The Pharmacodynamic-Toxicodynamic Relationship of AUC and Cmax in Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury in an Animal Model.

Vancomycin induces exposure-related acute kidney injury. However, the pharmacokinetic-toxicodynamic (PK-TD) relationship remains unclear. Sprague-Dawley rats received intravenous (i.v.) vancomycin doses of 300 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day, divided into once-, twice-, three-times-, or four-times-daily doses (i.e., QD, BID, TID, or QID) over 24 h. Up to 8 samples plus a terminal sample were drawn during the 24-h dosing period. Twenty-four-hour urine was collected and assayed for kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Vancomycin was quantified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Following terminal sampling, nephrectomy and histopathologic analyses were conducted. PK analyses were conducted using Pmetrics. PK exposures (i.e., area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC0-24] and maximum concentration from 0 to 24 h [Cmax0-24]) were calculated for each rat, and PK-TD relationships were discerned. A total of 53-rats generated PK-TD data. A 2-compartment model fit the data well (Bayesian observed versus predicted concentrations; R2 = 0.96). KIM-1 values were greater in QD and BID groups (P for QD versus TID, <0.002; P for QD versus QID, <0.004; P for BID versus TID, <0.002; and P for BID versus QID, <0.004). Exposure-response relationships were observed between KIM-1 versus Cmax0-24 and AUC0-24 (R2 = 0.7 and 0.68). Corrected Akaike's information criterion showed Cmax0-24 as the most predictive PK-TD driver for vancomycin-induced kidney injury (VIKI) (-5.28 versus -1.95). While PK-TD indices are often intercorrelated, maximal concentrations and fewer doses (for the same total daily amount) resulted in increased VIKI in our rat model.

Of Rats and Men: a Translational Model To Understand Vancomycin Pharmacokinetic/Toxicodynamic Relationships.

Vancomycin area under the concentration curve (AUC) is known to predict vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Data were analyzed from a rat model (n = 48) and two prospective clinical studies (PROVIDE [n = 263] and CAMERA2 [n = 291]). A logit-link model was used to calculate the multiplicative factors between the probability of AKI from clinical studies and in the rat. The rat was 2.7 to 4.2 times more sensitive to AKI between AUCs of 199.5 and 794.3 mg·h/liter, respectively.

Lack of synergistic nephrotoxicity between vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam in a rat model and a confirmatory cellular model.

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam are reported in clinical studies to increase acute kidney injury (AKI). However, no clinical study has demonstrated synergistic toxicity, only that serum creatinine increases. OBJECTIVES: To clarify the potential for synergistic toxicity between vancomycin, piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam treatments by quantifying kidney injury in a translational rat model of AKI and using cell studies. METHODS: (i) Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) received saline, vancomycin 150 mg/kg/day intravenously, piperacillin/tazobactam 1400 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally or vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam for 3 days. Urinary biomarkers and histopathology were analysed. (ii) Cellular injury was assessed in NRK-52E cells using alamarBlue®. RESULTS: Urinary output increased from Day -1 to Day 1 with vancomycin but only after Day 2 for vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam-treated rats. Plasma creatinine was elevated from baseline with vancomycin by Day 2 and only by Day 4 for vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam. Urinary KIM-1 and clusterin were increased with vancomycin from Day 1 versus controls (P < 0.001) and only on Day 3 with vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam (P < 0.001, KIM-1; P < 0.05, clusterin). The histopathology injury score was elevated only in the vancomycin group when compared with piperacillin/tazobactam as a control (P = 0.04) and generally not so with vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam. In NRK-52E cells, vancomycin induced cell death with high doses (IC50 48.76 mg/mL) but piperacillin/tazobactam did not, and vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam was similar to vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS: All groups treated with vancomycin demonstrated AKI; however, vancomycin + piperacillin/tazobactam was not worse than vancomycin. Histopathology suggested that piperacillin/tazobactam did not worsen vancomycin-induced AKI and may even be protective.

Evaluation of Fetal and Maternal Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury during Pregnancy in a Rat Model.

