Erythromycin
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Trade names | Eryc, Erythrocin, others[1] |
IUPAC name
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Clinical data | |
Drug class | Macrolide antibiotic |
WHO AWaRe | UnlinkedWikibase error: ⧼unlinkedwikibase-error-statements-entity-not-set⧽ |
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Routes of use | By mouth, IV, IM, topical, eye drops |
Defined daily dose | 1,000 mg (by mouth or injection)[3] |
External links | |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Systemic: Monograph Topical: Monograph Eye: Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a682381 |
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Pharmacokinetics | |
Bioavailability | Depends on the ester type between 30% - 65% |
Protein binding | 90% |
Metabolism | liver (under 5% excreted unchanged) |
Elimination half-life | 1.5 hours |
Excretion | Bile |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C37H67NO13 |
Molar mass | 733.937 g·mol−1 |
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Erythromycin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.[1] This includes respiratory tract infections, skin infections, chlamydia infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and syphilis.[1] It may also be used during pregnancy to prevent Group B streptococcal infection in the newborn,[1] as well as to improve delayed stomach emptying.[4] It can be given intravenously and by mouth.[1] An eye ointment is routinely recommended after delivery to prevent eye infections in the newborn.[5]
Common side effects include abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.[1] More serious side effects may include Clostridium difficile colitis, liver problems, prolonged QT, and allergic reactions.[1] It is generally safe in those who are allergic to penicillin.[1] Erythromycin also appears to be safe to use during pregnancy.[2] While generally regarded as safe during breastfeeding, its use by the mother during the first two weeks of life may increase the risk of pyloric stenosis in the baby.[6][7] This risk also applies if taken directly by the baby during this age.[8] It is in the macrolide family of antibiotics and works by decreasing bacterial protein production.[1]
Erythromycin was first isolated in 1952 from the bacteria Saccharopolyspora erythraea.[1][9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as an alternative to clarithromycin.[10] It is available as a generic medication and is not very expensive.[6] In 2017, it was the 215th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than two million prescriptions.[11][12]
Medical uses
Erythromycin can be used to treat bacteria responsible for causing infections of the skin and upper respiratory tract, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Haemophilus and Corynebacterium genera. The following represents MIC susceptibility data for a few medically significant bacteria:[13]
- Haemophilus influenzae: 0.015 to 256 μg/ml
- Staphylococcus aureus: 0.023 to 1024 μg/ml
- Streptococcus pyogenes: 0.004 to 256 μg/ml
- Corynebacterium minutissimum: 0.015 to 64 μg/ml
It may be useful in treating gastroparesis due to this promotility effect. It has been shown to improve feeding intolerances in those who are critically ill.[14] Intravenous erythromycin may also be used in endoscopy to help clear stomach contents.
Dosage
The typical adult dose is 250 to 500 mg by mouth four times per day.[15] The dose is children is 30 to 100 mg/kg/day divided three to four times per day.[15] For conjunctivitis in babies due to C. trachomatis the dose is 12.5 mg/kg four times per day for 10 to 14 days.[16]
The defined daily dose is 1,000 mg (by mouth or by injection).[3]
Side effects
Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting, are very common because erythromycin is a motilin agonist.[17] Because of this, erythromycin tends not to be prescribed as a first-line drug.
More serious side effects include arrhythmia with prolonged QT intervals, including torsades de pointes, and reversible deafness. Allergic reactions range from urticaria to anaphylaxis. Cholestasis, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis are some other rare side effects that may occur.
