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Biomedical subjects

H Fujiki

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujiki.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

OPC-18790, a novel positive inotropic agent, has both arterial and venous vascular dilating actions in the dog.

OPC-18790, (+/-)6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2- hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone, is a novel positive inotropic agent with a moderate vasodilating action. We examined the vasodilating action of OPC-18790 in detail in the pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs using a colored microsphere technique for resistance vessels and a mean circulatory filling pressure method for capacitance vessels. Intravenously (i.v.) infused OPC-18790 increased the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (LVdP/dt max), cardiac output, heart rate and decreased total peripheral resistance but did not affect mean blood pressure. OPC-18790 significantly increased arterial blood flow distribution to heart and decreased vascular resistance in heart. OPC-18790 at 300 micrograms/kg i.v. and nitroglycerin at 50 micrograms/kg i.v. did not affect mean circulatory filling pressure in intact anesthetized dogs, but both compounds decreased mean circulatory filling pressure in spinally anesthetized dogs. OPC-18790 also decreased resistance to venous return but nitroglycerin did not. These results suggest that OPC-18790 has both arterial and venous vasodilating actions in addition to its positive inotropic action. These actions may produce an improvement of cardiohemodynamics in heart failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A new process of cancer prevention mediated through inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha expression.

Mechanisms of cancer prevention were studied using structurally different cancer-preventive agents, sarcophytol A, canventol, (-)-epigallo-catechin gallate, and tamoxifen, based on our evidence that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) acts as an endogenous tumor promoter relevant to human carcinogenesis. Pretreatment with the four preventive agents commonly inhibited TNF-alpha mRNA expression and TNF-alpha release in BALB/3T3 cells induced by a tumor promoter, okadaic acid, whereas the expression of early response genes (c-jun, junB, c-fos, and fosB) was enhanced. These results strongly suggest that inhibition of TNF-alpha mRNA expression and its release is a new process of cancer prevention.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Superinduction of mouse epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity by repeated 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatments.

A correlation of the levels of epidermal protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, steady state levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA, and ODC antizyme with the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by a second repeat 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment to mouse skin was determined. A single application of TPA to female CD-1 mouse skin leads to a dramatic induction of ODC activity (approximately 3 nmol CO2/60 min/mg protein) which peaks at about 5 h after treatment. However, a superinduction of ODC activity (approximately 13 CO2/60 min/mg protein) is observed upon the second TPA application at 48 or 72 h after the first TPA treatment. Prior application of a tumor initiating dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracine to mouse skin did not influence the degree of induction of ODC by a repeat TPA treatment. Western Blot analyses using antibodies specific to PKC alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon indicate detectable levels of PKC alpha, beta, delta and epsilon in mouse epidermal extracts. A time course of the effects of a single topical application of 20 nmol of TPA to the mouse skin indicate that none of PKC isozymes (alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon) were completely downregulated at times (72 h) when ODC was overinduced by TPA. TPA-induced steady state levels of ODC mRNA did not correlate with the degree of superinduction of ODC activity by TPA. The second TPA treatment, 72 h after the first TPA treatment, which leads to superinduction of ODC activity did not decrease the levels of the ODC-antizyme. The results indicate that superinduction of mouse epidermal ODC activity is regulated in part post-transcriptionally and may not be the result of either a loss of PKC isoform(s) or a decrease in the levels of ODC antizyme.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1996

Designing of chimeric DNA/RNA hammerhead ribozymes to be targeted against AML1/MTG8 mRNA.

For therapeutic purposes, two chimeric DNA/RNA hammerhead ribozymes were synthesized to cleave AML1/MTG8, the t(8;21)-associated fusion mRNA of acute myeloid leukemia. One ribozyme, A/MRZ-1, recognizes the area adjacent to the fusion point between AML1 and MTG8, and cleaves six bases downstream from this point. The other, MRZ-1, recognizes the MTG8 sequence. Both ribozymes cleaved synthetic chimeric DNA/RNA substrates at theoretical sites. Neither cleaved AML1 RNA. A/MRZ-1 cleaved only AML1/MTG8 RNA, and MRZ-1 cleaved both AML1/MTG8 and MTG8 RNAs. The two ribozymes showed growth inhibition of an acute myeloid leukemia cell line carrying t(8;21), SKNO-1 cells. The same extent of growth inhibition was attained by antisense oligonucleotides against AML1/MTG8 RNA. The results suggest that the ribozyme has the potential to be developed as a useful agent for gene therapy, in particular for leukemia with t(8;21).

