A structure–property relationship study of bent-core mesogens with pyridine as the central unit

The synthesis and characterization of pyridine bent-core liquid crystals are reported. Some compounds exhibit B1 and B7 mesophases. Lower and wider mesophase ranges are obtained by decreasing the polarity of linkers between the pyridine ring and the inner aromatic rings, and increasing the length of terminal chains.

A hybrid polyoxometalate–organic molecular catalyst for visible light driven water oxidation

A novel organic–inorganic hybrid monocapped/bicapped Keggin structure [Co^II(bpy)₃]₆(H₂bpy)[(Co^IIbpy)₂(PMo₈^VIMo₄^VO₄₀)]3 [(Co^IIbpy)(PMo₈^VIMo₄^VO₄₀)]·16H₂O (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) was synthesized and shown to be an efficient visible light-driven catalyst for water oxidation.

Facile fabrication of graphene-topological insulator Bi2Se3 hybrid Dirac materials via chemical vapor deposition in Se-rich conditions

Direct deposition of a uniform and high-quality Bi₂Se₃ thin film on a graphene film (layer controlled) is performed using a catalyst-free vapor deposition system in a Se-rich environment.

Dental Pulp Dendritic Cells Migrate to Regional Lymph Nodes

Dendritic cell (DC) migration to regional lymph nodes (RLNs) is an essential step in adaptive immunity, and cell-surface antigens on migrating DCs greatly affect the quality and quantity of subsequent immune responses. Although MHC class II+ DC-like cells exist in the dental pulp, the lineage and function of these cells remain unknown. Here, we identified migratory DCs from the dental pulp after cusp trimming and acid etching in KikGR mice, in which the photoconvertible fluorescent protein changed from green to red upon violet light exposure. Two major cell fractions from the dental pulp had migrated to the RLNs at 16 hrs after cusp treatment, which showed the following lineage markers in the main and second fractions: CD11chighCD11b++Ly6Clow Ly6Glow F4/80+ and CD11cmedCD11b+++Ly6C++Ly6G+++F4/80-, respectively. These lineage markers indicate that the former cells were DCs that had migrated through afferent lymphoid vessels, and the latter were granulocytes recruited via blood circulation. Migratory dental pulp DCs were mature, expressing the highest levels of CD273 (B7-DC) and CD86 co-stimulators and MHC class II. Our results suggest that cariogenic-bacteria-exposed dental pulp DCs migrate to RLNs and there trigger adaptive immune responses.

Patterns of genetic diversity reveal multiple introductions and recurrent founder effects during range expansion in invasive populations of Geranium carolinianum (Geraniaceae)

Genetic diversity, and thus the adaptive potential of invasive populations, is largely based on three factors: patterns of genetic diversity in the species' native range, the number and location of introductions and the number of founding individuals per introduction. Specifically, reductions in genetic diversity ('founder effects') should be stronger for species with low within-population diversity in their native range and few introductions of few individuals to the invasive range. We test these predictions with Geranium carolinianum, a winter annual herb native to North America and invasive in China. We measure the extent of founder effects using allozymes and microsatellites, and ask whether this is consistent with its colonization history and patterns of diversity in the native range. In the native range, genetic diversity is higher and structure is lower than expected based on life history traits. In China, our results provide evidence for multiple introductions near Nanjing, Jiangsu province, with subsequent range expansion to the west and south. Patterns of genetic diversity across China reveal weak founder effects that are driven largely by low-diversity populations at the expansion front, away from the introduction location. This suggests that reduced diversity in China has resulted from successive founder events during range expansion, and that the loss of genetic diversity in the Nanjing area was mitigated by multiple introductions from diverse source populations. This has implications for the future of G. carolinianum in China, as continued gene flow among populations should eventually increase genetic diversity within the more recently founded populations.

