Primary cerebellopontine angle melanocytoma: review.

Introduction Primary cerebellopontine angle melanocytomas (PCPAMs) are very rare. Their natural history and prognosis are not fully understood. We reviewed the literature and add a new case to analyze PCPAM's presentation, radiological features, and outcome of treatment. Methods We performed a literature review using Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. We searched for melanocytoma, melanoma, and pigmented tumors in the posterior cranial fossa and CPA to identify PCPAM. We have also searched our institution's neuro-oncology database. Results We identified 23 PCPAM from the literature and one case of our own. The mean age at presentation was 44.4 years with slight male preponderance. PCPAM presented with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) syndrome with or without hydrocephalus. Preoperative diagnosis was difficult; they appeared hyperintense on T1 and isointense on T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and enhanced with gadolinium. However, the final diagnosis was only made by immunohistochemical examination. Total surgical resection of PCPAM was associated with prolonged survival while subtotal excision was associated with frequent recurrence. Conclusion PCPAM are very rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all CPA lesions that appear hyperintense on T1 and isointense on T2 MRI images. Patients with PCPAM should undergo total surgical resection to avoid fatal recurrences

The Effects of the Division of the City of Lloydminster by the Alberta-Saskatchewan Inter-Provincial Boundary

L'article expose les conséquences, sur le développement de Lloydminster, de la localisation de la ligne frontière Alberta - Saskatchewan qui coupe cette cité en deux. Les problèmes de la duplication des services et des équipements publics encourageaient, dans les premières années d'existence de la communauté, les essais de fusion des deux parties de Lloydminster. Cette fusion a été accomplie en 1930, et la cité fonctionne sous une législation spéciale, le « Lloydminster Charter ». Les inefficacités inhérentes à cette division subsistent encore, en particulier pour le gouvernement municipal, de même que les désavantages pour les activités commerciales, parce que la législation provinciale de l'Alberta ou de la Saskatchewan s'applique aux individus, selon le côté de la ligne frontière où ils résident, travaillent, font leurs achats, ou possèdent des industries. La taxe de vente levée par le gouvernement de la Saskatchewan reste un problème pour les marchands et les habitants. La majeure partie du développement commercial et industriel se situe à l'ouest de la cité, c'est-à-dire en Alberta. Les sociétés industrielles et les marchands, les gens de métier et les habitants veulent que la cité soit située entièrement en Alberta ou entièrement en Saskatchewan pour supprimer les inefficacités et les irritations qui résultent de la division de la cité par la ligne frontière.The paper traces the effects of the superimposed inter-provincial boundary line on the development of Lloydminster. Duplication of public services, and other difficulties encouraged early efforts to amalgamate the community under one jurisdiction. This was accomplished in 1930 and the city is operated under special legislation which is called the « Lloydminster Charter ». Inherent inefficiencies still remain for civic government as well as disadvantages for private enterprises as the provincial legislation of Alberta or Saskatchewan prevails depending upon which side of the boundary a person resides, works, shops, or an economic enterprise is located. The sales tax levied on most purchases by the Saskatchewan Government remains a problem for retailers and citizens. Most of the commercial and industrial development is occurring on the Alberta side of the City. There is evidence that industrial and commercial companies, professional people and residents, would prefer the City to be either in Alberta or Saskatchewan in order to eradicate the inefficiencies and irritations caused by the division of the city by the boundary

Risk indictors in cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a prospective cohort study

Objectives This study aimed to identify indicators of the risk of progression of preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods This was a prospective cohort study following a population of cats with preclinical HCM. Cats serially underwent physical examination, blood pressure measurement, blood sampling and echocardiography. Development of congestive heart failure (CHF), arterial thromboembolism (ATE) or sudden death (SD) were considered cardiac-related events. Associations between factors recorded at baseline, and on revisit examinations, and the development of a cardiac-related event were explored using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results Forty-seven cats were recruited to the study and were followed for a median period of 1135 days. Fifteen cats (31.9%) experienced at least one cardiac-related event; six CHF, five ATE and five SD. One cat experienced a cardiac-related event per 10.3 years of patient follow-up. Cats with increased left atrial (LA) size and higher concentrations of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) at baseline were more likely to experience an event. Cats with a greater rate of enlargement of LA size between examinations were also more likely to experience an event. Conclusions and relevance Factors easily measured, either once or serially, in cats with preclinical HCM can help to identify those at greater risk of going on to develop clinical signs