Background: Functional constipation is a common condition in early childhood, with an estimated global prevalence of approximately 3%. In Mongolia, functional constipation has been increasingly diagnosed among young children, particularly those aged 2–6 years. The condition is associated with abdominal pain, bloating, painful defecation, stool retention behaviors, and long-term physical and psychological complications. Although pediatric Tuina massage is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a non-pharmacological intervention, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains limited in the local context. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage on stool frequency and stool consistency in children with functional constipation. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted between May and December 2025 at the “Bomborduk” Pediatric Traditional Medicine Center. Sixty children diagnosed with functional constipation (ICD-10 K59.04) were randomly assigned to a therapeutic massage group (n=30) or an exercise therapy group (n=30). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after one month using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Result: The mean age of participants was 3.75±0.94 years, with no significant difference between groups. In the massage therapy group, CAS scores decreased from 8.23±2.39 to 3.17±2.36, while Bristol Stool scores improved from 1.33±0.48 to 3.00±0.87. Improvements were significantly greater in the massage group compared with the exercise therapy group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Therapeutic massage is a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention that significantly improves stool consistency and reduces constipation severity in children with functional constipation.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that noise pollution leads to a variety of short-term and long-term health issues, including sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, impaired concentration, decreased performance at work and school, and hearing difficulties. It has been established that for every 10 dB increase in environmental noise, the incidence of heart attacks among individuals aged 65 and older increases by 3.9% compared to those living in quieter environments (Seidler, et al., 2016). Furthermore, it has been found that noise pollution exceeding 65 dB is directly related to hypertension among residents living along high-traffic roads. Objective: To assessing traffic load and noise pollution on the roads of Ulaanbaatar Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted to determine noise pollution at 15 locations along roads such as Sun Road, Peace Avenue, Ard-Ayush Street, and Ikh Toiruu. Measurements were taken during morning (7-9 AM), afternoon (12-2 PM), evening (5-7 PM), and night (11 PM-1 AM) using a Noise Meter, Sound Level Meter, and portable equipment. Measurements were conducted at one point 100-200 meters from the main road, with three repetitions to assess hearing levels. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-24 software, and the results were compared to the Air Quality Technical General Requirements MNS 4585:2016 standard (During the day (07:00-22:00), 60 dB(A), and at night (22:00 07:00), 45 dB(A)). Results: The measurement results revealed that the maximum noise value in the morning (7-9 AM) was 83 dB(A), the minimum noise value was 51 dB(A), and the average of the maximum noise values was 74.1±4.7 dB(A). The maximum noise value during the day was 97 dB(A), the minimum noise value was 47 dB(A), and the average of the maximum noise value was 74.4±6.9 dB(A). In the evening, the maximum noise value was 88 dB(A), the minimum noise value was 47 dB(A), and the average of the maximum noise value was 74.4±6.6 dB(A). For the night measurements, the maximum noise value was 86 dB(A), the minimum noise value was 49 dB(A), and the average of the maximum noise value was 69.4±7.7 dB(A).
When calculating the average noise pollution on weekdays and weekends, the average of the max and min values during the morning, evening, and night on weekdays was 0.59-4.33 dB(A) higher than that of the weekend. The average maximum value during the day on weekends was 2.79 dB(A) higher than that of weekdays. The number of vehicles participating in road traffic showed a strong positive correlation with environmental noise (Rxy=0.660, p=0.0001), and the number of times the horn was sounded also revealed strong positive correlation with environmental noise (Rxy=0.674, p=0.029). Conclusion The noise level along the main roads exceeds the permissible limits set by the "Air Quality. Technical General Requirements MNS 4585:2016" standard by 37 dB(A) during the day and by 41 dB(A) at night. The average maximum value during the day exceeds the standard by 14.6 dB(A). This indicates that Ulaanbaatar is experiencing noise pollution at levels that negatively affect the health of the urban population.

Background: Thrombotic alterations play a central role in the pathogenesis of both macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product generated during fibrinolysis, has emerged as a potential biomarker for predicting chronic diabetic complications and assessing their severity. Aim: To determine D-dimer levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and investigate their association with various microvascular complications. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 215 participants with T2DM. Individuals diagnosed with other forms of diabetes, those receiving anticoagulant therapy, and those with liver disease were excluded according to the predefined exclusion criteria. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their D-dimer levels: ≤0.260 μg/mL and >0.260 μg/mL. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy was compared between the groups. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Results: A total of 215 individuals with T2DM were included in the study. The median D-dimer level was 0.260 μg/mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.190–0.460). The prevalence of at least one microvascular complication was significantly higher among participants with D-dimer levels above the median than among those with levels at or below the median (51.4% vs. 37.0%, p=0.034). The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was 33.6% versus 13.0% (p<0.001), while that of diabetic neuropathy was 20.6% versus 10.2% (p=0.035), respectively, indicating a higher burden of chronic complications in the group with elevated D-dimer levels. Participants with D-dimer levels above the median had 2.23 times higher odds of having at least one diabetic microvascular complication (OR=2.23; 95% CI: 1.19–4.18; p=0.013). Conclusions 1. Elevated D-dimer levels were observed in 21.4% of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus included in the study. 2. D-dimer levels above the median (0.260 μg/mL) were associated with a twofold increase in the odds of having diabetic microvascular complications (OR=2.23; 95% CI: 1.19–4.18; p=0.013).

