Gobble-de-Gook

I was going to blog tonight properly, but alas I was snowed under with work and even took the opportunity to help fellow Medic Joee Blogs with a medicine essay on Hyponatraemia. Its all quite dull and boring, but very important for medics. So I've spent the last 2 hours doing that via an emailed copy and Word's excellent comments/markup! Still, at least it was also useful for me (I am very rusty on clinical chemistry). Here is an extract of said essay just to get your juices flowing!

In response to a decreased plasma volume, the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney secrete Renin. Renin converts angiotensinogen which is secreted by the liver, to angiotensin I. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme then acts on angiotensin I to form angiotensin II, which in turn stimulates aldosterone synthesis [MD1]. Aldosterone acts mainly in the kidney [MD2]. In the renal tubule the membrane receptor Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+ channels work together to increase volume and pressure, and decrease K+. Aldosterone increases the number and activity of these transporters thus increasing the reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium. Water is reabsorbed with the sodium thus reversing the hypovolaemia.

[MD1] You've just said this above! Combine the two paragraphs me thinks...
[MD2] Actually I think it works mainly via vasoconstriction... you may need to check this

Oh look, its copied my comments too! Oh well, it makes for fun reading.

I think I may be going delirious through workload and lack of sleep... One more day of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and I'm onto Paediatrics. Its been a rollercoaster with lots of practice contrary to the Catholic Faith... but you probably won't ever hear me rant about that (I'm just praying about it and having masses offered).

I'm going to bed now. Good night blogosphere.