Background: Overconsumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, namely those high in sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats, is observed among children and is associated with poorer health outcomes. The global trend of increasing consumption of foods with high energy and low nutrient density, including refined foods such as sugary and savory snacks, is reflected across all socioeconomic groups. Unhealthy food consumption increases the risk of overweight and obesity, and consequently elevates the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the level of unhealthy food consumption among general education school students, disseminate the findings to the public, and develop and implement evidence-based interventions accordingly. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was employed. A total of 5,578 students were randomly selected from 33 schools operating in Övцrkhangai Province and included in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.
The prevalence of unhealthy food consumption and oral hygiene status among students was expressed as frequencies and percentages. The association between two variables was assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: Among the participating students, 92.7% reported regularly consuming fast food, and 75.8% consumed it more than three times per week. The main reasons for consuming unhealthy foods included “being quick and convenient” (53.9%), “craving” (43.6%), and “the widespread availability of such foods nearby” (6.9%). Consumption of all types of sugary and processed foods showed a statistically significant association with dental caries (p=0.0001), indicating that these products contribute to the development of tooth decay. Furthermore, the prevalence of healthy teeth was highest (84.1%) among students who brushed their teeth at least twice a day, whereas dental caries was more common among students who brushed once daily or did not brush at all. This suggests that increased frequency of toothbrushing is associated with lower rates of dental caries, and this relationship was statistically significant (p<0.000). Conclusion The majority of students participating in the study regularly consume unhealthy foods such as fast food, carbonated beverages, sugary products, ice cream, and chocolate, and 58.6% were found to have dental caries. When comparing by location, both the frequency of unhealthy food consumption and the prevalence of dental caries were higher in the provincial center and in larger or roadside soums.

Background: Optimal nutrition during infancy is critical for growth, development, and long-term health outcomes. Globally, child malnutrition remains a major public health concern, with a growing shift from undernutrition to a dual burden that includes overweight and obesity. In Mongolia, national surveys indicate declining undernutrition but rising overnutrition among young children. Objective: To assess the nutritional status and feeding practices of children aged 0–23 months in Kherlen soum Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 166 children aged 0–23 months using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through caregiver questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO Anthro software (Z-scores). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-26, applying chi-square and t-tests at a 95% confidence level. Results : Early breastfeeding initiation was high (94.6%), but exclusive breastfeeding among 0–5 months was low (43.9%). Continued breastfeeding declined with age (p<0.05). Appropriate complementary feeding frequency was observed in 71%, and 68.8% met minimum dietary diversity. Stunting (1.8%) and wasting (0.6%) were low, with no acute malnutrition. However, 37.8% were at risk of overweight, increasing with age. Conclusion Exclusive breastfeeding rates among infants aged 0–5 months remain suboptimal. Undernutrition (stunting and wasting) is low among children under two years.
A considerable proportion of children are at risk of overweight, indicating a growing double burden of malnutrition

Background: Speech audiometry is a widely used standard diagnostic method in the evaluation of hearing and auditory function. It requires word materials that are developed in the native language of the target population and that reflect its phonetic characteristics. Because the phonetic structure, pronunciation, and familiarity of words directly influence speech recognition, it is essential to use language-specific word lists that are phonetically balanced, uniformly distributed, and psychometrically validated to ensure the accuracy and reliability of testing. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop Mongolian bisyllabic word lists that are balanced in both phonetic and psychometric properties, which forms the basis of this study. Aim: To develop psychometrically balanced Mongolian bisyllabic word lists for use in speech audiometry and to evaluate their suitability for determining the Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT). Materials and Methods: Fifty-five commonly used and phonetically balanced Mongolian bisyllabic words were selected and recorded by a professional female speaker. The recordings were presented to 50 normal-hearing participants aged 18–29 years at ten intensity levels ranging from –4 to 14 dB HL in 2-dB steps. Based on participants’ responses, the 50% SRT and the 20–80% slope of the psychometric function for each word were calculated using logistic regression. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA analyses were performed to examine the equivalence between lists. On the basis of these results, two psychometrically balanced half-lists, each containing 25 words, were constructed, and digital level adjustments were applied to ensure uniform intensity. Result: The slopes of the psychometric functions for the two half-lists ranged from 11.2 to 11.6 %/dB. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA analyses showed no statistically significant differences between the two lists in terms of the 50% SRT and psychometric slope derived from logistic regression [χ²(24, N=50) = 2.21, p = 0.99; F(1,48) = 0.00895, p = 0.925]. The mean pure-tone average (PTA) threshold of the 50 normal-hearing participants was 2.23 dB HL with a standard deviation of 4.4 dB. The difference between PTA and SRT was less than 10 dB HL for all participants, which is within the clinically acceptable range. Conclusion The developed Mongolian bisyllabic word lists, consisting of two 25-word sets, are suitable for determining the Speech Recognition Threshold and can be reliably applied in clinical speech audiometry practice.

