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(1) The apical or Verson cell of the testis of Orthoptera is a connective tissue element having a trophic function. Its secretion is rich in ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is absorbed by the germ cells. This is a primary source of RNA for spermatogony. (2) Nuclear chromatin is probably concerned in RNA elaboration. The variation in amount and distribution of the perinuclear RNA granules suggest the existence of a secretory cycle analogous to that described in Asellus. (3) In the connective tissue cells of the zone below the apical complex, degenerative processes are observed, the end-product of which is essentially RNA. The spherules which stain green or violet with Unna's mixture and are Feulgen-positive, are interpreted as pyknotic nuclei. Their chromatin is transformed into RNA and constitutes spherules and small granules positive to pyronine, which are absorbed by spermatocytes in meiotic, prophase. Thus, during spermatogenesis in the investigated Orthoptera, both the apical cell and some degenerating connective tissue elements produce RNA, which is absorbed by the developing germ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Comparison of Nizatidine and Cimetidine as Once-Nightly Treatment of Acute Duodenal Ulcer," by Cherner and colleagues in the 1989 issue.

Wheat grain yield is a complex trait resulting from a trade-off among many distinct components. During wheat evolution, domestication events and then modern breeding have strongly increased the yield potential of wheat plants, by enhancing spike fertility. To address the genetic bases of spike fertility in terms of spikelet number per spike and floret number per spikelet, a population of 110 recombinant inbred lines (RILS) obtained crossing a Triticum turgidum ssp. durum cultivar (Latino) and a T. dicoccum accession (MG5323) was exploited. Being a modern durum and a semi-domesticated genotype, respectively, the two parents differ for spike architecture and fertility, and thus the corresponding RIL population is the ideal genetic material to dissect genetic bases of yield components. The RIL population was phenotyped in four environments. Using a high-density SNP genetic map and taking advantage of several genome sequencing available for Triticeae , a total of 94 QTLs were identified for the eight traits considered; these QTLs were further reduced to 17 groups, based on their genetic and physical co-location. QTLs controlling floret number per spikelet and spikelet number per spike mapped in non-overlapping chromosomal regions, suggesting that independent genetic factors determine these fertility-related traits. The physical intervals of QTL groups were considered for possible co-location with known genes functionally involved in spike fertility traits and with yield-related QTLs previously mapped in tetraploid wheat. The most interesting result concerns a QTL group on chromosome 5B, associated with spikelet number per spike, since it could host genes still uncharacterized for their association to spike fertility. Finally, we identified two different regions where the trade-off between fertility related traits and kernel weight is overcome. Further analyses of these regions could pave the way for a future identification of new genetic loci contributing to fertility traits essential for yield improvement in durum wheat., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 A. Y., E., R., E., M., L. and F.)

Prune exopolyphosphatase 1 (PRUNE1) is a short-chain phosphatase that is part of the aspartic acid-histidine-histidine (DHH) family of proteins. PRUNE1 is highly expressed in the central nervous system and is crucially involved in neurodevelopment, cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell migration, and proliferation. Recently, biallelic PRUNE1 variants have been identified in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, hypotonia, microcephaly, variable cerebral anomalies, and other features. PRUNE1 hypomorphic mutations mainly affect the DHH1 domain, leading to an impactful decrease in enzymatic activity with a loss-of-function mechanism. In this review, we explored both the clinical and radiological spectrum related to PRUNE1 pathogenic variants described to date. Specifically, we focused on neuroradiological findings that, together with clinical phenotypes and genetic data, allow us to best characterize affected children with diagnostic and potential prognostic implications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationship that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Scorrano, Laura, Spiaggia, Basile, Palmucci, Foti, David, Marinangeli, Mascilini, Comisi, Vittori and Salpietro.)

