Studies of the Decay B+- -> D_CP K+-

We report studies of the decay B+- -> D_CP K+-, where D_CP denotes neutral D mesons that decay to CP eigenstates. The analysis is based on a 29.1/fb data sample of collected at the \Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+ e- storage ring. Ratios of branching fractions of Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored processes involving D_CP are determined to be B(B- -> D_1 K-)/B(B- -> D_1 pi-)=0.125 +- 0.036 +- 0.010 and B(B- -> D_2 K-)/B(B- -> D_2 pi-)=0.119 +- 0.028 +- 0.006, where indices 1 and 2 represent the CP=+1 and CP=-1 eigenstates of the D0 - anti D0 system, respectively. We also extract the partial rate asymmetries for B+- -> D_CP K+-, finding A_1 = 0.29 +- 0.26 +- 0.05 and A_2 = -0.22 +- 0.24 +- 0.04.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter

Observation of Ds+K- and evidence for D-s(+)pi(-) final states in neutral B decays

We report the first observation of a B meson decay that is not accessible by a direct spectator process. The channel (B) over bar (0)-->Ds+K- is found in a sample of 85x10(6) B (B) over bar events, collected with the Belle detector at KEKB, with a branching fraction B((B) over bar (0)-->Ds+K-)=(4.6(-1.1)(+1.2)+/-1.3)x10(-5). We also obtain evidence for the B-0-->D(s)(+)pi(-) decay with branching fraction B(B-0-->D(s)(+)pi(-))=(2.4(-0.8)(+1.0)+/-0.7)x10(-5). This value may be used to extract a model-dependent value of \V-ub\

Ease of Use, Preference, and Safety of the Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Disposable Pen Compared with the Reusable Device: A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Switch-Over, Prospective, Phase IV Trial

PURPOSE: To assess the usability and safety of the disposable pen compared to those of reusable devices in patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a multicenter, single-arm, open-label, switch-over, prospective, Phase IV trial. After screening, eligible patients who were previously treated with rhGH using a reusable device were enrolled to receive treatment with the disposable pen for 8 weeks. The ease of use, preference, and tolerability of the disposable pen compared to those of the reusable device were assessed by the subjects and/or their caregivers using a questionnaire. Adverse events were evaluated by the investigators. RESULTS: Of 116 subjects enrolled in this study, 115 received treatment with the disposable pen and 109 completed the study. The mean age of the subjects was 9.4 years. Compared to the previous reusable device, the disposable pen was assessed as significantly easier to use (mean value 7.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) [7.45-8.30] on a numerical scale ranging from 0 (far less easy) to 10 (far easier)). Furthermore, the percentage of subjects who preferred the disposable pen to the previously used reusable device was 75.7% (95% CI [67.6%-83.8%]). The percentages of subjects who rated pain and discomfort at the injection site as "not at all" were higher after using the disposable pen compared to the reusable device. No specific safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSION: The disposable pen is easier to use than the reusable devices and is preferred by approximately 75% of patients receiving rhGH treatment. Moreover, the disposable pen is safe and acceptable. Therefore, it could be a good alternative to reusable devices. The disposable pen is expected to provide benefits to patients receiving rhGH treatment. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03015909

Randomised clinical trial: tegoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, or lansoprazole in the treatment of gastric ulcer

BACKGROUND: Tegoprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker for the treatment of acid-related disorders. AIMS: To assess whether tegoprazan is non-inferior to lansoprazole in terms of efficacy and safety in patients with gastric ulcers. METHODS: In this phase 3, double-blind, active control, multicentre study, 306 gastric ulcer patients were randomised to one of three treatment groups: tegoprazan 50 mg, tegoprazan 100 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg once daily for 4 or 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the cumulative proportion of patients with healed ulcers confirmed by endoscopy up to 8 weeks from treatment initiation. Symptoms and safety were assessed. RESULTS: In the full analysis set, the cumulative healing rates at week 8 were 94.8% (91/96) for the tegoprazan 50 mg, 95.0% (94/99) for the tegoprazan 100 mg and 95.7% (89/93) for the lansoprazole 30 mg groups. At week 4, the respective healing rates were 90.6% (87/96), 91.9% (91/99), and 89.2% (83/93). In per protocol analysis, 4-week healing rates were 95.4% (84/88), 94.6% (88/93) and 92.9% (79/85) for tegoprazan 50 mg, tegoprazan 100 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg, respectively. Both doses of tegoprazan were non-inferior to lansoprazole in ulcer healing at 4 and 8 weeks. The incidence of drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events did not differ among groups. The increase in serum gastrin concentration was not higher in tegoprazan-treated patients than in lansoprazole-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Tegoprazan 50 or 100 mg were not inferior to lansoprazole 30 mg once daily in the treatment of gastric ulcers