Studies have shown evidence both for and against the association of pyloric stenosis and exposure to erythromycin prenatally and postnatally.[18] Exposure to erythromycin (especially long courses at antimicrobial doses, and also through breastfeeding) has been linked to an increased probability of pyloric stenosis in young infants.[19][20] Erythromycin used for feeding intolerance in young infants has not been associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.[19]
Erythromycin estolate has been associated with reversible hepatotoxicity in pregnant women in the form of elevated serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and is not recommended during pregnancy. Some evidence suggests similar hepatotoxicity in other populations.[21]
It can also affect the central nervous system, causing psychotic reactions, nightmares, and night sweats.[22]
Interactions
Erythromycin is metabolized by enzymes of the cytochrome P450 system, in particular, by isozymes of the CYP3A superfamily.[23] The activity of the CYP3A enzymes can be induced or inhibited by certain drugs (e.g., dexamethasone), which can cause it to affect the metabolism of many different drugs, including erythromycin. If other CYP3A substrates — drugs that are broken down by CYP3A — such as simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), or atorvastatin (Lipitor)—are taken concomitantly with erythromycin, levels of the substrates increase, often causing adverse effects. A noted drug interaction involves erythromycin and simvastatin, resulting in increased simvastatin levels and the potential for rhabdomyolysis. Another group of CYP3A4 substrates are drugs used for migraine such as ergotamine and dihydroergotamine; their adverse effects may be more pronounced if erythromycin is associated.[22] Earlier case reports on sudden death prompted a study on a large cohort that confirmed a link between erythromycin, ventricular tachycardia, and sudden cardiac death in patients also taking drugs that prolong the metabolism of erythromycin (like verapamil or diltiazem) by interfering with CYP3A4.[24] Hence, erythromycin should not be administered to people using these drugs, or drugs that also prolong the QT interval. Other examples include terfenadine (Seldane, Seldane-D), astemizole (Hismanal), cisapride (Propulsid, withdrawn in many countries for prolonging the QT time) and pimozide (Orap). Theophylline, which is used mostly in asthma, is also contraindicated.
Erythromycin and doxycycline can have a synergistic effect when combined and kill bacteria (E. coli) with a higher potency than the sum of the two drugs together. This synergistic relationship is only temporary. After approximately 72 hours, the relationship shifts to become antagonistic, whereby a 50/50 combination of the two drugs kills less bacteria than if the two drugs were administered separately.[25]
It may alter the effectiveness of combined oral contraceptive pills because of its effect on the gut flora. A review found that when erythromycin was given with certain oral contraceptives, there was an increase in the maximum serum concentrations and AUC of estradiol and dienogest.[26][27]
Erythromycin is an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 system, which means it can have a rapid effect on levels of other drugs metabolised by this system, e.g., warfarin.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
Erythromycin displays bacteriostatic activity or inhibits growth of bacteria, especially at higher concentrations.[28] By binding to the 50s subunit of the bacterial rRNA complex, protein synthesis and subsequent structure and function processes critical for life or replication are inhibited.[28] Erythromycin interferes with aminoacyl translocation, preventing the transfer of the tRNA bound at the A site of the rRNA complex to the P site of the rRNA complex. Without this translocation, the A site remains occupied, thus the addition of an incoming tRNA and its attached amino acid to the nascent polypeptide chain is inhibited. This interferes with the production of functionally useful proteins, which is the basis of this antimicrobial action.
Erythromycin increases gut motility by binding to Motillin, thus it is a Motillin receptor agonist in addition to its antimicrobial properties.
Pharmacokinetics
Erythromycin is easily inactivated by gastric acid; therefore, all orally administered formulations are given as either enteric-coated or more-stable salts or esters, such as erythromycin ethylsuccinate. Erythromycin is very rapidly absorbed, and diffuses into most tissues and phagocytes. Due to the high concentration in phagocytes, erythromycin is actively transported to the site of infection, where, during active phagocytosis, large concentrations of erythromycin are released.
Metabolism
Most of erythromycin is metabolised by demethylation in the liver by the hepatic enzyme CYP3A4. Its main elimination route is in the bile with little renal excretion, 2%-15% unchanged drug. Erythromycin's elimination half-life ranges between 1.5 and 2.0 hours and is between 5 and 6 hours in patients with end-stage renal disease. Erythromycin levels peak in the serum 4 hours after dosing; ethylsuccinate peaks 0.5-2.5 hours after dosing, but can be delayed if digested with food.[29]
Erythromycin crosses the placenta and enters breast milk. The American Association of Pediatrics determined erythromycin is safe to take while breastfeeding.[30] Absorption in pregnant patients has been shown to be variable, frequently resulting in levels lower than in nonpregnant patients.[29]
Chemistry
Composition
Standard-grade erythromycin is primarily composed of four related compounds known as erythromycins A, B, C, and D. Each of these compounds can be present in varying amounts and can differ by lot. Erythromycin A has been found to have the most antibacterial activity, followed by erythromycin B. Erythromycins C and D are about half as active as erythromycin A.[13][31] Some of these related compounds have been purified and can be studied and researched individually.
