The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of tea catechin on fasting blood glucose in experimental diabetes model. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats was induced by high fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin. The experimental group was divided into 3 different groups, non-diabetes control (NC) group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group, and diabetes mellitus+P60 (DM+P60) group. Polyphenon 60(P60) administered with dissolved in 0.2% dringking water. At 16 weeks after P60 treatment, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin and serum triglyceride levels were measured. The glucose metabolism-related genes were studied in rat liver by RNA-seq analysis. Fasting blood glucose levels increase by four times in the DM group compared to the NC group. In the DM+P60 group, it was decreased by 24% compared to the DM group. The HOMA-IR index was increased in the DM group and it decreased in the DM+P60 group compared to the DM group. The serum triglyceride level increased by 148% in the NC group, and decreased by 22% in the DM+P60 group compared to the DM group. Glucokinase mRNA expression was decreased in the liver of DM group compared to NC group, whereas the phosphofructokinase 1, glucose-6-phosphotase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression did not show significant differences in DM group liver. In DM+P60 group, liver glucokinase expression was increased significantly (P: 5.00E-05) compared with DM group. This study shows that P60 beneficially modifies glucose metabolism and markedly enhances glucose tolerance in experimental diabetic rats. Dietary supplementation with P60 could potentially contribute to nutritional strategies for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Demacort® is mixture of betamethasone (high-potency corticosteroid) and clotrimazole (antifungal agent), an inhibitor of CYP3A4, which can inhibit the metabolism of betamethasone. Interaction of these drugs may result in decreased clearance of betamethasone and increased risk for adverse events such as iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome. A 26-year-old female was admitted to the hospital due to rapid weight gain after application of Demacort®. During a period of one month, she showed weight gain of 30 kg and developed several Cushingoid appearances. The result of an overnight dexamethasone suppression test was negative, thus, endogenous Cushing’s syndrome was ruled out. A negative cortisol response was observed for the rapid ACTH stimulation test; therefore, we made a diagnosis of iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome combined with additional secondary adrenal insufficiency.