Environmental toxicants are ubiquitous throughout the environment as a result of human activity. Among these toxicants, environmental estrogens are a category of particular concern due to their environmental prevalence and potency in altering reproductive traits. While many studies have addressed the detrimental effects of environmental estrogens on both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, few have analyzed the potential for these compounds to alter mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the primary energy-generating system for all eukaryotic life, supporting all aspects of development, metabolism, and growth. Each cell within the body contains many mitochondria which in turn contain multiple copies of their own DNA genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations in mtDNA are responsible for a wide range of human diseases such as metabolic syndromes, cancers, and obesity. Among these mitochondrial diseases many are characterized by increased levels of heteroplasmy, multiple mitochondrial DNA haplotypes within an individual. Increased heteroplasmy can alter normal mitochondrial function and influence disease initiation and progression. To date, no studies have investigated the effects of synthetic estrogens on mitochondrial genome stability. Synthetic estrogens have the capacity to bind to estrogen receptors and initiate estrogenic responses through translocation into the mitochondrion. Despite our knowledge about the relationship of heteroplasmy and disease, we still do not have a complete grasp of the mechanisms of heteroplasmic induction. Here we report our analysis of the effects of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) exposure in three studies to investigate its effect on mitochondrial genome stability. Data analysis reveals a statistically significant relationship between EE2 exposure and increased heteroplasmic frequency.

Aerogéis de hidroxipropil metilcelulose (HPMC) com diferentes graus de substituição por grupos metila (DS) e hidroxipropila (MS) foram preparados por liofilização utilizando diferentes ácidos como agentes de reticulação, a saber: ácido cítrico, ácido oxálico e ácido tereftálico. Nanocristais de celulose bacteriana (BCN) neutros e negativamente carregados foram utilizados como carga de reforço nas concentrações de 5% (m/m) e 15% (m/m) em relação à massa da matriz. Os resultados indicaram que HPMCs com menores valores de DS e maiores valores de MS resultam em aerogéis com maior eficiência na reticulação. Além disso, agentes de reticulação insolúveis em água minimizaram a capacidade de reticulação, enquanto agentes de reticulação com uma maior quantidade de grupos funcionais ácidos aumentaram a probabilidade e a eficiência da reação de reticulação das cadeias de HPMC. Os aerogéis apresentaram alta estabilidade em água, solventes orgânicos e meio ácido, além de apresentar resiliência quanto à deformação em meio aquoso. Os aerogéis apresentaram porosidade de ~98%, densidade média variando de 0,021 à 0,026 (± 0,002) g.cm-3, módulo de Young variando de 101 à 150 (± 19) kPa e capacidade média de absorção de água de 18 g de água/g de aerogel. A adição de carga de reforço resultou em um aumento de até 13% na densidade aparente do aerogel e um aumento médio de 20% no módulo de Young dos materiais. A morfologia dos poros dos aerogéis sintetizados é irregular, com ampla faixa de distribuição de tamanho de poros, podendo variar cerca de 5 µm a 500 µm. Nos aerogéis reforçados, as BCNs encontram-se preferencialmente no interior das paredes dos aerogéis, onde o reforço mecânico é mais eficiente. Isotermas de adsorção de 17α-etinilestradiol (EE) foram realizadas, resultando em capacidades de remoção de até 90%, com possibilidade de reciclo. As isotermas indicam que a matriz HPMC J5MS possui maior afinidade para adsorção de EE e que a adição de BCNs aumenta a afinidade das moléculas pelo substrato. As isotermas foram melhor ajustadas com o modelo de Freundlich, indicando que a adição de 5% de BCNs aumenta a capacidade de adsorção do aerogel, enquanto a adição de 15% de BCNs provoca uma diminuição nesta propriedade. / Aerogels of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), with different degrees of substitution for methyl groups (MS) and hydroxypropyl groups (DS) were prepared by freeze-drying. The HPMCs were combined with three organic acids as crosslinking agents: citric acid, oxalic acid and terephthalic acid. Bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCN) neutral and negatively charged were used as reinforcement particles from 5% to 15% m/m in relation to the polymer mass. The results indicated that HPMC with lower DS and higher MS levels result in aerogels with higher crosslink efficiency. Besides that, crosslinking agents that are water insoluble minimized the crosslinking capacity, while crosslinking agents with more functional acid groups presented higher probability and efficiency in the crosslinking reaction. The aerogels presented high stability in water, organic solvents and acid media, and presented mechanical resilience in aqueous media. The resulting aerogels presented porosity of ~98%, average density of 0.021 to 0.026 (± 0.002) g.cm-3, Young modulus of 101 to 150 (± 19) kPa and an average capacity of water absorption of 18 g of water/g of aerogel. The addition of reinforcement particles resulted in an increase in density up to 13% and an average increase in the Young modulus of 20%. The morphology of the aerogels was irregular, with a wide pore size distribution, varying between de 5 µm a 500 µm. In the reinforced aerogels, the BCNs were found preferably inside the aerogels walls, were the mechanical reinforcement is more efficient. Adsorption isotherms of 17 ethinyl estradiol (EE) revealed removal capacity up to 90% and possibility of adsorbent recycling. The isotherms indicated that the HPMC J5MS has higher affinity for EE molecules and that the use of BCNs increases aerogels affinity. The isotherms were well fitted with the Freundlich model, indicating that the addition of 5% BCN increases the adsorption capacity of the aerogels, while the addition of 15 % BCN results in a decrease in this property.