Intestinal mucus is a complex natural hydrogel barrier with unique physical properties that impede the absorption of various oral drugs. Both washout from the upper water layer and the physical resistance of the mucus layer particularly affect bioavailability of, especially, highly water-soluble molecules. One potential strategy for designing pharmaceutical formulations is to add absorption enhancers (AEs). However, there are few reports of AEs that work on mucus and their underlying mechanisms, leading to imprecise application. In this study, we investigated chitooligosaccharide (COS) as a safe, low-cost, and effective oral drug AE. We revealed the hydrodynamic law of interaction between COS and the intestinal mucus layer, which was associated with absorption benefiting mucus structural reconstruction. Based on this, we designed a translational strategy to improve the bioavailability of a group of soluble oral drugs by drinking COS solution before administration. Moreover, this research is expected to expand its application scenario by reducing drug dosage such as avoiding gastro-intestinal irritation and slowing veterinary antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim : To investigate the efficacy and safety of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) using a 577 nm yellow wavelength laser randomly assigned to either 1500 or 1000 mW in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods : A prospective, double-blinded study of POAG patients was performed in a single center. MLT treatment included a 577 nm micropulse laser (IRIDEX IQ 577 TM , IRIDEX, Mountain View, CA, USA) to 360° of the trabecular meshwork at randomly assigned varying powers: 1500 mW in one eye (MLT 1500 group) and 1000 mW in the other (MLT 1000 group). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal central thickness (CCT), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were evaluated at baseline (T0), post-operative 1 h (T1), 24 h (T2), 1 month (T3), 3 months (T4), and 6 months (T5) after laser treatment. Topical medications were assessed pre-treatment and at T4. Results : Among the 18 eyes included, we achieved a success rate (IOP reduced > 20%) in 77% of sampled eyes. In particular, IOP reduced at T2 and T3 with both MLT 1500 and 1000 without any significant differences (IOP reduction 22.9% vs. 17.3%, respectively, MLT1500 vs. MLT1000 at T2). The IOP returned to baseline values at T4 and T5 in both groups, with a reduction in topical medications administered from 2.5 ± 1.1 to 2.0 ± 1.2 to the 1500 mW group and from 2.4 ± 1.0 to 1.9 ± 1.0 to the 1000 mW group. At 1 h post-laser treatment, a transient IOP spike was registered among the MLT1500 group. There were no differences in CCT and ECC at any timepoint according to the laser powers. Conclusions : Over a 6-month follow-up period, 577 nm MLT at either 1500 or 1000 mW reduces IOP, enabling a stable reduction in the number of topical medications required for patients treated for POAG without any significant difference in terms of effectiveness and safety.

Background: In recent years, the role of laparoscopic approach in the surgical treatment of right colon cancer has increased. Results comparing the different techniques of ileocolic anastomoses are controversial, with studies only reporting some advantages of the intracorporeal laparoscopic technique. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes between laparoscopic versus open hemicolectomy for right colon cancer, focusing on anastomotic techniques (intracorporeal vs extracorporeal in the laparoscopic procedure, and manual vs mechanical in the laparotomic procedure)., Methods: This is a retrospective single center study enrolling patients with right colon cancer from January 2016 to December 2020. Primary endpoint of the study was the rate of anastomotic leak (AL)., Results: A total of 161 patients who underwent right hemicolectomy were enrolled: 91 were performed with laparoscopic technique, and 70 with open technique. Overall, AL occurred in 15 pts (9.3%). We observed 4 AL in intracorporeal (12.9%) and 6 in extracorporeal (10%) anastomoses, respectively. In the laparotomy group 5 patients (7.1%) developed AL, of which 3 (5.7%) and 2 (11.1%) manually and mechanically performed, respectively., Conclusions: Based on our findings, laparoscopic hemicolectomy has a higher incidence of anastomotic leak. In the laparoscopic group, we observed the lowest rate of AL with extracorporeal mechanical anastomosis. When performed extracorporeally with open technique, hand-sewn anastomosis has better results than mechanical., Key Words: Anastomosis, Cancer, Ileotransverse, Leakage, Right Colectomy.

Mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (mEMA) offers a novel method for dietary assessment and may reduce recall bias and participant burden. This review evaluated mEMA methodology and the feasibility, acceptability and validity as a dietary assessment method in young people. Five databases were searched from January 2008 to September 2021 for studies including healthy young people aged 16-30 years and used mEMA for obtaining dietary intake data, food consumption behaviours and/or contextual factors. Data on the method used to administer mEMA, compliance with recording and validation were extracted. A total of 46 articles from 39 independent studies were included, demonstrating a wide variation in mEMA methods. Signal-contingent prompting (timed notification to record throughout the day) was used in 26 studies, 9 used event-contingent (food consumption triggered recordings), while 4 used both. Monitoring periods varied and most studies reported a compliance rate of 80% or more. Two studies found mEMA to be burdensome and six reported mEMA as easy to use. Most studies (31/39) reported using previously validated questions. mEMA appears to be a feasible and acceptable methodology to assess dietary intake and food consumption in near real time.