Background: Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using HEp-2 cells is internationally recognized as the gold-standard method for detecting antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), which are widely used in the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases. Developing and evaluating a standardized experimental protocol for ANA detection is important for improving the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases. Aim: To detect serum ANAs using an HEp-2 cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay. Materials and Methods: Frozen HEp-2 cells were thawed, recovered, and cultured. Cells were seeded at a density of 5x10⁵ cells per reaction well and incubated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO₂ for 24 hours, followed by fixation. The fixed cells were incubated with serum samples from patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS), diluted at 1:80 and 1:160. A fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody was subsequently applied at a dilution of 1:500. Fluorescence patterns were examined using an immunofluorescence microscope at 20× and 40× magnifications. Nuclear staining patterns observed at a serum dilution of 1:160 under 40× magnification were evaluated with reference to the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP) classification. Results: HEp-2 cells were evaluated using the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay with ANA-positive and ANA-negative sera. No fluorescence was observed in the negative control serum. In contrast, serum positive for anti-dsDNA from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) produced a distinct homogeneous nuclear staining pattern, whereas anti-SSA/SSB-positive serum from a patient with Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) produced a speckled nuclear staining pattern. The homogeneous and speckled staining patterns observed in the respective SLE and SjS sera were consistent with the expected morphological characteristics of the corresponding reference patterns, supporting the applicability of the established HEp-2 cell-based IIF protocol for ANA detection and nuclear staining pattern assessment. Conclusion The HEp-2 cell-based indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay enabled the detection of serum ANAs and the differentiation of homogeneous and speckled nuclear staining patterns. The observed staining patterns were morphologically consistent with the corresponding reference patterns described in the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP) classification. These findings support the potential applicability of the established protocol for ANA detection and nuclear staining pattern assessment.

Introduction: According to the WHO, being exposed to loud noise for a long time can be very harmful to health. It can lead to heart and blood vessel problems, mental health issues, trouble sleeping, and hearing loss. Noise pollution has a negative effect on the brain and nervous system, and it can cause many problems. High-frequency noise, in particular, can disturb the central nervous system. This can lead to problems like poor concentration, more anxiety, and feeling mentally tired. Many studies around the world have shown that noise levels of ≥85 dB at work increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus.In Ulaanbaatar, environmental noise pollution continues to grow due to population growth, construction, and urban planning. Therefore, it is important to find out whether environmental noise pollution is linked to mental and behavioral disorders, insomnia, nervous fatigue, high blood pressure, and hearing loss among the population. Goal: The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of primary hypertension (I10), nervous fatigue (F48.0), sleep disorders (F51.0), and tinnitus (H83.3) caused by environmental noise among the population of Ulaanbaatar. Materials and Methods: A descriptive research design was applied to examine statistical data from the Center for Health Development regarding diseases related to noise pollution. Based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), the study focused on conditions such as neurasthenia (F48.0), non-organic sleep disorders (F51), primary hypertension (I10), and hearing disorders (H83.3). The analysis included data recorded between 2014 and 2023 among the population of Ulaanbaatar city. Epidemiological analysis was performed using SPSS-24 software, and the results were calculated per 10,000 population. Ethical Considerations: This study did not receive any external funding or financial support from public or private organizations. It utilizes secondary data from the Health Development Center, which does not contain any personal information. Results: In 2014, the average age of individuals diagnosed with neurasthenia (F48.0) was 40.1±12.6 years; for non-organic sleep disorders (F51.0), it was 48.1±14.5 years; for noise-induced hearing disorders (H83.3), 47.2±12.7 years; and for primary hypertension (I10), the average age was 59.0±11.4 years. By 2023, the average age for primary hypertension had slightly decreased to 58.0±12.9 years. Since 2014, the number of cases of nervous fatigue, non organic sleep disorders, and hearing problems caused by noise has risen in Ulaanbaatar. In 2023, the average age of people with primary hypertension (I10) dropped to 58.0±12.9 years. Noise-related illnesses are common among people aged 40 to 60 in Ulaanbaatar, and this is lowering their quality of life. Conclusion Noise-related illnesses are being recorded among the 40–60 age group in Ulaanbaatar, which is negatively affecting their quality of life. It is urgently necessary to introduce measures for adequate protection of the population from the negative health effects of environmental noise.

