Experimental study of a new open stent for vessel banding in a swine model: long-term results

AIM

A new stent was designed, conceived for being placed externally around blood vessels to perform vessel banding in a much simple and fast way. In fact it requires the dissection of a single segment of the aortic wall, as its mechanical features allow it to slide on the tunica adventitia. After previous tests (ex vivo and in vivo test), the new stent has been evaluated in vivo long-term study.

METHODS

In female pig of average weight of 60 kg, after placement of endoprosthesis in infrarenal abdominal aorta, immediately below renal arteries, aortic banding was performed with new stent at the level of each end of endoprosthesis, identified under fluoroscopic guidance. Pigs were followed up for six months, and acetylsalicylic acid was administrated: 100 mg once a day. After six months, histological evaluation of explanted abdominal aorta was performed.

RESULTS

New stent made the aortic banding simple and fast. Postoperative course was uneventful. Histological results were similar to previous 10-week survival tests and not damages of aortic wall were observed.

CONCLUSION

Positive outcome of three last long-term survival tests, as of all those ex vitro and in vivo tests previously performed, makes conceivable further scientific investigation and trials.

Rare B decays into states containing a J/psi meson and a meson with s(-)s quark content

We report a study of the B meson decays, B+ --> J/psiphiK+, B0 --> J/psiphiK(0)(S), B0 --> J/psiphi, B0 --> J/psieta, and B0 --> J/psieta' using 56 x 10(6) B(-)B events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) asymmetric-energy storage ring. We measure the branching fractions B(B+ --> J/psiphiK+)=(4.4+/-1.4(stat)+/-0.5(syst))x 10(-5) and B(B0 --> J/psiphiK(0)(S))=(5.1+/-1.9(stat)+/-0.5(syst))x 10(-5), and set upper limits at 90% confidence level for the branching fractions B(B0 --> J/psiphi)<9.2 x 10(-6), B(B0 --> J/psieta)<2.7 x 10(-5), and B(B0 --> J/psieta')<6.3 x 10(-5).

Study of time-dependent CP asymmetry in neutral B decays to J/psi pi0

We present the first study of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B0-->J/psi pi(0) decays using e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected with the BABAR detector at the Upsilon(4S) resonance during the years 1999-2002 at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. Using approximately 88 x 10(6) BB; pairs, our results for the coefficients of the cosine and sine terms of the CP asymmetry are C(J/psi pi(0))=0.38+/-0.41(stat)+/-0.09(syst) and S(J/psi pi(0))=0.05+/-0.49(stat)+/-0.16(syst).

Observation of the decay B+/--->pi+/-pi0, study of B+/--->K+/-pi0, and search for B0-->pi0pi0

We present results for the branching fractions and charge asymmetries in B+/--->h(+/-)pi(0) (where h(+/-)=pi(+/-),K+/-) and a search for the decay B0-->pi(0)pi(0) using a sample of approximately 88 x 10(6) BBmacr; pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We measure B(B+/--->pi(+/-)pi(0))=(5.5(+1.0)(-0.9)+/-0.6)x10(-6), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. The B+/--->pi(+/-)pi(0) signal has a significance of 7.7sigma including systematic uncertainties. We simultaneously measure the K+/-pi(0) branching fraction to be B(B+/--->K+/-pi(0))=(12.8(+1.2)(-1.1)+/-1.0)x10(-6). The charge asymmetries are Api(+/-)(pi(0))=-0.03(+0.18)(-0.17)+/-0.02 and AK+/-(pi(0))=-0.09+/-0.09+/-0.01. We place a 90% confidence-level upper limit on the branching fraction B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0)) of 3.6 x 10(-6).

Measurement of the branching fraction, and bounds on the CP-violating asymmetries, of neutral B decays to D*+/- D-/+

We present measurements of the branching fraction and CP-violating asymmetries for neutral B decays to D(*+/-)D-/+. The measurement uses a data sample of approximately 88x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BBmacr; decays collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)-e(-) collider. By fully reconstructing the D(*+/-)D-/+ decay products, we measure the branching fraction to be (8.8+/-1.0+/-1.3)x10(-4) and the time-integrated CP-violating asymmetry between the rates to D(*-)D+ and D(*+)D- to be A=-0.03+/-0.11+/-0.05. We also measure the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry parameters to be S(-+)=-0.24+/-0.69+/-0.12, C(-+)=-0.22+/-0.37+/-0.10 for B-->D(*-)D+ and S(+-)=-0.82+/-0.75+/-0.14, C(+-)=-0.47+/-0.40+/-0.12 for B-->D(*+)D-. In each case, the first error is statistical and the second error is systematic.

Measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element V(ub) with B-->rhoenu decays

We present a measurement of the branching fraction for the rare decays B-->rhoenu and extract a value for the magnitude of V(ub), one of the smallest elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing matrix. The results are given for five different calculations of form factors used to para-metrize the hadronic current in semileptonic decays. Using a sample of 55 x 10(6) BB meson pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) storage ring, we obtain B(B0-->rho(-)e(+)nu)=(3.29+/-0.42+/-0.47+/-0.55) x 10(-4) and |V(ub)|=(3.64+/-0.22+/-0.25(+0.39)(-0.56)) x 10(-3), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and theoretical, respectively.

Study of the rare decays B0-->D((*)+)(s)pi(-) and B0-->D((*)-)(s)K+

We report evidence for the decays B0-->D(+)(s)pi(-) and B0-->D(-)(s)K+ and the results of a search for B0-->D(*+)(s)pi(-) and B0-->D(*-)(s)K+ in a sample of 84 x 10(6) upsilon(4S) decays into BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) storage ring. We measure the branching fractions B(B0-->D(+)(s)pi(-))=[3.2+/-0.9(stat)+/-1.0(syst)] x 10(-5) and B(B0-->D(-)(s)K+)=[3.2+/-1.0(stat)+/-1.0(syst)] x 10(-5). We also set 90% C.L. limits B(B0-->D(*+)(s)pi(-))<4.1 x 10(-5) and B(B0-->D(*-)(s)K+)<2.5 x 10(-5).

Measurement of the B0-->J/psipi+pi- branching fraction

We present a measurement of the branching fraction for the decay of the neutral B meson into the final state J/psipi(+)pi(-). The data set contains approximately 56 x 10(6) BB pairs produced at the Upsilon(4S) resonance and recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) storage ring. The result of this analysis is B(B0-->J/psipi(+)pi(-))=(4.6+/-0.7+/-0.6) x 10(-5), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. In addition, we measure B(B0-->J/psirho(0))=(1.6+/-0.6+/-0.4) x 10(-5).

Measurements of branching fractions and CP-violating asymmetries in B0-->pi+pi-, K+pi-, K+K- decays

We present measurements of branching fractions and CP-violating asymmetries for two-body neutral B meson decays to charged pions and kaons based on a sample of about 88x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays. From a time-independent fit we measure the charge-averaged branching fractions B(B0-->pi+pi-)=(4.7+/-0.6+/-0.2)x10(-6), B(B0-->K+pi-)=(17.9+/-0.9+/-0.7)x10(-6), and the direct CP-violating charge asymmetry A(Kpi)=-0.102+/-0.050+/-0.016 [-0.188,-0.016], where the ranges in square brackets indicate the 90% confidence intervals. From a time-dependent fit we measure the B0-->pi+pi- CP-violating parameters S(pipi)=0.02+/-0.34+/-0.05 [-0.54,+0.58] and C(pipi)=-0.30+/-0.25+/-0.04 [-0.72,+0.12].

Measurement of the CP asymmetry amplitude sin2beta with B0 mesons

We present results on time-dependent CP asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 88 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->B(-)B decays collected between 1999 and 2002 with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. We study events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B(0) or B(-0) from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay-time distributions in such events. We measure sin2beta=0.741+/-0.067(stat)+/-0.034(syst) and |lambda|=0.948+/-0.051(stat)+/-0.030(syst). The magnitude of lambda is consistent with unity, in agreement with the standard model expectation of no direct CP violation in these modes.

Measurement of the branching fraction and CP content for the decay B0-->D(*+)D(*-)

We report a measurement of the branching fraction of the decay B0-->D(*+)D(*-) and of the CP-odd component of its final state using the BABAR detector. With data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.4 fb (-1) collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance during 1999-2000, we have reconstructed 38 candidate signal events in the mode B0-->D(*+)D(*-) with an estimated background of 6.2+/-0.5 events. From these events, we determine the branching fraction to be B(B0-->D(*+)D(*-))=[8.3+/-1.6(stat)+/-1.2(syst)]x10(-4). The measured CP-odd fraction of the final state is 0.22+/-0.18(stat)+/-0.03(syst).

Measurement of the B(0) lifetime with partially reconstructed B(0)-->D(-)l(+)nu(l) decays

The B(0) lifetime was measured with a sample of 23 million BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) storage ring during 1999 and 2000. Events from the semileptonic decay B(0)-->D(*-)l(+)nu(l) have been selected with a partial reconstruction method in which only the charged lepton and the slow pi from the D*--->D(0)pi(-) decay are reconstructed. The result is tau(B(0)) = 1.529+/-0.012(stat)+/-0.029(syst) ps.

