A recent publication by GBN Britain’s News Channel (here) , that has already been copied on other media outlets (here and here) is making false claims in relation to the research study [Predicted risk of heart failure pandemic due to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection using a three-dimensional cardiac model] (Ref 1).
As all fake news organizations do, the link to the study is not provided in their article, making it difficult for the reader to find the sources they are quoting. Nonetheless, they give more than enough clues:
The report states: "Even though conclusive clinical evidence that persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with declined cardiac function has not been reported so far, the proof-of-concept study of the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 persistent infection of the heart and the potential risk of opportunistic progression of heart failure should be validated by a three-dimensional human cardiac tissue model which would serve as the alarm bell for a global healthcare risk."
From there, one can very easily find the study using most web search engines:
As we can see, if one read the study, the study is related to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially with regards to patients with chronic cardiomyopathy. No variants are mentioned, not JN.1, not any other variant. It is also very important to read the limitations of the study that are given by the authors:
The findings are derived from in vitro model created from human iPS cells, offering significant insights but potentially not fully representing the diverse factors within the human body…
Furthermore, the necessity to conduct the entire series of experiments in a P3 level safety laboratory resulted in a relatively small sample size, potentially limiting the generalizability of our results.
Other confounding factors may apply with regards to Real World Data, such as the detrimental effects of Mask Wearing after repeated exposure and extended periods of mask usage, which may include Chronic Hypoxia in individuals with chronic respiratory illness and/or cardiomyopathies. In the same line, one must consider all presentations of heart related adverse events after the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Some studies are a bit worrisome in this regards:
Persistent Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in a Cohort of Adolescents with Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 mRNA Vaccine Myopericarditis (Ref. 2)
Cardiac side effects of RNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: Hidden cardiotoxic effects of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 on ventricular myocyte function and structure (Ref. 3)
Conclusion and implications: Here, we demonstrated for the first time, that in isolated cardiomyocytes, both mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 induce specific dysfunctions that correlate pathophysiologically to cardiomyopathy. Both RyR2 impairment and sustained PKA activation may significantly increase the risk of acute cardiac events.
Video S1: Representative video sequences: A) untreated cardiac muscle cell – regular contraction; B) after BNT162b2 application – increased contraction; C-F) after mRNA-1273 application – arrhythmic, irregular as well as partly ‘peristaltic’ contraction (C – top: non-beating but morphologically intact myocyte).
It is also important to remember that such cardiac events have not been found after SARS-CoV-2 infection:
The Incidence of Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Post COVID-19 Unvaccinated Patients—A Large Population-Based Study (Ref. 4)
We did not observe an increased incidence of neither pericarditis nor myocarditis in adult patients recovering from COVID-19 infection.
Most importantly, an extensive review of serious adverse event during clinical trials concluded that “The excess risk of serious adverse events of special interest surpassed the risk reduction for COVID-19 hospitalization relative to the placebo group in both Pfizer and Moderna trials”. This statement was later removed, after peer review.
Still, the results have not changed, as you can see in the peer-reviewed version of the paper:
Serious adverse events of special interest following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in randomized trials in adults (Ref. 5)
These results raise concerns that mRNA vaccines are associated with more harm than initially estimated at the time of emergency authorization.
Final Notes Regarding Variants and Fearmongering:
Statement from Norman Pieniazek, “The variants are purely virtual. There was never any meaningful epidemiology attached to the sequences.”
Last but not least, I would encourage the reader to watch this video from Vincent Racaniello:
GBN - Covid scientists issue warning new variant could cause global 'heart failure pandemic' https://www.gbnews.com/news/covid-scientists-warning-new-variant-global-heart-failure-pandemic
TIMENOW - New COVID Strain Could Trigger A Global Heart Failure Pandemic: Study https://www.timesnownews.com/health/new-covid-strain-could-tigger-a-global-heart-failure-pandemic-study-article-106414137
(Research Papers)
(Ref 1) Predicted risk of heart failure pandemic due to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection using a three-dimensional cardiac model https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223027189
(Ref 2) Persistent Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in a Cohort of Adolescents with Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 mRNA Vaccine Myopericarditis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35351530/
(Ref 3) Cardiac side effects of RNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: Hidden cardiotoxic effects of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 on ventricular myocyte function and structure https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37828636/
(Ref 4) The Incidence of Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Post COVID-19 Unvaccinated Patients—A Large Population-Based Study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35456309/
(Ref 5) Serious adverse events of special interest following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in randomized trials in adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36055877/
All Covid news reporting is like this. News article mentioning studies and not linking to them, title not matching content, hysterics not supported by data, etc etc etc
All Covid news reporting is like this. News article mentioning studies and not linking to them, title not matching content, hysterics not supported by data, etc etc etc