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We report a case of 2, 8-dihydroxyadenine (DHA) urolithiasis in a 65-year-old male. He initially visited another institution because right hydronephrosis was revealed in a medical checkup. Computed tomography demonstrated radiolucent right renal stones. We performed percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and flexible transurethral lithotripsy and removed the stones successfully. An analysis of the stone fragments revealed 2, 8-DHA urolithiasis. 2, 8-DHA stones are relatively rare and caused by adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency., 本論文の要旨は，第285回日本泌尿器科学会東海地方会（2020年）で報告した．

We report a case of 2,8-dihydroxyadenine (DHA) urolithiasis in a 65-year-old male. He initially visited another institution because right hydronephrosis was revealed in a medical checkup. Computed tomography demonstrated radiolucent right renal stones. We performed percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and flexible transurethral lithotripsy and removed the stones successfully. An analysis of the stone fragments revealed 2,8-DHA urolithiasis. 2,8-DHA stones are relatively rare and caused by adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency.

The Learning of Zhu Xi or Shushigaku 朱子学 was introduced to Japan in the early thirteenth century. However, it was never as widespread as it is generally assumed until the Kansei Edict of 1790 or the Prohibition of Heterodox Studies that proclaimed it as the official teaching at the Tokugawa shogunate’s schools, notably the later Shōheikō 昌平黌 (Shōhei School). Shushigaku was subsequently tied to written examinations primarily administered to heirs of the Tokugawa upper and lower vassals, which allowed them to receive promotions, acquire prestige, and, most importantly, seek new employments depending on their performances. In time, the Shushigaku curriculum was adopted in different degrees by an increasing number of feudal domain schools and private schools across the country, which contributed to its perceived predominance. This chapter focuses on the philosophical continuity and discontinuity between Zhu Xi and the Japanese Learning of Zhu Xi. Confucius says in Analects 2.15, “Learning without due reflection leads to perplexity; reflection without learning leads to perilous circumstances.” He explains why this is the case in Analects 13.5: “If people can recite all of these three hundred Songs and yet when given official responsibility, fail to perform effectively, or when sent to distant quarters, are unable to act on their own initiative, then even though they have mastered so many of them, what good are they to them?” Confucius argues that if we were to fall short in our reflection on learning to extend its relevance to novel circumstances, we would fail to deal with them effectively in a productive manner on our own. In our negligence to acclimate our learning to unfamiliar situations in “distant quarters,” he bodes, we would find their uncertainty perplexing and novelty perilous. One of the defining characteristics of the Learning of Zhu Xi in Japan, I suggest, is the dynamic interplay between its aspiration to establish continuity with Zhu Xi through meticulous learning of texts imported from China and Korea and its sustained effort to reflect upon this learning to appropriate Zhu Xi to the distant quarters of Japan. The appropriation, however, makes their reflected learning discontinuous with Zhu Xi, but it is also this discontinuity that allows for the forging of a new path, as it were, towards the construction of the very Japanese Shushigaku that it is.

症例は83歳，男性．左腎腫瘍，左腎静脈腫瘍塞栓，多発膵転移と診断．腎動脈の塞栓術を先行して施行し，翌日に左腎摘出術を施行した．術後に経口摂取を開始したところ翌日に留置ドレーンから乳白色の排液を認めた．術後乳糜漏と診断し，脂肪抑制食に変更したところ翌日にはドレーン排液は漿液性となり，その後は大きな問題を認めず経過した．術後乳糜漏は比較的稀な合併症とされているが，臨床的には蛋白，リンパ球の漏出に伴う栄養・免疫面で問題を生ずるため早期に適切な治療が求められる．また大動脈周囲の剥離を要する手術時には本合併症の発生を留意しておく必要性がある．

This essay examines the concept of zhijue in Zhu Xi through hun and po and argues that it is a complex psychophysical process that involves evaluative appreciations and practical realizations of proper conducts that are contextually appropriate to ever-changing circumstances and efficacious in orchestrating productive relations. The author contends that zhijue is not a passive perception of a predetermined reality, but a participatory co-determination of the world through cultivated skills of appreciation and realization.

