A prospective observational study of human factors, adverse events, and patient outcomes in surgery for pediatric cardiac disease.

Objective: To explore the impact of human factors on intraoperative adverse events and compensation mechanisms in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods: Prospective observations of pediatric cardiac surgical procedures were conducted. Patient complexity scores were calculated and outcomes recorded.

Postsynaptic contributions to hippocampal network hyperexcitability induced by chronic activity blockade in vivo.

Neuronal activity is thought to play an important role in refining patterns of synaptic connectivity during development and in the molecular maturation of synapses. In experiments reported here, a 2-week infusion of tetrodotoxin (TTX) into rat hippocampus beginning on postnatal day 12 produced abnormal synchronized network discharges in in vitro slices. Discharges recorded upon TTX washout were called 'minibursts', owing to their small amplitude.