Network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches to elucidate the potential compounds and targets of Saeng-Ji-Hwang-Ko for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Saeng-Ji-Hwang-Ko (SJHK) is a traditional Korean medicine formula derived from Donguibogam, a classic medical textbook, published in 1613. It is described as a general treatment for So-gal (wasting-thirst, ) known as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a modern clinical term. It is necessary to elucidate the potential compounds and targets of SJHK for T2DM treatment by conducting network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. METHODS: Information about the chemical constituents of SJHK were collected, and druggable compounds were screened based on oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. Putative target genes of druggable compounds and T2DM-related genes were retrieved from public databases. A compound-target network was constructed to visualize the relationship between the druggable compounds in SJHK and common targets related to T2DM. The constructed network was further investigated through Protein-Protein Interaction, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses, and molecular docking. RESULTS: Compound-target network analysis demonstrated that kaempferol, salicylic acid, estrone, and ß-sitosterol were key compounds of SJHK with PTGS2, ESR1, PRKAA2, PRKAB1, and CYP19A1 being its key targets. Estrogen signaling, AGE-RAGE signaling, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and TNF signaling pathway were potential pathways involved in the effect of SJHK on T2DM. Molecular docking simulations revealed that estrone and ß-sitosterol had the strong binding energies for all the key target proteins. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses help to better understand the potential key compounds and targets of SJHK for treating T2DM as a complementary medicine. SUMMARY: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. There has been a growing attention to new therapeutic approaches to treat T2DM using traditional medicine as a complementary treatment which is expected to have synergistic effects with few side effects. Saeng-Ji-Hwang-Ko (SJHK) is a traditional Korean medicine (TKM) formula derived from Donguibogam, a classic medical textbook, published in 1613. It is described as a general treatment for So-gal (wasting-thirst, ) known as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a modern clinical term. It is necessary to elucidate the potential compounds and targets of SJHK for T2DM treatment by conducting network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. Compound-target network analysis demonstrated that kaempferol, salicylic acid, estrone, and ß-sitosterol were key compounds of SJHK with PTGS2, ESR1, PRKAA2, PRKAB1, and CYP19A1 being its key targets. Estrogen signaling, AGE-RAGE signaling, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and TNF signaling pathway were potential pathways involved in the effect of SJHK on T2DM. Molecular docking evaluation revealed that estrone and ß-sitosterol had the highest binding energies for all key target proteins, suggesting potential key compounds of SJHK. Although additional future studies including further experimental and clinical validation are needed, this study demonstrates that SJHK has a great potential for treating T2DM as a complementary medicine.

A dynamic analysis of household debt using a self-organizing map.

The Korean consumer credit panel offers a well-organized set of microdata representing various characteristics of individual borrowers. To overcome the difficulty of fragmented microdata details, we construct a cluster of Korean consumers' credit, to develop a self-organizing map that visualizes individuals' characteristics along two dimensions. The result of cluster analysis reveals that most borrowers belong to one large cluster representing diligent borrowers who honor their loan payments. Conversely, several small clusters that represent borrowers with high default probability are identified, and we also found that these borrowers' characteristics vary. No significant change is found in the structure of the cluster, even when the aggregate amount of consumer credit is increased. Moreover, the expansionary monetary policy did not change the quantitative structure of household debt in Korea. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00181-021-02120-5.

Is the popliteus tendon always inserted antero-inferiorly 18.5 mm from the lateral collateral ligament of the femur? Magnetic resonance imaging and cadaveric evaluations.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the locations of the femoral attachments of the popliteus tendon (PT) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cadaveric dissection in a Korean population and compare with literature standards to determine whether variability exists. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed knee MRIs from 87 cases selected from January 2017 to December 2018. The relationship between the femoral attachment of PT and LCL was analyzed by MRI using PACS and Image J. In addition, the femoral attachments of each structure were identified and marked in 14 unpaired human cadaveric knees. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed, and the surface area, location and distances were analyzed. RESULTS: On MRI, the femoral attachment of PT was located at mean distances of 0.89 mm posterior and 9.35 mm inferior to the LCL femoral attachment. We identified three groups of PT locations relative to the LCL on MRI evaluation: parallel (63%), posterior (29%), and anterior (8%). On cadaveric evaluation, the femoral attachment of the PT was located at mean distances of 0.77 mm posterior and 8.90 mm inferior to the LCL femoral attachment. We also identified three groups of PT locations relative to the LCL on cadaveric evaluation: parallel (43%), posterior (36%), and anterior (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on both MRI and cadaveric evaluations in a Korean population, the femoral attachment of the PT is located just distal to and posterior to the LCL. The differences between the centroids of the femoral attachments of the two structures was approximately 9.7 mm, suggesting that racially based anatomical differences of the posterolateral corner may exist.

Correlation between meniscal extrusion and symptom duration, alignment, and arthritic changes in medial meniscus posterior root tear: research article.

BACKGROUND: Medial meniscus posterior root tear can result in medial meniscus extrusion. However, the severity of medial meniscus extrusion is different in each root tear patient. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that contribute to the severity of medial meniscus extrusion with medial meniscus posterior root tear, such as duration of disease, the degree of arthritis-chondral wear, subchondral edema, osteophyte size, and Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) grade-and mechanical alignment for appropriate treatment method. METHODS: From January 2009 to August 2014, we retrospectively analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and simple x-ray of 99 patients with medial meniscus posterior root tear. The duration of the disease was identified through retrospective chart review. The severity of medial meniscus extrusion, the presence of subchondral edema, the degree of chondral wear, and the size of the osteophyte were measured on MRI. K/L grade was confirmed on simple x-ray, and the mechanical axis was measured on whole extremity radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed by using bivariate correlation analysis and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean medial meniscus extrusion was 4.61 mm, and the mean duration of the disease was 15.52 months. The mean degree of chondral wear was 25.8%, and 63 out of 99 cases showed subchondral edema. The average alignment was 4.30 degrees, and the average size of the osteophyte was 1.48 mm. There were 40 cases (40.4%) with K/L grade I, 48 cases (48.5%) with grade II, 11 cases (11.1%) with grade III, and no cases with grade IV. In the group mean analysis between the K/L grade and the severity of medial meniscus extrusion, the average medial meniscus extrusions were 3.97 mm in grade I, 4.93 mm in grade II, and 5.59 mm in grade III. There was a statistical significance between the size of the osteophyte and the severity of medial meniscus extrusion (P = 0.000), K/L grade, and the severity of medial meniscus extrusion (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of medial meniscus extrusion with medial meniscus posterior horn root tear is associated with the size of the osteophyte and K/L grade.