[Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of colonic diverticulitis in young patients].

Background/aims: The clinical course and the most appropriate management of colonic diverticulitis in young patients are currently unresolved. This retrospective study was designed to compare young patients (≤40 years) with older patients (>40 years) regarding clinical characteristics of acute colonic diverticulitis and to determine whether differences exist in treatment outcome.

Methods: Three-hundred sixty eight patients presenting with acute colonic diverticulitis from March 2001 through April 2011 at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.

Background: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) of the stomach is a histological type based on microscopic characteristics. Although the distinctive clinicopathological features of SRC have been reported, results are inconsistent and survival outcomes are uncertain.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 769 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy in our institute from 1999 to 2009.

Prevalence and predictive factors of fecal incontinence.

Background/aims: Most previous epidemiologic studies about fecal incontinence were performed in specific populations in Korea. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and predictive factors of fecal incontinence in adult Korean population, both men and women aged 20 years and over.

Methods: Subjects who had undergone medical check-up for health screening were enrolled.

Hemoglobin Yamagata: hemoglobin variant detected by HbA1c test.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Yamagata is a rare Hb variant, which has been reported only twice-one case each in Japan and Korea. This variant arises from a Lys --> Asn substitution due to a mutation of AAA to AAC or AAT at codon 133 of the beta-globin gene. This study reports the third case of a patient detected with Hb Yamagata [HBB: c.