This paper proposes a new linear matrix inequality (LMI) method to design state-space H ∞ controllers for linear time-invariant descriptor systems. Unlike preceding studies, where descriptor-type controllers are first computed and then numerically transformed to state-space controllers, the proposed method carries out the transformation analytically in the parameter domain. We derive a necessary and sufficient LMI condition for the existence of a state-space controller with the same dynamic order of the descriptor system to be controlled, which makes the closed-loop system regular, impulse-free, stable, and guarantees the H ∞ norm bound imposed on the closed-loop transfer function. Furthermore, we present parameterization of all such state-space controllers by variables satisfying the LMI condition and an arbitrary nonsingular matrix. The LMIs utilized in this paper are strict ones, that is, those containing no equality, while LMIs with equality constraints have been extensively used in the analysis and design for descriptor systems. The strict LMIs play key roles in deriving the results of this paper.

A 54-year-oldman presented with slight pain and swelling of the right scrotum. On performing scrotal ultrasonography, the right testis showed swelling and diffused hypoechogenicity compared with the left normal testis. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed swelling and low intensity areas in the right testis. Diffusion-weighted MRI revealed increased diffusion in the right testis. A testicular tumor was suspected and right high orchitectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis was granulomatous orchitis. To our knowledge, this is the 22nd case in Japan.

Triggering innate immune responses through TLRs is expected to be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of allergic diseases. TLR agonists are able to modulate Th2 immune responses through undefined mechanisms. We investigated the mechanism of action of the suppression of Th2 immune responses with a novel antedrug TLR7 agonist. The antedrug is rapidly metabolized by plasma esterases to an acid with reduced activity to limit systemic responses. Topical administration of this compound inhibited features of the allergic airway inflammatory response in rat and murine allergic airways model. Type I IFN played a role in the suppression of Th2 cytokines produced from murine splenocytes. Inhibition of Th2 immune responses with the antedrug TLR7 agonist was shown to be via a type I IFN–dependent mechanism following short-term exposure to the compound, although there might be type I IFN–independent mechanisms following long-term exposure. We have demonstrated that local type I IFN signaling and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, but not Th1 immune responses, are required for in vivo efficacy against murine airway Th2-driven eosinophilia. Furthermore, migration of dendritic cell subsets into the lung was related to efficacy and is dependent on type I IFN signaling. Thus, the mechanism of action at the cytokine and cellular level involved in the suppression of Th2 allergic responses has been characterized, providing a potential new approach to the treatment of allergic disease.

This paper considers stabilization of linear time-invariant descriptor systems by dynamic output feedback controllers. We deal with general descriptor systems including those being irregular or imp...

This paper is concerned with the control of an underactuated three-dimensional tower crane system using a recurrent neural network (RNN) which is evolved by an evolutionary algorithm. In order to improve the performance in evolving the RNN, a hybrid evolutionary algorithm (HEA) which utilizes the operators of a constricted particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a binary-coded genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed HEA has superior performance in a comparison with the canonical algorithms and that the control system works effectively.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists have potential in the treatment of allergic diseases. However, the therapeutic utility of current low molecular weight TLR7 agonists is limited by their systemic activity, resulting in unwanted side effects. We have developed a series of TLR7-selective 'antedrugs', including SM-324405 and AZ12441970, which contain an ester group rapidly cleaved in plasma to reduce systemic exposure. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Agonist activity at TLR7 of the parent ester and acid metabolite was assessed in vitro in reporter cells and primary cells from a number of species. Pharmacokinetics following a dose to the lungs was assessed in mice and efficacy evaluated in vivo with a mouse allergic airway model. KEY RESULTS Compounds were selective agonists for TLR7 with no crossover to TLR8 and were metabolically unstable in plasma with the acid metabolite showing substantially reduced activity in a number of assays. The compounds inhibited IL-5 production and induced IFN-α, which mediated the inhibition of IL-5. When dosed into the lung the compounds were rapidly metabolized and short-term exposure of the 'antedrug' was sufficient to activate the IFN pathway. AZ12441970 showed efficacy in a mouse allergic airway model with minimal induction of systemic IFN-α, consistent with the low plasma levels of compound. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The biological and metabolic profiles of these TLR7-selective agonist 'antedrug' compounds are consistent with a new class of compound that could be administered locally for the treatment of allergic diseases, while reducing the risk of systemic side effects. LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Kaufman and Jacoby, pp. 569-572 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01758.x.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions on hazardousness and photochemical reactivity and to propose efficient VOCs abatement strategies. Methods The atmospheric concentrations of 101 components of VOCs were measured at six sites which comprehend four urban areas, a roadside area, and an industrial area in Hyogo Prefecture. VOCs influence on hazardousness and photochemical reactivity were evaluated using VOCs measured data and the index on the health effect evaluation and ozone formation potential. The substances that require emissions reduction were selected from the evaluation results. The state and characteristics of environmental pollution were considered from the concentration trends of the selected substances. Results In industrial area, n-hexadecane, styrene, vinyl chloride monomer, and 1,2-dichloroethane showed a high concentration. In roadside area, n-hexane, n-undecane, n-dodecane, tetrachloroethylene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and 1-butanol showed a high concentration. The excess cancer incidences for formaldehyde exceeded 10−5 of the level of concern for carcinogenic effect at all sites. Toluene had a high percentage of ozone production. The interannual and seasonal trends of toluene concentrations were different at a regional level and the formaldehyde concentrations in summer were significantly higher than those in winter at the urban sites. Conclusions The results show the need to prepare the emission reduction plan for the major sources such as vehicle exhaust, solvent use, and industrial processes to diminish the concentration of toluene that contributes significantly to the formation of photochemical oxidant.

