Daily Archives: April 19, 2021

A scene from the British television crime drama series, New Tricks.

Some unsolved crimes can soon become forgotten by the general public, but a dedicated group of officers refuse to give up hope that the perpetrators will eventually be caught and brought to justice. The determined members of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS), a fictional division within Londons Metropolitan Police Service, are devoted to re-investigating those unresolved offensives on the popular British television crime drama series, New Tricks.

The procedural show, which was originally broadcast on BBC One, is now being broadcast on the Drama channel on Filmon TV. The latest episode of New Tricks is set to air on Filmon can be streamed this this evening at 5:20-6:40pm local time. It can be watched live, or recorded and watched at a later time.

The ninth episode from series 12 of New Tricks, which is titled Life Expectancy, was written by Tahsin Guner, and directed by David Innes Edwards. The episode follows the veteran detectives as they probe a case involving cryopreservation and alternative medicine.

FilmOn is a popular streaming service that enables viewers to watch live and recorded UK and international television shows, movies and music videos in a variety of genres, including news, sports, drama, comedy, horror, lifestyle, shopping, pop, EDM and blues.

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The Veteran Detectives Probe a Case Involving Cryopreservation and Alternative Medicine on New Tricks - Shockya.com

New Delhi: Even though the Covid-19 vaccination is in full swing, the pandemic continues to affect a huge population, severely affecting the countrys economic and social fabric. There are many who recommend tapping Ayurveda, Indias ancient alternative medical system.

A report in Hindustan Times last December draws attention to the praise lavished for Ayurveda by the Delhi Government Health Minister Satyendar Jain in his tweet. Congratulations to Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan for successfully catering to 2000 Covid patients with pure Ayurvedic treatment. It is the 1st Indian Ayurvedic hospital that has treated Covid patients from ages 1 month-106 years. I applaud the team and staff.

Case-control study

The patients at the Sansthan were treated with a mix of three herbs, haldi milk, and amla churan for Vitamin D, called Nagaradhi Kwath. A case-control study of 1,000 patients was done wherein half received the ingredients while the other half didnt.

Talking about this study, Prof. Vidula Gujjarwar, Director Principal of the Sansthan said: We are yet to analyze the results of the study but there was an improvement in the condition of the patients. We are not saying that these herbs cure Covid-19, but it helps in relieving the symptoms.

The Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has brought out a National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for management of Covid-19. Stating that the pandemic had created a global health crisis, it says Ayurveda and Yoga can certainly play a pivotal role to augment preventive measures provided in the guidelines by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (M0HFW). The current understanding of Covid-19 indicates that good immune status is vital to prevention and to safeguard from disease progression.

The document in its general and physical measures states that besides physical distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene, wearing a mask, gargling with warm water added with a pinch of turmeric and salt should be done. Further water boiled with Triphala (dried fruits of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminala bellerica) or Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) also can be used for gargling.

It goes on to suggest nasal application of medicated or plain oil (sesame or coconut) or application of cows ghee once or twice a day, especially before going out and after coming back to home.

Also advisable is steam inhalation with Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) or Pudina (Mentha spicata) or Eucalyptus oil once a day.

Other suggestions include six to eight hours of sleep and moderate physical exercises and yoga protocol.

In terms of dietary measures, the protocol suggests use of warm water or water boiled with herbs like ginger (Zingiber officinale) or coriander (Coriandrum sativum) or basil (Ocimum sanctum/Ocimum basiicum), or cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds etc., for drinking purpose. The diet should be fresh, warm and balanced. Hot milk (150 ml) with half teaspoon haldi (curcuma longa) is suggested once at night, which may be avoided in case of indigestion while Ayush kadha (hot infusion or decoction) should be had once a day.

Also suggested in the protocol document is Specific Measures/Symptom Management which lay down the clinical severity, medicines and doses and timings. Management of mild Covid-19 cases is mentioned listing symptoms, formulation and dose. All this, of course, is subject to physicians discretion.

Paper in NCBI

There is an interesting paper Outcomes of Ayurvedic care in a Covid-19 patient with hypoxia A Case Report on the website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This is a part of the United States National Library of Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. Written by Jyoti Anand Joshi and Rammanohar Puthiyedath, it reports the outcomes of Ayurvedic intervention in a COVID-19 patient with severe hypoxia requiring supportive oxygen therapy.

