The effect of level and frequency on the audibility of partials was measured for complex tones with partials uniformly spaced on an equivalent rectangular bandwidth (ERB(N)) number scale. On each trial, subjects heard a sinusoidal "probe" followed by a complex tone. The probe was mistuned downwards or upwards (at random) by 4.5% from the frequency of one randomly selected partial in the complex. The subject indicated whether the probe was higher or lower in frequency than the nearest partial in the complex. The frequencies were roved from trial to trial, keeping frequency ratios fixed. In experiment 1, the level per partial, L, was 40 or 70 dB SPL and the mean frequency of the central partial, f(c), was 1201 Hz. Scores for the highest and lowest partials in the complexes were generally high for all spacings. Scores for the inner partials were close to chance at 0.75-ERB(N) spacing, and improved as the spacing was increased up to 2 ERB(N). For intermediate spacings, performance was better for the lower level used. In experiment 2, L was 70 dB SPL and f(c) was 3544 Hz. Performance worsened markedly for partial frequencies above 3544 Hz, consistent with a role of phase locking.

SummaryWe present a rare, but increasingly recognised, cause of thrombocytopenia in a 69-year-old Caucasian female. Complete haematological investigation, including blood films and autoantibody screen, did not reveal a cause for her thrombocytopenia. Omission of potentially offending medication did not improve the low platelet count. She had no features of systemic infection or inflammatory disease on history and examination. In light of persistent thrombocytopenia, Helicobacter pylori stool antigen was tested, and found to be positive. Platelet count improved after eradication therapy for H pylori. This prevented the need for steroid and immunoglobulin treatment in this patient. BACKGROUND

Multivisceral transplant (MVTx) refers to a composite graft from a cadaveric donor, which often includes the liver, the pancreaticoduodenal complex, and small intestine transplanted en bloc. It remains rare and is performed in specialist centres. Post-transplant complications are reported at a higher rate in multivisceral transplants because of the high levels of immunosuppression used to prevent rejection of the highly immunogenic intestine. In this study, we analyzed the clinical utility of 28 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in 20 multivisceral transplant recipients in whom previous non-functional imaging was deemed clinically inconclusive. The results were compared with histopathological and clinical follow-up data. In our study, the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT was determined as 66.7%, where a final diagnosis was confirmed clinically or via pathology. Of the 28 scans, 24 scans (85.7%) directly affected patient management, of which 9 were related to starting of new treatments and 6 resulted in an ongoing treatment or planned surgery being stopped. This study demonstrates that 18F-FDG PET/CT is a promising technique in identifying life-threatening pathologies in this complex group of patients. It would appear that 18F-FDG PET/CT has a good level of accuracy, including for those MVTx patients suffering from infection, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, and malignancy.

Selection of a standard length catheter can result in a situation where the catheter is too short. Optimum catheter length for a particular task will reduce the need for catheter exchanges and use of multiple balloons and therefore reduce complications, procedure time, radiation dose and cost.

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