e^{-})X are the first placed by any experiment. For α_{D} equal to 1/137, m_{h^{'}}< 8  GeV/c^{2}, and m_{A^{'}}<1  GeV/c^{2}, we exclude values of the mixing parameter ε above ∼8×10^{-4}.

Measurement of the Direct CP Asymmetry in B¯→X(s+dγ) Decays with a Lepton Tag

We report the measurement of the direct CP asymmetry in the radiative B¯→X(s+dγ) decay using a data sample of (772 ± 11)×10(6) BB[over ¯] pairs collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The CP asymmetry is measured as a function of the photon energy threshold. For Eγ*≥2.1  GeV, where Eγ* is the photon energy in the center-of-mass frame, we obtain A(CP)(B¯→X(s+dγ))=(2.2±3.9±0.9)%, consistent with the standard model prediction.

Observation of e+e- → π+π-π(0)(χbJ) and Search for X(b) → ωϒ(1S) at sqrt[s] = 10.867 GeV

The e(+)e(-) → π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(bJ) (J = 0,1,2) processes are studied using a 118 fb(-1) data sample acquired with the Belle detector at a center-of-mass energy of 10.867 GeV. Unambiguous π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(bJ) (J = 1,2), ωχ(b1) signals are observed, and indication for ωχ(b2) is seen, both for the first time, and the corresponding cross section measurements are presented. No significant π(+)π(-)π(0)χ(b0) or ωχ(b0) signals are observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the cross sections for these two processes are obtained. In the π(+)π(-)π(0) invariant mass spectrum, significant non-ω signals are also observed. We search for the X(3872)-like state (named X(b)) decaying into ωϒ(1S); no significant signal is observed with a mass between 10.55 and 10.65 GeV/c(2).

Measurement of the branching fraction B(Λc+ → pK-π+)

We present the first model-independent measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+) decay using a data sample of 978 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The number of Λ(c)(+) baryons is determined by reconstructing the recoiling D((*)-) pπ(+) system in events of the type e(+)e(-) → D((*)-) pπ(+)Λ(c)(+). The branching fraction is measured to be B(Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+)) = (6.84 ± 0.24(-0.27)(+0.21))%, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Comparing dose prediction software used to manage gentamicin dosing

BACKGROUND

Current Australian guidelines recommend initiating directed therapy of gentamicin if administration exceeds 48 h. Directed doses of gentamicin require the monitoring of plasma concentrations of gentamicin to determine the 24-h area under the time course of plasma gentamicin concentrations (AUC) and a dosage prediction program, for example TCIWorks or Aladdin. However, doses calculated by such programs have not been compared with an established program.

AIM

To compare the directed dosage of gentamicin calculated by TCIWorks, Aladdin and an Excel-based program, with an established program, Abbottbase.

METHODS

Peak and trough plasma concentrations after the first and second administered doses of gentamicin were available from three patient groups (n = 20-23) with varying creatinine clearances (<40, 40-80, >80 mL/min). The directed dose needed to produce 24-h AUC values of 80 mg.h/L was calculated using each program.

RESULTS

There was a strong correlation between the directed doses predicted by each of the three programs compared with Abbottbase, following the first administered dose (r(2) > 0.97, P < 0.0001). The mean ratio (90% confidence intervals) of these directed doses of the gentamicin were: TCIWorks/Abbottbase 106% (105-107%), Aladdin/Abbottbase 102% (101-103%) and Excel/Abbottbase 108% (106-109%). The correlations and dose ratios were also similar when comparisons were made following the second administered dose. For each of the three renal function groups, all programs yielded similar directed doses.

CONCLUSIONS

The four programs used in the calculation of directed doses of gentamicin yielded similar results. Any would be suitable for use in clinical practice.

Changes in diet, cardiovascular risk factors and modelled cardiovascular risk following diagnosis of diabetes: 1-year results from the ADDITION-Cambridge trial cohort

AIMS

To describe change in self-reported diet and plasma vitamin C, and to examine associations between change in diet and cardiovascular disease risk factors and modelled 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in the year following diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Eight hundred and sixty-seven individuals with screen-detected diabetes underwent assessment of self-reported diet, plasma vitamin C, cardiovascular disease risk factors and modelled cardiovascular disease risk at baseline and 1 year (n = 736) in the ADDITION-Cambridge trial. Multivariable linear regression was used to quantify the association between change in diet and cardiovascular disease risk at 1 year, adjusting for change in physical activity and cardio-protective medication.

