Barriers and Enablers to Implementing a High-Dependency Care Model in Pediatric Care: A Preimplementation Study.

Background: As the level of acuity of pediatric hospital admissions continues to increase, additional pressure is being placed on hospital resources and the nursing workforce.

Local Problem: Currently, there is no formalized approach to care for high-acuity patients on our pediatric inpatient unit.

Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive design, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model, to conduct focus groups and interviews with clinicians and administrators to identify potential barriers and enablers to implementing a high-dependency care (HDC) model.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor SEA0400 limits intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and improves recovery of ventricular function when added to cardioplegia.

Background: The Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor SEA0400 prevents myocardial injury in models of global ischemia and reperfusion. We therefore evaluated its potential as a cardioplegia additive.

Methods: Isolated rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to hypoxia (45 min) followed by reperfusion.

Ovariectomy enhances SR Ca²⁺ release and increases Ca²⁺ spark amplitudes in isolated ventricular myocytes.

This study compared Ca(2+) homeostasis in ventricular myocytes from 8-month-old female C57BL/6J mice that had either a bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) or a sham surgery at 3 weeks of age. Cells were loaded with fura-2 and field-stimulated or voltage-clamped with steps to membrane potentials between -40 and +80 mV (37°C). Peak Ca(2+) transients increased by two-fold in OVX myocytes when compared to sham, and Ca(2+) transient rates of rise and decay were faster in OVX cells.