The case involved a 26-year-old housemaker who complained of severe breathlessness while it was found that all the people she had come in contact with during her travel from Panvel to Alibaug, had tested positive for Covid-19. On opting for Ayurveda treatment on the second day of her hospitalisation, she was administered medicines.

The report states: Sadharaacura was discontinued to prevent it from inducing rukata (dryness) after seven days when breathlessness was completely relieved. Sukmatriphala was discontinued after four days when the patient was taken off oxygen support and there was no indication of any lung infection like pneumonia which is a known complication in Covid-19. Sagangapaniyam with Guduci, as well as Kanakasavam and Indukantam Kasayam was continued up to the point of being discharged from the hospital to support immunity, kindle the digestive fire and to keep the pranavahasrotas (airways) patent. After discharge, the patient has been advised to drink guducipaniyam (water medicated with stem of Tinospora cordifolia).

Discharged on the 11th day, the patient after five days repeated the RT PCR test for Covid-19, which was negative.

Last year there was a report in Zee News which said that the clinical trial conducted at three hospitals with the combination treatment of an Ayurvedic remedy called Immunofree by Corival Life Sciences, and a Nutraceutical called Reginmune by Biogetica have shown better results than the conventional medicines approved by the government for coronavirus treatment.

Approved by the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI), the trial was conducted on moderate Covid-19 positive patients at Government Medical Hospital, Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh, Parul Sevashram Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, and Lokmanya Hospital Pune, Maharashtra.

With the pandemic threatening to stay longer, it is felt that other medicine systems should be explored to curb its spread to help the nation and its people get back on track faster.

(IANS)

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Can alternative medicine systems like Ayurveda be tapped to fight Covid-19? - Sambad English

Pooja Bedi, who has been endorsing alternative medicine as a valid deterrent against the coronavirus, has been responding to her detractors on Twitter.

PUBLISHED ON APR 19, 2021 10:55 AM IST

Pooja Bedi has responded to a new batch of criticism directed at her, after she shared her thoughts about the coronavirus pandemic. Pooja has been tweeting about the importance of living freely, despite the threat of illness. She and her fiance, Maneck Contractor, are currently stationed in Goa.

Responding to Twitter users who questioned her authority on giving medical advice, she said that she has 'care, concern, positive intent' in her heart. Pooja has been attracting criticism ever since she tweeted a video of herself and Maneck enjoying a boat ride, and how her life was 'not spent caged and masked for a year'.

"Did anyone see PhD's in economics or health science or both in her bio?" one person tweeted at her. She replied, "But I'm sure u can see care, concern, positive intent in my tweets. What u see is largely dependent on what you WANT to." In between responding to others, Pooja has plugged alternative medicine and shared an infographic on the most appropriate mask people can use at this time.

"As a public personality who can influence people in plenty, if you are giving 'expert opinion' on specialities that aren't really your domain, you should also be taking responsibility if something goes wrong and if somebody develops complications listening to your advice," one person wrote to her. Pooja responded, "Is govt or vaccine company taking responsibility for everyone who dies after taking a vaccine?"

Also read: Pooja Bedi reacts to criticism against 'caged and masked' tweet: 'People despise those with wealth, health, positivity'

On Saturday morning, Pooja tweeted, The comments on my previous posts have revealed how many People despise those with wealth, health, positivity & mental freedom. Please study subconscious programming and law of attraction. What u despise...you will never attract for yourself. So be careful of what ui despise.

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Pooja Bedi tweets her defence when asked if she's qualified to give medical advice, endorses alternative medicine - Hindustan Times

After five days of treatment, more than 300 Covid-19 patients have been cured by fah talai jone (andrographis paniculata) or green chireta.

"We are confident that fah talai jone can cure Covid-19 patients who have mild symptoms and are asymptomatic," said Dr Kwanchai Wisitthanon, deputy director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. The figures above are from a recent study by the department.

"The medicine is safe to treat patients with," he added.

