BANGKOK, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Say goodbye to obesity with the Chulalongkorn Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (Chula BMI)—King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital‘s one-stop center for comprehensive, holistic obesity care. A team of doctors and multidisciplinary specialists, including experts in medicine, surgery, nutrition, and behavioral therapy, is now ready to provide patients with guidance on preventing obesity before it’s too late.

Are you obese?

Find out from the BMI formula.

Body mass index (BMI) = body weight (kg)/height (m) 2

• If your answer is between 14.9 – 24.9, you are within the norm.
• If your answer is between 25 – 29.9, you are entering an overweight threshold.
• And if your answer is more than 30 or so, you are obese!

“For those whose BMI exceeds 25, it’s time to take care of their physical health,” said Professor Suthep Udomsawaengsup, M.D., a bariatric surgeon and Director of Chula BMI.

Obesity is a health problem that should not be overlooked because it causes many diseases, including diabetes, high cholesterol, neurological diseases, stroke, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), infertility, cysts, kidney abnormalities, urinary incontinence, abnormal stools, varicose veins, fatty liver, cirrhosis, gallstones, and breast and ovarian cancer.

“The treatment of obesity and weight loss is possible if the patient is continuously treated and under the close supervision of a doctor and the multidisciplinary team,” Prof. Dr. Suthep gave his reassurance: “At Chula BMI, we are a model for obesity care, offering comprehensive knowledge, expert specialists, and a full range of treatment options. We bring together all sectors involved in managing obesity and metabolic diseases under one roof.”

Professor Dr. Suthep revealed that Chula BMI was established in 2007. Each year, about 2,000–3,000 patients undergo nonsurgical treatment for obesity, while about 120–150 patients receive surgical treatment.

“Some of the patients who completed the surgical treatment returned as speakers to educate and exchange experiences with patients during the treatment period and to encourage those who are about to be treated,” Prof. Dr. Suthep gave an example of success in “removing the belly from patients’ lives.”

One-Stop Service for Holistic Obesity Treatment

Chula BMI brings together physicians and professionals in allied sciences, such as endocrinologists, because several obesity cases are caused by endocrinological disorders; pulmonologists; otolaryngologists; nasopharyngologists, and neurologists to take care of sleep issues. Nutritional specialists take care of the nutrition area, as it is one of the crucial factors in obesity. Gastroenterologists take care of surgery, psychiatrists provide counseling on psychological conditions, pediatricians take care of children with obesity, plastic surgeons reshape the body for aesthetic purposes, and gynecologists take care of infertility caused by obesity, ovarian cysts, and ovarian cancer. Radiologists are responsible for detecting gallstones, while cardiologists treat patients with heart-related conditions.

In addition, other personnel are also on staff, such as physiotherapists providing rehabilitation care, the Faculty of Sports Sciences responsible for exercise routines, and dietitians responsible for nutrition. Patients and their families, as well as the Patient Support Group, also provide encouragement and support by exchanging experiences.

Professor Dr. Suthep detailed the process of receiving treatment at Chula BMI. “When arriving at Chula BMI, we will first group patients to sit through an orientation of the process of treatment process. After that, the patient will receive an individual examination. It is a one-stop service to ensure ease and privacy for patients. We also serve as a hub for the exchange of ideas among multidisciplinary professionals and patients’ families, whom patients must bring along. Because, when patients return home, they will need to be taken care of and encouraged.”

Tackling Obesity Together

Professor Dr. Suthep explained the treatment guidelines for those with a BMI of 25 or more as follows:      

Those who have a BMI of 25–29.9 are classified as overweight. This group starts to have severe diseases and needs to begin taking care of themselves more. The key to self-care is to focus on diet and exercise. The center has dietitians to take care of the patient, along with group treatments, so that patients can help encourage each other to take care of their health.

If patients have a BMI of 27.5–29.9, we may add medications to the treatment to block the body from absorbing fat. These are hormones that make the body feel fuller or burn more energy in the form of injections, whether once a day, once a week, or once a month, to help adjust the way the body produces secretions. The treatment makes the body feel full faster, increases metabolism, corrects disorders, and induces faster weight loss than without the drug. However, the administering of these medications must be under the close supervision of physicians. Those with a BMI between 30 – 32.5.

People with a BMI over 32.5 and who are plagued with various diseases must be treated with gastric bypass surgery to allow the body’s hormones to restore the body’s metabolism. With decreased hunger, patients can cure themselves of obesity and various diseases.

Effective Use of Diet Pills

There are different types of diet pills, each with different directions and precautions.

