Background: Midwives provide essential maternal, neonatal, reproductive and sexual health care and save lives. In our country, in 2017, the job description of midwives was revised and approved by the Minister of Health in accordance with the core competencies established by the International Federation of Midwives by Order A/216. Therefore, it is necessary to study the extent to which midwives are performing the duties included in the revised job description. Aim: To assess of the professional role and performance of midwives in Mongolia five years after the updated midwifery job description was declared. Materials and Methods: There were 1119 midwives working at all levels of the facilities national wide, and 589 respondents were analyzed. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was developed with input from an obstetrics and midwifery care advisory group, and was distributed online through Google Forms. We developed a questionnaire on the daily professional roles and performances of midwifery services and skills that were part of the job description of midwives in Mongolia. The questionnaire consisted of three parts and were scored based on a Likert scale. This study was approved by the research ethics committee of the School of Nursing (protocol №22/07-b), Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS), and Ministry of Health. Result: 62.3% of the participants had a bachelor’s degree, 34.3% had a professional degree, 93.5% worked as midwives at all levels of health care, 73.4% worked according to their job description, but 21.9% were unable to work according to their main duties; 56% considered that they faced some difficulties in performing their duties at work. Within the scope of maternity care services mentioned in the job description, 71.4% of them often provide monitoring and counseling to normal, low-risk pregnant women according to guidelines (mean 3.07± 0.96); childbirth and postpartum care are occasionally (mean 2.70±1.10) or not regularly provided; and the average ratings of reproductive health, family planning services, and emergency obstetric care interventions are 2.32±1.120 and 2.40±0.040, respectively. According to self-assessment of professional skills, the average score for the ability to provide care during pregnancy was 3.10±0.038, which is sufficient; the ability to provide care during childbirth and postpartum was 2.83±0.037, which is above average; and the ability to provide emergency obstetric care and reproductive health and family planning care was 2.77±0.84 and 2.57±0.890, which is moderate, respectively. Conclusion The education and professional level of midwives working at all levels of the health sector has improved. While midwives frequently provide the pregnancy care outlined in their job descriptions, they only occasionally perform duties related to childbirth, postpartum and reproductive health, family planning, and obstetric emergency care. According to their self-assessments, midwives demonstrate sufficient competence in teamwork and pregnancy care; above-average competence in childbirth and postpartum care; and moderate competence in obstetric emergency care, reproductive health, and family planning services.There is a need to improve the involvement of midwives in certain professional activities.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system and a major cause of disability in young adults. MRI is essential for diagnosis and monitoring, while early evaluation of structural brain changes is important. Aim: To evaluate brain volumetric changes using automated MRI analysis in patients with MS. Materials and Methods: This case–control study included 50 MS case patients and 50 controls patients examined between 2020–2023 at the Third State Hospital. T1-MPRAGE images were analyzed using volBrain automated segmentation software. Result: The mean age of MS patients was 45.5±11.8 years. Compared with healthy controls, the MS group showed significantly lower total grey matter volume (p=0.002), cortical grey matter volume (p<0.001), subcortical grey matter volume (p=0.006), and cerebral volume (p=0.02). Significant volume reductions were also observed in the temporal (p=0.006) and occipital (p<0.001) lobes. Deep grey matter structures, including the thalamus (p=0.001), caudate nucleus (p=0.009), putamen (p=0.008), and nucleus accumbens (p<0.001), also showed significantly reduced volumes. Disease duration was negatively correlated with total grey matter volume (r=−0.30, p=0.02), thalamic volume (r=−0.28, p=0.04), and occipital lobe volume (r=−0.43, p=0.002). Disease duration was also significantly associated with spinal cord involvement (p=0.01) and grey matter volume (p=0.04). The number of relapses was negatively correlated with total brain volume (r=−0.28, p=0.046). Conclusion Patients with MS demonstrated decreased grey matter volume, particularly within deep grey matter structures, along with increased abnormal white matter volume, suggesting the coexistence of neurodegeneration and demyelination in MS. Brain volume loss in MS appeared to occur independently of aging. Automated quantitative MRI analysis may provide important diagnostic value in detecting structural brain changes associated with MS.