Known as the King of Bitters, fah talai jone has been in the spotlight following the surge in Covid-19 infection cases across Thailand. High in andrographolide that can kill some viruses, the Thai herb has been used to cure sicknesses like the flu, sore throat and infection in Asian countries such as China, India and Thailand for centuries.

Last April, a research team at the Institute of Biological Products of the Department of Medical Sciences under the Ministry of Public Health found that the medicinal herb can kill and inhibit the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, in test-tube experiments.

Fah talai jone (andrographis paniculata) or green chireta capsules have options of ground leaves and extract. Karnjana Karnjanatawe

To test its effectiveness for curing patients, six volunteers participated in the first clinical test during the second half of last year. The research was conducted by the Thai Traditional Medicine Research Institute of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

The patients had mild symptoms such as sore throats, headaches, cough or runny nose. Each participant received 60mg of andrographolide at 6am, 2pm and 10pm, or a total of 180mg andrographolide a day for five days. The amount of andrographolide is three times higher a dose than the treatment of the common flu.

The research team took blood samples of each patient on the first, third and fifth dates to check the amount of the virus copies.

The fah talai jone plants. Vichien Keeratinijakul

The results were impressive.

"Within three days of using fah talai jone, every patient's condition improved. The symptoms were gone within five days," said Dr Kulthanit Wanaratna, director of the Thai Traditional Medicine Research.

"No side effects were found," he said.

However, the result from only six patients was not enough. The Institute wanted more proof to eliminate bias or any doubts about herbal therapy.

"We needed to conduct a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) because such research is the most rigorous method to determine the effectiveness of fah talai jone," he said.

An RCT is a standard in clinical research in controlled conditions with random patients. The study needs two groups of volunteers. The patients must not have severe symptoms or are infected but have not developed any symptoms. Each group needs 30 patients. One group will receive a total of 180mg andrographolide a day for five days while the other group will receive placebos for five days.

A field hospital facility for patients who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

Each volunteer will not know if they receive the real medicine or placebo. Their condition will be monitored daily. The results will be compared to reaffirm if the medicine can treat Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms or they can get better without the treatment.

While the RCT has been carried out since last year among returnees in state quarantine facilities, the country was hit by a second wave of Covid-19 last December.

In response to the emergency and to prepare for another hit this month, the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine worked with nine hospitals in Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Rayong and Tak to provide fah talai jone to more than 300 patients.

"We are certain about the effectiveness of the medicine and that it can kill the virus so we rolled out the project with patients," he said.

Disinfection is another way to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic. Apichit Jinakul

According to the present protocol of the Department of Medical Services, those who test positive for the Covid-19 will be admitted to the hospital and treated according to their symptoms. Those who have mild illness and are asymptomatic will not receive antiviral medicines like Favipiravir which is used for Covid-19 treatment. Instead, they will receive drugs to cure their symptoms such as cough medicine or fever reducer.

"This is an opportunity for us so we introduced fah talai jone to patients," he said.

After three days of treatment, the patients' conditions improved.

"All sickness conditions including sore throat, cough, loss of smell and taste, runny nose, headache and fever gradually cured within three to five days. None of the patients developed severe illness such as a high breathing rate or lung infection," he noted.

Although the treatment by the herbal medicine went well, the credibility was not high because it lacked scientific proof. The patients did not pass another Covid-19 test after the treatment. Dr Kwanchai explained that they followed a new protocol recommended by the Infectious Disease Association of Thailand that if patients did not show any symptoms after the quarantine period, they can be discharged without taking a second Covid-19 test.

"It is because there is no further indication relating to the sickness, it means the level of disease is too low to transmit to others," he said.

Wearing a face mask and washing hands with alcohol gel is a common practice to prevent infection. Somchai Poomlard

Another reason is to save costs.

"Our research budget is quite limited so we only have a Google form for doctors to evaluate each patient's conditions during Covid-19 treatment with fah talai jone. But if we could have RT-PCR test results after the treatment, the research would have more credibility," he said.

For those who are anxious and worry if they get the infection during the present outbreak, Dr Kulthanit advised taking fah talai jone only when they have fever-like symptoms.

"Fah talai jone cannot be used for prevention of Covid-19. If you cough, have a fever, sore throat or runny nose, take a normal prescription which is 60mg of andrographolide a day," he said. (The amount of andrographolide per capsule indicates on each prescription bottle).