Introduction: Arsenic is a widespread environmental metalloid that poses a global health risk, particularly through contamination of drinking water. Exposure arises from natural and human activities through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Its absorption and toxicity vary by chemical form, with trivalent arsenic generally more toxic than pentavalent arsenic. Once absorbed, arsenic can accumulate in tissues and body fluids. Objective: To compare urinary arsenic concentrations among adults residing in selected mining and non-mining areas of Mongolia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 422 adults from mining areas (n = 333; Bayan-Undur, Tsogtsetsii, and Khanbogd) and non-mining areas (n = 89; Bulgan and Bayandalai). Questionnaire data on sociodemographic characteristics, occupation, smoking, and dietary habits were collected. Urine samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Arsenic concentrations were summarized as geometric means (GMs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of the 422 participants, 242 (57.3%) were women. The GM urinary arsenic concentration was 31.10 µg/L [95% CI, 28.96–33.58] in mining areas and 26.42 µg/L [95% CI, 22.98–30.39] in non-mining areas. Among mining communities, GMs were 33.45 µg/L in Bayan-Undur, 25.49 µg/L in Tsogtsetsii, and 24.82 µg/L in Khanbogd. In the non-mining communities, GMs were 29.43 µg/L in Bulgan and 23.02 µg/L in Bayandalai. Conclusion The urinary arsenic concentration was higher among adults in the selected mining areas, with variation between communities. Further analyses accounting for potential confounders, together with arsenic speciation and environmental measurements, are needed to clarify exposure sources and the contribution of mining activities.

Background: To evaluate changes in liver function in patients with alcohol use disorder and propose preventive measures. Methods: In this study, 118 people were examined between January 2024 to December 2024. Results were analyzed SPSS. Result: The mean subject age was 48.6± 10.3 years, male: female ratio was 5:1. Mean arterial pressure was 104±12.8 mmHg, ALT 86.7 ± 93.8 (U/L), AST 89.3±82.8 (U/L), GGT 213.8±252.3 (U/L). A statistically significant correlation was found between AST and ALT levels (R² = 0.562). However, no significant correlation was observed between body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose levels (R² = 0.002). The AST/ALT ratio was also statistically significant (p = 0.0001). Conclusion Excessive alcohol consumption increases the levels of liver enzymes AST 89.3 ± 82.8 (U/L), ALT 86.7 ± 93.8 (U/L), and GGT 213.8 ± 252.3 (U/L), leading to increased liver cell damage. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce alcohol consumption and implement preventive measures.

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2030, the number of deaths from cancer worldwide is estimated to reach 13.2 million. However, this number is expected to increase to 20.3 million due to population growth. As of 2018, liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
HCV is estimated to infect 175 million people globally, accounting for 2.8–3% of the total population. About 20% of people infected with HCV progress to severe liver disease, sometimes requiring liver transplantation.
In our country, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis increased significantly between 2015 and 2019. In 2019, it accounted for 45.3% of the total liver diseases, an increase of 10.3 percentage points since 2015. When analyzing age groups, it is noteworthy that incidence increased by 3.2 times in children aged 0-9 years. Objectives of the study: To determine the level of ferritin in the blood of patients with hepatitis C virus infection and to assess its relationship with fatty liver. Research materials and methods: This study was conducted using a cross- sectional design. The data were collected before the initiation of anti-HCV treatment, and each participant underwent serum biochemical analysis to assess basic iron metabolism indicators such as ferritin and transferrin. Conclusion Of the 115 participants in the study, 27% (31) had elevated ferritin levels, while 73% (84) had normal levels. The mean ferritin level was 336±262 ng/ mL, indicating that a significant number of participants had elevated ferritin levels. This suggests that ferritin levels are increased in cases of liver cell inflammation and injury. Although biopsy-proven fatty liver disease was not present, 97.4% (112) of the participants had elevated blood lipid levels, and 94.6% of these had elevated ferritin levels. However, the chi-square test did not reveal a statistically significant difference (χ² = 0.170, p = 0.681). Additionally, 91.5% of participants with high HDL also had elevated ferritin, but the relationship was not statistically significant (p = 0.117).