Abstract P2-09-02: BMN 673 is a PARP inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of breast cancer patients with deleterious germline BRCA 1 and 2 mutations

Background: BMN 673 is the most potent and specific inhibitor of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) 1 and 2 in clinical development (IC50<1nM). In BRCA-related tumors, which are genetically dependent on PARP-mediated DNA repair by base excision repair, PARP inhibition induces synthetic lethality. Initial phase 1 results have been presented (de Bono et al JCO 31:5s, 2013 suppl; abstr 2580), showing good tolerability and anti-tumor activity with an MTD on a daily, oral dosing schedule of 1000 μ/day.

Methods: In this 2-stage study, patients with solid tumors including BRCA-related cancers, were enrolled during dose-escalation followed by an expansion phase at the MTD in breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer patients with deleterious germline BRCA mutations and in small cell lung cancer and Ewing sarcoma patients to further characterize safety and efficacy. This abstract summarizes demographics and safety for all patients and efficacy for patients with BRCA-related cancers.

Results: As of 17May2013, a total of 1 pancreatic, 18 breast (17F/1M), and 28 ovarian cancer pts with germline BRCA mutations were enrolled at doses from 100-1100 μg/day. All breast cancer patients were treated from 900-1100 μg/day. The median (range) age for all 70 patients is 51.5 (18-81), PS 0 (0-1) and # of prior therapies 4 (1-13), with 47 patients having deleterious BRCA mutations. An MTD of 1000 μg/day was established with thrombocytopenia being dose-limiting. Related adverse events occurring in > 10% of all 70 patients included fatigue, nausea, alopecia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. One patient has had related grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Grade 3 related AE's included fatigue in 1 patient (1%), anemia and thrombocytopenia in 9 each (13%) and neutropenia in 4 (6%). Dose reductions occurred in 11 pts due to myelosuppression. No patients discontinued for adverse events.

Response in Germline BRCA PatientsBRCA Tumor TypeNDose Range (μ/day)ResponseBreast18900-11001CR/6PR/5SD≥12 weeksOvarian28100-11001CR/10PR/19GCIG/4SD≥24 weeksPancreas110001 SD ≥ 12weeksTwo of 2 BRCA breast responders had responded to prior platinum while 0 of 4 non-responders to prior platinum responded to BMN 673. Five of 12 breast cancer pts with no prior platinum have responded.

Conclusions: BMN 673 is well tolerated with impressive anti-tumor activity in pts with deleterious germ line BRCA mutations. Myelosuppression and fatigue are the primary side effects associated with need for dose reduction. A phase 3 trial in metastatic breast cancer patients with deleterious germ line BRCA mutations is planned with single-agent, once-daily oral dosing of 1000 μg (1 mg) per day.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-09-02.

Abstract PD5-3: Anti-metastatic activity, chemotherapeutic enhancement and therapeutic potential of targeting Hsp90 with ganetespib in triple negative breast cancer

Background: While the incidence of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is only 10-20%, these tumors show a disproportionate mortality for breast cancer patients. Due to a lack of effective molecular targets in this disease, therapeutic options are largely limited to systemic chemotherapeutic approaches which have shown disappointing efficacy in the metastatic setting. Here we undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the activity of the drug candidate, ganetespib, a potent inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), in this malignancy.

Methods: The sensitivity of TNBC cells to ganetespib was determined in viability assays using a panel of tumor lines. The effects of ganetespib exposure on client proteins and their effector pathways were examined by Western blot and reverse phase protein array analysis. The anti-metastatic activity of ganetespib was evaluated using a 4T1 metastasis model. Combinatorial drug analyses were performed with chemotherapeutic agents. DNA damage and cell cycle disruption were assessed using the comet assay, Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy. The in vivo efficacy of the compound, both as a single agent and in combination, was established using MDA-MB-231 xenograft models. Computed tomography scans were obtained for a metastatic TNBC patient undergoing ganetespib treatment.

