Free Republic

President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Friday that Ukrainians will fight “for as long as we can” to hold the key eastern city of Bakhmut, as Moscow ramps up pressure in the eastern region of Ukraine. “Nobody will give away Bakhmut,” Zelensky said during a meeting with European Union leaders. “We will fight for as long as we can. We consider Bakhmut our fortress.” “If weapon (supplies) are accelerated, specifically long-range weapons, not only will we not abandon Bakhmut but we will also begin to remove the occupiers from the Donbas, which was occupied since 2014,” he president added. Moscow says its...

An oral antibiotic tablet used to treat common eye infections may prove an effective medicine for a sexually transmitted bug that has become resistant to usual recommended treatment, suggest doctors. They successfully treated a young man with Mycoplasma genitalium (non-gonococcal) urethritis with chloramphenicol. They describe a case of a young man with recurrent non-gonococcal urethritis symptoms, a common sexually transmitted infection caused by Mycoplasma genitalium that has become increasingly difficult to treat with currently recommended antibiotics. He was initially treated with a week's course of doxycycline, pending test results to identify the exact bacterial cause of his infection. The results...

The festival is drawing people of African descent to discover the religion and land of their enslaved ancestors.Every year in Benin, locals celebrate a festival in tribute to the deities of Voodoo, the Indigenous religion that worships natural spirits and reveres ancestors. Increasingly, the festival is drawing people of African descent from the US, Brazil and the Caribbean seeking to discover the religion and land of their ancestors who were enslaved and shipped away from the beaches of west Africa. Voodoo, known locally as Vodoun, originated in the Dahomey kingdom – present-day Benin and Togo – and is still widely...

[H/T grey_whiskers](Dallas, TX) -A 2021 lawsuit filed by Baylor Scott and White Health system against world-renowned internist, cardiologist, and COVID-19 expert Dr. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, has been dismissed by the 191st Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas. Associate Judge Tahira Khan Merritt granted the nonsuit and dismissed with prejudice all claims asserted or that could have been asserted in the case.In response, Dr. McCullough issued the following statement, This is a strong victory for freedom of speech and fair balanced publication and media presentation of clinical data as it has emerged over the course of the pandemic crisis....

WORLD — In a surprise statement to the world from the White House Situation Room, President Biden has announced America's unconditional surrender to the Chinese Spy Balloon. "Listen, folks, it's over," said Biden as a single tear ran down his face. "We're outgunned here. There's no hope that we can match the awesome power of this giant balloon." Biden's voice was drowned out by the dozens of weeping journalists gathered outside the room. "I urge you all to hug your loved ones and embrace your children, for the end is near. God help us all," Biden finally said before signing...

BUDAPEST — David Pressman, a gay human rights lawyer, knew he was in for a rough time even before he arrived in Hungary with his husband and two children to take up a new job in September as the United States’ ambassador to Europe’s self-declared citadel of traditional Christian values and friend of the Kremlin. As his confirmation hearing began in July in Washington, a rubber dinghy carrying a warning appeared on the Danube River near the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. On a black banner emblazoned with a skull and crossbones was an anti-L.G.B.T.Q. message in English and Hungarian: “Mr....

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with anemia or iron deficiency among children, according to a study. Vasile Valeriu Lupu, Ph.D. and colleagues examined the presence of anemia as a result of pediatric GERD in 172 children. The researchers found that 23 of the patients with GERD also had anemia, showing a moderate, significant correlation (r = −0.35). Cases with GERD also had significantly lower levels of serum iron (F = 8.46). "GERD is accompanied by a degree of iron deficiency that opens the way to iron deficiency anemia. Considering the fact that anemia can be one of the signs...

There was a low risk for advanced neoplasia after multiple rounds of negative fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) in people undergoing surveillance colonoscopy, according to a study. Molla M. Wassie, Ph.D. and colleagues examined the relationship between number of rounds of negative FIT and the risk for advanced neoplasia in individuals undergoing surveillance colonoscopy. The analysis included 3,369 individuals (aged 50 to 74 years) who had completed a two-sample FIT between colonoscopies with each round having a negative result (<20 μg hemoglobin/g feces). The researchers found that the incidence of advanced neoplasia in the cohort was 9.9 percent and decreased with...

The Nigerian husband of slain New Jersey Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour — who was gunned down Wednesday night near her Sayreville home — made a bizarre Facebook post Friday morning wishing his deceased wife a happy birthday, even though it’s still more than a month away. “4th March is your birthday happy glorious birthday in addy my love,” wrote Dwumfour’s husband, who works as a pastor and identifies himself by the name Eze Kings on the social media site. He punctuated the post with a series of hearts, and attached about a dozen photos of the couple which prominently featured Dwumfour’s...

