Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress related to diabetes create psychosocial distress. In Mongolia, although the prevalence of diabetes has been rapidly increasing in recent years, studies on psychosocial and mental health–related clinical factors among people with diabetes are limited. To study some psychosocial and mental health–related changes occurring in people with diabetes in relation to disease complications and control indicators. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using an analytical cross-sectional design, including 172 adults with diabetes. Standard assessment tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Diabetes Distress Scale questionnaires were used to collect data. Cases that tested positive on two or more instruments were defined as having “composite psychosocial distress.” Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with composite psychosocial distress, and additional statistical models were developed for each outcome. Result: The mean age of participants was 58.3±10.4 years, and 57.6% were female. The mean HbA1c value was 9.0% (IQR 7.5–11.0), and the average duration of diabetes was 10 years (IQR 6–16). Among all participants, 16.9% had composite psychosocial distress. One chronic complication related to diabetes was observed in 47.7% of participants, while 17.0% had two or more complications. Scores of depression, anxiety, and diabetes-related distress were positively correlated (all p<0.001). In univariate analysis, with each additional chronic complication, composite psychosocial distress increased (OR=1.93, 95% CI 1.31–2.87; p=0.001). In univariate regression analysis, higher HbA1c significantly increased the risk of composite psychosocial distress (for each 1% increase, OR=1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28; p=0.040). In multivariate analysis including number of chronic complications and HbA1c, the number of chronic complications remained an independent factor increasing risk (adjusted OR=1.92, 95% CI 1.21–3.05; p=0.005), while HbA1c was not statistically significant. The prevalence of composite psychosocial distress tended to increase depending on complications. Among participants without chronic complications, it was 8.9%; among those with one complication, 19.2%; and among those with two or more complications, 37.9%. The prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and high levels of diabetes-related distress also increased similarly with the number of chronic complications. Conclusion Composite psychosocial distress is present in 1 out of every 6 adults with diabetes. The presence of chronic complications increases the risk of composite psychosocial distress by 3.5 times.

Background: Differentiating brain abscesses from necrotic cystic tumors is critical for clinical management but remains challenging due to overlapping features on conventional MRI. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted and morphological MRI biomarkers in differentiating brain abscesses from necrotic cystic brain tumors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 54 patients with ring-enhancing brain lesions (brain abscess, n=13; metastasis, n=18; glioblastoma, n=23). MRI protocols (T1W, T2W, DWI, SWI, and T1+CE) were analyzed for lesion morphology, diffusion characteristics, capsule thickness, and the “dual rim sign.” Group comparisons were performed using ANOVA, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests. Diagnostic performance and optimal thresholds were determined using ROC curve analysis (p<0.05). Results: 1. Comparison of Diffusion Parameters: The core ADC ratio min was significantly lower in the brain abscess group than in the cystic-necrotic tumor group (0.812±0.228 vs 1.902±0.535 for glioblastoma, 1.590±0.394 for metastasis; p<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for core ADC ratio min was 0.977, indicating excellent diagnostic performance. 2. Capsule Characteristics: On SWI, the “dual rim sign” was detected in 92.3% of brain abscesses but was absent (0%) in all cystic-necrotic tumors (p<0.001). The abscess capsules were significantly thinner (mean 3.3 mm) and more uniform compared to the irregular, thicker walls of necrotic tumors. 3. Diagnostic Thresholds: The optimal cut-off value for the core ADC ratio min was 0.94 (sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 92.7%). For capsule thickness, the cut-off value was 3.3 mm with an AUC of 0.955. Conclusion Core ADC ratio and capsule thickness are reliable quantitative MRI biomarkers for differentiating brain abscesses from cystic-necrotic tumors. Integrating diffusion metrics with susceptibility-based and morphological features, such as the “dual rim sign,” significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice, facilitating non-invasive and timely diagnosis.

Background: Substance use remains a critical public health and social concern, closely linked to increased sexual risk behaviors and a heightened vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly HIV and syphilis. International and national evidence suggests that individuals who use drugs often experience impaired judgment during intoxication, leading to unprotected intercourse, casual sexual encounters, and multiple sexual partners. In Mongolia, empirical data regarding sexual risk behaviors within this population remain scarce. Therefore, there is a pressing need to determine the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and identify the specific factors influencing these patterns among drug users. Materials and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional analytical design involving 181 participants who use drugs. Data were collected via structured questionnaires. Sexual risk behavior was evaluated using two approaches: as a dichotomous categorical variable and as a cumulative sexual risk score. Statistical analysis was performed using frequency distributions, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The associations between variables were tested using the (chi square test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression models. Results: The findings revealed that 12.2% of participants exhibited high-level sexual risk behaviors, with a mean cumulative risk score of 8.13 ±4.40. Engaging in sexual intercourse while under the influence of alcohol, the frequency of intoxicated sex (reported as "often" or "always"), and a history of casual sexual encounters were significantly associated with sexual risk behaviors. Furthermore, gender, cohabitation status, condom use during the first sexual experience, and the frequency of alcohol-involved sexual encounters were statistically significant predictors of the cumulative risk score. A weak positive correlation was observed between the number of sexual partners in the past year and the cumulative sexual risk score, which remained a significant positive predictor in the linear regression model. Conclusion Sexual risk behavior among people who use drugs is more closely associated with behavioral factors—such as alcohol-influenced sexual activity, casual encounters, lack of condom use during sexual debut, and multiple partnership—than with basic socio-demographic characteristics. Consequently, risk reduction interventions should move beyond general awareness. Efforts must prioritize reducing substance- and alcohol-related sexual risks, promoting consistent condom use, and enhancing the accessibility of STI screening and counseling services tailored to this high-risk group.