Results: Ganetespib reduced cell viability in TNBC cell lines with low nanomolar potency. Ganetespib treatment induced robust destabilization of multiple client proteins and oncogenic signaling pathways and suppressed lung metastasis in the experimental model. Ganetespib potentiated the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin via enhanced DNA damage and mitotic arrest, conferring superior efficacy to the doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide (AC) regimen in MDA-MB-231 xenograft models. Ganetespib also promoted mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis in combination with taxanes in vitro, and these effects translated to significantly improved combinatorial activity in vivo. Marked tumor shrinkage of metastatic lung lesions was seen in the patient while on ganetespib monotherapy.

Conclusion: The preclinical activity profile and clinical evidence of tumor regression suggest that ganetespib offers considerable promise as a new therapeutic candidate to target TNBC. In particular, the capacity of ganetespib to potentiate the activity of standard of care chemotherapeutics provides a rationale for the exploration of this agent in novel combinatorial treatment strategies for this disease.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr PD5-3.

Observation of a charged charmoniumlike structure Zc(4020) and search for the Zc(3900) in e+e-→π+π-hc

We study e+e-→π+π-hc at center-of-mass energies from 3.90 to 4.42 GeV by using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. The Born cross sections are measured at 13 energies and are found to be of the same order of magnitude as those of e+e-→π+π-J/ψ but with a different line shape. In the π±hc mass spectrum, a distinct structure, referred to as Zc(4020), is observed at 4.02  GeV/c2. The Zc(4020) carries an electric charge and couples to charmonium. A fit to the π±hc invariant mass spectrum, neglecting possible interferences, results in a mass of (4022.9±0.8±2.7)  MeV/c2 and a width of (7.9±2.7±2.6)  MeV for the Zc(4020), where the first errors are statistical and the second systematic. The difference between the parameters of this structure and the Zc(4025) observed in the D*D[over ¯]* final state is within 1.5σ, but whether they are the same state needs further investigation. No significant Zc(3900) signal is observed, and upper limits on the Zc(3900) production cross sections in π±hc at center-of-mass energies of 4.23 and 4.26 GeV are set.

An in vivo study of hindfoot 3D kinetics in stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) flatfoot based on weight-bearing CT scan

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the rotation and translation of each joint in the hindfoot and compare the load response in healthy feet with that in stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) flatfoot by analysing the reconstructive three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) image data during simulated weight-bearing.

METHODS

CT scans of 15 healthy feet and 15 feet with stage II PTTD flatfoot were taken first in a non-weight-bearing condition, followed by a simulated full-body weight-bearing condition. The images of the hindfoot bones were reconstructed into 3D models. The 'twice registration' method in three planes was used to calculate the position of the talus relative to the calcaneus in the talocalcaneal joint, the navicular relative to the talus in talonavicular joint, and the cuboid relative to the calcaneus in the calcaneocuboid joint.

RESULTS

From non- to full-body-weight-bearing condition, the difference in the talus position relative to the calcaneus in the talocalcaneal joint was 0.6° more dorsiflexed (p = 0.032), 1.4° more everted (p = 0.026), 0.9 mm more anterior (p = 0.031) and 1.0 mm more proximal (p = 0.004) in stage II PTTD flatfoot compared with that in a healthy foot. The navicular position difference relative to the talus in the talonavicular joint was 3° more everted (p = 0.012), 1.3 mm more lateral (p = 0.024), 0.8 mm more anterior (p = 0.037) and 2.1 mm more proximal (p = 0.017). The cuboid position difference relative to the calcaneus in the calcaneocuboid joint did not change significantly in rotation and translation (all p ≥ 0.08).

CONCLUSION

Referring to a previous study regarding both the cadaveric foot and the live foot, joint instability occurred in the hindfoot in simulated weight-bearing condition in patients with stage II PTTD flatfoot. The method used in this study might be applied to clinical analysis of the aetiology and evolution of PTTD flatfoot, and may inform biomechanical analyses of the effects of foot surgery in the future. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2013;2:255-63.