Previous literature suggests that maternal vancomycin crosses the placental barrier to the fetus. Further, early animal studies indicated that kidney injury was not observed in the progeny. These studies were conducted prior to the availability of sensitive biomarkers for kidney injury. Therefore, a previous finding of no renal damage to the infant may be misleading. Vancomycin was administered intravenously to pregnant rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight/day (N = 6 per trimester) on three consecutive gestational days (GD) during trimesters 1, 2, and 3 (T1, T2, and T3, respectively) in three independent cohorts. The dams carried to term and delivered vaginally on GD 21. Kidneys were harvested from dams and pups and homogenized. Samples were prepared by protein precipitation and injected in a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer, and vancomycin was quantified. The kidney tissue homogenate from dams and pups were analyzed for kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). As trimesters progressed, the quantity of vancomycin increased linearly in the kidneys of both rat dams and pups (P < 0.0001 for T1 and T3, P < 0.0001 for T2 and T3, and P < 0.0001 for T3 and T3 control for both rat dams and pups). KIM-1 concentrations in pup kidneys were significantly higher when dams were administered vancomycin in trimesters 1 (P = 0.0001) and 2 (P = 0.0024) than in controls in trimester 3. Data demonstrate persistence of vancomycin in maternal and rat pup kidneys in all three trimesters of pregnancy with associated damage to the kidney, as indicated by expression of KIM-1.

Comparative Performance of Urinary Biomarkers for Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury According to Timeline of Injury.

Urinary biomarkers are superior to serum creatinine for defining onset and extent of kidney injury. This study classifies the temporal predictive ability of biomarkers for vancomycin-induced kidney injury (VIKI) as defined by histopathologic damage. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 125) were randomized to receive 150 to 400 mg/kg of body weight/day vancomycin via once or twice daily intraperitoneal injection over 1, 3, or 6 days. Urine was collected once during the 24 h prior to euthanasia or twice for rats treated for 6 days. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to assess the urinary biomarker performances of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), clusterin, osteopontin (OPN), cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to predict histopathologically defined VIKI (using a national standard pathological assessment scheme from hematoxylin and eosin stained kidneys). Urinary KIM-1, clusterin, and OPN outperformed cystatin C and NGAL with regard to sensitivity and specificity. For the earliest injury, urinary KIM-1 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.662; P < 0.001) and clusterin (AUC, 0.706; P < 0.001) were the most sensitive for predicting even low-level histopathologic damage at 24 h compared to NGAL. KIM-1 and clusterin are the earliest and most sensitive predictors of VIKI. As injury progresses, KIM-1, clusterin, and OPN best define the extent of damage.

Twenty-four hour pharmacokinetic relationships for intravenous vancomycin and novel urinary biomarkers of acute kidney injury in a rat model.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicodynamic (TD) relationship for vancomycin-induced kidney injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received intravenous (iv) vancomycin. Doses ranging from 150 mg/kg/day to 400 mg/kg/day were administered as a single or twice-daily injection over 24 h (total protocol duration). Controls received iv saline. Plasma was sampled with up to eight samples in 24 h per rat. Twenty-four hour urine was collected and assayed for kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), osteopontin and clusterin. Vancomycin in plasma was quantified via LC-MS/MS. PK analyses were conducted using Pmetrics for R. PK exposures during the first 24 h (i.e. AUC0-24h, Cmax 0-24h and Cmin 0-24h) were calculated. PK/TD relationships were assessed with Spearman's rank coefficient (rs) and the best-fit mathematical model. RESULTS: PK/TD data were generated from 45 vancomycin-treated and 5 control rats. A two-compartment model fit the data well (Bayesian: observed versus predicted R2 = 0.97). Exposure-response relationships were found between AUC0-24h versus KIM-1 and osteopontin (R2 = 0.61 and 0.66) and Cmax 0-24h versus KIM-1 and osteopontin (R2 = 0.50 and 0.56) using a four-parameter Hill fit. Conversely, Cmin 0-24h was less predictive of KIM-1 and osteopontin (R2 = 0.46 and 0.53). A vancomycin AUC0-24h of 482.2 corresponded to a 90% of maximal rise in KIM-1. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin-induced kidney injury as defined by urinary biomarkers is driven by vancomycin AUC or Cmax rather than Cmin. Further, an identified PK/TD target AUC0-24h of 482.2 mg·h/L may have direct relevance to human outcomes.

24-Hour Pharmacokinetic Relationships for Vancomycin and Novel Urinary Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury.