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1996

In vitro catalytic activities of DNA/RNA chimeric hammerhead ribozymes against AML1-MTG8 mRNA, a fused gene transcript in acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21).

In order to design the best construct for therapeutic hammerhead ribozymes against AML1-MTG8, the t(8;21)-associated fusion mRNA of acute myeloid leukemia, we synthesized DNA/RNA chimeric ribozymes directed to the area adjacent to the fusion point between AML1 and MTG8. Catalytic efficiency and fusion gene specificity of ribozymes were examined by kinetic studies of the cleavage reactions of AML1-MTG8, AML1, and MTG8 RNAs transcribed in vitro. Ribozyme 2 (Rz2) specifically cleaved AML1-MTG8 RNA at three nucleotides downstream of the fusion junction with high efficiency. The highest cleavage efficiency was achieved by Rz4.3, which targeted non-contiguous sequences and cleaved at 19 nucleotides downstream of the fusion junction. Rz4.3 also cleaved MTG8 RNA but the cleavage efficiency was three orders of magnitude lower than that for AML1-MTG8 RNA. Therefore, Rz4.3 and Rz2 are the proper ribozymes for in vivo application to modulate gene expression of the AML1-MTG8.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Anti-cancer effects of morphine through inhibition of tumour necrosis factor-alpha release and mRNA expression.

Morphine is mainly used to relieve pain in the terminal stage of cancer patients. We found that morphine has inhibitory effects on growth of various human cancer cell lines, with IC50 from 2.7 to 8.8 mM, and BALB/3T3 cells, with IC50 of 1.5 mM. Although the IC50 values were relatively high, we decided to study the mechanisms of anti-carcinogenic effects of morphine. Morphine inhibited activation of protein kinase C induced by teleocidin, one of the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumour promoters (IC50, 1 mM). Based on our previous evidence that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) acts as an endogenous tumour promoter on BALB/3T3 cells initiated with 3-methylcholanthrene, we found that morphine dose-dependently inhibited TnF-alpha release from KATO III cells (IC50, 5.6 mM) and also from BALB/3T3 cells (IC50, 1.3 mM) induced by okadaic acid, one of the non-TPA type tumour promoters. Moreover, morphine inhibited expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in BALB/3T3 cells (IC50, 1.6 mM), but not expression of early response genes. Morphine may improve condition of cancer patients by suppression of tumour growth and reduction of amounts of an endogenous tumor promoter, TNF-alpha, in tissues. The high dosage of morphine required to induce anticarcinogenic effects is also discussed.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Anti-tumor promoting activity of canventol and its synthetic analogs through inhibition of protein isoprenylation.

Canventol, a synthetic compound, is a new inhibitor of tumor promotion on mouse skin by okadaic acid. We previously reported that canventol acts by inhibiting both protein isoprenylation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release. In this study we examined the potencies of 10 newly synthesized canventol analogs through their effect on mevalonate metabolism, and then examined 3 representative analogs for inhibition of protein isoprenylation. Since canventol in vitro did not directly inhibit farnesyl protein transferase or geranylgeranyl protein transferase-I, the effects of canventol and its synthetic analogs on the fate of [3H]mevalonate in cells were studied. Canventol at 500 microM changed the ratio of newly synthesized sterols (cholesterol and lathosterol) to ubiquinones from 0.7 to 8.2 in NIH/3T3 cells which had previously been labeled with [3H]mevalonate, suggesting that the altered pattern of mevalonate metabolism is associated with inhibition of protein isoprenylation in the cells. We named this ratio the inhibition of protein isoprenylation index (IPI index). The 10 analogs showed a wide range of IPI indices. Two analogs, S3 and S9 had effects similar to, or stronger than, canventol. Three analogs, C44, C46 and C47, with lower IPI indices, inhibited tumor promotion on mouse skin slightly less than canventol itself did. This study shows that inhibition of protein isoprenylation in the cells, indicated by an increase in the IPI index, is a new biomarker for estimating inhibition of tumor promotion.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Contact analysis of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene articular plate in artificial knee joint during gait movement.