Aerogéis de hidroxipropil metilcelulose (HPMC) com diferentes graus de substituição por grupos metila (DS) e hidroxipropila (MS) foram preparados por liofilização utilizando diferentes ácidos como agentes de reticulação, a saber: ácido cítrico, ácido oxálico e ácido tereftálico. Nanocristais de celulose bacteriana (BCN) neutros e negativamente carregados foram utilizados como carga de reforço nas concentrações de 5% (m/m) e 15% (m/m) em relação à massa da matriz. Os resultados indicaram que HPMCs com menores valores de DS e maiores valores de MS resultam em aerogéis com maior eficiência na reticulação. Além disso, agentes de reticulação insolúveis em água minimizaram a capacidade de reticulação, enquanto agentes de reticulação com uma maior quantidade de grupos funcionais ácidos aumentaram a probabilidade e a eficiência da reação de reticulação das cadeias de HPMC. Os aerogéis apresentaram alta estabilidade em água, solventes orgânicos e meio ácido, além de apresentar resiliência quanto à deformação em meio aquoso. Os aerogéis apresentaram porosidade de ~98%, densidade média variando de 0,021 à 0,026 (± 0,002) g.cm-3, módulo de Young variando de 101 à 150 (± 19) kPa e capacidade média de absorção de água de 18 g de água/g de aerogel. A adição de carga de reforço resultou em um aumento de até 13% na densidade aparente do aerogel e um aumento médio de 20% no módulo de Young dos materiais. A morfologia dos poros dos aerogéis sintetizados é irregular, com ampla faixa de distribuição de tamanho de poros, podendo variar cerca de 5 µm a 500 µm. Nos aerogéis reforçados, as BCNs encontram-se preferencialmente no interior das paredes dos aerogéis, onde o reforço mecânico é mais eficiente. Isotermas de adsorção de 17α-etinilestradiol (EE) foram realizadas, resultando em capacidades de remoção de até 90%, com possibilidade de reciclo. As isotermas indicam que a matriz HPMC J5MS possui maior afinidade para adsorção de EE e que a adição de BCNs aumenta a afinidade das moléculas pelo substrato. As isotermas foram melhor ajustadas com o modelo de Freundlich, indicando que a adição de 5% de BCNs aumenta a capacidade de adsorção do aerogel, enquanto a adição de 15% de BCNs provoca uma diminuição nesta propriedade. / Aerogels of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), with different degrees of substitution for methyl groups (MS) and hydroxypropyl groups (DS) were prepared by freeze-drying. The HPMCs were combined with three organic acids as crosslinking agents: citric acid, oxalic acid and terephthalic acid. Bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCN) neutral and negatively charged were used as reinforcement particles from 5% to 15% m/m in relation to the polymer mass. The results indicated that HPMC with lower DS and higher MS levels result in aerogels with higher crosslink efficiency. Besides that, crosslinking agents that are water insoluble minimized the crosslinking capacity, while crosslinking agents with more functional acid groups presented higher probability and efficiency in the crosslinking reaction. The aerogels presented high stability in water, organic solvents and acid media, and presented mechanical resilience in aqueous media. The resulting aerogels presented porosity of ~98%, average density of 0.021 to 0.026 (± 0.002) g.cm-3, Young modulus of 101 to 150 (± 19) kPa and an average capacity of water absorption of 18 g of water/g of aerogel. The addition of reinforcement particles resulted in an increase in density up to 13% and an average increase in the Young modulus of 20%. The morphology of the aerogels was irregular, with a wide pore size distribution, varying between de 5 µm a 500 µm. In the reinforced aerogels, the BCNs were found preferably inside the aerogels walls, were the mechanical reinforcement is more efficient. Adsorption isotherms of 17 ethinyl estradiol (EE) revealed removal capacity up to 90% and possibility of adsorbent recycling. The isotherms indicated that the HPMC J5MS has higher affinity for EE molecules and that the use of BCNs increases aerogels affinity. The isotherms were well fitted with the Freundlich model, indicating that the addition of 5% BCN increases the adsorption capacity of the aerogels, while the addition of 15 % BCN results in a decrease in this property.