ROCK has a crucial role in regulating prostate tumor growth through interaction with c-Myc

Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) has an essential role in governing cell morphology and motility, and increased ROCK activity contributes to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Burgeoning data suggest that ROCK is also involved in the growth regulation of tumor cells. However, thus far, the molecular mechanisms responsible for ROCK-governed tumor cell growth have not been clearly elucidated. Here we showed that inhibition of ROCK kinase activity, either by a selective ROCK inhibitor Y27632 or by specific ROCK small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, attenuated not only motility but also the proliferation of PC3 prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, mechanistic investigation revealed that ROCK endowed cancer cells with tumorigenic capability, mainly by targeting c-Myc. ROCK could increase the transcriptional activity of c-Myc by promoting c-Myc protein stability, and ROCK inhibition reduced c-Myc-mediated expression of mRNA targets (such as HSPC111) and microRNA targets (such as miR-17-92 cluster). We provided evidence demonstrating that ROCK1 directly interacted with and phosphorylated c-Myc, resulting in stabilization of the protein and activation of its transcriptional activity. Suppression of ROCK-c-Myc downstream molecules, such as c-Myc-regulated miR-17, also impaired tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In addition, c-Myc was shown to exert a positive feedback regulation on ROCK by increasing RhoA mRNA expression. Therefore, inhibition of ROCK and its stimulated signaling might prove to be a promising strategy for restraining tumor progression in prostate cancer.

Synergistic function of Kras mutation and HBx in initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice

Although the activation of Ras pathway is frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the in vivo role of Ras activation in HCC initiation and progression is underdetermined. To test the consequence of Kras activation in hepatocyte, we generated a hepatocyte-specific Kras(G12D) transgenic mouse strain and observed spontaneous development of HCC in these mice. Remarkably, HBV X protein (HBx) expression significantly promotes the formation and malignant progression of Kras(G12D)-driven HCC as shown with the accelerated tumor onset, the increased tumor burden and the more poorly differentiated lesions. At the cellular level, concomitant expression of Kras(G12D) and HBx results in a robust increase in hepatocellular proliferation. We reveal that the Akt, MAPK, p53 and TGF-β pathways are deregulated in the Kras(G12D)-driven HCCs. Also, the dysregulation is more pronounced in the HCCs developed in Kras(G12D) and HBx double transgenic mice. In addition, the altered expressions of β-catenin, CD44 and E-cadherin are only observed in the Kras(G12D) and HBx double transgenic mice. These results demonstrate a crucial role of Ras activation in hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the functional synergy between Kras(G12D) and HBx in HCC initiation and progression. The novel genetic mouse models that closely recapitulate the histopathologic progression and molecular alterations of human HCC may potentially facilitate the future therapeutic studies.

Expression of STAT3 and IGF2 in adrenocortical carcinoma and its relationship with angiogenesis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between human adrenocortical carcinoma and the proteins involved in tumor angiogenesis, and to evaluate the angiogenic status of adrenocortical carcinoma.

METHODS

The expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and insulin-like growth factor 2 as well as microvessel density was measured in a series of tissue samples from 44 human sporadic adrenocortical tumors by immunohistochemistry. These specimens were classified as adenomas (n = 20) and carcinomas (n = 24) according to the histological criteria defined by Weiss.

RESULTS

A total of 19 of 24 (79.17 %) malignant cases showed positive staining for signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and 4 of 20 (20.00 %) benign cases showed positive, the difference of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression between adrenocortical adenomas and adrenocortical carcinomas was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Similarly, insulin-like growth factor 2 staining was seen in 70.83 % (17/24) of the malignant cases versus 25.00 % (5/20) of the benign, the difference of insulin-like growth factor 2 expression among two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.002). Malignant cases showed higher microvessel density compared to benign tumors (84.70 ± 12.44 vs 21.05 ± 8.07, P < 0.001). Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and insulin-like growth factor 2 expression were positively correlated with microvessel density in all specimens (r_s = 0.832, P < 0.001; r_s = 0.703, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has confirmed that adrenocortical carcinoma overexpress signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and insulin-like growth factor 2; these results suggest that angiogenesis of human adrenocortical carcinoma may be mediated by these proteins and they could represent selective targets for the molecularly targeted treatments of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Leptin levels in patients with psoriasis: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There have been inconsistent results reported for leptin levels in patients with psoriasis.