RESULTS

Participants reported significant reductions in energy, fat and sodium intake, and increases in fruit, vegetable and fibre intake over 1 year. The reduction in energy was equivalent to an average-sized chocolate bar; the increase in fruit was equal to one plum per day. There was a small increase in plasma vitamin C levels. Increases in fruit intake and plasma vitamin C were associated with small reductions in anthropometric and metabolic risk factors. Increased vegetable intake was associated with an increase in BMI and waist circumference. Reductions in fat, energy and sodium intake were associated with reduction in HbA1c , waist circumference and total cholesterol/modelled cardiovascular disease risk, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvements in dietary behaviour in this screen-detected population were associated with small reductions in cardiovascular disease risk, independently of change in cardio-protective medication and physical activity. Dietary change may have a role to play in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk following diagnosis of diabetes.

Measurement of the τ-lepton lifetime at Belle

The lifetime of the τ lepton is measured using the process e+ e- → τ+ τ- , where both τ leptons decay to 3πν(τ). The result for the mean lifetime, based on 711  fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the ϒ(4S) resonance and 60  MeV below, is τ=(290.17±0.53(stat)±0.33(syst))×10(-15)  s. The first measurement of the lifetime difference between τ+ and τ- is performed. The upper limit on the relative lifetime difference between positive and negative τ leptons is |Δτ|/τ<7.0×10(-3) at 90% C.L.

Search for bottomonium states in exclusive radiative Υ(2S) decays

We search for bottomonium states in Υ(2S) → (bb)γ decays with an integrated luminosity of 24.7  fb(-1) recorded at the Υ(2S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEK, containing (157.8±3.6)×10(6) Υ(2S) events. The (bb) system is reconstructed in 26 exclusive hadronic final states composed of charged pions, kaons, protons, and K(S)(0) mesons. We find no evidence for the state recently observed around 9975 MeV (X(bb)) in an analysis based on a data sample of 9.3×10(6) Υ(2S) events collected with the CLEO III detector. We set a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction B[Υ(2S) → X(bb)γ] × ∑(i)B[X(bb) → h(i)] < 4.9×10(-6), summed over the exclusive hadronic final states employed in our analysis. This result is an order of magnitude smaller than the measurement reported with CLEO data. We also set an upper limit for the ηb(1S) state of B[Υ(2S) → ηb(1S)γ] × ∑(i)B[ηb(1S) → h(i)] < 3.7×10(-6).

Precision measurement of charged pion and kaon differential cross sections in e+ e- annihilation at sqrt[s]=10.52 GeV

Measurements of inclusive differential cross sections for charged pion and kaon production in e+ e- annihilation have been carried out at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=10.52  GeV. The measurements were performed with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- collider using a data sample containing 113×10(6) e+ e- → qq events, where q={u,d,s,c}. We present charge-integrated differential cross sections dσ(h±)/dz for h±={π±,K±} as a function of the relative hadron energy z=2E(h)/sqrt[s] from 0.2 to 0.98. The combined statistical and systematic uncertainties for π± (K±) are 4% (4%) at z∼0.6 and 15% (24%) at z∼0.9. The cross sections are the first measurements of the z dependence of pion and kaon production for z>0.7 as well as the first precision cross section measurements at a center-of-mass energy far below the Z0 resonance used by the experiments at LEP and SLC.

Search for an H-dibaryon with a mass near 2mΛ in Υ(1S) and Υ(2S) decays

We report the results of a high-statistics search for H dibaryon production in inclusive Υ(1S) and Υ(2S) decays. No indication of an H dibaryon with a mass near the M(H)=2m(Λ) threshold is seen in either the H→Λpπ(-) or ΛΛ decay channels and 90% confidence level branching-fraction upper limits are set that are between one and two orders of magnitude below the measured branching fractions for inclusive Υ(1S) and Υ(2S) decays to antideuterons. Since Υ(1S,2S) decays produce flavor-SU(3)-symmetric final states, these results put stringent constraints on H dibaryon properties. The results are based on analyses of 102 million Υ(1S) and 158 million Υ(2S) events collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider.

Evidence for B- → τ- ν(τ) with a hadronic tagging method using the full data sample of Belle

We measure the branching fraction of B- → τ- ν(τ) using the full Υ(4S) data sample containing 772×10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. Events with BB pairs are tagged by reconstructing one of the B mesons decaying into hadronic final states, and B- → τ- ν(τ) candidates are detected in the recoil. We find evidence for B- → τ- ν(τ) with a significance of 3.0 standard deviations including systematic errors and measure a branching fraction B(B- → τ- ν(τ))=[0.72(-0.25)(+0.27)(stat)±0.11(syst)]×10(-4).