"The condition should improve within one or two days. If you do not feel better within three days, you should stop using fah talai jone. You should see a doctor."

Fah talai jone is a cooling herb. It should not be consumed for more than five to seven days otherwise it may cause numbness in the hands and feet, lowering blood pressure and also impact the kidneys, he added.

Not everyone can take fah talai jone. Those who should avoid the medicine are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, those who have kidney and liver problems and people who regularly take high blood pressure pills and blood thinners.

In addition to fah talai jone, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine will partner with Mahidol University to conduct a clinical trial for a herbal extract from finger roots or krachai, which is normally used as a herbal ingredient in Thai cooking. The lab research of the university recently found that Pinostrobin and Pandulatin A, which are extracted from krachai can kill and inhibit the Covid-19 virus. Testing on real patients is due to begin soon.

Besides this, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine will also expand its focus to cover herbal remedies that can cure inflammatory diseases such as benjalokawichien or ya ha rak, chantaleela, which consists of eight herbs and ya khao, which is mixed with rice water for drinking.

"The research on Thai traditional remedies will take time but it will benefit people in the long run. The knowledge will not only help with Covid-19 treatment but also other pandemics in the future," he said.

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A promising development in the fight against Covid - Bangkok Post

Dog Parent Appreciation Day has been founded by Dr. Marty Goldstein, DVM, a notable integrative veterinarian, founder of Dr. Marty Pets,and author of the new book, The Spirit of Animal Healing: An Integrative Medicine Guide to a Higher State of Well-Being.

"I'm so excited to announce this new holiday that celebrates the loving, devoted dog parents that help give our four-legged family members a happy, healthy life," said Dr. Marty Goldstein.

In this spirit of Dog Parent Appreciation Day, Dr. Marty has shared some tips and tricks on how to improve the connection between pet and pet parent.

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Bond With Your Dog

For more information about Dog Parent Appreciation Day, or to request an interview with Dr. Marty, contact Kerry Sutherland at K. Sutherland PR, [emailprotected] or (775) 360-6101. Learn more about Dr. Marty at http://www.drmartypets.com or his new book, The Spirit of Animal Healing, here.

About Dr. Marty Pets:Founded by Dr. Marty Goldstein, Dr. Marty Pets was created to boost pet health through premium quality animal nutrition. Each carefully developed product is fullofall-natural and nourishing ingredients allowing pet owners to feel confident that they are providing their furry friend with the utmost nutritious care. Dr. Marty superior pet products are made in the USA.

About Dr. Marty Goldstein:Dr. Marty Goldstein is a notable integrative veterinarian, author and founder of Dr. Marty Pets. As a leader in the field of veterinary medicine for more than40 years, Dr. Marty combines elements of traditional medicine with nutrition, immune support and alternative treatments that have yielded miraculous results for countless numbers of pets from around the world. He is the author ofThe Nature of Animal Healingand The Spirit of Animal Healing and featured veterinarian of critically acclaimed "The Dog Doc" documentary.

SOURCE Dr. Marty Pets

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It's Dog Parent Appreciation Day, Here Are 5 Vet-Recommended Ways to Strengthen Your Bond With Your Dog - PRNewswire

The educational option can be viewed on the Cobach University Link mini-site.

Chiapas Today // MdR

A microsite, Cobach University Link, created to bring college students closer to the options of public and private universities that offer multiple jobs for their professional future.

The General Coordinator of EMA, Betsy Jazmn Estrada Cuevas, thanked Cobach for the space provided in order to expand the educational offer, through a scholarship program, and scientific workshops, for a better career development for the Coba people.

Our jobs, even as part of the special education system, have a mission to train health professionals who are able to respond to the challenges that society demands through strong training and theoretical and practical knowledge, he said.

Likewise, he said that the College of Alternative Medicine is a committed educational institution, with 24 years of experience since its inception and that distinguishes it as one of the best, with an attachment to the truth, with a critical and transformative attitude, with a social responsibility and worldview inspired by human values.

He emphasized that EMA is an institution that promotes the growth and development of students intellectual capabilities, governed by high-performance technological, scientific and academic developments that affect the realization of projects in todays world.

