The impact of G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 on male breast cancer: a retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1) is a potential prognostic marker in breast cancer. However, its role in male breast cancer (MBC) is still unknown. This study evaluates the expression of GPER-1 in MBC samples and correlates these data with clinical and pathological parameters including patients' survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained cohort of patients with MBC, we examined 161 specimens for GPER-1 expression using immunohistochemistry. An immunoreactive score (IRS) was calculated based on staining intensity and the percentage of positive tumour cells. Then, we correlated GPER-1 IRS with clinical and pathological parameters, and overall and relapse-free survival. RESULTS: About 40% of MBC samples were positive for GPER-1 expression (IRS ≥ 4). There was no significant correlation with clinicopathological parameters, such as hormone receptor status or grading. However, a statistical trend was observed for tumour size (≥ 2 cm, p = 0.093). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed no significant correlation with relapse-free survival. However, there was a significant correlation with overall survival, but when we adjusted the log-rank p-value to compensate for the cut-off point optimization method, it rose above 0.1. Additionally, GPER-1-positive patients were older at diagnosis. When adjusted for age by multivariable Cox regression analysis, the significance of GPER-1 status for survival was further reduced. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant prognostic value of GPER-1 in this MBC cohort as anticipated from studies on female BC. Future studies with higher sample size are needed to further verify a potential sex-specific role of GPER-1.

Feasibility of a surveillance programme based on gargle samples and pool testing to prevent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in schools.

School closures have a negative impact on physical and mental well-being, and education, of children and adolescents. A surveillance programme to detect asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection could allow schools to remain open, while protecting the vulnerable. We assessed the feasibility of a programme employing gargle samples and pool testing of individually extracted RNA using rRT-qPCR in a primary and a secondary school in Germany, based on programme logistics and acceptance. Twice a week, five participants per class were selected to provide samples, using an algorithm weighted by a risk-based priority score to increase likelihood of case detection. The positive response rate was 54.8% (550 of 1003 pupils). Logistics evaluation revealed the rate-limiting steps: completing the regular pre-test questionnaire and handing in the samples. Acceptance questionnaire responses indicated strong support for research into developing a surveillance programme and a positive evaluation of gargle tests. Participation was voluntary. As not all pupils participated, individual reminders could lead to participant identification. School-wide implementation of the programme for infection monitoring purposes would enable reminders to be given to all school pupils to address these steps, without compromising participant anonymity. Such a programme would provide a feasible means to monitor asymptomatic respiratory tract infection in schools.

Impact of healthy aging on active bacterial assemblages throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

The adaption of gut microbiota (GM) throughout human life is a key factor in maintaining health. Interventions to restore a healthy GM composition may have the potential to improve health and disease outcomes in the elderly. We performed a comprehensive characterization of changes in the luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota composition in elderly compared with younger healthy individuals. Samples from saliva and feces, and biopsies from the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (UGIT, LGIT), were collected from 59 asymptomatic individuals grouped by age: 40-55, 56-70, and 71-85 years). All underwent anthropometric, geriatric, and nutritional assessment. RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed into complementary DNA; the V1-V2 regions of 16S ribosomal RNA genes were amplified and sequenced. Abundances of the taxa in all taxonomic ranks in each sample type were used to construct sample-similarity matrices by the Bray-Curtis algorithm. Significant differences between defined groups were assessed by analysis of similarity. The bacterial community showed strong interindividual variations and a clear distinction between samples from UGIT, LGIT, and feces. While in saliva some taxa were affected by aging, this number was considerably greater in UGIT and was subsequently higher in LGIT. Unexpectedly, aging scarcely influenced the bacterial community of feces over the age range of 40-85 years. The development of interventions to preserve and restore human health with increased age by establishing a healthy gut microbiome should not rely solely on data from fecal analysis, as the intestinal mucosa is affected by more significant changes, which differ from those observed in fecal analyses.

Analysis of Transcriptionally Active Bacteria Throughout the Gastrointestinal Tract of Healthy Individuals.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The microbiome varies along the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract with exposure to luminal and mucosal factors. We analyzed active bacterial communities at 8 locations along the GI tract using high-throughput sequencing techniques. METHODS: We collected saliva, mucosal, and fecal samples from healthy adults (10 men and 11 women; mean age, 59 ± 12.3 years) who underwent upper and lower GI tract endoscopy in Germany from December 2015 through September 2016. Biopsies were taken from stomach, antrum, corpus, duodenum, terminal ileum, ascending colon, and descending colon. RNA was extracted from all samples and reverse transcribed into complementary DNA; V1-V2 regions of 16S ribosomal RNA genes were amplified and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Abundances of the taxa in all taxonomic ranks in each sample type were used to construct sample-similarity matrices with the Bray-Curtis algorithm. Significant differences between a priori-defined groups were evaluated using analysis of similarity. RESULTS: After taxonomic annotation, 4045 phylotypes, belonging to 169 genera and 14 different phyla, were identified. Each subject had a different bacterial community. We identified distinct microbial consortia in saliva, upper GI tract, lower GI tract, and fecal samples. The predominant genera in the upper GI tract (Gemella, Veillonella, Neisseria, Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Pseudomonas, and Actinomyces) were almost absent from the lower GI tract, where the microbial communities mainly comprised Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and Bacteroides. The bacterial communities in the upper GI tract were characterized by greater richness and heterogeneity (measured by the Shannon index) than those in the lower GI tract. We detected Helicobacter pylori in only the upper GI tract. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of saliva, mucosal, and fecal samples from 21 healthy adults, we found each individual, and each GI region, to have a different bacterial community. The fecal microbiome is not representative of the mucosal microbiome. We propose a systematic method to analyze the bacterial communities of the GI tract.