Introduction : Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) caused at least 43 million deaths in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or at least 19 million deaths in 2021, followed by cancers (10 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (over 2 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes). These four groups of diseases account for 80% of all premature NCD deaths. According to the Fourth National Survey on the Prevalence of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injuries, and Their Risk Factors: 14.0% of adults aged 15–69 have experienced a heart attack or stroke, 11.0% report taking aspirin to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease (CVD), 2.2% use lipid-lowering medications (statins) for CVD prevention or treatment, among adults aged 40–69, 19.3% are at high risk of developing CVD within the next 10 years. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen cardiovascular disease prevention efforts and improve the management of key risk factors in Mongolia. Goal: To determine the population’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cardiovascular disease risk factors and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 2,532 participants aged 18–69 years from all 21 provinces of Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar city, as part of the “Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, and Telemedicine in Mongolia” (MON/007) Project. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising six sub-sections, designed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to 10 modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Thirty-three percent of study participants reported having no knowledge of cardiovascular disease, indicating that roughly one in three adults consider themselves to have little or no understanding of cardiovascular health. In the study, 53.0% of participants reported being unaware of the symptoms of a heart attack, while 42.0% did not recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Among participants who could identify these symptoms, 68.0% indicated dizziness as a sign of hypertension, 65.0% reported headache, and 58.0% noted blurred vision. Among the respondents, 31.0% knew that the normal arterial blood pressure for an adult is 120/80 mmHg, 57.0% were aware that an adult should sleep 7–8 hours per day, 13.0% knew about body mass index (BMI), 30.0% were aware of fasting blood glucose levels, and 44.0% recognized that adults should engage in 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Knowledge of key physiological indicators was significantly associated with educational attainment, gender, and age group, with lower levels of awareness observed among participants with lower education, males, and younger adults (p=0.001). The majority of participants (75.0%-96.0%) reported being aware of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Among the study participants, nine out of ten agreed that maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes regular physical activity, exercising, walking short distances, and understanding that hypertension is harmful and smoking adversely affects the heart. Furthermore, 80–85% reported avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and 79% believed that cardiovascular disease is preventable. To prevent or reduce obesity, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, 49.0% of participants reported engaging in regular physical activity, while 33.0% reported following a healthy diet. Among all study participants, 61.0% had never checked their cholesterol levels, 49.0% had never measured their blood glucose, and 15.0% had never monitored their blood pressure. Among respondents exhibiting 1–3 common risk factors, the majority were female, aged 25–34 years, living in rural areas or ger districts, with secondary or specialized secondary education, employed in government institutions, and had a normal BMI. In contrast, among those with 7 or more common risk factors, the majority were male, aged 35–44 years, residing in Ulaanbaatar, living in ger districts, and employed in private organizations. Conclusion Most of surveyed participants had sufficient knowledge and positive attitudes toward modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (p=0.001). However, they exhibited inadequate preventive practices related to these risk factors. This indicates the importance of targeted intervention on behavior change to address this gap.

Background: As global life expectancy increases, spinal disorders and the need for spinal surgery among elderly individ uals are becoming more prevalent. Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is a common complication in this population, adversely affecting functional recovery and quality of life. Despite substantial research, effective preventive strategies for POCD remain limited. Aim: To determine the incidence of POCD and to identify perioperative risk factors associated with its development in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University. Of 200 elderly patients who underwent spinal surgery between, 122 met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Preoperative clinical assessments, intraoperative surgical and anesthetic parameters, and postoperative evaluations were systematically collected. Cognitive function was assessed using standardized and validated tools both before and after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of POCD. Results: POCD was observed in a notable proportion of patients postoperatively. Multivariate analysis revealed that prolonged surgical duration (OR=0.989; p=0.005), intraoperative hypotension (OR=0.964; p=0.009), higher intensity of postoperative pain (OR=10.073; p=0.015), and elevated postoperative C-reactive protein levels (OR=1.039; p<0.001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing POCD. Conclusion In elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery severe postoperative pain, and systemic inflammatory respons es contribute significantly to the development of POCD. Optimizing perioperative management, including minimizing surgical time, maintaining stable hemodynamics, and controlling postoperative inflammation and pain, may mitigate the risk of cognitive decline.

