Latest news with #Sung
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
Gangnam Women's Hospital advances stem cell therapy for interstitial cystitis
Gangnam Women's Hospital has been developing advanced treatments for interstitial cystitis, focusing on stem cell therapy over the past two years, with positive results in symptom relief and quality of life, it said on Tuesday. Interstitial cystitis, which affects about 2.7 percent of women according to the Journal of Urology (2014), is characterized by recurring bladder pain, pelvic discomfort and urinary urgency without infection. Nearly 90 percent of IC patients are female, according to the Korean Continence Society (2018). The disease stems from chronic inflammation and damage to the bladder lining, though its exact cause remains unclear. 'IC is frequently misdiagnosed due to its ambiguous symptoms,' said Dr. Sung Young-mo, director of Gangnam Women's Hospital. 'Advanced diagnostic tools, such as urinary organic acid analysis, are crucial for proper treatment.' While conventional therapies involve analgesics and intravesical injections, Sung emphasized the potential of regenerative stem cell therapy using the patient's own cells. 'After three rounds of treatment, many patients experience significant pain relief, longer sleep and reduced urinary frequency,' he noted. The procedure involves isolating autologous stem cells from the patient's blood via the Smart M-Cell system, then injecting them into damaged bladder areas through cystoscopy. A 2021 international study also supports the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells in repairing bladder tissue, highlighting their anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Houston man's ‘funny' license plate was illegally duped — leaving him paying for another driver's tolls
Jason Sung thought it was all fun and games when he bought a custom license plate "5.0 GPA" for his white Ford Mustang. "I'm not a good student, or I don't have a good grade, but I just thought it's a funny plate," Sung told ABC13 News. "I really liked it." But what started as a lighthearted joke turned into a frustrating financial headache. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Sung noticed his Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) account auto-replenished unexpectedly, even though he rarely uses toll roads. Diving deeper into his account, Sung was shocked to find dozens of toll charges, many racked up during a period when he was out of the country and his white Ford Mustang was parked safely in his garage. Someone had a duplicate plate, down to the exact phrase, and had slapped it on a black Ford Mustang. Sung found toll charges dating back to at least January that he knows he is not responsible for. "It's just pretty much every day," he said. When he contacted HCTRA for answers, he said the toll authority checked transaction photos. A representative asked him if his vehicle was black with yellow lightning bolts on the back, but Sung's response was immediate: 'No, my car is completely white.' The photo HCTRA sent him showed a different vehicle altogether, but it had the same "5.0 GPA" license plate. "Even a person who doesn't even have a driver's license can tell you that's not a Texas plate," Sung said. The photo included the other driver's Instagram handle. ABC13 tracked down the individual behind the duplicate plate via social media. The driver admitted that the plate was a fake, ordered online from Arizona. He told reporters that he had no idea the plate phrase was officially registered and said he had been pulled over multiple times for the bogus tag. When asked if he would consider obtaining a legal plate, he instead asked if Sung might change his. Eventually, the driver said he would remove the fake plate from his vehicle. Meanwhile, Sung filed a report with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office. Authorities told ABC13 the case is still under investigation. As for the wrongful charges, HCTRA confirmed to the news channel that they are reviewing all the transactions linked to Sung's account and will issue him a credit for tolls incurred by the other driver. For Sung, it's an expensive lesson in how a vanity plate can make you stand out, even to the wrong people. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it License plate cloning is becoming a growing problem in the U.S., where criminals copy legitimate license plates to commit illegal activities, leaving innocent vehicle owners, like Sung, on the hook for fines, tolls and even criminal offenses. In New York City, the police impounded more than 4,000 vehicles with fake plates in the 12 months after a task force was established in March 2024, while nationwide scams, like one in Tampa involving more than 1,000 cloned cars, have racked up losses exceeding $25 million, according to the FBI. States like Virginia and Texas are seeing rising thefts and enforcement efforts, with automated license plate readers (ALPRs) recovering hundreds of stolen vehicles. Victims of license plate cloning may have to deal with problems like toll charges, parking and traffic fines, wrongful administrative fees, and in severe cases, the issues can impact credit scores. So, what can you do to protect your vehicle from cloning? Here are some strategies you can use: Regularly monitor toll accounts. Log into toll authority portals, like TxTag and E-ZPass, monthly to review trip logs and check for unauthorized trips. Use antitheft screws. Install tamper-resistant screws to make it harder for thieves to remove your plates. Don't overshare online. Don't post images of your license plate on social media or public forums. Be careful where you park. Choose well-lit areas with security cameras to help avoid theft. Use plate-monitoring services. Consider services that alert you if your plate appears in enforcement databases or is flagged. Regular monitoring and taking proactive steps like these can help protect you from the financial and legal repercussions of license plate cloning. If you do run into a stolen plate, report it to authorities immediately. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Auckland Philharmonia shine with unforgettable Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev performances