Search for the rare decays B-->Kl(+)l(-) and B-->K(*)l(+)l(-)

We present results from a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decays B-->Kl(+)l(-) and B-->K(*)l(+)l(-), where l(+)l(-) is either an e(+)e(-) or mu(+)mu(-) pair. The data sample comprises 22.7 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->B(-)B decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B Factory. We obtain the 90% C.L. upper limits B(B-->Kl(+)l(-))<0.51 x 10(-6) and B(B-->K(*)l(+)l(-))<3.1 x 10(-6), close to standard model predictions for these branching fractions. We have also obtained limits on the lepton-family-violating decays B-->Ke+/-mu(-/+) and B-->K(*)e(+/-)mu(-/+).

Search for T and CP violation in B0-B-0 mixing with inclusive dilepton events

We report the results of a search for T and CP violation in B0-B-0 mixing using an inclusive dilepton sample collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II B Factory. The asymmetry between l+l+ and l-l- events allows us to compare the probabilities for B-0-->B0 and B0-->B-0 oscillations and thus probe T and CP invariance. Using a sample of 23 x 10(6) BB- pairs, we measure a same-sign dilepton asymmetry of A(T/CP) = [0.5+/-1.2(stat)+/-1.4(syst)]%. For the modulus of the ratio of complex mixing parameters p and q, we obtain q/p = 0.998+/-0.006(stat)+/-0.007(syst).

Measurement of B0-B-0 flavor oscillations in hadronic B0 decays

Flavor oscillations of neutral B mesons have been studied in e+e- annihilation data collected with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near the upsilon(4S) resonance. The data sample used for this purpose consists of events in which one B0 meson is reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode, while the flavor of the recoiling B0 is determined with a tagging algorithm that exploits the correlation between the flavor of the heavy quark and the charges of its decay products. From the time development of the observed mixed and unmixed final states, we determine the B0-B-0 oscillation frequency deltamd to be 0.516+/-0.016(stat)+/-0.010(syst) ps-1.

Measurement of the B0-B-0 oscillation frequency with inclusive dilepton events

The B0-B-0 oscillation frequency has been measured with a sample of 23 x 10(6) BB- pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we select events in which both B mesons decay semileptonically and use the charge of the leptons to identify the flavor of each B meson. A simultaneous fit to the decay time difference distributions for opposite- and same-sign dilepton events gives deltamd = 0.493+/-0.012(stat)+/-0.009(syst) ps-1.

Measurement of B --> K*gamma branching fractions and charge asymmetries

The branching fractions of the exclusive decays B0-->K(*0)gamma and B+-->K(*+)gamma are measured from a sample of (22.74+/-0.36)x10(6) BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We find B (B0-->K(*0)gamma) = [4.23+/-0.40(stat)+/-0.22(syst)]x10(-5), B(B+-->K(*+)gamma) = [3.83+/-0.62(stat)+/-0.22(syst)]x10(-5) and constrain the CP-violating charge asymmetry to be -0.170<A(CP)(B-->K(*)gamma)<0.082 at 90% C.L.

Search for the decay B0-->gammagamma

We present a limit on the branching fraction for the decay B0-->gammagamma using data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric energy e+e- collider. Based on the observation of one event in the signal region, out of a sample of 21.3x10(6) e+e--->Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays, we establish an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B0-->gammagamma)<1.7x10(-6) at the 90% confidence level. This result substantially improves upon existing limits.

Measurement of the B--> J/psiK*(892) decay amplitudes

We present a measurement of the decay amplitudes in B-->J/psiK*(892) channels using 20.7 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at PEP-II. We measure a P-wave fraction R(perpendicular) = (16.0 +/- 3.2 +/- 1.4)% and a longitudinal polarization fraction (59.7 +/- 2.8 +/- 2.4)%. The measurement of a relative phase that is neither 0 nor pi, phi = 2.50 +/- 0.20 +/-0.08 radians, favors a departure from the factorization hypothesis. Although the decay B-->/psiK(pi) proceeds mainly via K*(892), there is also evidence for K2*(1430) and K(pi) S-wave contributions.

Measurements of the branching fractions of exclusive charmless B meson decays with eta(') or omega mesons

We present the results of searches for B decays to charmless two-body final states containing eta(') or omega mesons, based on 20.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the BABAR detector. We find the branching fractions Beta(B(+)-->eta(')K(+)) = (70+/-8+/-5) x 10(-6), Beta(B(0)-->eta(')K(0)) = (42(+13)(-11) +/- 4) x 10(-6), and Beta(B(+)-->omega pi(+)) = (6.6(+2.1)(-1.8) +/- 0.7) x 10(-6), where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic. We give measurements of four additional modes for which the 90% confidence level upper limits are Beta(B(+)-->eta(')pi(+)) < 12 x 10(-6), Beta(B(+)-->omega K(+)) < 4 x 10(-6), Beta(B(0)-->omega K(0)) < 13 x 10(-6), and Beta(B(0)-->omega pi(0)) < 3 x 10(-6).