Vancomycin has been associated with acute kidney injury in preclinical and clinical settings; however, the precise exposure profiles associated with vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury have not been defined. We sought to determine pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics indices associated with the development of acute kidney injury using sensitive urinary biomarkers. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received clinical-grade vancomycin or normal saline as an intraperitoneal injection. Total daily doses between 0 and 400 mg/kg of body weight were administered as a single dose or 2 divided doses over a 24-h period. At least five rats were utilized for each dosing protocol. A maximum of 8 plasma samples per rat were obtained, and urine was collected over the 24-h period. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), clusterin, osteopontin, cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels were determined using Milliplex multianalyte profiling rat kidney panels. Vancomycin plasma concentrations were determined via a validated high-performance liquid chromatography methodology. Pharmacokinetic analyses were conducted using the Pmetrics package for R. Bayesian maximal a posteriori concentrations were generated and utilized to calculate the 24-h area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), the maximum concentration (Cmax), and the minimum concentration. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs ) was used to assess the correlations between exposure parameters, biomarkers, and histopathological damage. Forty-seven rats contributed pharmacokinetic and toxicodynamic data. KIM-1 was the only urinary biomarker that correlated with both composite histopathological damage (rs = 0.348, P = 0.017) and proximal tubule damage (rs = 0.342, P = 0.019). The vancomycin AUC and Cmax were most predictive of increases in KIM-1 levels (rs = 0.438 and P = 0.002 for AUC and rs = 0.451 and P = 0.002 for Cmax). Novel urinary biomarkers demonstrate that kidney injury can occur within 24 h of vancomycin exposure as a function of either AUC or Cmax.

Evaluation of Vancomycin Exposures Associated with Elevations in Novel Urinary Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury in Vancomycin-Treated Rats.

Vancomycin has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the pharmacokinetic/toxicodynamic relationship for AKI is not well defined. Allometrically scaled vancomycin exposures were used to assess the relationship between vancomycin exposure and AKI. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received clinical-grade vancomycin in normal saline (NS) as intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections for 24- to 72-h durations with doses ranging 0 to 200 mg/kg of body weight divided once or twice daily. Urine was collected over the protocol's final 24 h. Renal histopathology was qualitatively scored. Urinary biomarkers (e.g., cystatin C, clusterin, kidney injury molecule 1 [KIM-1], osteopontin, lipocalin 2/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin 2) were assayed using a Luminex xMAP system. Plasma vancomycin concentrations were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. A three-compartment vancomycin pharmacokinetic model was fit to the data with the Pmetrics package for R. The exposure-response in the first 24 h was evaluated using Spearman's nonparametric correlation coefficient (rs) values for the area under the concentration-time curve during the first 24 h (AUC0-24), the maximum concentration in plasma during the first 24 h (Cmax0-24 ), and the lowest (minimum) concentration in plasma after the dose closest to 24 h (Cmin0-24 ). A total of 52 rats received vancomycin (n = 42) or NS (n = 10). The strongest exposure-response correlations were observed between AUC0-24 and Cmax0-24 and urinary AKI biomarkers. Exposure-response correlations (rs values) for AUC0-24, Cmax0-24 , and Cmin0-24 were 0.37, 0.39, and 0.22, respectively, for clusterin; 0.42, 0.45, and 0.26, respectively, for KIM-1; and 0.52, 0.55, and 0.42, respectively, for osteopontin. However, no differences in histopathological scores were observed. Optimal sampling times after administration of the i.p. dose were 0.25, 0.75, 2.75, and 8 h for the once-daily dosing schemes and 0.25, 1.25, 14.5, and 17.25 h for the twice-daily dosing schemes. Our observations suggest that AUC0-24 or Cmax0-24 correlates with increases in urinary AKI biomarkers.

Evaluation of cystatin C as an early biomarker of cadmium nephrotoxicity in the rat.