Synthesis
Over the three decades after the discovery of erythromycin A and its activity as an antimicrobial, many attempts were made to synthesize it in the laboratory. The presence of 10 stereogenic carbons and several points of distinct substitution has made the total synthesis of erythromycin A a formidable task.[32] Complete syntheses of erythromycins’ related structures and precursors such as 6-deoxyerythronolide B have been accomplished, giving way to possible syntheses of different erythromycins and other macrolide antimicrobials.[33] Woodward successfully completed the synthesis of erythromycin A.[34][35][36]
Related compounds
History
In 1949 Abelardo B. Aguilar, a Filipino scientist, sent some soil samples to his employer Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly's research team, led by J. M. McGuire, managed to isolate erythromycin from the metabolic products of a strain of Streptomyces erythreus (designation changed to Saccharopolyspora erythraea) found in the samples.[37]
Lilly filed for patent protection on the compound which was granted in 1953.[38] The product was launched commercially in 1952 under the brand name Ilosone (after the Philippine region of Iloilo where it was originally collected). Erythromycin was formerly also called Ilotycin.
In 1981, Nobel laureate (1965 in chemistry) and professor of chemistry at Harvard University Robert B. Woodward (posthumously), along with a large number of members from his research group, reported the first stereocontrolled asymmetric chemical synthesis of erythromycin A.
The antibiotic clarithromycin was invented by scientists at the Japanese drug company Taisho Pharmaceutical in the 1970s as a result of their efforts to overcome the acid instability of erythromycin.
Scientists at Chugai Pharmaceuticals discovered an erythromycin-derived motilin agonist called mitemcinal that is believed to have strong prokinetic properties (similar to erythromycin) but lacking antibiotic properties. Erythromycin is commonly used off-label for gastric motility indications such as gastroparesis. If mitemcinal can be shown to be an effective prokinetic agent, it would represent a significant advance in the gastrointestinal field, as treatment with this drug would not carry the risk of unintentional selection for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Society and culture
Cost
It is available as a generic medication and has been inexpensive for many years.[6] The wholesale price in the developing world is between 0.03 and 0.06 USD per tablet.[39] The cost to the United Kingdom's NHS is approximately 0.18 GBP (0.23 USD) per tablet.[40]
In the United States in 2014 the price increased to seven dollars per tablet.[41]
The price of Erythromycin rose three times between 2010 and 2015, from 24 cents per tablet in 2010 to $8.96 in 2015.[42] In 2017, a Kaiser Health News study found that the per-unit cost of dozens of generics doubled or even tripled from 2015 to 2016, increasing spending by the Medicaid program. Due to price increases by drug manufacturers, Medicaid paid on average $2,685,330 more for Erythromycin in 2016 compared to 2015 (not including rebates).[43] By 2018, generic drug prices had climbed another 5% on average.[44]
- Erythromycin costs (US)
- Erythromycin prescriptions (US)
Available forms
Erythromycin is available in enteric-coated tablets, slow-release capsules, oral suspensions, ophthalmic solutions, ointments, gels, enteric-coated capsules, non enteric-coated tablets, non enteric-coated capsules, and injections. The following erythromycin combinations are available for oral dosage:[45]
- erythromycin base (capsules, tablets)
- erythromycin estolate (capsules, oral suspension, tablets), contraindicated during pregnancy[46]
- erythromycin ethylsuccinate (oral suspension, tablets)
- erythromycin stearate (oral suspension, tablets)
For injection, the available combinations are:[45]
- erythromycin gluceptate
- erythromycin lactobionate
For eye use:
- erythromycin base (ointment)
- Erythromycin antibiotic tablets
- Enteric-coated erythromycin capsule from Abbott Labs
Brand names
Brand names include Robimycin, E-Mycin, E.E.S. Granules, E.E.S.-200, E.E.S.-400, E.E.S.-400 Filmtab, Erymax, Ery-Tab, Eryc, Ranbaxy, Erypar, EryPed, Eryped 200, Eryped 400, Erythrocin Stearate Filmtab, Erythrocot, E-Base, Erythroped, Ilosone, MY-E, Pediamycin, Zineryt, Abboticin, Abboticin-ES, Erycin, PCE Dispertab, Stiemycine, Acnasol, and Tiloryth.