Back in 2011, the Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski stressed to me that Prokofiev's Third Concerto was not all steel-like energy, but full of joy and humour, being written in a more or less happy period of the composer's life. On this night, Alexander Gavrylyuk might well have been in total accord with him, delivering a performance of single-minded immersion, hovering over the keys, engendering expectation and exuding exhilaration, all with palpable delight. Sung's insistence on impeccable orchestral clarity was the perfect inspiration for the soloist's rushing toccatas and marching chords; and, in amongst the glitter, could one almost sense a playful wink in his cheeky grace notes? And what a thrill it was when an innocent clarinet theme returned, in full and stirring orchestral garb. In the second movement, Gavrylyuk proved himself a skilled alchemist when he took on the orchestra's perky march theme, most memorably recasting it as a moody melancholic nocturne. Sung's remarkably cohesive finale brought all the musicians together to enjoy the diverse panorama of Prokofiev's music, followed by Gavrylyuk's encore, a passionate account of the very first etude by a teenage Scriabin. It is always daunting for a critic to assess yet another performance of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Yet on the night, Sung drew a rare vibrancy from familiar pages, laying out a compulsive journey from the Russian's doom-laden introduction to the triumphant glow of its final apotheosis.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Cucumbers and cat panic: The science behind the viral reactions
Listen to article Videos of cats leaping in terror at the sight of cucumbers have taken the internet by storm, but veterinarians warn that these pranks may cause unnecessary stress for pets. In many clips, owners place a cucumber behind an unsuspecting cat and film the dramatic reaction. The startled felines often jump into the air or flee in panic, leaving viewers amused — and experts concerned. A Reflex to Sudden Threats Veterinarians say the behaviour is less about the cucumber and more about the element of surprise. 'If the cat turns around and suddenly sees a cucumber there, it causes them to become frightened and jump,' said Dr. Claudine Sievert, a Kansas-based vet. 'If something moves suddenly or unexpectedly, he will react to it. His eyes will widen, and his entire body goes on high alert.' Dr. Wailani Sung, a veterinary behaviourist in San Francisco and author of Decoding Your Cat, added that the feline brain instinctively prioritises survival. 'The immediate reflexive response is danger, so run, move, get out of there. 'Fight or flight' is turned on,' she explained. Snake Instincts and Territorial Reactions The cucumber's shape may also resemble a snake — a natural predator of cats. 'Cats see an elongated green object and think it's a snake, so they run from it,' said Dr. Sievert. Experts emphasise that this reaction isn't exclusive to cucumbers. Any unfamiliar object suddenly placed near a cat's safe space, especially their food bowl, can trigger the same startled response. Not Just a Joke While such videos may appear amusing, experts caution that frightening cats can lead to behavioural and health issues. 'People seem to think it is funny to scare their cats, which I find kind of mean and insensitive,' said Dr. Sung. 'Traumatic events can cause or escalate a pet's level of anxiety.' Repeated stress can cause cats to avoid certain locations or become fearful of their owners. Instead, vets recommend enriching your cat's environment with toys, scratching posts, and interactive play. 'Positive, engaging experiences are far better than fear-based entertainment,' Dr. Sung added.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
8 Hongkongers cheated out of over HK$2 million in police impersonation scams
Eight Hongkongers were duped out of more than HK$2 million (US$257,380) after being tricked into paying cash to scammers impersonating police officers outside government buildings to avoid hefty fines over fabricated money-laundering charges. Advertisement Police said a man and a woman were arrested on Monday, adding that one of them was being accused of using fabricated Hong Kong police warrant cards and false letters from mainland Chinese authorities to trick victims into believing they had committed crimes across the border. 'To make the scenario more convincing, scammers instructed victims to bring tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of cash to locations outside courts or government buildings, where the money was handed to accomplices disguising themselves as police officers,' Sung said. The eight cases, in which scammers pretended to be mainland law enforcement officials, happened between March 24 and Monday. The victims, aged between 22 and 83, lost HK$2.2 million in total. Sung said the man, 23, was apprehended while taking cash from a victim. A fake police warrant card and forged letters from mainland police were found on him. Advertisement Officers also confiscated HK$310,000 in cash that a victim was about to hand over to the man.
