The role of miRNAs in viral myocarditis, and its possible implication in induction of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines-induced myocarditis.

Background: Several reports of unheeded complications secondary to the current mass international rollout of SARS-COV-2 vaccines, one of which is myocarditis occurring with the FDA fully approved vaccine, Pfizer, and others. Main body of the abstract: Certain miRNAs (non-coding RNA sequences) are involved in the pathogenesis in viral myocarditis, and those miRNAs are interestingly upregulated in severe COVID-19. We hypothesize that the use of mRNA-based vaccines may be triggering the release of host miRNAs or that trigger the occurrence of myocarditis. This is based on the finding of altered host miRNA expression promoting virus-induced myocarditis. Short conclusion: In conclusion, miRNAs are likely implicated in myocarditis associated with mRNA vaccines. Our hypothesis suggests the use of miRNA as a biomarker for the diagnosis of mRNA vaccine-induced myocarditis. Additionally, the interplay between viral miRNA and the host immune system could alter inflammatory profiles, hence suggesting the use of therapeutic inhibition to prevent such complications.

Obese communities among the best predictors of COVID-19-related deaths.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the largest outbreak to strike the world since the Spanish flu in 1918. Visual examination of the world map shows a wide variation of death tolls between countries. The main goal of our series is to determine the best predictors of such discrepancy. METHODS: This is a retrospective study in which the rate of COVID-19 deaths was correlated with each of the following independent variables: total tests per 1 million population, gross domestic product (GDP), average temperatures per country, ultraviolet index, median age, average BMI per country, food supply, Bacille Calmette-Guerin compulsory status, and passenger traffic. RESULTS: BMI per country proved to be the second best predictor of death rate with an R value of 0.43, and GDP being the best predictor with R = 0.65. CONCLUSION: This article shows a tight correlation between average BMI, food supply per country, and COVID-19-related deaths. Such predisposing factors might operate by upregulating the inflammation pathway in heavily struck countries, leading to easier triggering of the infamous cytokine storm syndrome. Obesity also increases cardiovascular and respiratory morbidities, which are coupled to increased ICU demand and deaths among infected cases.Video abstract: http://links.lww.com/CAEN/A25.