It is well known that the class of nonholonomic systems cannot be asymptotically stabilized by continuous static state feedback controls. It has been reported that the so-called direct gradient descent control (DGDC) is able to stabilize nonholonomic systems. This article attempts to improve the performance of the DGDC by using neural network (NN) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). A control method is proposed by embedding an NN into the control law derived by the original DGDC. PSO is employed in order to search globally the parameters of the controller without requiring a redesign process of the parameters. To verify the method, the control problems of two typical nonholonomic systems, one being a wheeled mobile robot and the other a rotary crane system, are considered under constraints applied to the systems. Comparative performance tests are carried out, showing that the proposed approach outperforms the original method and a neurocontroller. Also, simulations show that the proposed method is able to control the systems effectively under the given constraints without the need of the redesign process. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This paper proposes a direct design method of state-space controllers for H∞ control of linear time-invariant descriptor systems. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a state-space controller which makes the closed-loop descriptor system regular, impulse-free, stable, and its H∞ norm less than a specified value. The condition is expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities and their solutions give coefficient matrices of the state-space H∞ controllers.

A prototype 3 kW wind turbine generator of 4 m in diameter has been designed and examined under real wind conditions. Two control methods have been applied: a variable blade pitch angle, and regulation of the generator field current. To improve the control program over a higher wind speed range, a LQG (Linear Quadratic Gaussian) control method with a wind model of low-pass filters was adopted for the pitch angle controller. This paper describes the LQG controller and shows numerical simulation results. The control program was able to vary the pitch angle and maintain an optimum rotational speed to prevent over rotation past 300 rpm.

This paper proposes a straightforward approach to direct design of state-space controllers for descriptor systems. The term “direct design” is used to distinguish the idea of this paper from the usual way through descriptor-type controllers, which has been extensively developed for these two decades. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for the existence of a strictly proper state-space output feedback controller which makes the closed-loop descriptor system regular, impulse-free, stable, and its H ∞ norm less than a specified value. The condition is expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and their solutions give coefficient matrices of the state-space H ∞ controllers.

This article presents a hybrid evolutionary algorithm (HEA) based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a real-coded genetic algorithm (GA). In the HEA, PSO is used to update the solution, and a genetic recombination operator is added to produce offspring individuals based on the parents, which are selected in proportion to their relative fitness. Through the recombination, new offspring enter the population, and individuals with poor fitness are eliminated. The performance of the proposed hybrid algorithm is compared with those of the original PSO and GA, and the impact of the recombination probability on the performance of the HEA is also analyzed. Various simulations of multivariable functions and neural network optimizations are carried out, showing that the proposed approach gives a superior performance to the canonical means, as well as a good balance between exploration and exploitation.

This paper presents an online adaptive control method for nonlinear systems using evolutionary algorithms (EAs). A general framework of constructing an EA-based online control system that processes problems continuously is first introduced with focus on handling external disturbance adaptively. In order to verify the method, a neural network controller and genetic algorithm, which have emerged as the most popular and successful techniques in computational intelligence, are employed as an example of the method. Two nonholonomic systems are considered, one being a wheeled mobile robot and the other rotary crane system. To emphasize the advantage of the proposed approach, strong and sudden disturbances are used in these tests. Simulations show that the method works effectively to control the perturbed systems to the desired states. © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Recently, computational intelligence has been applied extensively in control engineering, especially for systems that cannot easily be controlled by conventional means. In this article, attention is paid to the control of a three-DOF planar underactuated manipulator, also known as the three-link gymnastic robot, by utilizing a neural network (NN) and a genetic algorithm (GA). In an attempt to make the problem more analogous to human gymnastics, constraints are applied to the joint angles. With different swing-up timings, the performance of the proposed controller is investigated and control simulations are performed. Numerical simulations show that the neurocontroller is able to control the system effectively within the constraints and given timings.