Award-winning zombie scholar. Music practitioner. Food expert. Troublemaker.

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The School of Alternative Medicine has suggested an offer to the students of Cobach Diario Chiapas Hoy - Sunday Vision

The active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms may be more effective at treating depression than a leading antidepressant, a study has found, potentially opening up new avenues of treatment for troops who suffer from the debilitating condition.

The severity of depressive symptoms dropped by at least half in 70% of people who were given psilocybin in clinical trials conducted last year at Imperial College London, the study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine said. Only 48% of a group that took the common antidepressant escitalopram saw a similar decrease.

Thirty of 59 patients were given two separate doses of 25 milligrams of psilocybin at three-week intervals, and took a daily placebo for six weeks. The others received two much smaller doses of psilocybin 1 mg three weeks apart and took escitalopram, which is marketed under brand names like Cipralex and Lexapro, daily for six weeks.

All the patients had long-term, moderate to severe clinical depression and received psychological counseling throughout the study.

In addition to showing larger reductions in depressive symptoms, the psilocybin group reported greater improvements in their ability to cry or feel compassion, intense emotion and pleasure, the study said. They also said they felt less drowsy than those who took escitalopram.

"These findings provide further support for the growing evidence base that shows that in people with depression, psilocybin offers an alternative treatment to traditional antidepressants," said professor David Nutt, principal investigator on the study and the Edmond J. Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London.

Earlier this month, Army veteran Jose Martinez urged California lawmakers to advance a bill that would decriminalize psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms and LSD.

Martinez said he believes psilocybin mushrooms helped save his life when he felt depressed, after losing both legs and an arm to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Opponents of the bill said decriminalization could lead to more deaths by poisoning.

A study published in Military Medicine in 2012 estimated that 12% of deployed, 13% of previously deployed and just under 6% of never deployed military personnel have clinical depression.

In military personnel, clinical depression impedes readiness and often leads to poor health outcomes, a separate study published last year in Military Medicine said.

The Imperial College researchers are calling for a larger study to be conducted into the effects of psilocybin on mental health.

"We look forward to further trials, which if positive should lead to psilocybin becoming a licensed medicine," Nutt said.

Until then, however, the researchers are advising against self-medication with magic mushrooms to treat depression.

Taking mushrooms found while foraging in the woods "might not have a positive outcome," they said, stressing that the study was conducted under strict clinical guidelines.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Study: Psilocybin in psychedelic mushrooms may be more effective than leading antidepressant - The Union Leader

Creso Pharma Limiteds (ASX:CPH, FRA:1X8) target acquisition company Halucencex Life Sciences Inc. has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with leading nanotechnology company Sixth Wave Inc.

The LOI comes as California pushes to decriminalise psychedelics, which highlights the ongoing acceptance and regulatory shift towards psychedelics as an alternative treatment route for debilitating mental health conditions.

As such, there may be no better time for CPH to move into this sector.

Vancouver based Sixth Wave (CSE: SIXW) is focused on the development of nanotechnology that uses Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for imprinting, capturing and releasing substances at a molecular level.

Given every substance has a unique size, shape and chemical property, MIPs are developed and deployed to capture and extract target materials at the molecular level resulting in extraction efficiencies down to parts per billion.

Put simply, this means the technology results in more efficient extraction with higher yields and a purer product. The technology is expected to replace outdated extraction methods and drive down costs.

Sixth Waves products are currently being commercialised across a range of sectors including mining, health security with rapid virus detection and cannabis productions.

With regard to the Halucenex LOI, the companies will work together to develop a Definitive Agreement by 31 May 2021 that will define system requirements, identify target molecules to be purified, and develop psilocybin separation.

Sixth Wave will develop the molecularly imprinted polymers for use in the process.

Halucenex and Sixth Wave will work to develop beads and columns to assist in producing psilocybin isolate from distillation of the product.

This is important in that it would allow Halucenex to produce a natural pure psilocybin product for R&D, and for accurately dosing psilocybin for the treatment of mental disorders.

The companies will also develop beads and columns of other wellness components of psilocybe mushroom strains such as baeocystin and norbeocystin.