Professor Dr. Suthep cautioned on the use of diet pills: “If you are going to use diet pills, it is always advisable to consult medical professionals for proper treatment and follow-up to prevent unwanted consequences because some diet pills may affect liver and kidney functions, mind, as well as mood.”

“Also, only choose the diet pills approved by the FDA, such as pills that prevent the absorption of fat or those that are synthetic body secretions to make patients feel full and less hungry. These pills have been studied to be safe, and others that are not in these groups are prohibited drugs.”

While diet pills are great for treating and controlling obesity, medical evidence suggests that the use and discontinuation of the pills on your own creates a high chance of relapse.

“We always tell patients that using medication is just the beginning of the journey toward change. Most patients require long-term medication and other ways to take care of their health.”

New Innovations to Combat Obesity in the Future

Obesity is a global public health issue. According to data from the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, the number of people worldwide who are overweight or obese continues to rise. It is projected that in the next 10 years (by 2035), more than 1.9 billion people will be living with obesity, equivalent to one in four people globally. In Thailand, a survey found that 42.2% of Thais aged 15 and older are classified as obese.

The rising trend of obesity has driven Chula BMI to continue researching innovations to improve treatment effectiveness and reduce side effects.

“Inserting a balloon into the stomach is one method of treating obesity. Patients who undergo this treatment can lose 10–15% of their body weight, which is often enough for related health conditions to resolve. However, patients may experience bloating or discomfort during the first 1–2 weeks after the balloon is inserted. Therefore, patients need to understand the process and receive continuous follow-up care.” Prof. Dr. Suthep gave an example.

“Regarding medication, we continuously enrich our knowledge in this area for current, most effective drugs with the results closest to surgery. When multiple technologies are combined, we can treat patients in all contexts, complementing each other. Surgery remains the last option for patients who do not respond to other treatments.”

The long-term approach to studying obesity focuses on reducing surgical risks. For patients who meet the criteria for surgery but are not ready due to excessive risks, laparoscopic surgery to adjust and alter the digestive tract offers a safer alternative. Currently, this method is still under study.

Obesity: Prevention is better than a cure.

“Although Chula BMI offers comprehensive and effective treatment methods, the best way to manage obesity is to prevent it in the first place!”

Ultimately, the most effective “medicine” and treatment for obesity is understanding and support from family, loved ones, and society. This encouragement helps individuals with obesity regain their health and well-being.

“Society needs to understand people living with obesity. They haven’t simply neglected their health; factors like environment, genetics, and other conditions can make it difficult for some individuals to maintain good health. Society should show compassion and help guide these individuals out of obesity, which often comes with many related diseases and other impacts. With collective support, these patients can return to living a normal, healthy life.” Prof. Dr. Suthep concluded.

For treatment, contact Chula BMI at the Sor Thor Building, 12th Floor, No. 1873 Rama IV Road, Pathumwan, Tel. +662 256 4000.

Read the full article at https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/249268/

About Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University has made the world’s top 50 university list for employment outcomes, which reflects both the high employment rate and work ability of Chula graduates. The university is also listed as the best in Thailand for the 15th Consecutive Year (since 2009), according to the newly released QS World University Rankings 2024, putting Chula at 211th in the world, up from 244th last year.

Social Media: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChulalongkornUniversity
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/chulauniversity
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/15101896/

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Miss Pirada Tumweerapong at (+66) 2218 3055 or email Amm.pirada@gmail.com

AI-powered platform elevates network operations

TOKYO, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global leader in real-time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions, today announced the launch of Acumen, a powerful new AIOps and automation platform designed to help service providers and enterprises navigate the complexities of today’s challenging operational environment and accelerate their transition to autonomous networks. Ribbon is dedicated to helping service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure operators worldwide modernize and secure their networks and services.

“Optimum shares Ribbon’s vision for building AIOps solutions that can dramatically transform the way networks are managed and maintained,” said Luciano Ramos, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Optimum. “By being among the first providers to integrate the Acumen platform into our operations, we’re not only enhancing network reliability and performance today, but also setting the foundation for a new standard of predictive, AI-driven innovation for us. We believe this will consistently deliver stronger connections and exceptional experiences by leveraging responsible AI to build self-healing, future-ready networks.”

“Network operators are under constant pressure to reduce costs while boosting agility, and automation and AIOps are essential to meeting those demands,” said Sam Bucci, COO and EVP at Ribbon. “Acumen empowers operators with end-to-end observability, AI-driven insights, and customizable automation throughout the network lifecycle. Our DevOps teams harness Acumen’s ready-made apps, low-code/no-code innovation engine, and AI capabilities to accelerate transformation and drive efficiency.”

