Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of
breathing molecular oxygen at elevated partial pressures. Severe cases
can result in cell damage and death, with effects most often seen in
the central nervous system, lungs and eyes. Oxygen toxicity is a
concern for scuba divers, those on high concentrations of supplemental
oxygen (particularly premature babies), and those undergoing hyperbaric
oxygen therapy. The result of breathing elevated concentrations of
oxygen is hyperoxia, an excess of oxygen in body tissues. Central
nervous system toxicity is caused by short exposure to high
concentrations of oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure.
Pulmonary and ocular toxicity result from longer exposure to elevated
oxygen levels at normal pressure. Symptoms may include disorientation,
breathing problems, and vision changes such as myopia. Prolonged or
very high oxygen concentrations can cause oxidative damage to cell
membranes, the collapse of the alveoli in the lungs, retinal
detachment, and seizures. Oxygen toxicity is managed by reducing the
exposure to elevated oxygen levels. Studies show that, in the long
term, a good recovery from most types of oxygen toxicity is possible.
Prevention of oxygen toxicity is an important precaution whenever
oxygen is breathed at partial pressures greater than normal. It has led
to use of protocols for avoidance of hyperoxia in such fields as scuba
diving, hyperbaric medicine, neonatal care and human spaceflight.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_toxicity>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1422:
As the only heir to the throne, Henry VI became King of England at the
age of eight months following the death of his father Henry V.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI_of_England>
1888:
Mary Ann Nichols' body was found on the ground in front of a gated
stable entrance in Buck's Row, London, allegedly the first victim of
the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper>
1907:
The Great Game: Russia and Great Britain signed the Anglo-Russian
Entente, defining their respective spheres of interest in Persia,
Afghanistan, and Tibet.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Russian_Entente>
1939:
Nazi forces mounted a staged attack on a German radio station in
Gleiwitz, then part of Germany, to create the appearance of Polish
aggression on their country, giving them an excuse to invade Poland the
following day and begin World War II in Europe.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleiwitz_incident>
1986:
After a collision with a freighter, the Soviet ocean liner Admiral
Nakhimov sank in the Tsemes Bay area of the Black Sea within seven
minutes, killing over 400 on board.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Admiral_Nakhimov>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
articulation (n):
1. A joint or the collection of joints at which something is
articulated, or hinged, for bending.
2. The quality, clarity, or sharpness of speech.
3. (music) The manner
in which something is tongued, slurred or bowed.
4. (accounting) A state in which the elements of financial statements
are fundamentally interrelated
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/articulation>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The writer is a spiritual anarchist, as in the depth of his soul every
man is. He is discontented with everything and everybody. The writer is
everybody's best friend and only true enemy — the good and great enemy.
He neither walks with the multitude nor cheers with them. The writer
who is a writer is a rebel who never stops.
--William Saroyan
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Saroyan>
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