Evidence for the h_b(1P) meson in the decay Upsilon(3S) --> pi0 h_b(1P)

Using a sample of 122 million Upsilon(3S) events recorded with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at SLAC, we search for the $h_b(1P)$ spin-singlet partner of the P-wave chi_{bJ}(1P) states in the sequential decay Upsilon(3S) --> pi0 h_b(1P), h_b(1P) --> gamma eta_b(1S). We observe an excess of events above background in the distribution of the recoil mass against the pi0 at mass 9902 +/- 4(stat.) +/- 2(syst.) MeV/c^2. The width of the observed signal is consistent with experimental resolution, and its significance is 3.1sigma, including systematic uncertainties. We obtain the value (4.3 +/- 1.1(stat.) +/- 0.9(syst.)) x 10^{-4} for the product branching fraction BF(Upsilon(3S)-->pi0 h_b) x BF(h_b-->gamma eta_b).Comment: 8 pages, 4 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Communications

Prescription practice of anti-tuberculosis drugs in Yunnan, China: A clinical audit

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>China has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). As irrational use and inadequate dosing of anti-TB drugs may contribute to the epidemic of drug-resistant TB, we assessed the drug types and dosages prescribed in the treatment of TB cases in a representative sample of health care facilities in Yunnan.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We applied multistage cluster sampling using probability proportion to size to select 28 counties in Yunnan. Consecutive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled from either the TB centers of Yunnan Center of Disease Control or designated TB hospitals. Outcomes of interest included the regimen used in the treatment of new and retreatment TB patients; and the proportion of patients treated with adequate dosing of anti-TB drugs. Furthermore, we assess whether there has been reduction in the use of fluoroquinolone and second line injectables in Tuberculosis Clinical Centre (TCC) after the training activity in late 2012.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of 2390 TB patients enrolled, 582 (24.4%) were prescribed second line anti-TB drugs (18.0% in new cases and 60.9% in retreatment cases); 363(15.2%) prescribed a fluoroquinolone. General hospitals (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47–2.66), retreatment TB cases (adjOR 4.75, 95% CI 3.59–6.27), smear positive cases (adjOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.33), and extrapulmonary TB (adjOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.66–4.03) were significantly associated with the use of fluoroquinolones. The proportion of patients treated with fluoroquinolones decreased from 41.4% before 2013 to 13.5% after 2013 (adjOR 0.19, 95% CI 0.12–0.28) in TCC. The proportion of patients with correct, under and over dosages of isoniazid was 88.2%, 1.5%, and 10.4%, respectively; of rifampicin was 50.2%, 46.8%, and 2.9%; of pyrazinamide was 67.6%, 31.7% and 0.7%; and of ethambutol was 41.4%, 57.5%, and 1.0%.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The prescribing practice of anti-TB drugs was not standardized, findings with significant programmatic implication.</p></div

Factors associated with the use of fluoroquinolone in the treatment of new and retreatment tuberculosis cases, Yunnan.

<p>Factors associated with the use of fluoroquinolone in the treatment of new and retreatment tuberculosis cases, Yunnan.</p

Changes in the prescribing of fluoroquinolone and second line injectable agents before and after 2013 in Tuberculosis Treatment Center, Yunnan Center of Disease Control, Yunnan, China.

<p>Changes in the prescribing of fluoroquinolone and second line injectable agents before and after 2013 in Tuberculosis Treatment Center, Yunnan Center of Disease Control, Yunnan, China.</p

Proportion of patients with correct, under, and over dosages of anti-tuberculosis drugs prescribe according to dosage in mg per kg body weight recommended by WHO.

<p>Proportion of patients with correct, under, and over dosages of anti-tuberculosis drugs prescribe according to dosage in mg per kg body weight recommended by WHO.</p

Regimens used in the treatment of new and retreatment tuberculosis cases, Yunnan.

<p>Regimens used in the treatment of new and retreatment tuberculosis cases, Yunnan.</p

Factors associated with inadequate dosing of pyrazinamide, Yunnan.

<p>Factors associated with inadequate dosing of pyrazinamide, Yunnan.</p

Factors associated with inadequate dosing of ethambutol, Yunnan.

<p>Factors associated with inadequate dosing of ethambutol, Yunnan.</p

Proportion of tuberculosis patients treated with each type of anti-tuberculosis drugs, with 95% confidence interval, by new and previously treated cases.

<p>(fixed dose combination, FDC; isoniazid, H; rifampicin, R; pyrazinamide, Z; ethambutol, E; PAS, P).</p

Demographics of the study population, by county health care facilities (CDC’s TB center or designated TB hospital) and Tuberculosis Clinical Center (TCC).

<p>Demographics of the study population, by county health care facilities (CDC’s TB center or designated TB hospital) and Tuberculosis Clinical Center (TCC).</p