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In this paper, a high performance liquid chromatography technique is established for quantification of paraquat in blood. Samples were pretreated by mixing with hydrochloric acid for precipitation of protein, followed by acetonitrile extraction, ultrasonication, centrifugation, and filtration. In addition, with sodium heptane–acetonitrile–water (1.82 g/50 mL/450 mL) buffer solution as the mobile phase and a C18 column as the stationary phase, liquid chromatography separation and determination was carried out on samples of paraquat using a variable wavelength UV detector. The linear range was 0.3–30 μg mL−1 (R = 0.9999) with a minimum detection limit for paraquat of 0.026 μg mL−1 (S/N ≧ 3), and limit of quantification of 0.08 μg mL−1. Moreover, the method proposed here is sensitive and accurate, and should have a bright future in numerous practical applications.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the best anthropometric obesity measure remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the associations of anthropometric indexes with CKD risk and which anthropometric index is a better predictor of CKD. METHODS: Data was drawn from a cross-sectional study in China. We used four anthropometric indexes: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/ min/1.73 m2 or urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥ 30 mg/g. Logistic regressions were used for the analyses. RESULTS: 1,834 participants were included in the analyses. After adjusting for potential confounders, BMI, WC and WHtR were significantly associated with CKD in men and women. The respective odd ratios for BMI (every SD increment), WC (every SD increment), and WHtR (every SD increment) were 1.46, 1.40, and 1.45 in men as well as 1.21, 1.31, and 1.38 in women. After adjusting for potential confounders, WHR was associated with CKD in women but not men. In women, the associations of WC, WHR and WHtR with CKD was independent of other MetS components. No difference in WHtR was observed between men and women. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric indexes are associated with CKD. The associations of anthropometric indexes with CKD are independent of other MetS components in women but not men. In women, central obesity indexes are better than BMI for predicting of CKD.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of 80 pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore the risk factors for lupus flare, obstetric complications and fetal loss. Methods: 83 pregnancies in 80 women were divided into three groups. Group A: patients in remission for &gt, 6 months before pregnancy, proteinuria &lt, 0.5 g per day, without renal failure and discontinuation of cytotoxic drugs for &gt, one year, Group B: patients with SLE disease activity in the six months before pregnancy, Group C: patients with new onset SLE during pregnancy. Results: In group A, 76.47% pregnancies achieved full-term deliveries and 80.39% achieved live born infants. In group B and C, the outcome was poor. Among 62 patients (64 pregnancies) diagnosed as SLE before pregnancy, SLE flares occurred in 27 (42.19%) pregnancies. SLE disease activity in the six months before pregnancy was significantly associated with lupus flare (OR 5.00, 95% CI 1.14–21.87, p = 0.03) and fetal loss. New onset lupus during pregnancy was independently associated with obstetric complications (OR 7.22, 95% CI 2.14–24.38, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The current study confirmed the previous report that SLE should be considered a high risk of pregnancy. If pregnancy is planned after remission for &gt, 6 months, the favorable outcome can be achieved.