1. Second Department of Internal Medicine (J.A., M.I., Y. Nabeshima, T.O., Y.T., M.A., Y.O., M.K.)
2. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan (A.H.).
3. Departments of Clinical Laboratory (T.T.), Miyazaki Medical Association Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
4. Cardiology (S.N., T.K., Y.S.), Miyazaki Medical Association Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
5. Cardiovascular Surgery (M.Y.), Miyazaki Medical Association Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
6. Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan (N.W.).
7. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Y. Nishimura).