Background: Numerous experimental and clinical studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., mainly attributing its biological activities to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective effects. In particular, silymarin has been reported to exert hepatoprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, protecting cell membranes from certain toxic insults, and modulating protein synthesis. Therefore, cultivation of S. marianum and utilization of its seeds for industrial and research purposes are important for establishing a sustainable source of pharmacologically valuable bioactive compounds and increasing the availability of high-quality medicinal plant material. Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of cultivating S. marianum from seeds and to determine seed germination, seedling growth and development, survival after transplantation to open-field conditions, phenological stages, and seed yield characteristics. Materials and Methods: Seeds of S. marianum were germinated under indoor conditions, and normally developed seedlings were subsequently raised in a greenhouse and transplanted to a cultivation site near Tamgan Öndör, Erdene sum, Töv Province, Mongolia. Germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), seedling growth based on morphometric parameters, and survival rate after transplantation were evaluated. At harvest, the number and diameter of capitula, seed weight per plant, 1000-seed weight, and seed yield per unit area were determined. Data were expressed as mean±SD, and statistical significance was evaluated at p < 0.05. Result: Of the 1,000 seeds sown, 852 germinated, resulting in a germination percentage of 85.2% and a mean germination time of 11 days. Under greenhouse conditions, plant height increased from 1.0 to 3.0 cm, while rosette diameter increased from 1.2 to 7.0 cm. Of the 452 seedlings transplanted to the open field, 353 survived, corresponding to a survival rate of 78.1%. The first flowering was observed on June 12, full flowering on July 9, and full seed maturation on August 30, with 175 days from sowing to seed maturity. On average, each plant produced 18 branches and 20 capitula, with a capitulum diameter of 4.4 cm, seed weight per plant of 15.5 g, 1000-seed weight of 11.5 g, and seed yield of 195.325 kg/ha. Conclusion S. marianum was able to germinate, establish, complete its major growth, flowering, and seed maturation stages, and produce seeds under the cultivation conditions of the Tamgan Öndör area, Erdene sum, Töv Province. These findings indicate that S. marianum can potentially be cultivated in this specific area as a source of medicinal plant material.

Background: Arterial hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide were living with hypertension in 2024, of whom only 23% had their blood pressure controlled to the recommended target level. The 2019 national survey in Mongolia reported that 23.6% of adults aged 15–69 years had high blood pressure or were taking antihypertensive medication. Furthermore, the WHO’s 2023 report estimated that only 26% of Mongolian adults aged 30–79 years with hypertension had controlled blood pressure. Nonadherence to antihypertensive medication is an important factor associated with poor blood pressure control. Limited evidence in Mongolia links patients’ understanding of their medications to medication adherence, providing the rationale for this study. Aim: To determine the association between medication understanding and medication adherence among patients with arterial hypertension. Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2026 among patients with arterial hypertension attending community pharmacies contracted with health insurance in four districts of Ulaanbaatar: Sukhbaatar, Khan-Uul, Bayanzurkh, and Songinokhairkhan. 165 adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed hypertension who obtained antihypertensive medications under the health insurance reimbursement scheme were included in the study. The sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula, assuming a 95% confidence level, an expected proportion of 0.5, a margin of error of 0.08, and an additional 10% allowance for nonparticipation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Medication adherence was assessed with nine questions on a five-point Likert scale. Negatively worded items were reverse-coded, yielding a total score ranging from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating better adherence. Medication understanding was assessed using six self-report questions, with total scores ranging from 6 to 30. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding 0.885 for the medication adherence items and 0.869 for the medication understanding items. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and the association between medication understanding and adherence was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The statistical significance level was set at α=0.05, and p-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The study was conducted with approval from the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, dated June 26, 2026 (approval No. 2026/06-01). Voluntary informed consent was obtained from all participants, and confidentiality of the collected information was maintained. Results: Of the 165 participants, 118 (71.5%) were female, and 47 (28.5%) were male. A total of 99 participants (60.0%) reported having comorbid diagnoses. The mean total medication adherence score was 30.87±7.37, while the mean medication understanding score was 21.99±4.02. Among the six medication understanding items, understanding the need for continuous medication use had the highest mean score (3.90±0.76), while understanding medication-related adverse effects had the lowest (3.28±0.95). Among the nine medication adherence items, the item related to discontinuing medication when blood pressure returned to normal had the lowest mean score (3.12±1.30). Medication understanding was weakly and significantly positively correlated with medication adherence scores (Spearman’s ρ=0.320; p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, each one-point increase in medication understanding score was associated with an average 0.404-point higher medication adherence score (B=0.404; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.135–0.672; p=0.003). Compared with participants aged 18–34 years, those aged 65 years or older had significantly higher adherence scores (B=5.814; p=0.001). Compared with participants who reported that their blood pressure was within the normal range, those who reported that their blood pressure remained elevated had lower medication adherence scores (B=−3.331; p=0.020). Participants who were unaware of their blood pressure status also had lower adherence scores (B=−4.016; p=0.013). Conclusion Medication understanding was weakly but significantly positively associated with medication adherence among patients with arterial hypertension.

Abstract National Occupational Standards specify standards of performance that people are expected to achieve in their work, and the knowledge and skills they need to perform effectively. The National occupational standards for supporting teaching and learning in schools were developed to help improve the capacity and capability of the school workforce; they can make an important contribution to raising standards in schools.
National Occupational Standards describe best practice by bringing together skills, knowledge and values. They are valuable tools as benchmarks for qualifications as well as for defining roles at work, staff recruitment, supervision and appraisal.
Globally the roles and scope of work for technicians and pharmacy support workforce cadres vary greatly according to country and practice areas within that country. The School of Pharmacy MNUMS and Mongolian Association of Clinical Pharmacist and Association of Pharmaceutical Management has developed 4 phases National Occupational Standards.