Measurements of Branching Fractions for B0 --> Ds+pi- and B0-bar --> Ds+K-

We present improved measurements of the branching fractions for the decays B0 --> Ds+pi- and B0-bar --> Ds+K- using a data sample of 657x10^6 BB-bar events collected at the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. The results are BF(B0 --> Ds+pi-) = (1.99 +/- 0.26 +/- 0.18)x10^-5 and BF(B0-bar --> Ds+K-) = (1.91 +/- 0.24 +/- 0.17)x10^-5, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. Based on these results, we determine the ratio between amplitudes of the doubly Cabibbo suppressed decay B0 --> D+pi- and the Cabibbo favored decay B0 --> D-pi+, R_Dpi = [1.71 +/- 0.11(stat) +/- 0.09(syst) +/- 0.02(theo)]%, where the last term denotes the theory error.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, published in PRD(RC

European clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Part II: pharmacological treatment

To develop a European guideline on pharmacologic treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS) the available literature was thoroughly screened and extensively discussed by a working group of the European Society for the Study of Tourette syndrome (ESSTS). Although there are many more studies on pharmacotherapy of TS than on behavioral treatment options, only a limited number of studies meets rigorous quality criteria. Therefore, we have devised a two-stage approach. First, we present the highest level of evidence by reporting the findings of existing Cochrane reviews in this field. Subsequently, we provide the first comprehensive overview of all reports on pharmacological treatment options for TS through a MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE search for all studies that document the effect of pharmacological treatment of TS and other tic disorders between 1970 and November 2010. We present a summary of the current consensus on pharmacological treatment options for TS in Europe to guide the clinician in daily practice. This summary is, however, rather a status quo of a clinically helpful but merely low evidence guideline, mainly driven by expert experience and opinion, since rigorous experimental studies are scarce

Observation of B-0 -> p(Lambda)over-bar pi(-)

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B-0-->p (&ULambda;) over bar pi(-), using a 78 fb(-1) data sample recorded on the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. The measured branching fraction is B(B-0-->p (&ULambda;) over bar pi(-))=(3.97(-0.80)(+1.00)+/-0.56)x10(-6). Searches for B-0-->p (&ULambda;) over barK(-) and p (&USigma;) over bar (0)pi(-) yield no significant signals and we set 90% confidence-level upper limits of B(B-0-->p (&ULambda;) over barK(-))p (&USigma;) over bar (0)pi(-))<3.8x10(-6)

Observation of radiative B -> phi K gamma decays

The radiative decay B-->phiKgamma is observed for the first time. The branching fraction for the charged B--->phiK(-)gamma decay mode is measured to be B(B--->phiK(-)gamma)=(3.4+/-0.9+/-0.4)x10(-6). The photon energy distribution for the B--->phiK(-)gamma decay is presented. The signal for the neutral (B) over bar (0)-->phi(K) over bar (0)gamma decay mode is not statistically significant and an upper limit, B((B) over bar (0)-->phi(K) over bar (0)gamma)<8.3x10(-6) at 90% C.L., is set. The analysis is based on a data set of 90 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the e(+)e(-) asymmetric collider KEKB

Evidence for B -> phi phi K

We report evidence for the decay mode B-->phiphiK based on an analysis of 78 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. This is the first example of a b-->s (s) over bars (s) over bars transition. The branching fraction for this decay is measured to be B(B+/--->phiphiK(+/-))=(2.6(-0.9)(+1.1)+/-0.3)x10(-6) for a phiphi invariant mass below 2.85 GeV/c(2). Results for other related charmonium decay modes are also reported