Objective: The endpoint of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes of short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and SCRT with delayed surgery (SCRT-DS) on a selected subgroup of frail patients with locally advanced middle/low rectal adenocarcinoma., Methods: From January 2008 to December 2018, a total of 128 frail patients with locally advanced middle-low rectal adenocarcinoma underwent SCRT and subsequent restaging for eventual delayed surgery. Rates of complete pathological response, down-staging, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed., Results: 128 patients completed 5 × 5 Gy pelvic radiotherapy. 69 of these were unfit for surgery; 59 underwent surgery 8 weeks (average time: 61 days) after radiotherapy. Downstaging of T occurred in 64% and down-staging of N in 50%. The median overall survival (OS) of SCRT alone was 19.5 months. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year OS was 48%, 22%, 14% and 0% respectively. In the surgical group, the median disease-free survival (DFS) and median OS were, respectively, 67 months (95% CI 49.8-83.1 months) and 72.1 months (95% CI 57.5-86.7 months). The 1, 2, 3, 5-year OS was 88%, 75%, 51%, 46%, respectively. Post-operative morbidity was 22%, mortality was 3.4%., Conclusions: Frail patients with advanced rectal cancer are often "unfit" for long-term neoadjuvant chemoradiation. A SCRT may be considered a valid option for this group of patients. Once radiotherapy is completed, patients can be re-evaluated for surgery. If feasible, SCRT and delayed surgery is the best option for frail patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors do not have any conflicts of interest, or financial ties to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this longitudinal, controlled, and retrospective pilot study was to assess how metformin, associated with a contraceptive vaginal ring, may influence lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and surrogate markers of arterial function in normal weight polycystic ovary syndrome patients., Material and Methods: Among 28 lean patients, 15 were treated with vaginal ring plus metformin and 13 women with only vaginal ring. The effects were assessed after six months. The patients were submitted to evaluation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; Doppler analysis of ophthalmic artery; brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation; and oral glucose tolerance test., Results: After six months, the fasting insulin, glucose/insulin ratio, and homeostatic model assessment estimates for insulin resistance were significantly improved in metformin group. The ophthalmic artery pulsatility index did not significantly improve in either group. The brachial artery vasodilation was better in metformin treated patients., Conclusion: Metformin, associated with vaginal ring, improves the insulin and carbohydrate metabolism. This, associated with the significant improvements of surrogate markers of arterial function, may be responsible of a slight possible cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effect.

Purpose: To evaluate capsulotomy shape and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) during an 18-month follow-up for bimanual femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS)., Methods: 74 eyes operated by a well-trained surgeon with bimanual FLACS technique using low-energy LDV Z8 (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, Port, Switzerland) were included in the study. The follow-up period was 18 ± 2 months. Another 91 eyes, which underwent standard bimanual microincision cataract surgery (B-MICS), served as a control group. In all cases, a BunnyLens AF (Hanita Lenses, Israel) intraocular lens was implanted in the bag. A digital image of the capsule with slit-lamp retroillumination was performed in all patients at 18 months of follow-up. Image analysis software (ImageJ) was used to evaluate the shape of the capsulotomy in terms of diameter, area, and circularity. PCO score was evaluated using EPCO 2000 software. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and endothelial cell count (ECC) were evaluated before and after surgery at 1 and 18 ± 2 months., Results: At 18 months, mean capsulotomy diameter was 5.34 ± 0.21 mm while capsulorhexis was 5.87 ± 0.37 mm ( p < 0.001) and the deviation area from baseline was 1.13 ± 1.76 mm 2 in FLACS and 2.67 ± 1.69 mm 2 in B-MICS ( p < 0.001). Capsulotomy circularity was 0.94 ± 0.04 while capsulorhexis was 0.83 ± 0.07 ( p < 0.001). EPCO score was 0.050 ± 0.081 in the FLACS group and 0.122 ± 0.239 in the B-MICS group ( p =0.03). The mean BCVA improvement was significant in both groups, without a significant difference at 18 months. We noticed a statistically significant difference in endothelial cell loss at 18 months (FLACS 12.4% and B-MICS 18.1%; p =0.017)., Conclusions: Bimanual FLACS is a safe and effective technique, as determined in a long-term follow-up. Capsulotomy shape presented higher stability and circularity in the FLACS group over the 18-month observation period. FLACS resulted in lower PCO scores and endothelial cell loss at 18 months in comparison to B-MICS standard technique., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Tommaso Verdina et al.)