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruna Guimarães Isecke - 2015.pdf: 1944574 bytes, checksum: 66e445d4335fe545fd67e110898abe01 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Several studies point to the presence of emerging pollutants in surface water, groundwater and public water supply in many countries. Such substances are not covered by legislation and derived from effluent discharges with inadequate or no treatment. In this context, fall within the synthetic estrogens as EE2 (ethinylestradiol) that are found in the residual medium in the environment, which can have adverse effects on aquatic organisms as well as for terrestrial organisms. These hormones are absorbed by the body, suffer metabolic reactions and a quantity of them, both in its form as unmetabolised in metabolized form, it is excreted to the environment. As these substances are not easily biodegradable and have harmful pharmacological properties when used incorrectly, through contaminated water, there is growing concern about its destination, especially when taking into account the environmental risk assessment. For these reasons, the detection, elimination and investigation of the fate of these estrogens has become priority on environmental chemistry. These products are found in low concentrations (μg.L-1 and ng.L-1), but even so, can be harmful to organisms through bioaccumulation. There are still few ecotoxicological studies related to the exposure of organisms to substances considered endocrine disruptors. The aim of the study was to develop and validate an analytical method for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify and quantify ethinyl estradiol, the study of degradation of the same compound in a photocatalytic reactor and also the calculation of the reaction kinetics for each curve ethinyl estradiol degradation. For analytical validation experiments were performed as set forth in the RE 899 2003 ANVISA. For the degradation experiments were carried application of UV settling and also photocatalysis experiments using titanium dioxide (TiO2) in suspension. By applying a 22 factorial design pH parameters were studied and mass of the catalyst and also its interaction with regard to treatment efficiency. The reactor was operated in batch and in continuous flow, in both cases there optimization. The analytical method was effective for detection and quantification of ethinylestradiol. The photocatalytic degradation test batch procedure presented great efficiency degradation of ethinyl estradiol present in water, obtaining a mean degradation of about 99% in about 120 minutes. The factorial design has shown that the most relevant factor in relation to the degradation efficiency was the pH, although there has been the appearance of a degradation by-product when used a basic pH (8.0). A greater treatment efficiency with smaller mass of TiO2 (0.05 gL-1). The reaction order and constant speed found for the experiments were as between 1 and 2. When the system is operating in continuous flow ethinyl estradiol degradation was approximately about 84% after optimization. The study shows that photocatalysis is very efficient to ethinyl estradiol degradation in water. / Vários estudos realizados apontam a presença de poluentes emergentes em águas superficiais, subterrâneas e de abastecimento público em vários países do mundo. Tais substâncias não são contempladas pela legislação e derivam de lançamentos de efluentes com tratamento inadequado ou inexistente. Nesse contexto, inserem-se os estrogênios sintéticos como o EE2 (etinilestradiol) que são encontrados em forma residual no meio ambiente, o que pode acarretar efeitos adversos tanto em organismos aquáticos quanto em organismos terrestres. Esses hormônios são absorvidos pelo organismo, sofrem reações metabólicas e uma quantidade deles, tanto em sua forma não metabolizada quanto em forma metabolizada, é excretada ao meio ambiente. Como essas substâncias não são facilmente biodegradáveis e possuem propriedades farmacológicas danosas quando utilizadas de forma incorreta, através de águas contaminadas, é crescente a preocupação em relação à sua destinação, principalmente ao se levar em consideração a avaliação de risco ambiental. Por tais motivos, a detecção, a eliminação e investigação do destino desses estrogênios tem se tornado prioridade em relação à química ambiental. Estes produtos são encontrados em baixas concentrações (μg.L-1 e ng.L-1) mas, mesmo assim, podem ser danosos