To understand the wear mechanism of the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) articular plate used in artificial knee joints, the cyclic contact behavior of the plate during gait movement was analyzed using the constitutive equation for cyclic plasticity. In this study, two-dimensional plane strain model was employed and the contact behavior of femoral and tibial components was simulated by translating the contact stress distribution which was calculated from elasto-plastic indentation analysis of two components. For analytical model, the anatomical type artificial knee joint was employed and the effect of the shape of contact surface on the wear behavior of the plate was investigated. As a result, it was clarified that the wear of the plate should occur both from the surface and the subsurface of the plate and the wear behavior of the plate should be closely related with the shape of contact surface. Then the optimum shape of contact surface could be designed using this method.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

Effects of toborinone (OPC-18790), a new positive inotropic agent, on action potential in guinea pig sinoatrial node: compared with milrinone and E-4031.

The effects of toborinone ([(+/-)-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2 (1H)-quinolinone], OPC-18790), milrinone and E-4031 (1-(2-(6-methyl-2-pyridil)-1-ethyl)-4-(4-methanesulfonyl-amino-1-b enzoyl) piperidine dihydrochloride) on membrane potential were examined in isolated guinea pig sinoatrial node preparations. Toborinone, a new positive inotropic agent, prolonged cycle length (CL), depolarized maximum diastolic potential (MDP) and decreased maximum upstroke velocity (Vmax) and action potential amplitude (APA). On the other hand, milrinone, a peak III phosphodiesterase (PDE III) inhibitor, increased Vmax and APA and shortened CL and action potential duration. E-4031, an IK blocker, prolonged CL, depolarized MDP and decreased Vmax and APA. These results suggest that toborinone modulates the action potential like an IK blocker rather than a PDE III inhibitor in a sinoatrial node.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of toborinone and its electrophysiological properties in the isolated hearts of rabbits and guinea-pigs.

The inotropic and chronotropic actions of toborinone ((+/-)-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxy-propoxy]-2(1H)-qu inolinone CAS 128667-95-8, OPC-18790) in the isolated right atrial and papillary muscles of rabbit and guinea-pig were examined and compared with those of milrinone (CAS 78415-72-2), a pure cyclic GMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase inhibitor. OPC-18790 (10(-7)-10(-4) mol/l) and milrinone (10(-3)-10(-4) mol/l) exerted concentration-dependent increases of contraction in both atrial and papillary muscles isolated from rabbits and guinea-pigs. In the isolated right atrium of rabbits and guinea-pigs, OPC-18790 showed limited increase in heart rate, while milrinone increased heart rate concentration-dependently. OPC-18790 (10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/l in guinea-pigs and 10(-7)-10(-4) mol/l in rabbits) prolonged the action potential duration in the isolated papillary muscles, while milrinone exerted no such change. In whole-cell voltage clamp experiments using isolated cardiac myocytes of guinea-pigs, OPC-18790(10(-5) mol/l) increased the L-type calcium current and inhibited outward potassium currents such as inward rectifying currents and delayed rectifier currents. OPC-18790 and milrinone (10(-6), 3 x 10(-5) mol/l) increased intracellular cyclic AMP levels with an increase in developed tension in isolated right ventricular muscles of guinea-pigs. From the above results, OPC-18790 was shown to be a positive inotropic agent with limited chronotropic effect and electrophysiologically properties different from those of milrinone. It was suggested that the prolongation of action potential duration, which is due to the inhibition of potassium currents, may be involved in OPC-18790's mechanism of positive inotropic action with limited chronotropic effect in addition to the inhibition of cyclic GMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Effects of toborinone on myocardial oxygen consumption in pacing-induced heart failure dogs.

The effects of a novel positive inotropic agent, toborinone ((+/-)-1-[3,4-dimethoxy-benzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone , CAS 128667-95-8, OPC-18790, on myocardial oxygen consumption were examined in pacing-induced heart failure dogs. Ten dogs were ventricularly paced at 260 beats/min for 10 days to induce heart failure. Five of them were controls and the remaining five were given toborinone. Dogs were anesthetized with halothane, and cardiac functions, hemodynamics and myocardial oxygen consumption were measured. The peak of the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dtmax), cardiac output (CO) and mean blood pressure (mBP) were significantly decreased, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), mean right atrial pressure (mRAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) were also significantly increased after 10 days of rapid ventricular pacing. Toborinone (5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min) dose-dependently increased LV dP/dtmax, coronary blood flow (CBF) and CO and decreased LVEDP and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption in the pacing-induced heart failure dogs. These results suggest that toborinone may be useful for the management of chronic and congestive heart failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced carcinogenesis by (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in the rat glandular stomach.