AIM

To evaluate leptin levels in patients with psoriasis using a meta-analysis of studies comparing leptin levels in controls and in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant papers published in English. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochran Q and I(2) statistics.

RESULTS

In total, 11 studies, comprising 773 patients with psoriasis and 570 healthy controls, were identified. Leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared with controls (WMD = 7.24, 95% CI 4.55-9.93; P < 0.001). On stratified analysis, significant differences in leptin levels between patients with psoriasis and controls were reported only in serum samples (P < 0.001), and not in plasma samples (P = 0.025). Sensitivity analysis showed that there were no changes in the direction of effect when any one study was excluded. No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Leptin levels are higher in patients with psoriasis compared with those in controls. Future studies are warranted to clarify the association between leptin levels and the pathomechanism of psoriasis.

Facile synthesis of graphene on dielectric surfaces using a two-temperature reactor CVD system

Direct deposition of graphene on a dielectric substrate is demonstrated using a chemical vapor deposition system with a two-temperature reactor. The two-temperature reactor is utilized to offer sufficient, well-proportioned floating Cu atoms and to provide a temperature gradient for facile synthesis of graphene on dielectric surfaces. The evaporated Cu atoms catalyze the reaction in the presented method. C atoms and Cu atoms respectively act as the nuclei for forming graphene film in the low-temperature zone and the zones close to the high-temperature zones. A uniform and high-quality graphene film is formed in an atmosphere of sufficient and well-proportioned floating Cu atoms. Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirm the presence of uniform and high-quality graphene.

Prenatal ethanol exposure has sex-specific effects on hippocampal long-term potentiation

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is deleterious to the developing brain of the fetus and leads to persistent deficits in adulthood. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a biological model for learning and memory processes and previous evidence has shown that prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE) affects LTP in a sex specific manner during adolescence. The objective of this study was to determine if there are sex specific differences in adult animals and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to these differences. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams were assigned to either; liquid ethanol, pair-fed or standard chow diet. In vivo electrophysiology was performed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of adult offspring. LTP was induced by administering 400 Hz stimuli. Western blot analysis for glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate decarboxylase from tissue of the DG indicated that GS expression was increased following PNEE. Surprisingly, adult females did not show any deficit in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-dependent LTP after PNEE. In contrast, males showed a 40% reduction in LTP. It was indicated that glutamine synthetase expression was increased in PNEE females, suggesting that altered excitatory neurotransmitter replenishment may serve as a compensatory mechanism. Ovariectomizing females did not influence LTP in control or PNEE animals, suggesting that circulating estradiol levels do not play a major role in maintaining LTP levels in PNEE females. These results demonstrate the sexually dimorphic effects of PNEE on the ability for the adult brain to elicit LTP in the DG. The mechanisms for these effects are not fully understood, but an increase in glutamine synthetase in females may underlie this phenomenon.

Long distance directional growth of dopaminergic axons along pathways of netrin-1 and GDNF

Different experimental and clinical strategies have been used to promote survival of transplanted embryonic ventral mesencephalic (VM) neurons. However, few studies have focused on the long-distance growth of dopaminergic axons from VM transplants. The aim of this study is to identify some of the growth and guidance factors that support directed long-distance growth of dopaminergic axons from VM transplants. Lentivirus encoding either glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or netrin-1, or a combination of lenti-GDNF with either lenti-GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα-1) or lenti-netrin-1 was injected to form a gradient along the corpus callosum. Two weeks later, a piece of embryonic day 14 VM tissue was transplanted into the corpus callosum adjacent to the low end of the gradient. Results showed that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH(+)) axons grew a very short distance from the VM transplants in control groups, with few axons reaching the midline. In GDNF or netrin-1 expressing groups, more TH(+) axons grew out of transplants and reached the midline. Pathways co-expressing GDNF with either GFRα-1 or netrin-1 showed significantly increased axonal outgrowth. Interestingly, only the GDNF/netrin-1 combination resulted in the majority of axons reaching the distal target (80%), whereas along the GDNF/GFRα-1 pathway only 20% of the axons leaving the transplant reached the distal target. This technique of long-distance axon guidance may prove to be a useful strategy in reconstructing damaged neuronal circuits, such as the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson's disease.