aos organismos por meio de bioacumulação. Ainda existem poucos estudos ecotoxicológicos relacionados à exposição de organismos a substâncias consideradas desreguladoras do sistema endócrino. O objetivo do estudo foi desenvolver e validar um método analítico em cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para identificação e quantificação de etinilestradiol, o estudo de degradação do mesmo composto em um reator fotocatalítico e também o cálculo da cinética de reação para cada curva de degradação de etinilestradiol. Para a validação analítica foram realizados experimentos conforme estabelecidos na RE 899 de 2003 da ANVISA. Para os experimentos de degradação foram realizados aplicação de radicação UV e também experimentos de fotocatálise com a utilização de dióxido de titânio (TiO2) em suspensão. Através da aplicação de um planejamento fatorial 22 foram estudados os parâmetros pH e massa do catalisador e também sua interação em relação a eficiência de tratamento. O reator foi operado em batelada e em fluxo contínuo, em ambos os casos houve a otimização. O método analítico se mostrou eficiente para detecção e quantificação de etinilestradiol. Os ensaios de degradação fotocatalítica em regime de batelada apresentaram grande eficiência na degradação do etinilestradiol presente em água, obtendo-se degradação média de cerca de 99% em aproximadamente 120 minutos. O planejamento fatorial nos mostrou que o fator mais relevante em relação à eficiência de degradação foi o pH, embora, tenha havido a aparição de um subproduto de degradação quando se utilizou um pH básico (8,0). Houve maior eficiência de tratamento com menor massa de TiO2 (0,05 g.L-1). A ordem de reação e constantes de velocidades encontradas para os experimentos foram de ordem entre 1 e 2. Quando o sistema foi operando em fluxo contínuo houve degradação de etinilestradiol em cerca de aproximadamente 84%, após sua otimização. O estudo nos mostrou que a fotocatálise é bastante eficiente para a degradação de etinilestradiol em água.

It is known that some psychiatric disorders may deteriorate in relation to the menstrual cycle. However, in some conditions, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), symptomatology is triggered mainly by the variations in ovarian steroid hormones. Although symptoms induced by fluctuations in ovarian steroids often are affective, little is known about how emotion processing in women is influenced by variations, or actual levels, of ovarian steroid hormones. The general aim of this thesis was to evaluate menstrual cycle effects on reactivity in emotion generating and controlling areas in the corticolimbic system to emotional stimulation and anticipation, in healthy controls and women with PMDD. A second aim was to evaluate corticolimbic reactivity during long-term administration of exogenous ovarian steroids. In study I, III and IV effects of the menstrual cycle on emotional reactivity in women with PMDD was studied. In study I, women with PMDD in displayed higher amygdala reactivity than healthy controls to emotional faces, not in the luteal phase as was hypothesised, but in the follicular phase. No difference between menstrual cycle phases was obtained in women with PMDD, while healthy controls had an increased reactivity in the luteal phase. The results of study I was further elaborated in study III, where women with PMDD were observed to have an increased anticipatory reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. However, no differences in amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli were obtained across the menstrual cycle. Finally, in study IV the hypothesis that amygdala reactivity increase in the luteal phase in women with PMDD is linked to social stimuli rather than generally arousing stimuli was suggested, tested and supported. In study II, re-exposure to COC induced mood symptoms de novo in women with a previous history of COC-induced adverse mood. Women treated with COC reported increased levels of mood symptoms both as compared to before treatment, and as compared to the placebo group. There was a relatively strong correlation between depressive scores before and during treatment. The effects of repeated COC administration on subjective measures and brain function were however dissociated with increased aversive experiences accompanied by reduced reactivity in the insular cortex.