Background: Globally, gastric cancer accounts for 1,089,000 new cases and 769,000 deaths annually, ranking fifth in overall cancer incidence and third in cancer-related mortality. The aim to determine HER2 expression in patients with gastric cancer and to evaluate its correlation with clinical and immunological biomarkers, as well as the need for further laboratory diagnostics. Aim: To determine HER2 expression in patients with gastric cancer and to evaluate its association with clinical and immunological biomarkers, as well as the potential need for further laboratory diagnostics. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using archived materials from patients with gastric cancer at the Clinical Pathology, Molecular Genetics, and Pathology Laboratories of the National Cancer Center of Mongolia, covering the period from 2019 to June 2025. HER2 protein expression in tumor tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH-HER2) was employed to confirm gene amplification. Statistical analysis was performed using the Prisma-10 software. Results: In our study, among 210 cases of gastric cancer evaluated by IHC for HER2, 46 (21.9%) were HER2-positive and 164 (78.1%) were HER2-negative. When comparing patients with gastric cancer stratified into HER2 1+ (negative) and HER2 3+ (positive) groups, no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in age, sex, tumor location (surgically resected tissue), morphology, or disease stage. However, a higher proportion of males was noted in the HER2 3+ group (80.9%), though this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0879). Significant associations were found with tumor markers. Elevated serum CA-72-4 (>5 ng/mL) was more frequent in the HER2 3+ group (58.8%; p = 0.0069). In contrast, elevated CA-19-9 (>35 U/mL) was more common in the HER2 1+ group (93.5%; p = 0.0117), and elevated CEA (>6.9 U/mL) was also predominant in the HER2 1+ group (90.6%; p = 0.002). These findings suggest that HER2 3+ status predominates in cases with elevated CA-72-4, which may influence diagnostic strategies and HER2-targeted therapies (e.g., trastuzumab). Conversely, elevated CA-19-9 and CEA were more associated with HER2 1+ status, indicating a need for further detailed investigation of these markers in relation to HER2 expression. In patients evaluated by CISH for HER2 expression, stratification into HER2-positive and HER2-negative groups revealed no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in age, sex, tumor location, morphology, stage, or serum tumor markers (CA-72-4, CA-19-9, CEA). This suggests that HER2 status (positive/negative) may be independent of these variables. Although HER2 positivity was higher in poorly differentiated tumors (48% vs. 30.6% negative; p=0.1414) and in stage IV disease (50% vs. 39.3% negative; p=0.2607), these differences were not statistically significant. Elevated serum markers (CA-72-4, CA-19-9, CEA) were observed but showed no significant correlation with HER2 status. Conclusion Determining the molecular profile of gastric cancer patients can significantly contribute to refining clinical diagnosis, developing treatment strategies, enhancing therapeutic outcomes, and improving patients’ quality of life.

Abstract : Introduction: Medicinal herbs have been used in traditional medicine to treat systemic inflammatory disease for many years. For instance, Rhodiola rosea L. extracts are used to enhance behavioural stresses for improving fatigue and depression. Saposhnikovia divaricata notified to support function of musculoskeletal tissue and to enhance tissue regeneration by its anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study was to investigate therapeutic potential of four different types of medicinal plants (Rhodiola rosea L, Rhodiola quadrifidia (Pall) Fisch, Saposhnikova divaricate (Turcz) Schischk and Salsola laricofolia Turcz.ex Litv). Materials and methods: Anti-inflammatory effects of each extracts were evaluated separately using chemically induced inflammatory model (RAW 264.7 macrophages). iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6 relative expression was determined real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Results: No cytotoxicity was observed with a concentration of herbal extract. LPS treated macrophages were released cytokines at higher level and it was downregulated when plant extracts were treated. Herbal extract treatment suppressed the production of iNOS, IL-1b and IL-6 from Raw264.7 cells after LPS. Conclusion These results demonstrate that herbal extracts exerts anti-inflammatory effects, which results decreasing production of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines and allowed us to screen future therapeutic possibility.