See also
Erythromycin/tretinoin, a combination of tretinoin and the antibiotic erythromycin
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Erythromycin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved Aug 1, 2015.
- 1 2 "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database". Australian Government. August 23, 2015. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.
- 1 2 "WHOCC - ATC/DDD Index". www.whocc.no. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ Camilleri M, Parkman HP, Shafi MA, Abell TL, Gerson L (January 2013). "Clinical guideline: management of gastroparesis". The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 108 (1): 18–37, quiz 38. doi:10.1038/ajg.2012.373. PMC 3722580. PMID 23147521.
- ↑ Matejcek A, Goldman RD (November 2013). "Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum". Canadian Family Physician. 59 (11): 1187–90. PMC 3828094. PMID 24235191.
- 1 2 3 Hamilton, Richard J. (2013). Tarascon pocket pharmacopoeia (2013 delux lab-coat ed., 14th ed.). [Sudbury, Mass.]: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 72. ISBN 9781449673611. Archived from the original on 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
- ↑ Kong YL, Tey HL (June 2013). "Treatment of acne vulgaris during pregnancy and lactation". Drugs. 73 (8): 779–87. doi:10.1007/s40265-013-0060-0. PMID 23657872.
- ↑ Maheshwai N (March 2007). "Are young infants treated with erythromycin at risk for developing hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 92 (3): 271–3. doi:10.1136/adc.2006.110007. PMC 2083424. PMID 17337692. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
- ↑ Vedas, J. C. (2000). Biosynthesis : polyketides and vitamins. Berlin [u.a.]: Springer. p. 52. ISBN 9783540669692. Archived from the original on 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
- ↑ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ↑ "The Top 300 of 2020". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ↑ "Erythromycin - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- 1 2 "Erythromycin Susceptibility and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Data" (PDF). TOKU-E. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
- ↑ Lewis K, Alqahtani Z, Mcintyre L, Almenawer S, Alshamsi F, Rhodes A, et al. (August 2016). "The efficacy and safety of prokinetic agents in critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials". Critical Care. 20 (1): 259. doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1441-z. PMC 4986344. PMID 27527069.
- 1 2 "Erythromycin - WikEM". www.wikem.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ↑ "ERYTHROMYCIN oral - Essential drugs". medicalguidelines.msf.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ↑ Weber FH, Richards RD, McCallum RW (April 1993). "Erythromycin: a motilin agonist and gastrointestinal prokinetic agent". The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 88 (4): 485–90. PMID 8470625.
- ↑ "Pregnancy and lactation". Archived from the original on 2014-04-20.
- 1 2 Maheshwai N (March 2007). "Are young infants treated with erythromycin at risk for developing hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 92 (3): 271–3. doi:10.1136/adc.2006.110007. PMC 2083424. PMID 17337692.
- ↑ Lund M, Pasternak B, Davidsen RB, Feenstra B, Krogh C, Diaz LJ, et al. (March 2014). "Use of macrolides in mother and child and risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: nationwide cohort study". BMJ. 348: g1908. doi:10.1136/bmj.g1908. PMC 3949411. PMID 24618148.
- ↑ McCormack WM, George H, Donner A, Kodgis LF, Alpert S, Lowe EW, Kass EH (November 1977). "Hepatotoxicity of erythromycin estolate during pregnancy". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 12 (5): 630–5. doi:10.1128/AAC.12.5.630. PMC 429989. PMID 21610.
- 1 2 "Erythromycine". Belgisch Centrum voor Farmacotherapeutische Informatie. Archived from the original on 2015-10-06.
- ↑ Hunt CM, Watkins PB, Saenger P, Stave GM, Barlascini N, Watlington CO, et al. (January 1992). "Heterogeneity of CYP3A isoforms metabolizing erythromycin and cortisol" (PDF). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 51 (1): 18–23. doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.3. hdl:2027.42/109905. PMID 1732074. Archived from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- ↑ Ray WA, Murray KT, Meredith S, Narasimhulu SS, Hall K, Stein CM (September 2004). "Oral erythromycin and the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes". The New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (11): 1089–96. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040582. PMID 15356306.