Halucenex will then be able to conduct research into the health and wellness benefits of these molecules without the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin present.

This is beneficial for Halucenex in that it should complement the advisory agreement it signed on 12 April with Growing Together Research Inc. (GTR) to explore the genome sequencing of natural psilocybe.

Read: Creso Pharmas target acquisition company announces expansion into other psychedelic compounds

Growing Together Research Inc. is a US-based biotechnology company focused on applying cutting-edge computational genomics and bioengineering to plant medicine.

The advisory agreement will allow Halucenex to gain a better understanding of components of psychedelic mushrooms and use for specific conditions.

Halucenex and GTR will be able to identify key psilocybe genetic markers, enabling its extraction and separation processes to provide purity and consistency of the compounds.

The recent LOI with Sixth Wave is a very pleasing development for Halucenex and has the potential to provide considerable upside to near term clinical trial initiatives and cultivation activities, non-executive Chairman Adam Blumenthal said.

Halucenex founder and CEO Bill Fleming said: The agreement with Sixth Wave is a very important step and will provide Halucenex with another avenue to best understand the use of psychedelic compounds for a range of treatments and health benefits.

We look forward to working with the group and utilising their patent-pending technology, alongside agreements with other key partners, to further our R&D initiatives, which will help us in our clinical trials and future product development.

CEO of Sixth Wave Dr Jon Glucklman added: The growth in medical evidence showing botanical psychedelics treatment efficacy for atypical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other conditions is compelling and suggests that the market for these substances in both clinical treatment and potentially outpatient micro-dosing will grow substantially.

The application of our nanotechnology to this exciting market is an extension of our existing AffinityTM cannabinoid purification system. As Sixth Wave is in the final commercialisation efforts for AffinityTM this is a perfect time to be exploiting the design of that system to a new set of molecules.

Recent legislative change in North America regarding the possession and use of psychedelic compounds, could benefit CPH and Halucenex in the future.

The recent motion to move towards the legalisation of psychedelic substances in California would certainly work in CPHs long-term favour.

The legislative shift occurred 13 April 2021, when the Senate Public Safety Committee approved Senate Bill 519, which would make a wide range of psychedelic substances legal to use and possess for adults over the age of 21.

It would also see prior criminal offences for use and possession expunged.

For psilocybin, the legislation repeals provisions in the Californian statute that prohibited the cultivation or transportation of any spores of mycelium capable of producing mushrooms or other material that contain the psychoactive ingredient.

The bill has been introduced to progress a more health-focused approach to the use of psychedelic compounds and to address the current mental health crisis in the US.

Should the bill be made into law, CPHs newly appointed Director of US Business Development, Mr John Griese, will work with the company to progress opportunities in this space in California.

We applaud recent regulatory developments in California, which will pave the way for acceptance for the use of psychedelic compounds as an alternative treatment route for debilitating mental health conditions, Blumenthal said.

Much like recent cannabis reform, we anticipate that there will be a considerable legislative shift to promote the use of psychedelic compounds and through Cresos pending acquisition of Halucenex, we are positioned to benefit from these reforms.

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Move to legalisation of psychedelics could benefit CPH in the US - Finfeed

U.S. regulators have recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccine as they investigate rare blood clotting in six women, including one who died. read more

J&J also said it was delaying the rollout of its vaccine in Europe. U.S. officials said the temporary halt is expected only to last a few days. read more

The move comes after Europe's drug regulator said it had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) COVID-19 vaccine and very rare blood clots in some adults who had received the shot.

Britain's health regulator has recommended people under the age of 30 get an alternative COVID-19 vaccine, if possible, rather than the AstraZeneca shot.

Experts said clotting risks for both vaccines remain extremely low and they are highly effective in providing protection against COVID-19, amid fears that reports of the rare side effects could deter people from getting their shots.

Here's what we know so far:

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

With both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)vaccines, the reports involve extremely rare clotting, including a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), that were seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets, called thrombocytopenia.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee plans to review the cases linked to the J&J vaccine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will review its analysis.

The agencies, like their European counterparts, described the clotting as extremely rare.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said its vaccine side effects monitoring system, as of April 4, had received 169 reports of cases of CVST, or clots in blood vessels exiting the brain, and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), or clotting in veins in the abdomen.