Measurement of the B(0) and B(+) meson lifetimes with fully reconstructed hadronic final states

The B(0) and B(+) meson lifetimes have been measured in e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected in 1999 and 2000 with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near the Upsilon(4S) resonance. Events are selected in which one B meson is fully reconstructed in a hadronic final state while the second B meson is reconstructed inclusively. A combined fit to the B(0) and the B(+) decay time difference distributions yields tau(B(0)) = 1.546+/-0.032(stat)+/-0.022(syst) ps, tau(B(+)) = 1.673+/-0.032(stat)+/-0.023(syst) ps, and tau(B(+))/tau(B(0)) = 1.082+/-0.026(stat)+/-0.012(syst).

Measurement of J/psi production in continuum e(+)e(-) annihilations near square root of s = 10.6 GeV

The production of J/psi mesons in continuum e(+)e(-) annihilations has been studied with the BABAR detector at energies near the Upsilon(4S) resonance. The mesons are distinguished from J/psi production in B decays through their center-of-mass momentum and energy. We measure the cross section e(+)e(-)-->J/psi X to be 2.52+/-0.21+/-0.21 pb. We set a 90% C.L. upper limit on the branching fraction for direct Upsilon(4S)-->J/psi X decays at 4.7 x 10(-4).

Measurement of the decays B--> phiK and B--> phiK*

We have observed the decays B--> phiK and phiK(*) in a sample of over 45 million B mesons collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. The measured branching fractions are B(B+--> phiK+) = (7.7(+1.6)(-1.4)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B0--> phiK0) = (8.1(+3.1)(-2.5)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B+--> phiK(*+)) = (9.7(+4.2)(-3.4)+/-1.7)x10(-6), and B(B0--> phiK(*0)) = (8.7(+2.5)(-2.1)+/-1.1)x10(-6). We also report the upper limit B(B+--> phipi(+))<1.4x10(-6) ( 90% C.L.).

Measurement of branching fractions and search for CP-violating charge asymmetries in charmless two-body B decays into pions and kaons

We present measurements, based on a sample of approximately 23x10(6) BB pairs, of the branching fractions and a search for CP-violating charge asymmetries in charmless hadronic decays of B mesons into two-body final states of kaons and pions. We find the branching fractions B(B0-->pi(+)pi(-)) = (4.1+/-1.0+/-0.7)x10(-6), B(B0-->K+pi(-)) = (16.7+/-1.6+/-1.3)x10(-6), B(B+-->K+pi(0)) = (10.8(+2.1)(-1.9)+/-1.0)x10(-6), B(B+-->K0pi(+)) = (18.2(+3.3)(-3.0)+/-2.0)x10(-6), B(B0-->K0pi(0)) = (8.2(+3.1)(-2.7)+/-1.2)x10(-6). We also report 90% confidence level upper limits for B meson decays to the pi(+)pi(0), K+K-, and K0K+ final states. In addition, charge asymmetries have been found to be consistent with zero, where the statistical precision is in the range of +/-0.10 to +/-0.18, depending on the decay mode.

Observation of CP violation in the B(0) meson system

We present an updated measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. This result uses an additional sample of Upsilon(4S) decays collected in 2001, bringing the data available to 32 x 10(6) BB macro pairs. We select events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing charmonium and the flavor of the other neutral B meson is determined from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2 beta, is derived from the decay time distributions in such events. The result sin2 beta = 0.59+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.05(syst) establishes CP violation in the B(0) meson system. We also determine absolute value of lambda = 0.93+/-0.09(stat)+/-0.03(syst), consistent with no direct CP violation.

Measurement of CP-violating asymmetries in B0 decays to CP eigenstates

We present measurements of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurement uses a data sample of 23x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BbarB decays collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we find events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a CP eigenstate containing charmonium and the flavor of the other neutral B meson is determined from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay time distributions in such events. The result is sin2beta = 0.34+/-0.20 (stat)+/-0.05 (syst).

Combined protein C deficiency and protein C activated resistance as a cause of caval, peripheral, and cerebral venous thrombosis--a case report

A 26-year-old woman suffered concomitant inferior vena cava, iliac, and femoral vein thrombosis and cerebral venous thrombosis. Ten days before symptom onset she had started using an oral contraceptive that contained low-dose ethynilestradiol and gestodene. Both protein C deficiency and protein C activated resistance were detected. To our knowledge, the association of cerebral, caval, and ilio-femoral-popliteal venous thrombosis has not been described previously. The severity of the clinical features could be a consequence of the two combined thrombophilic mechanisms and of the continuation of the oral contraceptive. A thrombophilic disorder should be considered in young patients with thromboembolic disease. Because of the high prevalence of the genetic deficiency causing protein C activated resistance, it is probably worthwhile to perform general screening before prescription of oral contraceptives.