Cadmium (Cd) is a nephrotoxic environmental pollutant that causes insidious injury to the proximal tubule that results in severe polyuria and proteinuria. Cystatin C is a low molecular weight protein that is being evaluated as a serum and urinary biomarker for various types of ischemic and nephrotoxic renal injury. The objective of the present study was to determine if cystatin C might be a useful early biomarker of Cd nephrotoxicity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given daily injections of Cd for up to 12 weeks. At 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks, urine samples were analyzed for cystatin C, protein, creatinine, ß2 microglobulin and kidney injury molecule-1. The results showed that Cd caused a significant increase in the urinary excretion of cystatin C that occurred 3-4 weeks before the onset of polyuria and proteinuria. Serum levels of cystatin C were not altered by Cd. Immunolabeling studies showed that Cd caused the relocalization of cystatin C from the cytoplasm to the apical surface of the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule. The Cd-induced changes in cystatin C labelling paralleled those of the brush border transport protein, megalin, which has been implicated as a mediator of cystatin C uptake in the proximal tubule. These results indicate that Cd increases the urinary excretion of cystatin C, and they suggest that this effect may involve disruption of megalin-mediated uptake of cystatin C by epithelial cells of the proximal tubule.

Effects of Maternal Exposure to Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles During Pregnancy on Maternal and Offspring Kidney Injury Markers Using a Murine Model.

Nanoparticles (NP) are pervasive in many areas of modern life, with little known about their potential toxicities. One commercially important NP is cadmium oxide (CdO), which is used to synthesize other Cd-containing NP, such as quantum dots. Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known nephrotoxicant, but the nephrotoxic potential of CdO NP remains unknown, particularly when exposure occurs during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant CD-1 mice were used to examine the effects of inhaled CdO NP (230 µg CdO NP/m(3)) on maternal and neonatal renal function by examining urinary creatinine and urinary biomarkers of kidney injury, including kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Inhalation of CdO NP by dams produced a fivefold increase in urinary Kim-1 with no marked effect on urinary creatinine levels. Kim-1 mRNA expression peaked by gestational day (GD) 10.5, and NGAL expression increased from GD 10.5 to 17.5. In addition, histological analyses revealed proximal tubular pathology at GD 10.5. Neonatal Kim-1 mRNA expression rose between postnatal days (PND) 7 and 14, with mammary glands/milk being the apparent source of Cd for offspring. These studies demonstrate that, similar to what is seen with other Cd forms, Cd associated with inhaled CdO NP results in renal injury to both directly exposed dam and offspring. As commercial uses for nanotechnology continue to expand throughout the world, risks for unintentional exposure in the workplace increase. Given the large number of women in the industrial workforce, care needs to be taken to protect these already vulnerable populations.

Effects of cadmium on the sub-cellular localization of ß-catenin and ß-catenin-regulated gene expression in NRK-52E cells.

The E-cadherin/ß-catenin complex is a structural component of adherens-type junctions in epithelial cells. Moreover, ß-catenin acts as an intracellular signaling molecule that can influence the expression of a variety of genes that regulate apoptosis and cell cycle control. Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental toxicant that causes renal dysfunction and disrupts cadherin-dependent cell-cell adhesion in various types of epithelial cells. In this study, we examined the effects of Cd on the subcellular localization of ß-catenin, the cadherin/ß-catenin complex and ß-catenin-mediated gene transcription in rat proximal tubule NRK-52E cells. Exposure to 5-10 µM Cd for 4 h caused the NRK cells to separate from each other without killing the cells or causing them to detach from the growing surface. This effect was associated with the loss of ß-catenin and E-cadherin from the cell-cell contacts and apparent changes in the accumulation of ß-catenin in the nuclear cell subfraction. The expression of the ß-catenin-sensitive gene, c-jun was significantly increased in cells exposed to 5 µM Cd. However, there was no change in the expression of several other ß-catenin-regulated genes including: c-myc, cyclin D1 and matrilysin. Additional studies utilizing the TOPFLASH ß-catenin reporter gene construct showed that Cd caused a 2-3 fold increase in the expression of the luciferase reporter gene. Overall, these results indicate that Cd disrupts the cadherin/ß-catenin complex in NRK-52E cells, but this effect leads to only partial activation of ß-catenin-mediated gene transcription.

Mechanisms of cadmium-induced proximal tubule injury: new insights with implications for biomonitoring and therapeutic interventions.

