***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Praziquantel , a new antischistosomal compound , was tested for tolerance and efficacy against placebo in two double-blind clinical trials in Philippine patients infected with Schistosoma japonicum . The compound was given orally at a dose of 3 x 20 mg/kg at intervals of 4 hours to a total of 82 patients -some without advanced disease and some with hepatosplenic involvement . A total of 43 patients received placebo .  In a single-blind trial , 42 patients were given a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg . Monitoring of vital organ functions included comprehensive laboratory tests and serial electrocardiograms . In 38 patients with hepatosplenic involvement due to advanced stages of infection , serial electroencephalograms were additionally recorded . No toxic effects were observed in any of these examinations . Undesirable side effects occurred in 53 % of the patients given 3 x 20 mg/kg and in 70 % after a dose of 1 x 50 mg/kg . They consisted mainly of abdominal discomfort , fever , sweating , and occasionally giddiness , but in general were transient and mild . At 6 months post-treatment , 60 of 75 patients treated with 3 x 20 mg/kg and 29 of 41 treated with 1 x 50 mg/kg were completely negative for eggs . At 12 months post-treatment , 25 of 33 and 14 of 26 patients in the two treatment groups were cured . Thus the divided dosage gave a superior therapeutic result . Praziquantel proved to be free of major toxicity , and was well tolerated , highly effective , and easy to administer . Confirmation of results in extended trials may soon permit large-scale treatment The first clinical trials of praziquantel against Schistosoma japonicum infections in Japan were planned to assess tolerance only . Three double-blind studies against placebo involving a total of 51 patients were conducted with dosages of praziquantel of 1 x 20 mg/kg body weight , 2 x 20 mg/kg , 3 x 20 mg/kg given on one day . The frequency of unwanted side effects was higher in the group of patients given praziquantel at a dose of 3 x 20 mg/kg than in all other drug- or placebo-treated patients . In general , the side effects , which included drowsiness , headache , lumbago , abdominal fullness , or epigastric discomfort , lasted for several hours but disappeared spontaneously . The results of laboratory tests showed no significant changes caused by treatment . The overall assessment showed excellent or good tolerance in all patients treated with  praziquantel  at the lower dose levels . In those given 3 x 20 mg/kg , tolerance was excellent in 1 of 12 patients , good in 9 , and fair in 2 , whereas the respective placebo-treated group showed excellent tolerance in 3 of 12 , good in 7 , and fair in 2 The combined effects of praziquantel and artesunate in the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis were assessed among 312 r and omly selected schoolchildren aged 4 - 20 years in Adim community , Nigeria . In the preliminary screening , infection was confirmed in 327 ( 38.5 % ) of the 850 subjects screened . Infected subjects who reported for treatment were then divided into six treatment groups of 52 subjects each ; 44 subjects in each group completed their treatment regimens and su bmi tted their urine for post-treatment assessment . Praziquantel and artesunate were administered orally at 40 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg body weight , respectively . Adverse effects due to drug reactions were assessed 72 h after medication and all perceived episodes of illness were treated . Morbidity indicators were assessed 56 days after the final dose of the drug regimens . All treatment regimens were well tolerated . The cure rates were 72.7 % in the praziquantel plus placebo-treated group and 70.5 % in the artesunate plus placebo group , while the artesunate plus praziquantel group had the highest cure rate ( 88.6 % ) . Haematuria and proteinuria were extensively reduced after treatment with the three drug regimens . This study confirmed that the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis with the combination of praziquantel and artesunate is safe and more effective than treatment with either drug alone 
    Output:
    
According to the results , there is no statistically significant difference in different doses of PZQ for treating S. japonicum