That's out of 34 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses administered in Britain and the European Economic Area over the past three months.

The EMA's safety committee carried out a review of 62 cases of CVST and 24 cases of SVT, of which 18 were fatal.

Most cases occurred within two weeks of the person receiving their first dose.

German vaccination officials, who recorded 29 cases of CVST in women aged 20 to 59 who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, said the occurrence rate in that group was 20 times higher within 16 days of vaccination than what would have typically been expected. read more

Germany's health ministry has said 1 to 1.4 cases of CVST would have been expected during that time.

WHO EXPERIENCED THE RARE SIDE EFFECTS?

In J&J's case, all six recipients were women between the ages of 18 and 48, and the symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination. In total, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been given in the United States through April 12.

Similarly, most of the cases reported in Europe have occurred in women under 60, though that could be misleading, since Germany and Britain say more women got AstraZeneca's shot than men.

Most cases occurred within two weeks of people getting the first AstraZeneca dose.

WHAT HAVE THE COMPANIES SAID?

J&J said it was working closely with regulators and noted no clear causal relationship had been established between the events and its shot.

AstraZeneca said it was "working to understand individual cases and "possible mechanisms that could explain these extremely rare events".

WHAT HAVE REGULATORS SAID?

The CDC is recommending pausing using J&J's single-dose vaccine "out of an abundance of caution" to ensure that the health care providers are aware of potential side effects and can plan for "proper recognition and management."

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, meanwhile, made its recommendation for an alternative vaccine to AstraZeneca's to be used for people under 30 after reviewing 79 cases of rare clotting coupled with low platelets, with 19 fatalities - 13 women and six men.

Eleven of the deaths were of people under the age of 50 and three were under the age of 30.

WHAT TREATMENT IS RECOMMENDED?

In the United States, health officials said treatment of the blood clots with possible ties to the J&J vaccine differs from what might be considered standard in such situations.

"Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots," they said. "In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given."

German doctors and scientists investigating clotting associated with AstraZeneca shots have recommended that doctors administer intravenous immunoglobulin plus anticoagulant.

HOW DID REGULATORS COME TO THEIR DECISIONS?

In its findings, the EMA said on March 18 that, on average, just 1.35 cases of CVST might normally have been expected among people under 50 within 14 days of receiving AstraZeneca's vaccine, whereas by the same cut-off date 12 cases had been recorded.

By comparison, four women out of 10,000 would get a blood clot from taking oral contraception.

British officials drew on statistics from the University of Cambridge's Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication to explain their recommendations that young people get an alternative shot while older people can continue to get AstraZeneca's.

According to the Centre, the risk of serious harm due to vaccination falls the older people get and the number of admissions to intensive care units falls sharply thanks to vaccinations, boosting the AstraZeneca shot's benefit-to-risk ratio.

The Centre concluded that only 0.4 people for every 100,000 in the 50-59 age group would suffer vaccine-linked harm, while 95.6 ICU admissions per 100,000 people would be prevented.

WHAT'S THE EU DOING NOW?

The EMA, which said the benefits of using AstraZeneca's vaccine continue to outweigh any risks, said that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects and countries should decide on how to proceed.

These may vary from nation to nation, the EMA said, depending on factors like infection rates and whether there are vaccine alternatives.

ANY THEORIES ON CAUSE OF THE CLOTS?

Among possible causes being investigated are that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in rare cases. So far, risk factors like age or gender have not been singled out.

German scientists at Greifswald University concluded in a paper published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine that the extremely rare cases of clotting with low platelets - something they are calling "vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia" - are triggered by antibodies found in the affected patients following vaccination with AstraZeneca's shot.

A separate group of Norwegian scientists have made similar conclusions - that AstraZeneca's vaccine triggered an immune response that may have led to clotting in a small number of people - in their own article, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Andreas Greinacher, an Greifswald expert on drug-induced immune responses, is, like the EMA, seeking clues about why in rare cases people developed clots and low platelets after getting the vaccine, while the vast majority did not.

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Explainer: How worried should we be about links of blood clots to AstraZeneca's vaccine? - Reuters