Background Varicose veins, or chronic venous insufficiency, become visibly noticeable from the second stage when veins start appearing on the surface of the skin. Symptoms include severe itching, pain, swelling, and inflammation. Chronic venous insufficiency is a common condition in countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Diagnosis of varicose veins relies on blood flow studies, coagulation tests, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Doppler ultrasound of the venous system. Patient B, a 43-year-old male, has experienced pain and swelling in the right lower limb vein for the past two years, especially when exposed to heat. Coagulation tests show PT and PT INR within normal range. Doppler ultrasound of the venous system revealed that the perforating vein is dilated to 0.45 cm and has valve insufficiency. In the deep veins, a width of 0.68 cm was measured, while superficial veins ranged between 0.46–0.59 cm. After receiving appropriate treatment from the Department of Fire Acupuncture, the patient’s symptoms have improved.

Introduction: Among the endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disease and thyroid disorders occupy a significant place. According to the World Health Organization, 8-18% of the world’s population suffer from thyroid disorders. In our country, no research on the prevalence of the disorders has been conducted before, and this research methodology was discussed by the Scientific committee of the National Center for Public Health and was approved by resolution No.156 of the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health on 2020. Materials and Methods: In order to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease in the country, we collected the actual number of thyroid disorders registered in 9 districts of the capital city and 330 soums of 21 aimags for a total of 10 years from 2011 to 2020. The prevalence of thyroid disorders was mapped using Arc view and GIS software. Results Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disease account for 2.3% of all outpatient cases. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disease accounted for an average of 168.3 per 10000 population over the past 10 years, and thyroid disorders accounted for 45 or 26.7% of endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases. Thyroid disorders are highest in people aged 40-49 years.
Thyroid toxicity is the most common type of thyroid disease in Mongolia, accounting for 56.2%, with an average of 17.2 per 10000 population in 2011-2020. However, iodine deficiency-related thyroid disease accounts for 5.5% of all thyroid disorders, with an average of 2.5 per 10000 population in 2011-2020. In 2011, it decreased by 2.2 per 10000 population, and by 2020, it decreased by 0.2 per thousand to 2.0, but in the last 5 years, it has increased by an average of 2.4 per 10,000 population, and in the last 5 years it has increased by 0.2 per thousand, or 2.6 per 10,000 population. Morbidity is high in the Khangai and Central regions.

Background: Lead is known for their neurotoxicity and compared to adults, children are more vulnerable to lead exposure. Varieties of diseases are developed by lead induced damage in children, including decreased intelligent quotient and behavioral changes, such as anxiety. In normal condition lead does not exist in children’s blood and this toxic heavy metal enters into human body through respiratory way and accumulates in blood and bone to harm neurodegenerative and urinary systems. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether the emitted lead from recycling factory for lead acid batteries, which is located in 9 km distance from Khonkhor town and 39 km faraway from Ulaanbaatar city with north-east direction, is affecting the intelligence of the local children. Methods: There are 13 children involved in this study and the participants are divided into two groups, including subjects, who live in areas outside (n=10) and within (n=3) the 1000 m region of the factory zone. The blood sampling was collected according to WHO guidelines and lead level in blood was determined by Leadcare instruments at Environmental health and toxicological laboratory of National Center for Public Health. The intelligence analysis was conducted by Raven’s progressive matrices test. And the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 21 software to assess correlation of blood lead levels and the intelligence among participated children. Results: It is resulted that average lead level for children’s blood samples is 3.1±1.5 ug/dL and which is found beyond the acceptable range in WHO guidelines. The children’s intelligence was assessed by Raven’s colored Progressive Matrices analysis, which is practically accepted in China, which estimated that average intelligence score of participants were 48.3±13.2. According to correlation analysis of age, sex, intelligence and blood lead level, there was a weak positive correlation was found between children’s age and lead level in blood. In contrast, a weak reverse correlation was observed in regarding with sex and blood lead level and intelligence score was weakly reverse correlated with the lead level in children’s blood samples. Conclusions The determined average lead level was 3.1±1.5 ug/dL for blood samples collected from 13 children who involved in this study and the value is found under the WHO guidance value. Furthermore, their average intelligence score was estimated as 48.3±13.2. The comparative analysis shown that intelligence score of 3 children, who lives within 1000 m region of the recycling factory was lower than those who lives in outside region of the factory and have same age.