Abstract Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affects millions of people worldwide. Significant advancements in both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have greatly improved outcomes, particularly for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy. Modern neurostimulation techniques such as Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing seizure frequency in these patients. Additionally, emerging technologies like gene therapy and optogenetics are being explored to better understand the underlying mechanisms of epilepsy and hold promise as future treatment modalities.Traditional imaging techniques often fail to detect subtle epileptogenic zones. However, the introduction of ultra high-field 7T MRI scanners represents a major breakthrough. These advanced scanners use eight transmitters to generate higher-resolution images, reducing signal dropout and enabling the identification of previously undetected lesions. In one study involving 31 patients, 58% had their treatment plans modified based on 7T MRI findings, highlighting its potential to inform surgical decision-making. In terms of pharmacological treatment, newer medications such as sultiame, cannabidiol (CBD), and non-pharmacological approaches like the ketogenic diet have emerged as additional therapeutic options for drug-resistant epilepsy. These developments contribute to more effective, personalized management strategies for epilepsy. In summary, the landscape of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment is rapidly evolving. Innovations in imaging and therapeutic interventions are offering new hope for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Ongoing research and clinical trials remain essential to further refine these approaches and improve patient outcomes.

Background: A blood product is any therapeutic substance derived from human blood, including whole blood and other blood components for transfusion, and plasma-derived medicinal products. Medicinal (medical therapeutic) products derived from human donations of blood and plasma play a critical role in health care. Safe, effective and quality-assured blood products contribute to improving and saving millions of lives every year, as they: address child mortality and maternal health, dramatically improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients suffering from life-threatening inherited disorders, such as haemophilia, thalassaemia and immune deficiency, and acquired conditions such as cancer and traumatic haemorrhage and support complex medical and surgical procedures, including transplantation. An insufficient or unsafe blood supply for transfusion has a negative impact on the effectiveness of key health services and programmes to provide appropriate patient care in numerous acute and chronic conditions. Ensuring access of all patients who require transfusion to safe, effective and quality-assured blood products is a key component of an effective health system and vital for patient safety.
Although the number of blood donors is increasing, there are still insufficient human and financial resources for encouraging the growing demand of blood and blood products and new blood donors. Material and Methods: We collected secondary data by using using the order forms of hospitals that used blood and blood products registered in the National Center for Blood Transfusion Research in 2017-2019 in accordance with the retrospective survey method.
In total 34,119 hospital order information sheet was entered into computer in excel program, and converted into SPSS 23 software, descriptive parameters were calculated and analyzed. Results: Compare to the 2017 (n=9076), the demand of blood product was increased by 21.8%, and 54.8% in 2019. There are 51.9% (95%CI: 51.2-52.5) of total users are male, which is statistically significant. The mean age of blood product users were aged 48.58±21.32, the youngest user was aged 1 and the oldest age was 99. The demand of blood products were increased by growing of the age of users. The product usage of age group of 46-55 was 17.8% and has trend to increase year by year. In total, 11.3% of total blood product was utilized for children and 72.3% of them were aged less than 5 years old. 73.0% of total blood products were utilized in specialized hospitals, 14.6 % of them were used in aimag and district level hospitals and 11.3% of them were used in private clinics. 24.4% of blood products utilization was used for diseases of digestive system (К00-К93), 22.1% of them were used for diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism, and 19.5% of them were used for the cancer (C00-C97) disease patient’s treatment. Conclusion Since after new treatment guidance was introduced the blood and blood products usage had been increased.

Background: Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. According to WHO recommendation at least 1% of the population of any country needs to donate their blood to accommodate the basic clinical needs of the country. Accordingly, we aimed to assess existing attitudes of the general population towards on blood donors. Materials and Methods: The survey identified attitude of the population on blood donation and factors influencing them, using quantitative and qualitative methods. The survey covered a population aged 18-60 years. SPSS software version 21 was used for data analysis of the survey. The survey protocol and methodology were reviewed and approved by the Scientific Committee at the NCPH. The Medical Ethical Committee at the MOH reviewed the survey materials and issued an approval (2015/3). Results: The survey covered in total 3,782 people and there are 59.2% of surveyed respondents said they have never thought of becoming a voluntary blood donor. Positive attitude on blood donation is higher with statistical significance among women (59.0%), 18-25 years old (43.7%) and UB residents citizens with higher education. As education level increases the number of respondents who thought about donating blood is also increases. 16.1% of them had a history of blood donation before and 38.2% said they never thought about it. Twenty point four percent of respondents thought blood donation brings some kind of risk. Nevertheless of the education level of surveyed respondents, the percentage of answer blood donation is not risky for a person was the most common answer. But respondent who is only literal and uneducated were don’t know about whether it has a risk or not (385.37=2א, p=0.000001). Also, respondents failed to donate their blood because the family not allowed, afraid, risk of infection, doesn’t want and had a busy schedule. Conclusion There is a high tendency to donate blood populations of young people aged 20-29, women, residents of Ulaanbaatar, and uneducated and highly educated. The majority of respondents agreed that blood donating is charity and a good deed. The leading causes of blood donation is the education, gender, the desire of doing a good deed, peer influence and health condition.