Cadmium is an important industrial agent and environmental pollutant that is a major cause of kidney disease. With chronic exposure, cadmium accumulates in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule, resulting in a generalized reabsorptive dysfunction characterized by polyuria and low-molecular-weight proteinuria. The traditional view has been that as cadmium accumulates in proximal tubule cells, it produces a variety of relatively nonspecific toxic effects that result in the death of renal epithelial cells through necrotic or apoptotic mechanisms. However, a growing volume of evidence suggests that rather than merely being a consequence of cell death, the early stages of cadmium-induced proximal tubule injury may involve much more specific changes in cell-cell adhesion, cellular signaling pathways, and autophagic responses that occur well before the onset of necrosis or apoptosis. In this commentary, we summarize these recent findings, and we offer our own perspectives as to how they relate to the toxic actions of cadmium in the kidney. In addition, we highlight recent findings, suggesting that it may be possible to detect the early stages of cadmium toxicity through the use of improved biomarkers. Finally, some of the therapeutic implications of these findings will be considered. Because cadmium is, in many respects, a model cumulative nephrotoxicant, these insights may have broader implications regarding the general mechanisms through which a variety of drugs and toxic chemicals damage the kidney.

In Vitro Nephrotoxicity and Permeation of Vancomycin Hydrochloride Loaded Liposomes.

Drugs can be toxic to the fetus depending on the amount that permeates across the maternal-fetal barrier. One way to limit the amount which penetrates this barrier is to increase the molecular size of the drug. In this study, we have achieved this by encapsulating our model antibiotic (vancomycin hydrochloride, a known nephrotoxic agent) in liposomes. PEGylated and non-PEGylated liposomes encapsulating vancomycin hydrochloride were prepared using two different methods: thin-film hydration followed by the freeze-thaw method and the reverse-phase evaporation method. These liposomes were characterized by their hydrodynamic size and zeta potential measurements, CryoTEM microscopy, loading and encapsulation efficiency studies, in vitro release measurements and in vitro cytotoxicity assays using NRK-52 E rat kidney cells. We also determined the in vitro permeability of these liposomes across the human placental cell and dog kidney cell barriers. Vancomycin hydrochloride-loaded PEGylated liposomes (VHCL-lipo) of a size less than 200 nm were prepared. The VHCL-lipo were found to have the faster release of vancomycin hydrochloride and resulted in greater viability of NRK-52E cells. In vitro, the VHCL-lipo permeated the human placental cell and dog kidney cell barriers to a lesser extent than the free vancomycin hydrochloride. The data suggest a reduction in nephrotoxicity and permeability of vancomycin hydrochloride after encapsulation in PEGylated liposomes.

The Use of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Among People Who Co-use Heroin and Methamphetamine in Malaysia.

OBJECTIVES: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.), an indigenous medicinal plant, has been widely used as a traditional remedy in Southeast Asia. However, its combined consumption with other substances has received scarce attention. This study investigates the use of kratom among adults with a history of using heroin and methamphetamine in Malaysia. METHODS: A total of 332 patients who were mandated to undergo drug rehabilitation participated in this cross-sectional study. The study data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority were males (95%, n = 314/332) and Malays (98%, n = 325/332) with a mean age of 32.3 years (SD = 9.16). Over two thirds of the respondents used kratom to alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms and to reduce methamphetamine intake; 59% used it as a substitute for heroin and methamphetamine. A similar proportion used kratom to reduce heroin intake (58%), while only 15% used it for its euphoric effects. Multivariate analysis showed that previous attendees of government rehabilitation programs had lower odds of using kratom as a heroin substitute. CONCLUSIONS: The potential of kratom to alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms, and to reduce methamphetamine and heroin intake, among people who co-use heroin and methamphetamine warrants further research.

Kratom Use Within the Context of the Evolving Opioid Crisis and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa, Korth.) is an evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. When ingested, kratom leaves or decoctions from the leaves have been reported to produce complex stimulant and opioid-like effects. For generations, native populations in Southeast Asia have used kratom products to stave off fatigue, improve mood, alleviate pain and manage symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Despite the long history of kratom use in Asia, it is only within the past 10-20 years that kratom has emerged as an important herbal agent in the United States, where it is being used for the self-treatment of pain, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and mood disorders. The increase in the use of kratom in the United States has coincided with the serious epidemic of opioid abuse and dependence. Since 2015, efforts to restrict access to prescription opioids have resulted in a marked increase in the use of "street" opioids such as heroin and illicit fentanyl. At the same time, many patients with chronic pain conditions or opioid use disorder have been denied access to appropriate medical help. The lack of access to care for patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder has been magnified by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we highlight how these converging factors have led to a surge in interest in kratom as a potential harm reduction agent in the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder.

