Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Emerging Tech
  3. News

Heart disease treatment fights health problems with … photosynthesis?

Luke Dormehl
By

heart attack photosynthesis cup leaf spring leaves
You are probably most familiar with photosynthesis as that thing you learned about in junior high school that explains how plants convert light energy into chemical energy in order to live. Over the years, there have been some interesting tech-related investigations into photosynthesis — ranging from “artificial leaves” capable of powering houses to potential methods of large-scale energy generation in a carbon-neutral manner.

Now researchers from Stanford University have a new use in mind: Utilizing photosynthesis and photosynthetic bacteria to help deliver oxygen around the body, in cases where blood flow temporarily stops due to blockages.

Related Videos

“We set out to try to think of different, out-of-the-box ways to approach heart disease,” Dr. Joseph Woo, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford and lead author on the study, told Digital Trends. “I wanted to know if there was any way of taking photosynthesis, this natural mechanism which exists every day in the world, and harnessing it to try and increase oxygen in an otherwise oxygen-starved heart.”

Woo’s team started out by grinding up spinach and kale to combine with heart cells in a dish, but found that the process was not stable enough. Next, they successfully used photosynthetic bacteria in the form of blue-green algae, which is more rugged due to living in the water. They found that it was able to survive with heart cells in a dish.

The researchers then injected the bacteria into the beating hearts of anesthetized rats with cardiac ischemia, one of the conditions caused coronary artery disease. They found that the heart function of rats whose hearts were subsequently exposed to light were considerably healthier than those kept in the dark. While the bacteria dissipated within 24 hours, the improved cardiac function in the rats continued for upwards of one month.

It is still early days for the research, but Woo said the discovery might one day be applied to humans. Since physically opening up humans suffering from heart attacks, so that their hearts can be exposed to light, is not an ideal course of action, his team is investigating alternative methods a similar photosynthetic effect could be achieved. One possible solution involves finding ways to insert micro light sources into the body, while another could utilize the different wavelengths of light to find a light source that is able to penetrate the body.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Science Advances.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Withings Body Scan scales go far beyond just showing your weight
Withings Body Scan scales.

Withings' new Body Scan smart scales go way beyond just measuring your weight, and instead bring monitoring technology you may have only seen at the gym or the doctor’s office into the comfort of your home. Announced during CES 2022, the Body Scan adds body composition data, heart rate and Electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, nerve response, and vascular age calculations to the usual information given by a smart scale, saying it will, “turn the morning weigh-on into a sophisticated home health check.”

The Body Scan has a tempered glass platform with 14 electrodes hidden inside, plus a built-in 3.2-inch color LCD screen to show relevant data and an extendable handle with a further four electrodes in it. These are used for the ECG and to complete the body composition measurement. Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, the Body Scan will assess body fat, visceral fat, bone and muscle mass, and water percentage to provide readings for individual body parts. Over the long-term, this helps understand high-risk areas in your body, along with sports-related data including muscle imbalance.

Read more
Here are some of the scientific highlights from the ISS in 2021
NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Serena Auñón-Chancellor during operations for the MICS experiment, which examined solidification of cement in microgravity.

One of the primary functions of the International Space Station (ISS) is to provide a venue for scientific research into a whole host of topics that benefit from investigation in a microgravity environment. To ring in the new year, NASA has released a round-up of some of the biggest scientific discoveries made on the ISS in 2021.

Much of the research done on the ISS is about health issues that affect both astronauts and those on the ground. Some of the experiments done in human health included investigating bone loss, which is a problem for astronauts who stay in space long-term and lack the effects of gravity on their weight-bearing bones. Bone loss is also a problem for those on Earth with various medical conditions, especially older adults. A study using data from the ISS was able to predict bone loss based on biomarkers and exercise history, which can help in the identification of astronauts at particular risk for bone loss. In the long term, it could help create better exercise regimens for astronauts as well.

Read more
Fitbit Premium’s newest features include a Daily Readiness Score, ECG app
Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit is releasing two new features for subscribers starting November 9. One is for subscribers to its Premium plan that will allow them to take advantage of the Daily Readiness Score, which is designed to help users achieve the optimal workout and recovery times for their bodies. The other feature is the ECG app, available on the Fitbit Charge 5 only, which tracks the rhythm and atrial fibrillation of the user's heart.
Daily Readiness Score
New or existing subscribers to Fitbit Premium will be able to use the Daily Readiness Score to receive a personalized score each morning with notes on how that scoring was achieved. With it, you're supposed to be able to track when to rest, work out, stress management, and more. Fitbit promises a lot, but users will have to practice their patience since calibrating takes four days to receive the first score.

Over time, your readiness score should become more tailored to your lifestyle. From there, it will help you better understand what your score means in relation to your activity, sleep patterns, and heart rate variability. With a low score, it may advise you to rest more. A higher score means your body is ready to prioritize a more intense workout to minimize fatigue. Depending on your score, you might be recommended content intended to maximize your day.

Read more