Biotechs explore longevity — for pets

Our beloved pets’ lives are heartbreakingly short, but several biotech companies are developing treatments that might give us a few more years with them.

An experimental drug developed by the company Loyal, for instance, suppresses a hormone called IGF that is lower in small dogs than in big dogs and might be one reason why little dogs live longer.

Others are trialling interventions originally developed for human lifespan extension, such as calorie restriction and the immunosuppressant rapamycin, which can increase the lifespan of mice by 25%.

For now, veterinarians say the best way to extend pets’ lives is through a healthy diet, exercise and mental stimulation.

Generating power from Earth’s rotation

Physicists have put forward controversial but intriguing evidence of a tantalizing phenomenon : generating electricity from the energy of Earth rotating through its own magnetic field.

Researchers built a prototype device that they report demonstrates the effect, but the voltage generated was so small that it’s hard to verify the mechanism.

“It seems crazy,” admits astrophysical scientist and study co-author Christopher Chyba. “It has a whiff of a perpetual motion machine.”

Ideology ‘survey’ shocks researchers

Researchers in Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and Canada who receive US funding have been sent a detailed survey asking whether their US-funded projects relate to topics denounced by President Donald Trump’s administration, such as diversity, equity and inclusion; and climate and environmental justice.

It also asks whether the researchers’ institutions work with communist, socialist or any parties that espouse anti-American beliefs, and receive funding from China.

The survey “is at the extreme end of foreign influence in a way that we have never seen from any of our research partners”, says Vicki Thomson, chief executive of the Group of Eight consortium of Australia’s leading research universities.

Kakhovka dam exposes toxic metals

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine unleashed tonnes of toxic waste that could persist for years to come.

When a suspected explosion made the dam collapse in June 2023 the resulting devastation led to at least 58 deaths and thousands of people being evacuated from their homes.

Researchers have shown that when the reservoir drained rapidly it exposed sediment containing an estimated 83,300 tonnes of toxic heavy metals.

The dam breach also eroded vegetation and killed large numbers of fish.

Monitor wastewater to predict outbreaks

Testing sewage for avian influenza in the United States could help scientists spot the emergence of new variants before they can spread.

An analysis of wastewater data from Oregon between September 2021 and July 2024 revealed 21 subtypes of the virus were present in sewage around six weeks before it was detected in the state’s farm poultry.

Standardized testing across the country could allow researchers to compare variants of the virus emerging in different states.

 “It’s going to be hard, though,” says virologist Marc Johnson.

“We have the CDC, but really, we have 50 states that each have their own health departments that make their own decisions.

”For these, and other wildlife, nature, and environmental news items, go to www.nature.com/nature/

 

approved demo attached - client feedback was:

This sounds good in terms of pace, tone and delivery.

Just two quick notes:

- Please ensure small pauses between numbers e.g. "Band 1, 2, 3 & 4"

- Please ensure super clear enunciation of words e.g. "laboratory" as the market for this clip is people for whom English is a second language

Numbers are said as:

2.01 = "two point zero one"

36.87 = thirty-six point eight seven"... etc.

Key:

FULL READ

Synvichor provides clinicians with a powerful tool for assessing joint conditions. Let’s explore how it works and what the results mean for patient care.

 Synvichor test results are provided as a ‘Synviscore,’ which appears on the HighPlex device output and in the report sent to the laboratory.

A ‘Synviscore’ is a numerical value categorised into four bands – Band 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Band 1 has a Synviscore between 1 and 4. Band 2 has a Synviscore between 4 and 10. Band 3 has a Synviscore between 10 and 37. Band 4 has a Synviscore above 37.

As this test diagnoses multiple conditions simultaneously, the results are interpreted as either Negative Predictive Value (NPV) or Positive Predictive Value (PPV).

Negative Predictive Value is a proxy for inflammation, while Positive Predictive Value is a proxy for infection.

For this reason, each test indicates the likelihood of a diagnosis, relative to the other condition as the comparator.

For example, a very high likelihood of INFLAMMATION means a very low likelihood of INFECTION, and vice versa.

Each band is associated with a simple clinical recommendation, allowing clinicians to make rapid treatment decisions with confidence.

Let’s take a closer look at each band.

 In this example, the patient has a Synviscore of 2.01, placing them in Band 1 – a score between 1 and 4.

Band 1 has a negative predictive value of over 95%. Remember that negative predictive value is the proxy for INFLAMMATION.

The lower the score, the closer the patient is trending towards the 95% negative predictive value.

Therefore, this patient has an extremely high likelihood of inflammation.

Band 1 has very high confidence of an INFLAMMATORY diagnosis and will not require further hospital review in the immediate term.

The clinical recommendation for Band 1 patients is to discharge them into the community for management by their GP.

 Now, let’s look at Band 2 and its implications.

 In this example, the patient has a Synviscore of 9.02, which falls into Band 2 – a score between 4 and 10.

Band 2 has a negative predictive value of over 80%, and has the second highest confidence for INFLAMMATION.

This patient has a moderately high likelihood of inflammation.

The clinical recommendation for patients in Band 2 is to discharge them into the community for management by their GP, with monitoring for any symptom changes.

 Next, let’s examine Band 3 and its impact on treatment decisions.

 In this example, the patient has a Synviscore of 36.87, which falls into Band 3 – a score between 10 and 37.

Band 3 has a positive predictive value of more than 75%. Remember that positive predictive value is the proxy for INFECTION.

Band 3 has the second highest confidence for infection, and so, this patient has a moderately high likelihood of INFECTION.

The clinical recommendation for patients in Band 3 is to admit them to hospital, with careful monitoring of symptoms, and offer antibiotic coverage.

Repeat Synvichor testing is recommended to establish a trend, as these patients are likely developing a joint INFECTION.

 Finally, let’s review Band 4 and what it signifies.

 In this example, the patient has a Synviscore of 38.55, which falls into Band 4 – a score above 37.

Band 4 has a positive predictive value of over 95%, and has the highest confidence for INFECTION.

The higher the score, the closer the patient is trending toward the 95% positive predictive value.

This patient has a very high likelihood of INFECTION.

The clinical recommendation for patients in Band 4 is to admit the patient to hospital and commence treatment as soon as possible.

It is advised to repeat testing within 48 hours of intervention to establish host response to treatment.

 Using Synviscore, clinicians can make rapid and accurate decisions about patients presenting with red, hot, swollen, and painful joints.

For more information, visit orthodx.com.au.