Genetic variants of the genes encoding zinc finger protein 313 and interleukin-13 confer a risk for psoriasis in a Chinese Uygur population

BACKGROUND

Recent work using genome–wide association studies (GWAS) in Chinese Han and white populations have discovered several novel psoriasis susceptibility genes.

AIM

To examine whether the risk loci for psoriasis identified in previous GWAS in a white population are also associated with psoriasis in a Chinese Uygur population in Xinjiang.

METHODS

Genotyping analysis of eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with psoriasis was performed for 539 patients with psoriasis and 749 controls, all of Chinese Uygur descent, using a commercial assay.

RESULTS

Two SNPs had an association with psoriasis in this Chinese Uygur population: SNP rs495337 in the gene encoding for zinc finger protein 313 (P < 0.001; OR = 0.80) and SNP rs20541 of the gene encoding for interleukin-13 (P < 0.001; OR = 0.82). In subgroup analyses, the two SNPs were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with type I psoriasis, Rs495337 showed statistically difference between positive family history of psoriasis patients and controls whereas rs20541 might preferentially associated with negative family history psoriasis patients. Interestingly, using multifactor dimensionality reduction, a significant two-locus interaction was seen between rs495337 and rs20541, with a crossvalidation consistency of 4/5 and average balanced prediction (accuracy 55.5%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ZNF313 and IL-13 are associated with risk for psoriasis in a Chinese Uygur population, and there is an effect of interaction between the two genes on this risk.

Clinical analysis of the characterization of magnetic resonance imaging in 102 cases of refractory haematospermia

To analyze the pathogenesis of persistent and refractory haematospermia and to evaluate the aetiological diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for this type of haematospermia. Clinical data from 102 patients with persistent and refractory haematospermia was retrospectively analysed. Data collected included history, symptoms, as well as ultrasound and MRI of the morphological features of the bilateral seminal vesicles (SV) and ejaculatory duct (ED) areas. Criteria for inclusion were haematospermia symptoms that occurred more than six times, that lasted more than 6 months, and that did not improve after >1 month of conservative treatment. Patients underwent seminal vesiculoscopy with a post-surgery follow-up of 3-48 months [average (18.1 ± 10.3) months]. Of the 102 patients that underwent MRI examination, data from 88 patients (86.3%) showed typical and characteristic changes in the ED area, including the signal intensity changes in 60 (58.8%), SV volume changes in 32(31.4%), the formation of cysts such as prostatic utricular cysts in 27 (26.5%), Müllerian cysts in 4 (3.9%), ED cysts in 5 (4.9%) and a SV cyst in 1(1.0%). The MRI findings were confirmed by seminal vesiculoscopy and all patients received appropriate treatment. In 14 patients (13.7%), no obvious abnormal changes were observed with MRIs, however, these patients were diagnosed and successfully managed using seminal vesiculoscopy. Some degrees of ED obstruction was usually found during surgery. The symptoms of haematospermia disappeared 1-2 months after surgery in all patients. Two patients had a recurrence of haematospermia, underwent the same treatment, and recovered during the follow-up period. The aetiology of the most cases of the refractory haematospermia can be distinguished using the three-dimensional MRI. Typical abnormalities observed on MR images are signal intensity, SV volume changes and cyst formation. MRI has significant etiological diagnostic value and provides reliable information for the subsequent treatment of patients with persistent and refractory haematospermia.