Epidemiology of Symptomatic Chiari Malformation in Tatarstan: Regional and Ethnic Differences in Prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology can assess the effect of Chiari I malformation (CM1) on the neurological health of a population and evaluate factors influencing CM1 development. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the regional and ethnic differences in the prevalence of CM1. METHODS: The population of the Republic of Tatarstan (RT) in the Russian Federation was evaluated for patients with CM1 symptoms over an 11-yr period. Typical symptoms of CM1 were found in 868 patients. Data from neurological examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of posterior cranial fossa structures were analyzed. RESULTS: MRI evidence of CM1, defined as cerebellar tonsils lying at least 5 mm inferior to the foramen magnum, was found in 67% of symptomatic patients. Another 33% of symptomatic patients had 2 to 4 mm of tonsillar ectopia, which we defined as "borderline Chiari malformation type 1 (bCM1)." The period prevalence in the entire RT for symptomatic CM1 was 20:100 000; for bCM1 was 10:100 000; and for CM1 and bCM1 together was 30:100 000. Prevalence of patients with CM1 symptoms was greater in the northern than southern districts of Tatarstan, due to a high prevalence (413:100 000) of CM1 in the Baltasy region in one of the northern districts. CONCLUSION: One-third of patients with typical symptoms of CM1 had less than 5 mm of tonsillar ectopia (bCM1). Assessments of the health impact of CM1-type symptoms on a patient population should include the bCM1 patient group. A regional disease cluster of patients with Chiari malformation was found in Baltasy district of RT and needs further study.

Developing medical education capacity in Russia: twenty years of experience.

BACKGROUND: The partnership between Yale University (USA) and Kazan State Medical University (KSMU, Russia) was established in 1996 and transitioned to Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN)/University of Vermont Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine (USA) in 2012 with the goal of modernizing medical education at KSMU primarily through introduction of the American medical education structure, role modeling, and educational capacity building. It was centered on the formation of a select group of Russian junior faculty members familiar with American medical education who would then initiate a gradual change in medical education at KSMU. Here we describe the 20 year partnership, rooted in local capacity building, through which a sustainable, mutually rewarding international collaboration was established. In addition, we evaluate the program's outcomes and impact on medical education at Kazan State Medical University, and assess its influence on Russian program participants. METHODS: Senior residents and faculty were sent to KSMU to conduct teaching sessions with local faculty and trainees. Their responsibilities included familiarizing Russian colleagues with specific topics in clinical medicine, importing knowledge about the basics of teaching, clinical epidemiology and evidence based medicine, and creating, in consistency with the American model, a "Clinical Teaching Team Structure" that integrates patient care with clinical education. Furthermore, 44 of selected KSMU members, including 13 junior faculty (29.5%), 14 clinical PhD students (31.8%), 12 interns/residents (27.3%), and five medical students (11.4%), were trained at Yale/WCHN or one of their major affiliated community hospitals for a period of 1 to 12 months for a total of 844 participant-weeks of training. RESULTS: Thirty (68.2%) individuals who were trained in the U.S. are currently working in Kazan primarily as faculty at KSMU. Among them, three trainees (10%) have become heads of their department, eight (26.7%) hold senior faculty positions, and two (6.7%) have clinical and educational administrative leadership positions. Two major clinical departments have adopted the "Clinical Teaching Team Structure." As a result of the collaboration, three teaching courses - Evidence-Based Medicine, Tropical Medicine, and HIV/AIDS Medicine - have been designed and incorporated into the curriculum. CONCLUSION: This partnership has been instrumental in introducing the American medical education model and expanding the medical knowledge of faculty, residents, and students of KSMU on infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, tropical medicine, renal diseases, and global health topics. Capacity building through the Yale/WCHN-KSMU exchange program has greatly contributed to the quality of medical education at Kazan State Medical University.