Outcomes of the retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment in Mongolia Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease characterized by abnormal retinal vasculature that can have devastating visual consequences. Despite evidence that early detection and treatment can prevent blindness, ROP remains a leading cause of pediatric blindness worldwide. We aimed at investigating the outcomes of ROP screening, intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and laser surgery in the treatment ROP and describe an evidence-based and specific process for identifying birth weight and gestational age screening guidelines in Mongolia utilizing telemedicine. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective of prematurity infants screened ROP from 2012 September to July 2020 and prospective cohort study of premature infants with treatment-requiring ROP who received intravitreal injections, laser surgery and combined therapy from 2015 December 01 to January 31, 2017. Demographic factors, diagnosis and clinical course were recorded in a de-identified manner using REDCap, a secure, web-based platform to collect image and demographic data. The IRB approved the study protocol not requiring parental consent due to the de-identified nature of the data which was used for program monitoring purposes. Indirect ophthalmoscopy and Retinal imaging was performed using RetCam (Natus Medical, Pleasanton, CA) and images were uploaded to the web-based platform which could be accessed by the Mongolian ophthalmologist for reference. Each eye was evaluated by the local Mongolian ophthalmologist for the presence or absence of ROP, zone of vascularization, stage, plus disease, and aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP). The diagnosis and classification of ROP for this current study were determined by examination using indirect ophthalmoscopy, and treatment plans were determined according to the International Classification for ROP and the Early Treatment for ROP Study (ET-ROP).2,13 Regression analysis to determine association between BW and GA and the development of ROP. Results: A total of 9126 premature infants with BW ≤ 2500 g and/or GA ≤ 36 weeks were screened for ROP during the study period. 327 (3.5%) of the 9126 infants screened required treatment. The193 infants who received ROP screening had a mean GA of 30.09 ± 1.7 weeks, and mean BW of 1500.3 ± 125.42g. The BW of infants in this study ranged from 750g to 2000g, and the GA at birth ranged from 25 to 35 weeks. The BW of infants in this study ranged from 750g to 2000g, and the GA at birth ranged from 25 to 35 weeks. There were 96 boys (49.7%) and 97 girls (50.3%). Among infants receiving treatment, the highest BW was 2000g (born at 31 weeks GA), and the oldest was 34 weeks (with a BW of 1300g). The distribution of birth weight and gestational age in Mongolia was similar to other low-middle income countries, with higher birth weight and older gestational age. As birth weight and gestational age decreased, relative risk of developing ROP increased. Conclusions: After treatment, resolution of ROP was noted in approximately 90 % of the patients who had treatment-requiring ROP. 10 % of patients treated with IVB, IVR, Laser surgery and combined therapy however, did not respond and progressed to retinal detachment. This prospective study provides information about the development of ROP in preterm infants in the capital city of Mongolia. The distributions of BW and GA among infants developing ROP in Mongolia differ from those found in higher-income countries, and are comparable to other low and middle-income countries. We used a secure, web-based data collection and retrieval system that could be extended to multiple countries, which is now equipped with a telemedicine platform enabling remote grading of fundus images.

Thyroid nodular lesions are the common clinical problem in the world. A variety of tests have been employed to separate benign from malignant thyroid nodules. These tests include isotope scanning and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Our research was based on the fact that the comparison of FNAC and thyroid isotope scan in thyroid nodule was not researched in Mongolia. Therefore, we want to evaluate the specimen adequacy of FNAC, and compare its result to thyroid isotope scanning in patients with thyroid nodule. The research was conducted on archive materials of FNAC and thyroid isotope scanning of patients with thyroid nodule who were treated in surgical department of The First Central Hospital from 2012 to 2015, and the statistic analyze was done by using SPSS 20 under the auspices of School of Pharmacy and Bio-Medicine,Department of pathology, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. We have collected the FNAC of 807 patients, including 34 patients (4.2%) were males and 773 patients (95.8%) were females. FNA cytology results were interpreted as benign in 495 cases (61.3%), follicular lesion of undetermined significance in 31 cases (3.8%), follicular neoplasm in 9 cases (1.1%) suspicious in 17 cases (2.1%), malignant in 3 cases (0.4%), and unsatisfactory in 252 cases (31%). We have got the result of thyroid isotope scanning of 43 (5.32%) patients out of 807 cases. On thyroid scan, 18 patients (41.9%) having cold nodule were labeled as suspicious for malignancy, 25 patients (58.1%) had hot nodule. The FNA diagnosis of 25 patients with a hot nodule following: 1 patient (4%) with neoplasm, 17 patients (68%) with benign results, 6 patients (24%) had non-diagnostic. The FNA diagnosis of 18 patients (41.9%) with cold nodule following: 1 patient (5.5%) with follicular lesion of undetermined significance, 10 patient (55.5%) with benign, 5 patient (27.7%) with non-diagnostic, 2 patient (11.1%) had malignant. The FNAC results were interpreted as benign in 495 cases (61.3%), malignant in 3 cases (0.4%), and unsatisfactory in 252 cases (31%). Two patients out of 18 patients with cold nodule diagnosed as malignancy by FNAC. The sensitivity and specificity of thyroid isotope scanning was 96% and 16.6%, respectively.

