Search

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.

We performed this study to investigate the prevalences of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Chinese population with normal weight. We also examined whether fat mass is associated with insulin resistance and MetS in normal-weight individuals. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study in China. Subjects with diabetes were excluded. The prevalences of insulin resistance and MetS were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed repeated separately for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in both men and women. We also used the combination of BMI and WC to predict insulin resistance and MetS. 8.55 % of normal-weight men and 12.62 % of normal-weight women had insulin resistance. 7.41 % of normal-weight men and 10.24 % of normal-weight women had MetS. WC was associated with incident insulin resistance and MetS independent of BMI in both men and women. BMI was independently associated with incident MetS in women. Normal-weight individuals with insulin resistance and/or MetS are not rare in the Chinese population. Fat mass is associated with insulin resistance and MetS in normal-weight subjects. The current findings support using both BMI and WC in clinical practice.

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.

Objective To the best of our knowledge, the association of insulin resistance (IR) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been well studied in normal-weight individuals. The aim of this study is to examine whether IR is associated with CKD in non-diabetic subjects with normal weight. We also examine whether the presence of obesity modifies the association of IR with CKD. Methods Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey in China. Both estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio were used as markers of CKD. Logistic regression models and the quartiles of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were used to explore the associations of IR with CKD in entire cohort, normal-weight and overweight/obese subpopulations. Results In normal-weight subpopulation, the prevalence of IR and metabolic syndrome were 11.11% and 8.99%, respectively. In the entire cohort, the highest quartile HOMA-insulin resistance had a 70% increased risk for CKD (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.07, 2.71, P=0.03, comparing the highest to the lowest quartile). However, when adding obesity to the model, the association was abolished. IR was associated with CKD in overweight/obese subpopulation but not in normal-weight subpopulation. Conclusion IR and MetS in normal-weight individuals is common in the Chinese population. IR is associated with CKD in overweight/obese subpopulation but not in normal-weight subpopulation and the presence of obesity modifies the association of IR with CKD.