We report a measurement of the exclusive e+ e- -->Lambda+_(c)Lambda-_(c) cross section as a function of center-of-mass energy near the Lambda+_(c)Lambda-_(c) threshold. A clear peak with a ...significance of 8.2sigma is observed in the Lambda+_(c)Lambda-_(c) invariant mass distribution just above threshold. With an assumption of a resonance origin for the observed peak, a mass and width of M=4634 (+8)_(-7)(stat)(+5)_(-8)(syst) MeV/c(2) and Gamma_(tot)=92 (+40)_(-24)(stat)(+10)_(-21)(syst) MeV are determined. The analysis is based on a study of events with initial-state-radiation photons in a data sample collected with the Belle detector at the Upsilon(4S) resonance and nearby continuum with an integrated luminosity of 695 fb(-1) at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider.
Using 605 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance we present a measurement of the inclusive radiative B-meson decay channel, B-->X(s)gamma. For the lower photon energy thresholds of ...1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0 GeV, as defined in the rest frame of the B meson, we measure the partial branching fraction and the mean and variance of the photon energy spectrum. At the 1.7 GeV threshold we obtain the partial branching fraction BF(B-->X(s)}gamma)=(3.45+/-0.15+/-0.40)x10(-4), where the errors are statistical and systematic.
Many individuals with obstructive airway disease (OAD), including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, remain undiagnosed, despite the potential for reducing disease burden ...through early detection and treatment. OCEAN aimed to determine the prevalence of, and characteristics associated with, impaired lung function in a Japanese population, with the goal of improving strategies for early OAD detection.
OCEAN was an observational, cross-sectional study in sequentially recruited Japanese individuals ≥40 years of age undergoing routine health examinations. Participants completed screening questionnaires and spirometry testing. Airflow limitation was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV
/FVC) <0.7 by pre-bronchodilator spirometry. Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) was defined as FEV
/FVC ≥0.7 and FEV
<80% predicted. The primary endpoint was prevalence of spirometry-based airflow limitation and PRISm. The characteristics of study participants were reported as secondary endpoints.
Overall, 2518 individuals were included; 79% were <60 years of age (mean 52.0 years). Airflow limitation and PRISm were observed in 52 (2.1%) and 420 (16.7%) participants, respectively. FEV
in the PRISm group was between that in the no airflow limitation/PRISm and airflow limitation groups, FVC was similar in the PRISm and airflow limitation groups. The PRISm group had higher mean body mass index and a higher proportion of comorbid metabolic disease compared with the airflow limitation group. The prevalence of airflow limitation and PRISm was highest among current smokers (3.9% and 21.3%, respectively) versus former or never smokers.
A significant proportion of Japanese individuals <60 years of age attending their annual health examination had impaired lung function (airflow limitation and PRISm); prevalence was highest among current smokers. These findings support screening of current or former smokers ≥40 years of age using patient-reported questionnaires to inform the need for spirometry to confirm an OAD diagnosis.
We report measurements of B→χ(c1)γK and χ(c2)γK decays using 772×10(6) BBover ¯ events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. ...Evidence of a new resonance in the χ(c1)γ final state is found with a statistical significance of 3.8σ. This state has a mass of 3823.1±1.8(stat)±0.7(syst) MeV/c(2), a value that is consistent with theoretical expectations for the previously unseen 1(3)D(2) ccover ¯ meson. We find no other narrow resonance and set upper limits on the branching fractions of the X(3872)→χ(c1)γ and χ(c2)γ decays.
The Collins effect connects transverse quark spin with a measurable azimuthal dependence in the yield of hadronic fragments around the quark's momentum vector. Using two different reconstruction ...methods, we find evidence of statistically significant azimuthal asymmetries for charged pion pairs in e(+)e(-) annihilation at a center-of-mass energy of 10.52 GeV, which can be attributed to a transverse polarization of the primordial quarks. The measurement was performed using a sample of 79 x 10(6) hadronic events collected with the Belle detector.
Background
Several studies have examined the clinical significance of metabolic response in primary tumours by 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F‐FDG‐PET) in patients with ...oesophageal cancer who undergo neoadjuvant therapy. The relevance of the metabolic response in lymph nodes is unclear.
Methods
Consecutive patients with oesophageal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery were studied. 18F‐FDG‐PET was performed before and 2–3 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, assessing FDG uptake in primary tumours and lymph nodes considered to be metastatic.