Early biomarkers of cadmium exposure and nephrotoxicity.

As the risks of cadmium (Cd)-induced kidney disease have become increasingly apparent, much attention has been focused on the development and use of sensitive biomarkers of Cd nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this review is to briefly summarize the current state of Cd biomarker research. The review includes overviews of the toxicokinetics of Cd, the mechanisms of Cd-induced proximal tubule injury, and mechanistic summaries of some of the biomarkers (N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosamidase; ß(2)-microglubulin, metallothionein, etc.) that have been most widely used in monitoring of human populations for Cd exposure and nephrotoxicity. In addition, several novel biomarkers (kidney injury molecule-1, α-glutathione-S-transferase and insulin) that offer the potential for improved biomonitoring of Cd-exposed populations are discussed.

Self-Report Data on Regular Consumption of Illicit Drugs and HIV Risk Behaviors after Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa korth.) Initiation among Illicit Drug Users in Malaysia.

This study sought to determine the relationship between kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) initiation and regular consumption of illicit drugs and HIV risk behaviors in a cohort of illicit drug users in Malaysia. 260 illicit drug users with current kratom use were recruited through convenience sampling for this cross-sectional study. All were male, with the majority being Malays (95%, n = 246/260). Results suggest that kratom initiation was associated with significant decrease in the regular use of heroin (odds ratio (OR) = 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40- 0.72; p = .0001), methamphetamine (OR = 0.23, CI: 0.16- 0.35; p < .0001), and amphetamine (OR = 0.17, CI: 0.09- 0.34; p < .0001). Kratom initiation was also associated with reduction in regular HIV risk behaviors such as having sex with sex workers (OR = 0.20, CI: 0.12-0.32; p < .0001), using drugs before sexual intercourse (OR = 0.20, CI: 0.13- 0.31; p < .0001), injecting behaviors (OR = 0.10, CI: 0.04- 0.25; p < .0001), sharing of injection equipment (OR = 0.13, CI: 0.04- 0.43; p < .0001), and injecting with other injection drug users (IDUs) (OR = 0.07, CI: 0.02- 0.24; p < .0001).

Evaluation of the Mitragynine Content, Levels of Toxic Metals and the Presence of Microbes in Kratom Products Purchased in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa, Korth) is a tree-like plant that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaf products have been used in traditional folk medicine for their unique combination of stimulant and opioid-like effects. Kratom is being increasingly used in the West for its reputed benefits in the treatment of pain, depression and opioid use disorder. Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have raised concerns regarding the contamination of some kratom products with toxic metals (Pb and Ni) and microbes such as Salmonella. To further explore this issue, eight different kratom products were legally purchased from various "head"/"smoke" shops in the Western Suburbs of Chicago and then tested for microbial burden, a panel of metals (Ni, Pb, Cr, As, Hg, Cd), and levels of the main psychoactive alkaloid mitragynine. All of the samples contained significant, but variable, levels of mitragynine (3.9-62.1 mg/g), indicating that the products were, in fact, derived from kratom. All but two of the samples tested positive for the presence of various microbes including bacteria and fungi. However, none of the samples tested positive for Salmonella. Seven products showed significant levels of Ni (0.73-7.4 µg/g), Pb (0.16-1.6 µg/g) and Cr (0.21-5.7 µg/g) while the other product was negative for metals. These data indicate that many kratom products contain variable levels of mitragynine and can contain significant levels of toxic metals and microbes. These findings highlight the need for more stringent standards for the production and sale of kratom products.

Can Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Alleviate COVID-19 Pain? A Case Study.

Among the symptoms of COVID-19 fever, general malaise, pain and aches, myalgia, fatigue, and headache can affect the quality of life of patients, even after the end of the acute phase of the infection and can be long lasting. The current treatment of these symptoms, also because COVID-19 patients have been asked not to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in particular ibuprofen are often unsatisfactory. Among the above mentioned symptoms malaise and fatigue seem the most difficult to treat. In this case report we describe the use of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) by a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection. What we observed was a fast and sustained relieve of the above mentioned symptoms.