Background: Allergic and atrophic forms of chronic rhinitis are common among the population, characterized by a chronic progressive course with a tendency toward increasing prevalence. Worldwide, allergic rhinitis affects approximately 10–40% of adults and 2–25% of children. According to a study conducted in Mongolia, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among adults in Ulaanbaatar was reported to be 23.6%, with an increasing trend anticipated in the future. In allergic and atrophic rhinitis, structural alterations occur in the nasal mucosa, including disruption of the normal architecture of the pseudostratified epithelium and ciliated cells, accompanied by changes in goblet cell number and dysfunction of their activity, resulting in a complex pathological process. In otorhinolaryngology practice in Mongolia, there is a relative lack of studies investigating the ultrastructural changes of the nasal mucosa in allergic and atrophic rhinitis. Aim: To compare ultrastructural and histological changes of the nasal mucosa in allergic and atrophic rhinitis. Materials and Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences at the meeting held on April 24, 2020 (Protocol No. 2020/З-04). Appropriate ethical permission was also obtained from the EMJJ ENT Hospital. Nasal mucosal tissue samples were collected from surgically resected specimens of patients aged 20–45 years diagnosed with allergic and atrophic rhinitis. The mucosal specimens were processed at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Samples were fixed and dehydrated according to the protocol, coated with 100 Å gold, and examined using a scanning electron microscope (FEI Quanta FEG 250, USA). In addition, paraffin blocks were prepared, sectioned at 4 μm thickness, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, and analyzed histologically. Results: In allergic rhinitis, the pseudostratified epithelium was relatively preserved; however, disorganization of ciliated cells, partial loss of cilia, and goblet cell hyperplasia were observed. In contrast, atrophic rhinitis showed epithelial thinning, near-complete loss of ciliated structures, glandular atrophy, and submucosal fibrosis. Conclusion Allergic rhinitis is associated with relatively mild and predominantly functional mucosal alterations, whereas atrophic rhinitis demonstrates severe structural damage with irreversible impairment of mucosal protective function.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a clinically significant pathogen widely distributed in food production environments. Its ability to form biofilms on food contact surfaces enhances 50 environmental persistence, increases antibiotic resistance 10–1500-fold, and poses serious challenges for food safety and public health. In Mongolia, data on the biofilm-forming ability of S. aureus in meat processing and retail environments are limited. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 437 samples collected from meat supply and retail sites, including raw meat, aprons, counters, trolleys, and workers’ hands. Isolation and confirmation of S. aureus were performed using MNS 6308:2012 and ISO 6888-1:2021 standards, followed by PCR amplification of the species-specific nucA gene (270 bp). Biofilm formation was evaluated using the microtiter plate assay with 0.5% glucose supplemented tryptic soy broth and optical density at 490 nm, and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests with p< 0.05 considered significant. Of the 437 samples, 14.2% (62/437) were contaminated with S. aureus. Contamination was higher in retail markets (25.9%) than supply sites (9.3%). Among isolates, 40.3% exhibited biofilm-forming ability: 29.0% weak, 9.7% moderate, and 1.6% strong. Biofilm formation did not significantly differ by sampling site or sample type (p>0.05). SEM imaging revealed distinct biofilm architectures with polysaccharide matrices at 80,000× magnification. A considerable proportion of S. aureus isolates from meat processing and retail environments exhibited biofilm forming ability, posing a potential risk for cross-contamination and persistent foodborne transmission. Strengthened hygiene and sanitation measures are essential to control biofilm-associated S. aureus contamination in Mongolia’s meat production and supply chain.

Background: Rhododendron adamsii (Sagaan Dalya) is a medical plant widely distributed in the Altai region, Mongolia, and Russia. It is traditionally used for its calming, restorative, and immune-boosting properties. Inflammation is a complex immune response against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, involving macrophages, fibroblasts, mast cells, and neutrophils. These cells release inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-1β. In collaboration with the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, a project was initiated to investigate the bioactive fractions of Rh. rosea (L.) and Rh. adamsii and their effects on the production of TLR4 signaling end products and associated protein activation. Previous studies within this project have shown that certain bioactive fractions exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Specifically, fraction 7.11 suppressed NO production and inflammatory signaling molecules in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, while fractions 7.46 and 7.52 influenced the phosphorylation of proteins such as ERK1/2, JNK, and IRF3. These findings suggest the need for further investigation into the effects of Rh. adamsii bioactive fractions on inflammatory signaling pathways. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effects of bioactive fractions derived from Rhododendron adamsii on the production of TLR4 signaling end products in RAW264.7 macrophage cell cultures. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using RAW264.7 macrophage cell cultures and bioactive fractions extracted from Rh. adamsii, dividing the experiments into three groups. After stabilization, RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with 100 ng/mL LPS. Based on previous studies, non-toxic concentrations of bioactive fractions (10 µg/mL) were applied. NO production was measured using the Griess assay, while TNF-α and IFN-β cytokine levels were evaluated using ELISA. Each experiment were repeated three times, and data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 25.0, applying One-way ANOVA and Independent Samples T-test. Results: The NO production in the positive control group was significantly higher compared to the negative control. In contrast, the experimental groups showed a statistically significant reduction in NO production, suggesting a potential inhibitory effect on TLR4 signaling in macrophages. However, fraction 7.48 reduced TNF-α levels while increasing IFN-β production, but these changes were not statistically significant. Similarly, fraction 7.55 slightly reduced TNF-α and IFN-β levels, but the effect was also statistically unsignificant. Conclusion The bioactive fractions 7.48 and 7.55 of Rh. Adamsii reduced nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated macrophage cell line cultures, suggesting that they may inhibit TLR4 signaling. However, their lack of effect on TNF-α and IFN-β production indicates that they do not influence TLR4 signaling mediated by these cytokines. Instead, they may affect the final product output through other pathways or different stages of signal transduction.