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Health care depends on people. It is the health workforce--doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, and nursing assistants, to mention a few--that, in large measure, determine the quality and effectiveness of [...]

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neurological disorder characterised by the occurrence of motor and vocal tics and the presence of premonitory sensory/urge phenomena. Functional neuroimaging studies in humans, and experimental investigations in animals, have shown that the genesis of tics in TS involve a complex interaction between cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical brain circuits and additionally appears to involve the cerebellum. Furthermore, structural brain imaging studies have demonstrated alterations in grey matter (GM) volume in TS across a wide range of brain areas, including alterations in GM volume within the cerebellum. Until now, no study to our knowledge has yet investigated how GM structural covariance networks linked to the cerebellum may be altered in individuals with TS. In this study we employed voxel-based morphometry, and a ‘seed-to-voxel’ structural covariance network (SCN) mapping approach, to investigate alterations in GM cerebellar volume in people with TS, and alterations in cerebellar SCNs associated with TS. Data from 64 young participants was entered in the final analysis, of which 28 had TS while 36 were age-and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Using the spatially unbiased atlas template of the cerebellum and brainstem (SUIT) atlas, we found reduced GM volume in cerebellar lobule involved in higher-order cognitive functions and sensorimotor processing, in patients. In addition, we found that several areas located in frontal and cingulate cortices and sensorimotor network in addition to subcortical areas show altered structural covariance with our cerebellar seed compared to age-matched controls. These results add to the increasing evidence that cortico-basal ganglia–cerebellar interactions play an important role in tic symptomology.

Contexte,problématique et objectifs : Les nombres restreints de diplômés sortant d’écoles de médecine peu nombreuses, et l’émigration des diplômés vers d’autres pays contribuent au faible nombre de médecins présents en Afrique subsaharienne. L’étude sur les écoles de médecine en Afrique subsaharienne a examiné les défis, les innovations et les nouvelles tendances au regard de l’éducation en médecine dans la région. Méthodes : Nous avons retenu 168 écoles de médecine; parmi les 146 qui ont été soumises à l’enquête, 105 (72 %) ont répondu. Résultats : Les observations tirées de l’étude indiquaient que les pays mettaient en priorité l’éducation médicale dans le cadre du renforcement du secteur de la santé et nous avons constaté nombre d’innovations dans la préparation « pré-médicale », l’éducation en équipe et l’usage créatif du soutien limité en matière de recherche. L’étude a aussi attiré l’attention sur le problème généralisé d’un effectif insuffisant de professeurs capables d’enseigner les sciences fondamentales et cliniques, d’une infrastructure physique peu développée et du manque d’accréditation externe. Les tendances enregistrées incluent la croissance des écoles de médecine privées, l’éducation axée sur la communauté, les partenariats internationaux et l’effet positif de la recherche pour le développement des professeurs. Dix recommandations orientent l’initiative de renforcement de l’éducation en médecine en Afrique subsaharienne.

Small numbers of graduates from few medical schools, and emigration of graduates to other countries, contribute to low physician presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The Sub-Saharan African Medical School Study examined the challenges, innovations, and emerging trends in medical education in the region. We identified 168 medical schools; of the 146 surveyed, 105 (72%) responded. Findings from the study showed that countries are prioritising medical education scale-up as part of health-system strengthening, and we identified many innovations in premedical preparation, team-based education, and creative use of scarce research support. The study also drew attention to ubiquitous faculty shortages in basic and clinical sciences, weak physical infrastructure, and little use of external accreditation. Patterns recorded include the growth of private medical schools, community-based education, and international partnerships, and the benefit of research for faculty development. Ten recommendations provide guidance for efforts to strengthen medical education in sub-Saharan Africa.