Feasibility of establishing a multi-center research database using the electronic health record: The PURSUIT network.

Background: Although multi-center research is needed in pediatric urology, collaboration is impeded by differences in physician documentation and research resources. Electronic health record (EHR) tools offer a promising avenue to overcome these barriers.

Objective: To assess the accuracy, completeness, and utilization of structured data elements across multiple practices.

Discriminating between changes in bias and changes in accuracy for recognition memory of emotional stimuli.

A debate has emerged as to whether recognition of emotional stimuli is more accurate or more biased than recognition of nonemotional stimuli. Teasing apart changes in accuracy versus changes in bias requires a measurement model. However, different models have been adopted by different researchers, and this has contributed to the current debate.

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of gluteal abscess and other peripelvic fluid collections.

During an 18 month period, five patients of all those being investigated by computed tomography (CT) for suspected abscess were found to have localized peripelvic extraabdominal fluid collections. In three, this was due to primary abscess or pyarthrosis and to probable secondary infection of a degenerated hematoma or seroma in two. The lesions were responsible for or considered contributory to the patient's febrile illness in each case.

Erosive azotemic osteodystrophy.

Serial macroradiographs of the hands of 80 patients on maintenance hemodialysis were reviewed to assess the frequency and distribution of articular and periarticular erosions. Articular and periarticular erosions are common and were demonstrated in 24 (30%) of 80 patients. The pattern and distribution of the erosions are unlikely to be confused with any of the well known erosive arthropathies except in an unusual circumstance.

Demonstration of unsuspected malignant disease of the pericardium by computed tomography.

Massive pericardial effusion associated with mediastinal neoplasm was first diagnosed by findings at computed tomography (CT) in two patients. In each case the CT findings prompted urgent pericardiocentesis for relief of pericardial tamponade. One of the patients was subsequently found to have a widely disseminated renal papillary adenocarcinoma, and the other had fibrosarcomatous mesothelioma of the pericardium.