Myocardial infarction (Ml) is necrosis and death of heart muscle secondary to ischemia and acute coronary artery thrombosis. Ml, commonly known as a heart attack, happens when the oxygen rich blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked for a prolonged period, causing damage or death to the heart tissue. This blockage is most often caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, which form a plaque in the coronary arteries. Furthermore, patients with cancer constitute a high-risk population for cardiovascular disease and as of the last 5 years, 50% of patients with cardiovascular disease have been diagnosed with cancer, according to World Health Organization. The provision of complete insight into Ml complications along with designing ajpreventive program against Ml seems necessary. The use of medications has been practiced over the years for the prevention of HF. However, some of these medications produce adverse effects and due to high cost are not easily available to every patient. Over the past decades, there has been a significant rise in the use of herbal supplements based on traditional medicine to prevent, avoid, and/or treat different conditions, including cardiovascular disease; this rise results from a natural source, efficiency with few or no adverse effects and low cost. In vivo models of heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarction (Ml) are essential for understanding the pathophysiology of these conditions and for developing new treatments.
These models typically involve inducing heart failure or myocardial infarction in animals, such as rodents to study disease mechanisms and evaluate potential therapies.
In this review, we discuss the most common preclinical models of Ml currently employed in cardiovascular research. Among them, Ml induced heart failure is a method of ligation of the left anterior descending artery of coronary an experimental animal. Its physiological relevance, cost-effective, uncomplicated, and suitable method for evaluating research results. The rat model of myocardial infarction offers numerous advantages that make it a valuable tool for cardiovascular research.

: According to the elemental analysis survey, it is confirmed that the content of silicon (Si) and aluminium (Al) in coarse particles in the ambient air of Erdenet city is the highest (2457 ng/cm2, 1061.72 ng/cm2), and the content of black carbon (BC) is the highest (2699.9 ng/cm2) for the fine particles, respectively. In Orkhon Aimag, 221 new cancer cases were registered in 2023, 20.8 per 10,000 population, and 123 deaths were registered, which decreased by 20 cases from the previous year. Stomach, lung, and oesophageal cancers are the most common. Among the leading causes of diseases, diseases of the respiratory system are led by its prevalence rate of 1536 per 10,000 population, followed by the diseases of the digestive system prevalence rate of 821 per 10,000. Goal: To review the epidemiological tendency of diseases registered in Orkhon aimag between 2006 and 2022. Materials and Methods: The secondary data on outpatient 2006-2022 of Orkhon aimag was collected and analysed. All disease data followed the X International Classification of Diseases classification. The Ethical permission was obtained from the Ethical Committee at the Ach Medical University. All personnel information-related data was removed and no any name and location of personnel data was mentioned in the survey result. Results: In Orkhon Aimag, 524,927 cases of diseases were registered in 2006-2022. Respiratory system diseases were 29.82 percent of total diseases, digestive system diseases were 16.58 percent, genitourinary system diseases were 11.28 percent, cardiovascular system diseases were 10.45 percent, and skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases were 8.38 percent. Chronic heart diseases of rheumatic origin were registered for 11.59 percent of the population aged 50-54, hypertension diseases were registered 12.41 percent, and a steady increase was observed in the age of 20-54. Conclusions
1. When studying the structure of diseases among the population of Orkhon aimag, the respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary system, circulatory system and diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue are the first five leading causes of diseases and consisted 76.95% of the total number of diseases. In the study of analyzing the diseases of the circulatory system by age group and diagnosis, cases of ischemic heart disease and high blood pressure are found among children aged 15-19 years. CVD are more common among the population aged 40-54.
2. There is a tendency that skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases to be on the rise among the population.