title: Type I/type III collagen ratio associated with diverticulitis of the colon in young patients.
abstract: The incidence of diverticulitis in young patients is rising, whereas the type I:III collagen ratio of the colon decreases with age. Perhaps a lower type I:III collagen ratio in younger patients may predispose these patients to the development of the disease.
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the collagen content and type I:III collagen ratio in patients with diverticulitis versus a control group. Patients who underwent a colon resection were identified. Three groups of patients were created for analysis: those with diverticulitis aged <50 y, >50 y, and a control group. Tissue samples were stained with Sirius red/fast green and photographed. Photos analysis was performed to quantify the amount of type I collagen and type III collagen. The type I:III collagen ratio was calculated for each patient and compared.
  
  
  
  The quantity of type I collagen and type III collagen was higher in patients with diverticulitis aged >50 y (P = 0.04 and P < 0.0001, respectively); however, the collagen ratio was greatest in those patients with diverticulitis aged <50 y (P = 0.01). Further analysis demonstrated a significant higher type I:III ratio in all patients aged less than 50 y compared with all patients aged over 50 y (P = 0.04).
  
  
  
  Our study demonstrated that diverticulitis in the younger patient was not associated with a lower type I:III collagen ratio. It appears that the decrease in collagen ratio of the colon with age is associated with an increase in type III collagen deposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas. Electronic address: srbrowndo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shaun R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Elane M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Corey R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Deeken
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Sonni S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Huitron
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Kanayochukwu J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Aluka
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Kurt G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III
keywords: Collagen ratio; Diverticulitis; Type I collagen; Type III collagen