A Case of Potential Pharmacokinetic Kratom-drug Interactions Resulting in Toxicity and Subsequent Treatment of Kratom Use Disorder With Buprenorphine/Naloxone.

The botanical product kratom produces opioid-like effects at high doses and is sometimes used for opioid replacement by individuals with opioid use disorder. Mitragynine, a major alkaloid contained in kratom leaves, has been shown to inhibit multiple cytochromes P450 (CYPs) in vitro, including CYP2D6 and CYP3A. As such, kratom may precipitate pharmacokinetic drug interactions when co-consumed with certain medications.

Rapid Transition to Buprenorphine in a Patient With Methadone-Related QTc Interval Prolongation.

Background: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are managed on methadone often require transition to buprenorphine therapy. Current recommendations require months to gradually taper off of methadone; however, in some cases, the need to transition is urgent. Only a few rapid methadone-to-buprenorphine transitions have been reported and there are no established protocols to guide clinicians in these cases.

A Longitudinal Hepatitis B Vaccine Cohort Demonstrates Long-lasting Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Cellular Immunity Despite Loss of Antibody Against HBV Surface Antigen.

Background: Long-lasting protection resulting from hepatitis B vaccine, despite loss of antibody against hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (anti-HBs), is undetermined.

Methods: We recruited persons from a cohort vaccinated with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in 1981 who have been followed periodically since. We performed serological testing for anti-HBs and microRNA-155 and assessed HBV-specific T-cell responses by enzyme-linked immunospot and cytometric bead array.