Die Europäische Wasserrahmenrichtlinie schuf einen rechtlichen Rahmen, der die Mitgliedsstaaten zum Schutz der Wasserressourcen verpflichtete. Das Ziel ist das Erreichen eines guten ökologischen und chemischen Zustandes der europäischen Gewässer. Ein besonderes Augenmerk fiel in jüngerer Zeit auf die Rolle von Arzneimitteln als unerwünschte Chemikalien in der Umwelt. Arzneimittelwirkstoffe und ihre Rückstände konnten in vielen europäischen Gewässern nachgewiesen werden. Über die Auswirkung einer chronischen Exposition von Wasserorganismen auf Arzneimittelwirkstoffen ist nur wenig bekannt. Das künstliche Östrogen 17a-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) sorgt für Kontroversen, da es zur Aufnahme in die Liste der prioritären Stoffe der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie vorgeschlagen wurde. Der dazugehörige vorgeschlagene Grenzwert für Oberflächengewässer beträgt 35 pg/L als Jahresdurchschnitts-Umweltqualitätsnorm (JD-UQN). Einerseits gibt es Zweifel, ob der Grenzwert eingehalten werden kann und andererseits ist die Analytik bisher nicht in der Lage, EE2-Konzentrationen in dieser Größenordnung verlässlich messen zu können. Da keine Messwerte zur Gewässerbelastung durch EE2 existieren, hatte meine Arbeit das Ziel, den Einfluss der Abflussvarianz auf die EE2-Konzentration im Wasser zu untersuchen und zu prüfen, ob die Einhaltung des Grenzwerts möglich ist. Der Eintrag und Verbleib von EE2 wurde mittels des räumlich expliziten Modellsystems GREAT-ER in den deutschen Einzugsgebieten Ruhr und Main modelliert. Die damit berechneten EE2-Frachten im Gewässer wurden benutzt, um an ausgewählten Messstellen eine Simulation der Variabilität der EE2-Konzentrationen zu ermöglichen. Dazu wurde die Abflussvariabilität an den Messstellen anhand von langjährigen Pegeldatenreihen geschätzt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass insbesondere in den Hauptläufen der Flüsse mit deutlichen Überschreitungen der JD-UQN in den Monaten von Mai bis Oktober zu rechnen ist. Mittels Monte Carlo-Simulation wurde das Risiko quantifiziert, wie häufig die JD-UQN im Jahresmittel überschritten würde. Für die Messstellen im Hauptlauf des Mains und im Unterlauf der Ruhr wurde ermittelt, dass dort mit hoher Sicherheit die JD-UQN nicht eingehalten werden kann. Auch an Messstellen, die im Jahresmittel den Grenzwert nicht überschritten, konnten häufige Überschreitungen des Grenzwerts in den Sommermonaten beobachtet werden. Die Zeiträume waren dabei lang genug, um relevant für chronische Effekte auf Wasserorganismen zu sein. Die durch die Oberflächengewässerverordnung vorgegebene Überwachung der JD-UQN erscheint daher für EE2 nicht sinnvoll. In Deutschland werden große Mengen von jodhaltigen Röntgenkontrastmitteln (JRKM) verbraucht (rund 370 Tonnen in 2009), die unverändert und in gesamter Menge über das kommunale Abwasser in Oberflächengewässer gelangten. JRKM sind nach Stand der Forschung toxikologisch unbedenklich, stellen aber aufgrund der teilweise hohen Konzentrationen im Bereich von ug/L eine Gefahr für die Trinkwasserversorgung dar. Trotz der hohen Verbrauchsmenge war bisher wenig über Emissionsmuster und Verbrauch von JRKM bekannt. Ziel der Arbeit war es daher, Informationen über den Verbrauch in medizinischen Einrichtungen zu sammeln und ein geeignetes Modell zu identifizieren, mit dem der Eintrag von JRKM in die Umwelt modelliert werden kann. Zu diesem Zweck wurden Modellansätze aus der Literatur als auch ein selbstentwickelter Ansatz im Modellsystem GREAT-ER implementiert und in den Einzugsgebieten Main und Ruhr simuliert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Anzahl der Computertomographen als Proxygrößen zur räumlichen Aufteilung von JRKM-Emissionen verwendet werden kann. Rund zwei Drittel der jährlichen in Deutschland verbrauchten JRKM entfallen dabei nach eigenen Abschätzungen auf Krankenhäuser. Außerdem wurde gezeigt, dass der Nachweis von JRKM mittels Stichprobenmessungen in Gewässern und Kläranlagen in vielen Fällen keine belastbaren Aussagen liefert, da der Eintrag von wenig genutzten JRKM stark ereignisgetriebenen ist. Darüber hinaus konnten regionale Unterschiede in den Verbrauchsmengen identifiziert werden, die vermutlich auf lokal vorherrschende Präferenzen für einzelne JRKM zurück zu führen sind.