Background: Drug use is closely associated with sexually transmitted infections, especially syphilis and HIV, through unsafe sexual practices, multiple partners, and high-risk patterns of substance use. Prisoners with a history of drug use represent a particularly vulnerable subgroup. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of rapid syphilis test positivity and selected associated factors among incarcerated people who use drugs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 105 prisoners. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and a finger-prick rapid dual test. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Fisher exact tests were used, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.1±8.4 years; 78.1% were male. A history of STI was reported by 16.2%, STI-related symptoms during the last 12 months by 19.0%, STI testing during the last 12 months by 39.0%, and STI testing while incarcerated by 45.7%. However, 79.0% had received STI-related education or information. Among 81 participants with valid rapid syphilis test results, 27 were positive, giving a prevalence of 33.3%. Syphilis positivity was significantly higher among those using more than one route of drug administration (41.4% vs 13.0%, p=0.018) and among those with a prior STI history (70.0% vs 26.6%, p=0.011). No significant associations were found with sex, age, education, marital status, cohabitation, income, syringe use, recent STI symptoms, casual sex before arrest, or overall sexual risk behavior. Conclusion These findings suggest that targeted syphilis screening, counseling, and linkage to confirmatory testing and treatment should be strengthened among incarcerated people who use drugs, particularly those with multi-route drug use and a previous STI history.

Background: According to WHO research, there are approximately 24 million people living with schizophrenia worldwide and schizophrenia is characterized by a combination of psychotic and non-psychotic symptoms. Since the cause of the disease is not fully understood, antipsychotic medications are used as symptomatic treatment. According to the 2022 statistics of the NCMH, 718 people with schizophrenia are being treated under active surveillance in Mongolia. The reason for conducting this study is that the manifestation of drug side effects resulting movement disorders in patients with schizophrenia, which has not been studied in Mongolia. Aim: To investigate the relationship between adherence of medication regimen and abnormal involuntary movements in patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Method: The study was conducted using a descriptive method, cross-sectional design, purposive sampling with the questionnaire and standardized tests. Ethical approval for this study was approved by the NCMH (№3/77 30th of January, 2023) and Research Ethics Review Committee of MNUMS (№2023/3-02). Each participant was asked to complete 5 groups of 36 questionnaires, and standard tests were used to assess patients’ adherence to medication regimens (Morisky scale) and abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS). The study was conducted between March and August 2023, and the results were summarized and analyzed using STATA 14 software. Results: The study included 209 patients with schizophrenia, aged 18-79 years, of whom 47.4% (n=99) were male and 52.6% (n=110) were female (p=0.21). Of the participants, 28.2% (n=59) had less than secondary education, 76.5% (n=160) were unmarried, and 85.2% (n=178) had a disability due to mental health. 32.5% (n=68) of the patients with schizophrenia in the study used a combination of typical and atypical medications, and the most commonly used antipsychotic drugs were haloperidol (30.6%), chlorpromazine (26.8%), levomepromazine (25.8%), risperidone (24.4%), and quetiapine (21.1%). 1.4% (n=3) of the patients had good, 52.6% (n=110) had moderate, and 45.9% (n=96) had poor adherence to the medication regimen (Cronbach’s α=0.781). However, according to the results of the test for assessing abnormal involuntary that are performed without self-control, 49.76% (n=104) responded that they felt more sensitive to facial and oral movements, and 44.5% (n=93) to limb movements. The patients’ adherence to the medication regimen was statistically significant with facial and oral movements (n=104; p=0.036) and general body movement disorders (n=94; p=0.05). Conclusion 32.5% of patients with schizophrenia were taking typical and atypical antipsychotics, and 45.9% had poor adherence to medication regimens and were more likely to exhibit clinical forms of abnormal involuntary movements, including facial (p=0.036) and general movement disorders (p=0.05).

Background: Memory is a complex combination of the activities of fixation, keeping and recalling information, which is manifested by quantitative and qualitative changes due to organic mental disorders. Epilepsy is a disorder with neurological and mental symptoms, and depending on the course of the disease, adherence to medication regimen, and the frequency of seizures, memory can decrease leading to partial or complete dementia. Therefore, we conduct this study by Luria A.Ya’s assessment evaluating memory’s changes, such as mechanic memory. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the memory changes in patients with epilepsy using standart questionnaire. Materials and Methods: The study was a hospital-based, descriptive, cross-sectional design, using a questionnaire survey method, and using a standard 10-word memorizing test. The study was conducted in NCMH from 1st of July to 1st of August of 2023 and ethical approval for this study was approved by the NCMH (3/603 14th of June, 2023) and Research Ethics Review Committee of MNUMS (2023/3-08 16th of June 2023). Collected data statistics were created by graphics and tables on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel programs and were analyzed in SPSS 21.0 software. Results: The study included 30 patients, 19 (62.5%) men and 11 (36.3%) women, aged 25-59, with a disease duration of 4-59 years. In 60% of cases cause of the disease was brain injury, n=18 had less than secondary education, and n=26 (86.6%) had defined with disability. 73.2% of the study participants fell 2-3 times a week, 73.3% did not take medication as prescribed, and 56.7% did not follow the medication regimen. The results of the 10-word memorizing test showed that 1-9 words were said more often in each repetition, with an average value of 3.2-3.9 for each repetition, and the frequency of the extra words was 0.8. When examining whether the word memorizing test scores depended on the duration of the illness, the number of words recalled by patients with illness lasting up to 59 years was 1-3, indicating that the longer the illness lasted, the lower memory. Conclusion 73.3% of patients do not take medications as prescribed by their doctor (p=0.35), 56.7% do not follow the medication regimen, the average value of the mechanical memory test is 3.2-3.9, and the results show that memory decreases with the duration of the disease, indicating that there are many reasons for the decrease in patients’ memory.