Acumen empowers organizations to solve real-life operational and strategic challenges, reducing operational costs and enhancing the customer experience. It includes out-of-the-box applications built on Ribbon’s Analytics and Muse, platforms for troubleshooting, KPI dashboards, data enrichment, and more.

Acumen Builder enables the creation of custom apps tailored to the needs of telecom and critical infrastructure. It introduces a low-code/no-code workflow builder that easily instantiates AI agents into any business process. It includes an AI services layer allowing for flexible integration of models, data stores, and related services.

“Acumen’s AIOps and automation are a compelling extension to Ribbon’s portfolio,” said Roy Chua, Founder and Industry Analyst at AvidThink. “Acumen draws on the company’s experience in delivering proven solutions across Layers 0/1 to 7, leveraging cloud-native software architecture and sophisticated analytics. With their track record across Tier 1 providers and other mission-critical networks, Ribbon is well-positioned to distinguish itself in a new generation of AI-powered platforms.”

With its support for both Ribbon and third-party components, Acumen provides a unified view of network performance, enabling proactive, data-driven decision-making. Its automation solutions, spanning deployment, AI Ops and security, enable enhanced operational resilience across the entire network, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of autonomous networks.

About Ribbon
Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) delivers secure cloud communications and IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors globally. We engage deeply with our customers, helping them modernize their networks for improved competitive positioning and business outcomes in today’s smart, always-on and data-hungry world. Our end-to-end portfolio of communications software and IP Optical networking solutions delivers superior value and innovation by leveraging cloud-native architectures, automation and analytics tools, and leading-edge security. We maintain a keen focus on our commitments to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters, offering an annual Sustainability Report to our stakeholders. To learn more about Ribbon, please visit rbbn.com

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including those regarding the expected benefits from use of Ribbon Communication’s products, are forward-looking statements. The actual results of Ribbon Communications may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Ribbon Communications’ business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of Ribbon Communications’ most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements represent Ribbon Communications’ views only as of the date on which such statement is made and should not be relied upon as representing Ribbon Communications’ views as of any subsequent date. While Ribbon Communications may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Ribbon Communications specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Investor Contact
+1 (978) 614-8050
ir@rbbn.com       

Media Contact
Catherine Berthier
+1 (646) 741-1974
cberthier@rbbn.com

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ribbon_logo-1.jpg 

SINGAPORE, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — While retail investors spend just six minutes researching stocks before buying, according to The Wall Street Journal, and often rely on social media buzz and emotional impulses, a new TradingKey investment tool delivers the same Wall Street-caliber analysis that professional investors use, condensed into a 30-second comprehensive evaluation based on 34 sophisticated indicators.

Retail investors poured $270 billion into stocks in the first half of this year, driving a 26% market climb since April, according to Barclays — largely fueled by dip-buying after President Trump’s tariff announcements. However, groundbreaking research by Wurgler, based on 8 million rows of browser data, exposes a critical flaw: most investors focus on single-day price charts while holding positions for weeks, ignoring fundamental analysis that could protect their investments amid volatility when searching for the best stocks to buy now.

Unlike traditional investment tools that offer only four to five basic indicators, TradingKey’s Stock Scoring System processes 34 sophisticated signals covering technical analysis, fundamental metrics and institutional investing patterns — making it the world’s only comprehensive stock scoring platform that delivers the same data points professional analysts use to evaluate stocks and make million-dollar decisions.

“We wanted to put the same level of stock analysis that professionals use in the hands of underserved retail investors,” said Yeap Ming Feng, CEO of TradingKey. “Retail investors struggle to make better investment decisions because they lack access to quality data, affordable tools, and the time to research the stocks they invest in. We built this tool to cut through the noise, counter emotional biases like FOMO, and help investors move beyond making uninformed decisions shaped by trending tickers and headlines.”

Available for free to retail investors on the TradingKey platform starting Sept. 15, 2025, the Stock Scoring System updates daily to reflect real-time market conditions. The tool will continue to evolve each month, adding new indicators to match shifting market trends, investor behavior and emerging signals.

About TradingKey

TradingKey is a leading global platform for financial markets dedicated to simplifying individuals’ investment journeys worldwide. The platform provides real-time news, expert analysis, advanced tools such as streaming charts and exclusive educational content to enhance financial strategies and outcomes.

TradingKey’s mission is to democratize access to reliable, intelligent and multilingual investing resources, empowering users to navigate complex markets with confidence and precision.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Amadeus, the leading provider of travel technology solutions, has been chosen by Malaysia-based Corporate Information Travel Sdn. Bhd. (CIT) as its digital transformation partner. CIT will also migrate its business to the Amadeus Travel Platform for more comprehensive air content and modern capabilities.

