Introduction The term urinary tract infection constitute a gamut of clinical and pathologic conditions involving various parts of the urinary tract.1Johnson CC. Definitions, classification, and clinical presentation of urinary tract infections. Med Clin North Am. 1991 Mar;75(2):241-52. 2Definition and classification of urinary tract infection. Available at: http://www.guiasalud.es/egpc/traduccion/ingles/ITU/completa/documentos/apartado04/definicion_clasificacion.pdf. Accessed on: 5.11.2015. They are one of the most frequently encountered infections, both in the community as well as in hospitalized patients. They can affect individuals of all age groups from infants to elderly. Although both men and women are susceptible to these infections, they display a greater predilection for women.3Najar MS, Saldanha CL, Banday KA. Approach to urinary tract infections.Indian J Nephrol. 2009 Oct;19(4):129-139. 4Horvath DJ Jr, Dabdoub SM, Li B, Vanderbrink BA, Justice SS. New paradigms of urinary tract infections: Implications for patient management. Indian J Urol.2012 Apr;28(2):154-8. 5Kalra OP, Raizada A. Approach to a Patient with Urosepsis. J Glob Infect Dis.2009 Jan-Jun;1(1):57-63. 6Foxman B. Epidemiology…
An Overview of Physiological Potassium Excretion The human body in a steady state maintains the potassium equilibrium. While the standard serum levels of potassium lie within the range of 3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L, equivalence is achieved by balancing its intake (60-80 mmol/day) and excretion (renal and stool excretion: 50-65 mmol/day and 10-15 mmol/day, respectively). The kidneys play a central role in the regulation of potassium. It can increase or diminish the renal excretion depending upon the potassium intake, from 5-10 mmol/day to 450 mmol/day, respectively in a healthy individual. The physiological mechanism includes filtration of 180 L of plasma per day, as a result of which 720 mmol potassium reaches the lumen of the nephron. Upon further filtration, the majority of this potassium (nearly 500 mmol) is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule. Besides, the principal cells of the cortical collecting duct (CCD) are chief in controlling the potassium secretion, which…