- ↑ Pena-Miller R, Laehnemann D, Jansen G, Fuentes-Hernandez A, Rosenstiel P, Schulenburg H, Beardmore R (April 23, 2013). "When the most potent combination of antibiotics selects for the greatest bacterial load: the smile-frown transition". PLoS Biology. 11 (4): e1001540. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001540. PMC 3635860. PMID 23630452.
- ↑ Blode H, Zeun S, Parke S, Zimmermann T, Rohde B, Mellinger U, Kunz M (October 2012). "Evaluation of the effects of rifampicin, ketoconazole and erythromycin on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of the components of a novel oral contraceptive containing estradiol valerate and dienogest in healthy postmenopausal women". Contraception. 86 (4): 337–44. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.01.010. PMID 22445438. Archived from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- ↑ Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM (January 2018). "Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 218 (1): 88–97.e14. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.003. PMID 28694152. Archived from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
- 1 2 Katzung PHARMACOLOGY, 9e Section VIII. Chemotherapeutic Drugs Chapter 44. Chloramphenicol, Tetracyclines, Macrolides, Clindamycin, & Streptogramins
- 1 2 "unknown". Archived from the original on 2014-04-19.
- ↑ American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs (September 2001). "Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk" (PDF). Pediatrics. 108 (3): 776–89. doi:10.1542/peds.108.3.776. PMID 11533352. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05.
- ↑ Kibwage IO, Hoogmartens J, Roets E, Vanderhaeghe H, Verbist L, Dubost M, et al. (November 1985). "Antibacterial activities of erythromycins A, B, C, and D and some of their derivatives". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 28 (5): 630–3. doi:10.1128/aac.28.5.630. PMC 176346. PMID 4091529.
- ↑ Pal S (2006). "A journey across the sequential development of macrolides and ketolides related to erythromycin". Tetrahedron. 62 (14): 3171–3200. doi:10.1016/j.tet.2005.11.064.
- ↑ Evans DA, Kim AS (1997). "Synthesis of 6-Deoxyerythronolide B. Implementation of a General Strategy for the Synthesis of Macrolide Antibiotics". Tetrahedron Lett. 38: 53–56. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)02258-7.
- ↑ Woodward RB, Logusch E, Nambiar KP, Sakan K, Ward DE, Au-Yeung, Balaram P, Browne LJ, Card PJ, et al. (1981). "Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Erythromycin. 1. Synthesis of an Erythronolide A Seco Acid Derivative via Asymmetric Induction". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103 (11): 3210–3213. doi:10.1021/ja00401a049.
- ↑ Woodward RB, Logusch E, Nambiar KP, Sakan K, Ward DE, Au-Yeung, Balaram P, Browne LJ, Card PJ, et al. (1981). "Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Erythromycin. 2. Synthesis of an Erythronolide A Lactone System". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103 (11): 3213–3215. doi:10.1021/ja00401a050.
- ↑ Woodward RB, Logusch E, Nambiar KP, Sakan K, Ward DE, Au-Yeung, Balaram P, Browne LJ, Card PJ, et al. (1981). "Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Erythromycin. 3. Total Synthesis of Erythromycin". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103 (11): 3215–3217. doi:10.1021/ja00401a051.
- ↑ Hibionada, F. Remembering the battle of Dr. Abelardo Aguilar: Cure for millions, deprived of millions. The News Today. Retrieved 22 September 2015
- ↑ U.S. Patent 2,653,899
- ↑ "Erythromycin". International Drug Price Indicator Guide. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Erythromycin - BNF/NICE guidelines". National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2020-02-11. Archived from the original on 2021-08-28.
- ↑ Stahl, Stephanie (September 26, 2014) Health: Generic Drugs Prices Increasing Archived 2016-04-09 at the Wayback Machine CBS Philadelphia. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Some Generic Drugs See Huge Price Increases". www.medscape.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ↑ "Climbing cost of decades-old drugs threatens to break Medicaid bank". Philly.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ↑ "Are Drugs Really Getting More Expensive? Yes". The GoodRx Prescription Savings Blog. 27 February 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- 1 2 "Erythromycin Oral, Parenteral Advanced Patient Information". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30.
- ↑ Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines 2006 Archived 2010-02-11 at the Wayback Machine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 2006;55
External links
- U.S. Patent 2,653,899 Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
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