We present a control method for a 3-DOF acrobot which is a model of a gymnast on a horizontal bar with three links, two active joints, and a passive joint. This robot is a nonholonomic and underactuated system. We propose two control methods for the 3-DOF acrobot. First, swing-up control is performed by genetic programming (GP), and stabilizing control is handled by a linear quadratic regulator (LQR). GP can search widely for the optimum input torques for swing-up so that the acrobot is able to reach a near balancing point. The LQR is then switched on to stabilize the system. In the simulation results, the 3-DOF acrobot could swing up to the desired position, and the proposed method could control the acrobot effectively.

This paper focuses on two control methods which are constructed based on neurocontroller (NC) and genetic algorithm (GA) for the Acrobot. A switching controller is first introduced where an NC opti...

This article considers intelligent control for a class of nonholonomic systems using a neurocontroller (NC) and a genetic algorithm (GA). First, we introduce the design of the NC with use of the GA, and then we apply the NC to control two typical examples of nonholonomic systems: a hopping robot in the flight phase and a four-wheel vehicle. In order to verify the effectiveness of the control system, the performance of the NC is investigated and also compared to that of the so-called direct gradient descent control (DGDC) approach, which is able to utilize a GA with the same examples in the comparison. Simulations show that the NC could achieve a competitive performance and control the nonholonomic systems effectively. Furthermore, the use of the NN and GA provide a straightforward solution for the problem without the need of the chained form conversion.

Image restoration based on Bayesian estimation in most previous studies has assumed that the noise accumulated in an image was independent for each pixel. However, when we take optical effects into account, it is reasonable to expect spatial correlation in the superimposed noise. In this paper, we discuss the restoration of images distorted by noise which is spatially correlated with translational symmetry in the realm of probabilistic processing. First, we assume that the original image can be produced by a Gaussian model based on only a nearest-neighbor effect and that the noise superimposed at each pixel is produced by a Gaussian model having spatial correlation characterized by translational symmetry. With this model, we can use Fourier transformation to calculate system characteristics such as the restoration error and also minimize the restoration error when the hyperparameters of the probabilistic model used in the restoration process coincides with those used in the formation process. We also discuss the characteristics of image restoration distorted by spatially correlated noise using a natural image. In addition, we estimate the hyperparameters using the maximum marginal likelihood and restore an image distorted by spatially correlated noise to evaluate this method of image restoration.

The air temperature distribution was measured, and the thermal environment was studied in August (summer season) in an urban area of approximately 10 km × 15 km in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. We introduced a new index to evaluate the thermal condition. Combining the newly introduced index with other indices enabled us to show the thermal conditions in more detail. The inland thermal conditions were milder than those in the coastal areas when the air temperature was lower than 30 °C. In contrast, the inland thermal conditions were more severe than those in the coastal areas when the air temperature was higher than 30 °C. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society

A precipitation data set collected on a 0.5-mm precipitation basis was studied. This made it possible to discern the temporal variation of component concentration in the precipitation event in detail. The parameters analyzed in this study were pH (i.e., H + concentration), electric conductivity (EC), and SO 4 2− and NO 3 − concentrations. The H + concentration was significantly correlated with NO 3 − concentration, rather than SO 4 2− concentration. On the other hand, the EC was more correlated with SO 4 2− concentration than NO 3 − concentration. Furthermore, the temporal variation of precipitation SO 4 2− and NO 3 − concentration in the longest precipitation event in one year corresponds more to that of suspended particulate matter concentration, than to SO 2 and NO x (=NO + NO 2 ) concentrations in the atmosphere. These findings strongly indicate that the acidification of precipitation was deeply related to acidic NO 3 − -bearing compounds while the precipitation pollution was profoundly related to SO 4 2− -bearing compounds, including sea salt particles which produce sea salt (ss-) SO 4 2− .