Objective: To evaluate the histopathologic modifications in liver and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and to correlate these changes with clinical measures, adipokine production, and proinflammatory cytokines in a population of adolescents with obesity with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG)., Study Design: Twenty adolescents with obesity who underwent LSG and with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. Patients underwent clinical evaluation and blood tests at baseline and 1 year after the surgical procedure. Liver and VAT specimens were processed for routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence., Results: In adolescents with obesity and NAFLD, hepatic histologic alterations were uncorrelated with VAT inflammation. LSG induced in both liver and VAT tissue histopathology amelioration and macrophage profile modification that were correlated with body mass index and improvement in insulin resistance. The adipokine profile in liver and VAT was associated with weight loss and histologic improvement after LSG. Serum proinflammatory cytokines were correlated with liver and VAT histopathology and IL-1β and IL-6 levels were independently predicted by liver necroinflammatory grade., Conclusions: This study suggests a unique adipose tissue/fatty liver crosstalk in pediatric patients. LSG induces a similar pattern of histologic improvement in the liver and in VAT. Besides VAT, our results strengthen the role of the liver in adipocytokine production and its contribution to systemic inflammation in pediatric patients with NAFLD., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The extract of the seeds from Indian celery, Apium greaveolens (CSE), tested in experimental animals (rodents), and in humans affected by chronic osteoarthritic diseases, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects that can be compared, to some degree, to those of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). In view of a potential use of CSE in the equine species, it was tested on horses affected by chronic articular pathologies. The trial was performed on 20 horses divided into three different groups, orally treated with 0 (controls), 7.0 or 30 g of CSE BID. Basic orthopedic examinations were conducted, vital signs were observed, and blood samples collected. Improvement was observed at the highest dosage tested (30 g of CSE BID), as reflected in the score values of three clinical parameters, (i) amplitude and (ii) sensitivity to passive flexion and (iii) flexion test. Since the improvement of these parameters can be correlated with a lower perception of the pain, the present data suggest that the CSE treatment can have an analgesic effect in horses affected by chronic osteoarthritic diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is a rare but aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine-derived malignancy that predominantly affects elderly white males. The presence of distant nodal metastases significantly impacts survival. Typical metastatic sites of MCC are liver, bone, brain and skin. Gastrointestinal metastases are uncommon and small bowel is the most common site followed by stomach. We report a case of symptomatic MCC jejunal metastasis.

Appendiceal mucocele represents specimen finding in 0.2-0.3% out of appendectomies. The rupture or perforation in peritoneal cavity might cause pseudomixoma peritonei (PMP), with multiple mucinous deposits in the abdominal cavity. We report a case of PMP caused by a perforated appendiceal cistoadeonoma.

Mirizzi Syndrome (MS) is an uncommon complication of chronic gallstone disease defined as a common bile duct (CBD) obstruction secondary to gallstone impaction in the cystic duct or gallbladder neck. MS is still a challenging clinical situation: preoperative diagnosis of MS is complex and can be made in 18-62.5% of patients. Over 50% of patients with MS is diagnosed during surgery. In most of cases, laparotomy is the preferred surgical approach. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with a history of asthenia, jaundice, abdominal pain and preoperative imaging that suggest the presence of biliary stones with a choledocal stenosis. Intraoperatively, a MS with cholecysto-biliary fistula involving less than two-thirds of the circumference of the bile duct was diagnosed and successfully treated.

Laminitis, a highly debilitating disease of the foot in ungulates, is characterized by pathological changes of the complex lamellar structures that maintain the appendicular skeleton within the hoof. Laminitis is a multifactorial disease that involves perturbation of the vascular, hematological, and inflammatory homeostasis of the foot. Interestingly, the pathogenesis of the disease resembles what is observed in metabolic syndromes and sepsis-induced organ failure in humans and animals. We hypothesized that local administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) might contribute to establishing an anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic environment, and could stimulate the injured tissue in order to restore its functional integrity. According to this assumption, an experimental protocol based on the local intravenous administration of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (aMSCs) in combination with PRP was developed for the treatment of horses affected by chronic laminitis. Nine horses with severely compromised venograms (showing grade III and IV laminitis) that had been unsuccessfully treated with conventional therapies were enrolled. aMSCs and PRP (15 × 10⁶ cells resuspended in 15 mL of PRP) were injected into the lateral or medial digital vein three times, at one-month intervals. The first administration was performed with allogeneic aMSCs, while for the following administrations, autologous aMSCs were used. There was no adverse short-term reaction to the intravenous injection of aMSCs. In the long term, venograms outlined, in all subjects, a progressive amelioration of the vascularization of the foot. An improvement in the structure and function of the hoof was also observed. No adverse events were reported during the follow-up, and the horses returned to a comfortable quality of life. Although the number of animals enrolled in the study is limited, both clinical observations and venography demonstrated an enhancement in the condition of all horses, suggesting that the regenerative therapies in chronic laminitis could be useful, and are worthy of further investigation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Introduction: Oral contraceptives could induce mood changes. As far as our knowledge, there are no studies in literature that have examined the role of vaginal contraception in self-perceived body image., Aim: To evaluate the effects of intravaginal contraception on weight gain and perceived body image in relation with the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI) and the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ)., Methods: Twenty-one adult (18-35 years old) eumenorrheic (menstrual cycle of 25-35 days), lean (body mass index - BMI - of 19-25 kg/m 2 ) women who were referred for hormonal contraception were administered the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS), BDI and MFSQ. Subjects were studied in basal condition and after 6 months of therapy with vaginal contraception (NuvaRing®; Organon-Schering-Plough Italia, Milan, Italy)., Main Outcome Measures: BMI, FRS, MFSQ and BDI., Results: After 6 months of therapy with NuvaRing®, both body weight (60.0 ± 8.3; p = 0.050) and BMI (22.1 ± 3.1; p = 0.028) slightly, but statistically, increased. FRS and BDI showed no differences after the vaginal contraception. Hormonal contraception was associated with a significant decrease in the two-factor Italian MFSQ score., Conclusions: Vaginal ring seems a good alternative to other hormonal contraceptive not significantly altering the female sexuality and not influencing the FRS and BDI.