Recently, an epidemiological study showed a lower risk of gastric cancer among people who consume a large amount of green tea. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the main constituents of green tea, inhibited tumor promotion by teleocidin in a two-stage carcinogenesis experiment with the use of mouse skin. The inhibitory effect of EGCG on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced carcinogenesis of the glandular stomach in rats was examined. The percentage of tumor-bearing rats in the group treated with MNNG plus EGCG was 31%, compared to 62% in the MNNG group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). To assess the effect of p.o. administration of EGCG, the gastric mucosal cellular kinetics was examined with the use of the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and tissue polyamine levels. The labeling index of the EGCG treatment group decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the EGCG plus MNNG treatment group. The ornithine decarboxylase activity and tissue spermidine levels were also decreased. On the other hand, the tissue putrescine and spermine levels were partly increased. These findings suggest that EGCG inhibits the cellular kinetics of the gastric mucosa during the promotion stage of MNNG-induced gastric carcinogenesis. EGCG may be useful in preventing gastric carcinogenesis. Moreover, EGCG may be applied clinically without any harmful effects and at a low cost.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Tautomycin: an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A but not a tumor promoter on mouse skin and in rat glandular stomach.

Tautomycin isolated from Streptomyces spiroverticillatus is an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. Tautomycin induced hyperphosphorylation of cytokeratin peptides in human keratinocytes (PHK 16-I cells) 30 times less strongly than did okadaic acid. Repeated applications of tautomycin (30 micrograms, 40 nmol/application) did not induce tumor promotion in a two-stage carcinogenesis experiment on mouse skin initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, whereas okadaic acid (1 microgram, 1.2 nmol/application) as a control induced tumor promotion strongly. As for mucosa of rat glandular stomach, tautomycin induced ornithine decarboxylase 4 h after intubation into the stomach. The tumor-promoting activity of tautomycin was next studied in the glandular stomach initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Administration of tautomycin in the diet (1 mg rat-1 day-1), from week 9 to week 52 of the experiment, inhibited rather than enhanced tumor development in the glandular stomach initiated with MNNG. The percentages of tumor-bearing rats of the groups treated with MNNG plus tautomycin, MNNG alone, and tautomycin alone were 20.0%, 40.6%, and 0% respectively in week 52. The reason for the absence of tumor-promoting activity of tautomycin was studied in relation to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), an endogenous tumor promoter. We found that tautomycin neither enhanced TNF alpha mRNA expression in mouse skin nor induced TNF alpha release in a human stomach cancer cell line (KATO III cells), whereas okadaic acid did both. These results indicate that not all inhibitors of protein phosphatases are tumor promoters, and suggest that tumor promotion of the okadaic acid class of compounds is mediated by TNF alpha.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Activation of protein kinase C by mycobacterial cord factor, trehalose 6-monomycolate, resulting in tumor necrosis factor-alpha release in mouse lung tissues.

Cord factors are mycoloyl glycolipids in cell walls of bacteria belonging to Actinomycetales, such as Mycobacterium, Nocardia and Rhodococcus. They induce granuloma formation in the lung and interstitial pneumonitis, associated with production of macrophage-derived cytokines. We studied how cord factors induce biological activities in the cells. Cord factors isolated from M. tuberculosis, trehalose 6-monomycolate (mTMM) and trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (mTDM), enhanced protein kinase C (PKC) activation in the presence of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), diacylglycerol and Ca2+, and mTMM activated PKC alpha more strongly than PKC beta or gamma under the same assay conditions. Kinetic studies of mTMM in response to PKC activation revealed that mTMM increased the apparent affinity of PKC to Ca2+ in the presence of both PtdSer and diolein. Although this is similar to observations with unsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, mTMM was synergistic with PtdSer for PKC activation, but arachidonic acid was not. mTMM was also different as regards PKC activation, as phorbol ester was. A single i.p. administration of mTMM to mouse induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum and in the lung, which is a unique target tissue of cord factors. Based on our recent finding that TNF-alpha is an endogenous tumor promoter, the correlation between lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cardiovascular effects of the combination of OPC-18790 and dopamine in halothane-anesthetized dogs.