The air temperatures in August (summer) and December (winter) were measured in an approximately 20 × 10-km coastal area in the Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, in order to study the spatial distribution of the air temperature. The air temperature was measured by using naturally ventilated thermometer shelters installed in elementary schools. The characteristic air temperature distribution was observed to be dependent on the season. The monthly mean air temperature was the highest in the area that was 2–5 km inland, while the monthly maximum air temperature was the highest in the area farthest inland in August. In contrast, the monthly mean, maximum, and minimum air temperatures were higher in the east than in the west. Taking the seasonal wind direction into account, the seasonal distribution of the air temperature was accurately assessed. The wind, especially the land and sea breeze, plays an important role in the distribution of the air temperature.

The purpose of this paper is to derive conditions for absolute stability as well as existence of solutions for multivariable Lur'e-type feedback systems whose linear part is expressed by a descriptor system. The nonlinearities are uncertain and satisfy multivariable sector conditions, or a part of the nonlinearities satisfies a norm bounded condition. Thus, the systems can be refered to as multivariable Lur'e-type descriptor systems. In the existing works on Lur'e-type descriptor systems, the nonlinearities were assumed to be smooth or given as a set of single-variable scalar functions, while in this paper, the smoothness assumption is relaxed and multivariable vector-valued nonlinearities are considered. The obtained stability conditions are described in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which are extensions of the authors’ previous results on extended Popov criteria for multivariable Lur'e systems whose linear part is expressed by a state-space equation.

The trends and variations in air temperature from 1987 to 2004 correlated with land use patterns in urban areas of Japan were studied in terms of urban heat islands. The air temperatures seemed to show an increasing trend; however, the differences were statistically insignificant due to the large variation and short survey period. The large increase rate of the air temperature was observed in the spring. The increasing rate of the air temperature at nighttime was larger than that during the daytime. The land use pattern was analysed using land use data prepared by the National Land Agency of Japan, and changes in land use were numerically explained by applying the thermal property parameter (c−1ρ−1κ−1/2). The relationship between the air temperature variation after sunset and the thermal property parameter was examined, and the air temperature variation after sunset was accounted for by the thermal property parameter. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society

In an attempt to enhance the performance of neural network (NN), we propose a sinusoidal activation function for NN and apply a fast genetic algorithm (GA) with uses of momentum offspring (MOS) and constant-range mutation (CRM) for training the NN. The proposed methods are aimed at designing a neurocontroller (NC) for regulating a two-wheel vehicle system, known as nonholonomic system, in the viewpoint that it is necessary to improve the control process of the system even though several control methods, including applications of NN and GAs, have been developed. The learning performances of NCs are evaluated through the successful evolutionary rates of the control process based on the values of the squared errors. In order to compare the conventional methods with our proposed approaches and verify the effects of momentum GA on NC training, various numerical simulations will be carried out with different numbers of generations in GAs and different activation functions of NCs. Finally, the controllability of NC is investigated with certain sets of initial states. The simulations show that sinusoidal NC trained by momentum GA has a good performance regardless of the small values of population size and generations in GA. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Descriptor equations have much more flexibility in describing nonlinear systems than state equations. In this paper, based on the Lyapunov's direct method, stability conditions are developed for nonlinear descriptor systems. An existence condition of solutions of descriptor equations is also derived. The results remove the differentiability assumptions on nonlinearities in descriptor equations, which are required in the existing works. As an application of the conditions, stability analysis of a Lur'e-type feedback system whose linear part has a direct path is considered by using a descriptor expression.

The vertical atmospheric structure was studied and evaluated based on the distribution and variation of the air temperature in an urban area in Japan. A difference was observed in the annual mean diurnal variation of the air temperature between the urban site and a suburban site. The maximum and minimum temperatures were 1.64 ∘ C at 1:00 and 1.17 ∘ C at 15:00, respectively, resulting in an estimated intrinsic heat island intensity of 0.47 ( = 1.64 – 1.17 ) ∘ C . The height of the temperature inversion layer was approximately 90 m above the ground, based on the intrinsic heat island intensity in an area where no vertical air temperature was available. The temporal variations of the methane concentrations in ambient air and the contribution of automobile emissions were estimated and well accounted for by the postulated temperature inversion layer.

