Semiquantitative Power Doppler Ultrasound Score to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Sepsis or Cardiac Failure: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3 in critically ill patients may help physicians in making treatment decisions. This diagnosis relies chiefly on urinary output and serum creatinine, which may be of limited value. This study aimed to explore the diagnostic performance of renal resistive index (RRI) and semiquantitative power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) scores in predicting AKI stage 3 in patients with sepsis or cardiac failure.

Proton pump inhibitor use increases hepatic encephalopathy risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies have been conducted to explore the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) risk in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, their results are controversial.

Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the HE risk among PPI users.

Prediction of acute kidney injury: the ratio of renal resistive index to semiquantitative power Doppler ultrasound score-a better predictor?: A prospective observational study.

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic performance of the ratio of renal resistive index (RRI) to semiquantitative power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) score in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) 3 in critically ill patients.This study was a prospective, observational study that included 101 critically ill patients. RRI and semiquantitative PDU score were measured within 6 hours following admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Applying rheological analysis to better understand the mechanism of acid conditioning on activated sludge dewatering.

The pH value is a key parameter and affects sludge dewatering. Comprehensive understanding of the effects and mechanism of pH is important for sludge treatment process and sludge dewatering. The goal of this study was to evaluate the proposed mechanism of acid conditioning on sludge dewatering based on rheological analysis.

A rheological approach to analyze aerobic granular sludge.

Aerobic granular sludge is one promising biotechnology in wastewater treatment. Despite intensive researches on granular architecture and strategies to improve treatment efficiency, there are still some elusive material parameters needed to stimulate the granulation process. The main aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic granular sludge innovatively using the universal rheology methodology, in terms of processability or quality and texture.

A novel approach for phosphorus recovery and no wasted sludge in enhanced biological phosphorus removal process with external COD addition.

In enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process, phosphorus (P) in wastewater is removed via wasted sludge without actual recovery. A novel approach to realize phosphorus recovery with special external chemical oxygen demand (COD) addition in EBPR process was proposed. During the new operating approach period, it was found that (1) no phosphorus was detected in the effluent; (2) with an external addition of 10 % of influent COD amount, 79 % phosphorus in the wastewater influent was recovered; (3) without wasted sludge, the MLVSS concentration in the system increased from 2,010 to 3,400 mg/L and kept stable after day 11 during 24-day operating period.