Results
Before therapy, 156 (73·9 per cent) of 211 patients had PET‐positive nodes, of whom 89 (57.1 per cent) had no evidence of metabolic activity in these lymph nodes following chemotherapy. There was a significant relationship between post‐treatment lymph node status assessed by FDG‐PET and numbers of pathologically confirmed metastatic lymph nodes. Patients with post‐treatment PET‐positive nodes had shorter survival than those without (5‐year survival rate 25 versus 62·6 per cent; P < 0·001). There was no difference in survival between patients with PET‐positive nodes before but not after therapy and patients who had PET‐negative nodes throughout (5‐year survival rate 59 versus 71 per cent respectively; P = 0·207). Multivariable analysis identified post‐treatment nodal status assessed by FDG‐PET and tumour depth as independent prognostic factors.
Conclusion
Identification of PET‐positive lymph nodes after completion of chemotherapy is a predictor of poor prognosis of patients with oesophageal cancer scheduled for surgery. FDG‐PET lymph node status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is more important than that before chemotherapy.
Merits further evaluation in squamous cell cancer
We present a plastic scintillator, developed in collaboration with Carlit Holdings Co., Ltd., that is fabricated using a liquid parent material cured at room temperature by adding a hardener. The new ...scintillator can incorporate heat-labile functional materials such as gadolinium to enhance neutron sensitivity. The characteristics of the new scintillator, in particular the light yield and attenuation length, were evaluated using a 90Sr β-ray source. The light yield was measured 7% Anthracene on the basis of a comparison with commercially available scintillator (BC-408) at a distance of 18cm from the photodetector surface. This light yield is dependent on the distance between the luminous point and the photodetector because of light attenuation. The attenuation length of the Gd-doped scintillator was about 50cm.
Background
18Ffluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐PET has been used to evaluate the response of primary tumours to neoadjuvant therapy for oesophageal cancer. The clinical significance of the number of ...PET‐positive nodes before and after therapy has not been investigated previously.
Methods
18FFDG‐PET was performed before and 2–3 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to identify the number of PET‐positive nodes, and these numbers were assessed in relation to metabolic changes in the primary tumour.
Results
Of 302 patients in total, 90 had no PET‐positive nodes, 83 had one, 59 had two and 70 patients had three or more positive nodes before therapy. After treatment, the numbers were: none in 207 patients, one in 59, two in 20 and three or more in 16 patients. The number of PET‐positive nodes after treatment was influenced by both the number of PET‐positive nodes before therapy and the response to preoperative therapy, and correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes. Overall survival was longer in patients who had no PET‐positive nodes after treatment than in those who had one or more. Multivariable analysis identified the numbers of PET‐positive nodes before and after chemotherapy as independent prognostic factors, together with clinical response, tumour depth and lymph node involvement.
Conclusion
The number of PET‐positive nodes after treatment correlated with survival in patients with oesophageal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Dismal prognosis if PET‐positive nodes exist after treatment
SUMMARY
Gastro‐tracheobronchial fistula (GTF) is a rare but life‐threatening complication specifically observed after esophagectomy and reconstruction using posterior mediastinal gastric tube. Ten ...cases of GTF were encountered in three hospitals in 2000–2009. Their clinicopathological, surgical, and postoperative care are summarized, together with a review of previously reported cases. GTF was classified as anastomotic leakage (n= 5), gastric necrosis (n= 4), and gastric ulcer type (n= 1). The anastomotic leakage type appeared about 2 weeks (postoperative day POD: 8–35) after esophagectomy, was located in the cervical or higher thoracic trachea. Breathing and pneumonia were controlled by tracheal tube placed in the distal of fistula. The gastric necrosis type was noted in patients who developed necrosis of the upper part of the gastric tube and abscess formation behind the tracheal wall, at POD 20–36 around the carina, the site of pronounced ischemia. Due to the large fistula around the carina, emergency surgery with muscle patch repair was frequently required for the control of aspiration pneumonia. Patients of the gastric ulcer type had peptic ulcer in the lesser curvature of the gastric tube, which perforated into the right bronchus long after surgery (POD 630). With respect to tracheobronchial factors, preoperative chemoradiation (three cases) and pre‐tracheal node dissection (three cases) tended to increase the risk of GTF. Closure of GTF by surgery (muscle patch repair) was successful in four cases and by nonsurgical treatment in three cases. In one case, stable oral intake was achieved by bypass operation without closure of GTF. Hospital death occurred in three cases. Understanding the pathogenesis and treatment options of GTF is important for surgeons who deal with esophageal cancer.
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