“We are confident that Amadeus will help us deliver on our digital transformation vision. CIT is focused on building a future-proof, scalable system that supports business growth and operational efficiency. We want our consultants to spend less time on repetitive tasks, so they have more time to prioritize customer service and company values. Amadeus’ technology will enable us to do this with scalable, efficient systems. We also look forward to offering our customers a better client-oriented website with modern content, including NDC, ensuring CIT’s competitiveness in the digital retail space”, says Thaddeus Foo, Managing Director, CIT.

“This partnership underscores Amadeus’ role in powering the future of travel agencies in Asia Pacific through innovation and efficiency. We are pleased to work hand-in-hand with CIT on its full-stack digital transformation as well as a revamp of its content offering. This deal demonstrates the strength of Amadeus’ holistic travel technology offering beyond content, including digital retailing, automation, productivity, and back-office solutions. We are proud to be at the forefront of travel technology in Southeast Asia, showcasing how agencies are embracing next-generation technology to future-proof and scale their businesses,” says Ramona Bohwongprasert, SVP – SE Asia, Inside Sales & Startups APAC, Travel Sellers, Amadeus.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, CIT was established in 1985 as a pioneer in business travel management and recently celebrated its 40^th anniversary. The company offers instant airline reservations and airline ticketing as well as corporate ticketing facilities with competitive airfares from more than 130 airlines worldwide.

Highlights:

• Sunrise Energy Metals has received a Letter of Interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for up to US$67 million (A$103 million) in financing support for its Syerston Scandium Project, an amount representing approximately half the estimated development cost for the Project.
• United States Government support highlights the strategic importance of scandium to its industrial supply chain since the imposition of China’s export controls on rare earth metals in April 2025.
• The Syerston Feasibility Study is scheduled for completion in mid- to late- October to allow incorporation of the substantial new metal inventories in the Ore Reserve Estimate and optimisation of the mine plan.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sunrise Energy Metals Limited (“Sunrise Energy Metals” or the “Company”) (ASX:SRL) and (OTC:SREMF) Co-Chair Robert Friedland, and Managing Director, Sam Riggall, are pleased to announce the receipt of a Letter of Interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (“EXIM”) outlining the potential to provide up to US$67 million in debt financing for the Syerston Scandium Project in central New South Wales, Australia.

The Syerston Scandium Project, containing the world’s largest and highest-grade scandium deposit, has been identified as a candidate for financing for its potential to support development of reliable and secure supply chains for US industry under several EXIM programs, including its Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative and the China Transformational Exports Program. Project debt provided by EXIM is eligible for an attractive repayment term of up to 15 years.

If Sunrise Energy Metals proceeds with a formal application, EXIM will conduct requisite due diligence to determine if a final lending commitment would be made. A lending commitment will depend on meeting EXIM’s underwriting criteria, authorisation process and finalisation of agreed terms and conditions that comply with EXIM policies and eligibility requirements.

Mr. Friedland commented: “This Letter of Interest underscores the importance of scandium to the United States, both as a critical component in wireless communications technologies, and advanced alloys supporting the civilian and defence sectors. As a key ally of the United States, Australia’s significant endowment of strategic metals positions it to be an important supplier in the future.”

Managing Director, Sam Riggall, commented: “We are encouraged by this strong show of support by EXIM for the financing and development of the Syerston Scandium Project. We expect it to strengthen our engagement with customers to secure off-take arrangements as we move the project towards a final investment decision and development.”

Feasibility Study Update

While the Feasibility Study is progressing well, the substantial increase in contained metal within the Mineral Resource Estimate at Syerston, announced on 9 September 2025, requires additional work for conversion to an Ore Reserve Estimate and an optimized mine plan.

Accordingly, the Company now anticipates completion of the Feasibility Study in mid- to late-October 2025. This will not affect the Company’s ongoing discussions regarding offtake and financing.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by the Board of Directors of Sunrise Energy Metals Limited.

For more information, please contact:

About Sunrise Energy Metals Limited (ASX:SRL; OTCQX:SREMF) – Sunrise Energy Metals Limited is developing the Syerston Scandium Project in New South Wales, Australia, with the aim of delivering the world’s first source of mineable, high-grade scandium. Sunrise also owns the Sunrise Nickel-Cobalt Project, one of the largest and most cobalt-rich nickel laterite deposits in the world. For more information, visit www.sunriseem.com.