AIM: To investigate the role of transferrin/transferrin receptor system in transferrin-bound Yb 2 (Yb 2Tf) uptake by U-87 MG cells and the effect of transferrin-bound and -free Yb 2 on proliferation of U-87 MG cells. METHODS: Cell culture and ICP-MS measurement of Yb 2. RESULTS: Yb 2Tf uptake by U-87 MG cells increased with the concentrations of Yb 2Tf, and reached saturation as the concentration in the incubation medium was raised to about 2 ?mol/L. Also, Yb 2 uptake by the cells increased with increase of the mole ratio (Yb 2: apoTf), reaching a maximum at 1.5 mole ratio. Yb 2Tf in 0.4 ?mol/L significantly inhibited proliferation of U-87 MG cells, however, 10 ?mol/L Yb 3+ had no significant effect on proliferation of the cells. CONCLUSION: The uptake of Yb 2 by U-87 MG cells might be mediated by transferrin/transferrin receptor system. Transferrin-bound but not transferrin-free Yb 2 could significantly inhibit proliferation of U-87 MG cells.

Objective To summarize the current status and trend of hypoglycemic agents of diabetic inpatients in different departments of Chinese PLA General Hospital.Methods The clinical data of diabetic patients admitted to Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2000 to May 2014 were collected(those hospitalized in the department of endocrinology were excluded).A total of 10 041 patients were selected by stratified random sampling.The type of hypoglycemic agents in different departments and the variation on anti-hyperglycemic drugs with time were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of all the patients in non-endocrinological wards, 50.2% were treated with insulin, 36.9% with metformin, 21.3% with α-glycosidase inhibitor, and 18.9% with sulfonylureas.Metformin, α-glucosidase inhibitors, pre-mixed 30R, and insulin glargine were more commonly used than other anti-hyperglycemic agents, accounting for 36.9%, 21.0%, 14.0%, 8.7%, respectively.Metformin, sulfonylureas, α-glucosidase inhibitor, and different types of insulin were more widely applied in internal medicine while insulin therapy was more frequently used in surgical department.During the past 15 years, the proportions of insulin, glinides, α-glucosidase inhibitor, and thiazolidinediones application were gradually increased, while the proportions of sulfonylureas and metformin treatment were on the decline trend.Conclusion Most of the inpatients were treated with oral antidiabetic drugs.Metformin, α-glucosidase inhibitor, pre-mixed 30R, and insulin glargine were the most frequently prescribed agents for the inpatients.