A comprehensive research study manuscript examining the impact of erectile dysfunction drugs on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality has been published. This study marks a significant medical milestone, as it's the first time the association between the use of PDE-5i drugs and cardiovascular health has been explored in a large population of relatively low-risk men with ED in the United States. In this study, scientists analyzed health records of more than 70,000 men with ED. According to the findings of this large-population study, men who took Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and other drugs of the same class for erectile...

New data from a trial shows improved rates of survival and reduced risk of recurrence in patients taking osimertinib, a targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, and for patients diagnosed with more advanced disease stages, cases tend to recur. The phase III ADAURA clinical trial assessed the safety and efficacy of osimertinib in patients with surgically removed (completely resected) stage IB-IIA NSCLC, who were previously treated with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. The new data show there are ongoing benefits for patients with NSCLC taking osimertinib, including prolonged disease-free survival...

Given the fact that superhero stories have dominated our television and movie screens for almost two full decades, it can be easy to forget that there was an earlier wave of them decades ago. This '70s-era micro-boom followed in the wake of the extraordinary, absurd and fantastically entertaining Batman TV series of the '60s, and included TV shows like Shazam (CBS), Wonder Woman (ABC/CBS), The Incredible Hulk (CBS) and the Christopher Reeve-led Superman, which was the first prestige superhero film ever made. Unfortunately, one of the most lovable projects from that time is also one of the most often forgotten:...

A study has directly compared two classes of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) and found that one of the two classes is associated with a greater reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events in men than in women. The two classes of drugs are SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA). Both classes of medication reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in people with T2D. Despite women with T2D having a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and heart failure than men with T2D, treatment approaches remain the same. Rsearchers set out to directly compare and report the...

The White House said Friday it is "keeping all options on the table" regarding the Chinese spy balloon after President Biden followed "strong" recommendations from defense officials not to shoot down the aircraft due to safety to people on the ground. White House officials said Biden made his decision based on a "strong recommendation" from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley and the commander of Northern Command

Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it

A team has found a mechanism of recruitment for tumor-associated cells (cancer-associated fibroblasts or CAFs), which are essential to lung adenocarcinoma, the most frequent type of cancer. These cancer-associated cells contribute to all the phases of tumor development, including metastasis. The study reveals there is a type of inhibitor drug that could be useful against the migratory advantage of these cancer-associated cells, and so could prevent their recruitment and therefore their contribution to the tumor development. "Lung adenocarcinoma represents 40% of the cases of lung cancer and it produces an early metastasis," says Jordi Alcaraz. Alcaraz found in previous studies...

A new study shows that sleep medications increase the risk of dementia for people who are white. But the type and quantity of the medication may be factors in explaining the higher risk. Approximately 3,000 older adults without dementia were followed over an average duration of nine years. During the study, 20% developed dementia. White participants who "often" or "almost always" took sleep medications had a 79% higher chance of developing dementia compared to those who "never" or "rarely" used them. Among Black participants—whose consumption of sleep aids was markedly lower—frequent users had a likelihood of developing dementia similar to...

A proposed draft of a physical education form in Florida could require all high school student athletes to disclose information regarding their menstrual history — a move that’s already drawing pushback from opponents who say the measure would harm students. The draft — published last month by the Florida High School Athletic Association, a group that oversees interscholastic athletic programs across the state — proposes making currently optional questions regarding a student’s menstrual cycle mandatory, as reported by the Palm Beach Post. The form, if approved, would ask students if they’ve had a menstrual cycle, and if so, at what...

Kyrie Irving has stirred up more drama in Brooklyn, but this time could be the last time. The star has told the Nets he wants out, preferably by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The news was first reported by The Athletic, and confirmed by the Post through a source close to the situation. The source did not say what Irving’s breaking point was or why the West Orange, NJ native wants a trade from his hometown team. Despite last summer’s testy negotiations, Brooklyn had been in contract talks with Irving recently and offered an extension. The Athletic reported that the offer...

As a private citizen over the past year, Vindman watched the slow Russian buildup along Ukraines borders and, he said, became concerned about how Kyiv would support and sustain a long conflict. Vindman and his twin brother Yevgeny, also an Army officer, were born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. as children.Since the invasion last year, the Biden administration has approved hundreds of Bradley fighting vehicles, Strykers, Humvees, mobile howitzer systems and now Abrams tanks for shipment to Ukraine. But those machines must be taken from Ukraine to Poland or other NATO countries for major repairs, costing Ukrainian forces...