OPC-18790, (+/-)-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-quin olinone, is a novel positive inotropic agent, and its mechanism of positive inotropic action involves not only phosphodiesterase inhibition, but also a prolongation of action potential duration in ventricular muscle. Prolongation of action potential duration is also a property of class III antiarrhythmic agents; therefore, we examined the cardiohemodynamic effects and arrhythmogenicity of a combination of OPC-18790 and dopamine in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Dopamine (5 micrograms/kg/min) alone increased the peak of the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (LVdP/dtmax) and cardiac output (CO) by 43-48% and 16-20%, respectively, while OPC-18790 (10 micrograms/kg/min) increased these parameters by 56% and 22%, respectively. The combination of OPC-18790 (10 micrograms/kg/min) and dopamine (5 micrograms/kg/min) and dopamine alone at an increased dose of 10 micrograms/kg/min further increased LVdP/dtmax and CO by 104-113% and 29-30%, respectively. Thus, positive inotropic effects were equally observed in both groups, and the effects of OPC-18790 and dopamine seemed to be additive. The other hemodynamic effects were similar among all groups. Arrhythmias such as premature ventricular contraction developed in 5 out of 7 dogs (71.4%) in the 10-micrograms/kg/min dopamine group, while only one premature ventricular contraction was observed in 1 of 7 dogs (14.3%) in the OPC-18790 (10 micrograms/kg/min) and dopamine (5 micrograms/kg/min) combination group. These results suggest that the combination of OPC-18790 and dopamine may provide new therapeutic options for the treatment of heart failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of OPC-18790, a new positive inotropic agent, on energetics in the ischaemic canine heart: a 31P-MRS study.

OBJECTIVE: Effects of OPC-18790, a novel positive inotropic agent, on cardiohaemodynamics and cardiac energetics were assessed simultaneously in dogs with cardiac ischaemia using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) and compared with those of amrinone, a pure cGMP-inhibited PDE inhibitor. METHODS: Cardiac ischaemia was produced by partial stenosis of the coronary artery. Dogs with cardiac ischaemia were instrumented for the determination of regional coronary blood flow (non-radioactive coloured microsphere method), regional contractile function (sonomicrometry), and haemodynamics. Myocardial phosphate compounds were measured simultaneously by 31P-MRS. RESULTS: Coronary stenosis produced regional dyskinesis, a slight decrease in cardiac output (CO), intracellular acidosis, an increase in the inorganic phosphate (Pi)/creatine phosphate (PCr) ratio concomitantly with a decrease in regional coronary blood flow (CBF) in the ischaemic region. OPC-18790 dose-dependently produced an increase in contractility (measured by peak LVdP/dt) and CO, with only slight changes in heart rate (HR) and mean blood pressure (mBP). OPC-18790 did not change regional dyskinesis, but improved the Pi/PCr ratio at the high dose compared with ischaemic values (before drug administration). Amrinone produced an increase in CO comparable to that of OPC-18790; however, the increase in peak LVdP/dt was smaller while the increase in HR and decrease in mBP were larger than those seen with OPC-18790. Amrinone worsened the Pi/PCr ratio and intracellular acidosis only at the high dose. CONCLUSION: These observed differences in energy metabolism between OPC-18790 and amrinone at the high dose may be due to the ability of OPC-18790 to increase CBF in the ischaemic region and which may attributed to its differing effect on overall haemodynamics. Thus, OPC-18790 may be useful in the management of ischaemic heart failure.

Amrinone↗
PubMed1994

Nodularin, a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, is a new environmental carcinogen in male F344 rat liver.

Nodularin and microcystin-LR are cyanobacterial toxins and environmental hazards. Nodularin inhibits protein phosphatases 1 and 2A with the same potency as does microcystin-LR, which has recently been identified as a potent tumor promoter in rat liver. Our results suggested that nodularin is also a new tumor promoter in rat liver. A two-stage carcinogenesis experiment in rat liver initiated with diethylnitrosamine and without partial hepatectomy revealed that nodularin stimulated glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci in rat liver more effectively than did microcystin-LR, and that nodularin alone induced glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci as well as did diethylnitrosamine alone. Thus, nodularin itself is a new liver carcinogen, and microcystin-LR is a tumor promoter rather than a carcinogen. Nodularin induced hyperphosphorylation of cytokeratin peptides 8 and 18 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes 20% more effectively than did microcystin-LR, suggesting that nodularin penetrates more easily into the hepatocytes than does microcystin-LR. Nodularin up-regulated induction of c-jun, jun-B,jun-D,c-fos,fos-B, and fra-1 mRNA transcripts in rat liver after i.p. administration, and the accumulation of the mRNA transcripts was sustained for over 9 h after treatment. The environmental hazards of cyanobacterial toxins are discussed in relation to human primary liver cancer in Qidong county in the People's Republic of China. Our results support this hypothesis and indicate the need for prevention measures against cyanobacterial toxins.

Animals↗