Physician Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: The frequency of acute kidney injury has become substantially greater over the recent past. Acute kidney injury, moreover, is associated with increased mortality and morbidity over both the short and long term. Despite these facts, its therapy has not changed significantly for many decades.

Gastrointestinal and renal excretion of potassium in African-Americans and White Americans.

Objective: Several studies have confirmed the remarkable observation that cumulative urinary potassium (K(+)) excretion is less in African-Americans than White Americans even when identical amounts of potassium are provided in the diet. This study was designed to examine whether this decrease in urinary potassium could be compensatory to an increase in gastrointestinal excretion of potassium in African-Americans.

Methods: Twenty-three young, healthy, normotensive participants of both sexes and races were placed on a fixed diet of 100 mEq per day of K(+) and 180 mEq per day of sodium (Na(+)) for 9 days.