This study focuses, for the first time, on the presence of plastic debris in the stomach contents of large pelagic fish (Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus and Thunnus alalunga) caught in the Mediterranean Sea between 2012 and 2013. Results highlighted the ingestion of plastics in the 18.2% of samples. The plastics ingested were microplastics (<5mm), mesoplastics (5-25mm) and macroplastics (>25mm). These preliminary results represent an important initial phase in exploring two main ecotoxicological aspects: (a) the assessment of the presence and impact of plastic debris on these large pelagic fish, and (b) the potential effects related to the transfer of contaminants on human health., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Oral contraceptives (OC) are effective for birth control and have good cycle control and tolerability. However, the hormonal components could modify mood and libido., Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the genital vascular effects and sexual behavior of an OC containing 30 μg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone in comparison with a flexible combined contraceptive vaginal ring., Methods: Forty women underwent a sonographic assessment of the clitoral anatomy and vascularization and were administered the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ) and the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI). Estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, and SHBG were assayed. Free Androgen Index (FAI) and Free Estrogen Index (FEI) were calculated. The patients were randomly submitted to OC (group I; n = 21) or vaginal ring (group II; n = 19)., Main Outcome Measures: Ultrasonographic clitoral volume, pulsatility index (PI) of dorsal clitoral arteries, MFSQ, BDI, and hormonal and biochemical assays were analyzed., Results: After therapy, the testosterone levels were reduced in both groups, whereas estradiol decreased only in group I women. The SHBG increased in all the subjects, and both FAI and FEI decreased. The clitoral volume decreased in all the women. The PI of the dorsal clitoral artery increased only in patients on OC. The hormonal contraception was associated, in both studied groups, with a significant decrease of the two-factor Italian MFSQ score, which was more marked in OC users. In group I subjects, there was a reduction of the number of intercourse/week and a reduction of orgasm frequency during intercourse. The pain during intercourse worsened after OC use. The vaginal ring users reported a vaginal wetness., Conclusions: Six-month treatment with hormonal contraception is associated with a diminished MFSQ score. However, the frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm was reduced only by the use of OC. The OC use was associated with increased pain during intercourse., (© 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine.)

Background: To verify if in lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, the smok- ing habitude might increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease., Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, eighty-one women were divided into the following three groups: group I with 27 non-smokers, group II with 26 light-smokers (1-10 cigarettes/day), and group III with 28 heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes/ day). They were submitted to fasting blood sampling; blood measurement of nitrites/ni- trates (NO2-/ NO3), biochemical and hormonal parameters; ovarian ultrasonographic (US) analysis; doppler evaluation of uterine and ophthalmic arteries; brachial artery flow-medi- ated vasodilatation; 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; and oral glucose toler- ance test (OGTT)., Results: Doppler analysis revealed higher uterine and ophthalmic arteries pulsatility in- dex (PI) and ophthalmic artery back pressure in group III compared with group I. The brachial artery diameter and PI, at baseline, was similar among all groups. After the re- active hyperemia, a more intense vasodilatation was observed in group I in comparison with group III. The 24-hour blood pressure demonstrated that, in group III patients, the 24-hour, day- and night-time diastolic blood pressure (DBP), was higher in comparison with non-smokers. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was higher in heavy smokers than in non-smokers. The leukocytes and homocysteine (HCY) values were increased in group III. The NO2-/ NO3- plasma levels were reduced in heavy smokers in compari- son with non-smokers. The insulin, glucose and C-peptide plasma values were higher in group III than in other groups. In heavy smokers, the estimates of insulin sensitivity (ISI) and pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-B) were higher compared to the other groups., Conclusion: Smoking habitude in lean PCOS patients may increase the soft markers of CV risk.