WHO informed that across world an average of 565 young eople aged 10 to 29 die every day through interpersonal violence. Some studies mentioned that anxiety was most frequently occurred as one of the psychological onsequences among victims of child abuse. Recent research on effects of adverse early life experiences on central nervous system as stress systems (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis-HPA) has provided a greater understanding of the link between childhood abuse and susceptibility to anxiety disorder. Therefore, this research was done to study nxiety among abused adolescents, some physical parameters and level of cortisol in saliva.Total number of participants were 149 children aged between 11-16 years (number cases were 53, matched control subjects were 96). The Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS; Spence, 1997) is a 38-item self-report uestionnaire that assesses multiple symptoms of childhood anxiety disorders based on current diagnostic criteria. All participants were measured the cortisol in the saliva by Cortisol ELISA kit, Sigma, USA. Average age of all subjects in the study was 13.52±1.57 and 102 of all subjects were female and 47 were male. All anxiety symptoms of case group was statistically significance higher (p<0.01) than control group. The average amount of salivary cortisol of case group was (21.3±8.1 ng/ml) statistically significantly lower (p<0.01) than average amount of control group (31.56±16.9 ng/ml). Anxiety was more frequently occurred among abused children and blunted cortisol responses might indicate a level of impaired HPA functioning that could constitute a vulnerability to psychopathology with exposure to anxiety.

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life – threatening emergency, and a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Ulan – Bator. The aim of this research was to determine and evaluate the incidence, risk factors and treatment of ectopic pregnancies at The First Maternity Hospital in Ulan – Bator.This was a retrospective, descriptive study of EP’s managed in The First Maternity Hospital during the study period 2013, 2014.The medical records of the patients managed for ectopic pregnancy as well as the total birth record and gynecological admission records during the period under review were retrieved, and data were collected with the aid of data-entry forms designed for this purpose. There were 46.147 gynecological admissions and 28.744 deliveries, with 870 cases of ectopic pregnancies. A total 863 cases were suitable for analysis. The relevant collected data were analyzed with SPSS Version 20.0 for windows.Ectopic pregnancies constituted in 3.9% of all gynecological admissions.Majority of patients were in 25-29years age group (64.1%). The average age of patients was 30 +/- 6 years. In 83.8% of patients had previous abortions, inflammatory disease was the most frequent risk factors.521(60.3%) patients were treated surgically while the 342(39.6%) remain patients received conservative treatment.The incidence of ectopic pregnancy increased by 0.8%, which is comparable between 2013(2.5%), 2014(3.3%). In our study the number percentage of organ preserving treatment, such as tubostomy and conservative – treatment by methotrexate increased significantly.

BACKGROUND:Nano is a key technology to bring accelerated development in science, economy and business in 21stcentury. Besides lots of advantages contained in nanoproducts, cytotoxic effects on human and environmentmay occur due to their extreme small size and large surface area and it promotes chemical reaction andactivates reactive oxygen species in the cell. In the last few decades, human and environment exposureof nanomaterials have been increasing, but research papers related to nanomaterial toxicity have beenpoor.GOAL: Determination of nanomaterial toxicity in medical applicationMATERIALS AND METHODS:Totally 21 nanomaterials collected in this study including imported nano-medicines, disinfectantspray, cleaning solution and experimental nanomaterial produced in Mongolia. The particle sizesof nanomaterialswere determined by Cross correlation analysis and X-Ray diffraction analysis, andmutagenicity was determined by Ames test.RESULTS:The particle sizes of nanomaterials in 5 of 21 were measured at the range of 1 – 100nm and 5 of 21nanomaterials were determined as mutagenic by Ames test.CONCLUSION:Ingredients and production methods can be one of causes of nanomaterial toxicity. Therefore, morespecific methods are needed to reveal cytotoxicity of nanomaterials in the future.