ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to develop a minimally invasive surgical procedure for laminar lift and posterior cervical laminoplasty via the intermuscular approach using a canine model. Methods: Six Alaskan dogs were used for developing the surgical approach. The bilateral laminae of C3-7 were cut with an ultrasonic osteotome and fixed with bilateral plates to maintain the lamina lifting and reshape a wider spinal canal. The important structures, such as ligaments, supraspinous ligaments, interspinous ligaments, and ligamentum flavum were preserved. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by preoperative and postoperative imaging results and neck mobility. Results: The surgical procedures were all successfully performed in the 6 animals. All the dogs survived well within 1 year of postoperative follow-up. The postoperative neck mobility was as good as the preoperative one. Computed tomography results showed that the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal was successfully enlarged and maintained well. Conclusions: The minimally invasive surgical procedure for laminar lift and posterior cervical laminoplasty via the intermuscular approach was feasible in a canine model, which might be applied in clinical practice.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os valores de ácido úrico em duas populações chinesas etnicamente diferentes: Uyghur, com alta prevalência de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica, e Han, com prevalência mais baixa. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: A concentração sérica de ácido úrico e várias características clínicas e testes laboratoriais relevantes para a síndrome metabólica foram determinados em 4.157 indivíduos Uyghur e 6.448 indivíduos Han submetidos a um programa de checkups. O diagnóstico de esteatose hepática foi estabelecido por ultrassom abdominal. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica foi de 42,3% e 33,3% entre os indivíduos Uyghur e Han, respectivamente. A prevalência correspondente de hiperuricemia foi de 8,8% e 14,7%. A concentração sérica média de ácido úrico em Uyghurs também foi mais baixa do que em Hans (282,75 contra 310,79 µmol/L; p < 0,01). Entretanto, em ambas as populações, a prevalência de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica aumentou com a elevação da concentração sérica de ácido úrico, uma tendência mais pronunciada em Uyghurs do que em Hans (OR 3,279 e 3,230, respectivamente). Vários componentes da síndrome metabólica são mais pronunciados em Uyghurs do que em Hans. CONCLUSÕES: A concentração sérica de ácido úrico é um fator de risco independente para a doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica tanto em Uyghurs quando em Hans, mas outros fatores de risco podem ser mais importantes nas diferenças na prevalência da doença entre esses dois grupos étnicos.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare serum uric acid values in two ethnically distinct Chinese populations: Uyghur, with a high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and Han, with a lower prevalence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum uric acid and several clinical features and laboratory tests relevant to the metabolic syndrome were measured in 4,157 Uyghur and 6,448 Han subjects in a health examination program. The diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was established by abdominal ultrasound examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was 42.3% and 33.3% among Uyghur and Han subjects, respectively. The corresponding prevalence of hyperuricemia was 8.8% and 14.7%. The mean concentration of serum uric acid in Uyghurs also was lower than in Hans (282.75 vs. 310.79 µmol/L; p < 0.01). However, in both populations, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was increased in association with increasing serum uric acid concentrations, a trend that was more pronounced in Uyghur than in Han subjects (OR 3.279 and 3.230, respectively). Several components of the metabolic syndrome were more pronounced in Uyghurs than in Hans. CONCLUSIONS: Serum uric acid is an independent risk factor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in both Uyghurs and Hans, but other risk factors may be more important in the differences in prevalence of the disease between the two ethnic groups.