Background and purpose Movement artifact during lung CT can degrade image quality and, particularly in the case of computer aided diagnosis, make diagnosis inaccurate. In this study, diaphragmatic movement during full arrested inspiration in lung CT was evaluated to identify the optimum time after commencement of breath holding for image acquisition. Methods For analysis two lung areas were used in this study. These areas, on two images from different time periods after breath holding on the same slice, were evaluated in 47 patients. Results In approximately 74% of the patients 1s after commencement of breath holding diaphragm motion was noted to be in the cranial direction. A comparison of the lung areas after 30s and those after 1s and 4s showed significant differences. Those after 7s showed no significant difference. Conclusions The results show that the lung base should be scanned at 7s from the commencement of breath holding. Also, the lungs should also be scanned from the base to apex.

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that for nonlinear systems, analysis and synthesis methods based on descriptor equations must be developed. First, two illustrative examples show that descriptor equations are superior to state-space equations in representing nonlinear systems as models for analysis and synthesis. Then, a new stability condition for nonlinear descriptor systems is derived on the basis of Liapunov function method. As an application of the method, an LMI condition is obtained for the stability of Lur'e-type feedback systems whose linear parts include direct paths.

An impressive and efficient improvement in the classical scale-space analysis was proposed by Perona and Malik (1990) where they describe the diffusion process known as the Perona-Malik (PM) equation. Despite the illposed nature of the PM equation, many of its applications could be carried with success in the signal processing field. On the other hand Weickert and Benamouda (1997) proved the regularization of the PM equation describing and analyzing a model on a semidiscrete system. In this article we present a regularized model of the PM diffusion equation for image segmentation. We start from the hypothesis of well-posedness in the discrete space and the stability conditions. We show two methods for automatic setting of the gradient threshold k, which is changed for each iteration of the partial differential equation (PDE) integration steps. Experimental segmentations are implemented for noise reduction of generic digital images and for segmentation of microcalcifications on X-ray biomedical images.

BACKGROUND Reclining in the right lateral decubitus position in chronic heart failure (CHF) is a self-protective mechanism for normalizing impaired cardiac autonomic nervous activity (CANA). HYPOTHESIS Candesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, exerts beneficial effects on CANA and postural preferences in patients with CHF. METHODS We studied 15 patients with CHF due to coronary artery disease. Cardiac autonomic nervous activity was assessed using spectral heart rate variability (HRV) analysis based on 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring before and after an 8-week treatment with candesartan. The patients' posture was simultaneously recorded using a specially devised detector, as the right (R) or left (L) lateral decubitus or supine (S) positions, to evaluate postural modulations of CANA. Normalized high-frequency (0.15 to 0.40 Hz) power (nHF) and the low-frequency (0.04 to 0.15 Hz)/high-frequency power ratio (LF/HF) were used as indices of vagal activity and sympathovagal balance, respectively. RESULTS When HRV was analyzed in each position, CANA was changed in L and S, but not in R, from sympathetic to parasympathetic prevalence by the treatment (R, nHF, 50 +/- 20 vs. 52 +/- 19 nu, p = 0.87; LF/HF, 1.39 +/- 1.11 vs. 1.32 +/- 1.32, p =0.93; L, nHF, 28 +/- 13 vs. 47 +/- 19 nu, p = 0.019; LF/HF, 3.34 +/- 2.48 vs. 1.56 +/- 1.39, p = 0.029; S, nHF, 38 +/- 17 vs. 53 +/- 16 nu, p = 0.0023; LF/HF, 2.43 +/- 2.21 vs. 1.03 +/- 0.59, p = 0.025). The fractions of the time in R and L were decreased and increased, respectively, by the treatment (R, 40 +/- 30 vs. 18 +/- 24%, p = 0.0018; L, 11 +/- 20 vs. 27 +/- 26%, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS In patients with CHF, candesartan treatment improves cardiac autonomic balance, and the preference for the right lateral decubitus position disappears after the treatment.

This paper deals with a new method of three dimensional reconstruction of coronary arteries, by using the texture-mapping technique on a myocardial nuclear image. The bi-plane CAG images are texture-mapped onto a LV surface model which is pre-determined on a nuclear 3D image. By maximizing a matching degree between two mapped CAG images, registration between CAG and nuclear image is performed automatically. By taking only true images from the mapped CAG images, we can obtain 3D reconstructed coronary image on the LV surface model. This method has the great advantage that it is not necessary to extract the feature points, nor is there a need to identify the correspondence. The obtained images give us a clear understanding of the relation between the coronary artery and the function of the myocardium.