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The present study examines the most common home remedies in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy currently used in the treatment of pediatric enterobiasis, commonly known as pinworm infection. The remedies in question, typically based on popular beliefs and as such are nearly useless, were noted through interviews with subjects who had come to the local Hygiene and Public Health Services offices for information about pinworm prevention and treatment. Analysis of replies by the subjects clearly indicates that local families are ill-prepared to recognize the symptoms this parasitic infection; often it is confused with pediatric ketosis, therefore leading to inappropriate treatment which at times may be potentially harmful to the patient.

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DAAS is the diacetoxy acetal derivative of a-santonin and induces HL-60 cell differentiation into granulocytes. In this report, we investigated the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of DAAS derivatives in the differentiation of human HL-60 leukemia cells. Although its derivatives themselves had less effect on HL-60 cell differentiation than DAAS, the monoacetyl derivative, 2, mainly induced HL-60 cell differentiation. Moreover, compound 2 synergistically enhanced all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced HL-60 cell differentiation when combined with 50 nM ATRA, a well-known differentiation inducer. This enhancing effect is similar to that of DAAS in ATRA-induced differentiation.

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Santonin, a sesquiterpene lactone, commonly found in the plants of the family Compositae was found to show significant antiinflammatory activity on acute inflammatory processes. The activity profile of santonin closely resembled that of a standard non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, diclofenac sodium. It also showed a significant inhibitory effect on granuloma formation; however, this effect of santonin was less pronounced as compared to diclofenac sodium. Santonin caused a significant antipyretic effect in mice, which was found to be independent of the route of administration of the drug. It also increased the hot plate reaction time of treated mice, similar to morphine.

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Treatment of buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) at different times after birth demonstrated that transmission of Toxocara vitulorum from the cow to the calf via milk occurs in all calves during the first 2 days after birth, decreases to 53% by 6 days, 10% by 8-9 days and 2% from Day 10 onwards. This may be because the larvae are no longer in the milk or because the calf has become resistant to the establishment of a new infection. The result also emphasizes the importance of mammary transmission of the parasite. Against immature parasites the efficacy of pyrantel and levamisole was 97%; febantel was 100% on one farm, only 35% on another; piperazine 42% and thiabendazole 35%. Santonin was ineffective in four calves. Against mature parasites the efficacy of pyrantel was 100%; febantel was 100% on one farm, only 35% on another; oral levamisole 83%; cutaneous levamisole 73%; oxfendazole 89%; and piperazine 57%. Nevertheless, piperazine reduced the infection to levels which were probably not pathogenic. In general, the efficacy against mature parasites was similar to that against immature parasites. Treatment of 10-16-day-old calves with an anthelmintic, which is effective against immature parasites, is recommended. This procedure greatly reduces contamination of the environment and also precludes the pathogenic effect of a large number of immature or mature parasites.

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The antipyretic activity of two sesquiterpene lactones, beta-santonin and arsubin, isolated from the lipid fraction of Artemisia coerulescens subsp. gallica was determined in rats along with the activity of alpha-santonin. In its alpha- and beta-forms, santonin caused a decrease in the body temperature of rats made febrile by the subcutaneous injection of beer yeast. This decrease, more pronounced in the case of beta-santonin, was dose-dependent and antagonized by pretreatment with haloperidol, an agent that also opposes the antipyretic activity of dopamine. These findings seem to show that the alpha- and beta-forms of santonin act on rectal temperature in a way similar to dopamine.

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Se estudió a la población escolar de una zona endémica para geohelmintiasis mediante estudios coproparasitoscópicos, utilizando el método de flotación. Se seleccionaron con 200 pacientes que presentaban parasitosis por Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura y uncinaria. En un estudio posterior se valoraron por el método de frotis fecal de Kato Katz, además de realizar tres estudios por el método de raspado anal con cinta de celulosa engomada. Los pacientes se dividieron en cinco grupos y se les administró en una sola dosis: grupo 1, santonina a concentración de 66.6 mg/10 ml; grupo 2, adipato de piperazina a concentración de 1333.2 mg/10 ml, grupo 3, ácido Kaínico a concentración de 6.6 mg/10 ml; grupo 4, combinación de santonina 33.3 mg/10 ml, piperazina 666.6 mg/10 ml y ácido Kaínico 3.3 mg/10 ml, y grupo 5, adipato de piperazina a concentración de 2666.4 mg/10ml. Posterior al tratamiento se practicaron nuevamente los exámenes mencionados a manera de control. Los resultados demostraron que la combinación de ácido Kaínico, piperazina y santonina es mejor en el control de la helmintiasis que los fármacos utilizados en forma independiente

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An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the comparative efficacy of single dose treatment with santonin and piperazine against naturally acquired Neoascaris vitulorum in sixty-two buffalo calves of 20-60 days of age. Santonin was administered orally in doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg/kg body weight to thirteen, eighteen, and sixteen buffalo calves, respectively. As a control, piperazine (88 mg/kg) was given by drench to a group of fifteen infected buffalo calves. Pretreatment and post treatment faecal eggs per gram (EPG) counts were determined by the Stoll's technique. The percentage reductions in EPG counts on the third and seventh days after administration of the two drugs were calculated. The percentage reduction in EPG counts in the piperazine treated group on the third day was 82 +/- 15, 90.2 +/- 3 and 91.3 +/- 2.3% while on the seventh day these values were 88 +/- 16, 97 +/- 3, and 98 +/- 2% in high, moderate and heavy infection calves, respectively. Treatment with santonin at 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight also reduced the EPG counts. The percentage reduction in EPG counts in the calves treated with 15 mg/kg of santonin on the third day was 92.3 +/- 18, 95.8 +/- 7 and 93.5 +/- 4% while on the seventh day these values were 100 +/- 0, 100 +/- 0 and 99.7 +/- 2% in high, moderate and heavily infected calves, respectively. Both piperazine and santonin were associated with some side effects like diarrhoea, restlessness, etc. but their percentage incidence was not significantly different from each other. These findings suggest that santonin in a 15 mg/kg dose has an efficacy similar to piperazine given at the 88 mg/kg dose level for the treatment of ascariasis in buffalo calves.

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