100px|Urine from a person with rhabdomyolysis showing the
characteristic brown discoloration as a result of myoglobinuria
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle tissue
breaks down rapidly. Breakdown products of damaged muscle cells are
released into the bloodstream; some of these, such as the protein
myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure.
The severity of the symptoms, which may include muscle pains, vomiting
and confusion, depends on the extent of muscle damage and whether
kidney failure develops. The muscle damage may be caused by physical
factors (e.g. crush injury, strenuous exercise), medications, drug
abuse, and infections. Some people have a hereditary muscle condition
that increases the risk of rhabdomyolysis. The diagnosis is usually
made with blood tests and urinalysis. The mainstay of treatment is
generous intravenous fluids, but may include dialysis or hemofiltration
in more severe cases. Rhabdomyolysis and its complications are
significant problems for those injured in disasters such as earthquakes
and bombings. Relief efforts in areas struck by earthquakes often
include medical teams with the skills and equipment to treat survivors
with rhabdomyolysis. (more...)
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Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyolysis>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1498:
A tsunami caused by the Meiō Nankaidō earthquake washed away the
building housing the statue of the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in in
Kamakura, Japan.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtoku-in>
1848:
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, publisher of
the journal Science, was founded.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Science>
1946:
World War II: Australian troops defeated Imperial Japanese forces at
the Battle of Kaiapit in New Guinea.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kaiapit>
1967:
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard publicly announced the story of Xenu
in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu>
1971:
Hurricane Irene departed Nicaragua to become the first known tropical
cyclone to successfully cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
anthelmintic (adj & n):
A drug for the treatment of intestinal worm infestation
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anthelmintic>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The silence of a wise man is always meaningful.
--Leo Strauss
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leo_Strauss>
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