Σκοπός: η μελέτη της επίδρασης εξάμηνης θεραπείας με από του στόματος αντισυλληπτικό δισκίο περιέχον 35μg αιθινυλ-οιστραδιόλης και 2mg οξικής κυπροτερόνης στη γλοιότητα πλάσματος νέων γυναικών με σύνδρομο πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών. Σχεδίαση: Η γλοιότητα πλάσματος μετρήθηκε σε ασθενείς με σύνδρομο πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών πριν και 6 μήνες μετά από τη χορήγηση αντισυλληπτικού δισκίου περιέχοντος 35μg αιθινυλ-οιστραδιόλης και 2mg οξικής κυπροτερόνης. Η μέτρηση της γλοιότητας έγινε σε ιξωδόμετρο τύπου 53610/I SCHOTT-Instruments, Mainz στους 37ο C. Ασθενείς: Οι ασθενείς στρατολογήθηκαν από το τμήμα Αναπαραγωγικής Ενδοκρινολογίας της Μαιευτικής - Γυναικολογικής Κλινικής του Πανεπιστημιακού Νοσοκομείου Πατρών Ελλάδας. Στη μελέτη περιλήφθηκαν 66 νέες γυναίκες με σύνδρομο πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών. Βασικοί προσδιορισμοί: Γλοιότητα πλάσματος Αποτελέσματα: Στις ασθενείς ως σύνολο, η γλοιότητα πλάσματος ήταν 1.249±0.049 mm2/s (n=66). Μετά από 6 μήνες θεραπείας με από του στόματος αντισυλληπτικό δισκίο περιέχον 35μg αιθινυλ-οιστραδιόλης και 2mg οξικής κυπροτερόνης, η γλοιότητα πλάσματος αυξήθηκε σε 1.268±0.065 mm2/s (p=0.038). Η διαφορά στη γλοιότητα πλάσματος πριν και 6 μήνες μετά τη θεραπεία (Δ Γλοιότητας) ήταν 0,01864±,071452 mm2/s. Η Δ Γλοιότητας σχετιζόταν με τη Δ Ινωδογόνου (r=0.270, p=0.046), τη Δ Αιματοκρίτη (r=0.514, p=0.09) και τη Δ Τριγλυκεριδίων (r=0.292, p=0.021). Συμπέρασμα: Νέες γυναίκες με σύνδρομο πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών εμφάνισαν αυξημένη γλοιότητα πλάσματος μετά από θεραπεία με από του στόματος αντισυλληπτικό, το οποίο θα πρέπει για το λόγο αυτό να χρησιμοποιείται με προσοχή στον εν λόγω πληθυσμό. / Objectives: To investigate the influence of 6 months of treatment with an oral contraceptive (OC) containing 35μg ethinyl estradiol and 2mg cyproterone acetate on plasma viscosity in young women with PCOS. Design: PCOS patients were assessed for plasma viscosity before and after 6 months of treatment with an OC containing 35μg ethinyl estradiol and 2mg cyproterone acetate. Plasma viscosity was determined by a viscometer Type 53610/I SCHOTT-Instruments, Mainz at 37o C. Settings: Subjects were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University Hospital of Patras, Greece. Patients: The study included 66 young PCOS women. Main Outcome measures: Plasma viscosity. Results: In PCOS women as a whole, plasma viscosity at baseline was 1.249±0.049 mm2/s (n=66). After 6 months of treatment with an oral contraceptive containing 35μg ethinyl estradiol and 2mg cyproterone acetate, plasma viscosity increased to 1.268±0.065 mm2/s (p=0.038). The difference between plasma viscosity before and after 6 months of treatment with an oral contraceptive containing 35μg ethinyl estradiol and 2mg cyproterone acetate (Δviscosity) was 0,01864±,071452 mm2/s. Δviscosity was related to Δfibrinogen (r=0.270, p=0.046), to Δhaematocrit (r=0.514, p=0.09) and to Δtriglycerides (r=0.292, p=0.021). Conclusion: Young PCOS women presented an increased plasma viscosity under OC treatment, which therefore should be used with caution.