Background: Currently, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. CRC frequently metastasizes to the liver (50%), lungs (10–15%), peritoneum (4%), bones (10.7%–23.7%), brain (0.3%–6%), and spinal cord. Approximately 35% of CRC cases are diagnosed before distant metastasis, 36% upon lymph node involvement, and 23% after distant organ metastasis. Although several studies have established primary tumor models in mice in our country, there are limited studies on experimental lung metastasis models, prompting the need for this research. Aim: To establish and evaluate a lung metastasis model of colorectal cancer in C57BL/6J mice using the MC38 cell line. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Board of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (2023/3-09) and all laboratory safety regulations and protocols were strictly followed. Male C57BL/6J mice bred at the Experimental Animal Center of Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences were used. MC38 murine colorectal carcinoma cells were cultured and injected intravenously (via the tail vein) at a concentration of 0.25×10⁶ cells per mouse (n=12) to induce lung metastasis. Histological analysis was subsequently performed. Results: Histological examination revealed significant alterations in lung tissue architecture, characterized by areas of dense infiltration by pleomorphic, hyperchromatic cells, disrupting the normal alveolar structure. No histological abnormalities were observed in other organs. Conclusion Intravenous injection of MC38 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells into the tail vein of C57BL/6J mice successfully induced lung metastases, characterized by hyperchromatic, pleomorphic cell infiltrates forming glandular structures within the lung parenchyma.

Background: In recent years, scientists have found that certain natural compounds have significant potential in cancer prevention and early-stage cancer treatment. Flavanones, a class of polyphenolic compounds found in plants, vegetables, seeds, fruit peels, and flowers, have been identified to possess anticancer, antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, and antibacterial bioactivities. Cancer has become a major global challenge in terms of both economic and public health concerns. Global statistics indicate that 22.8% of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases, and 16.8% are caused by cancer, accounting for one in four and one in six deaths, respectively. Aim : To investigate anticancer effects of Iris Tenuifolia-derived flavanone on cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted at the Bio-Medical Research Institute of the Mongolian National Uni versity of Medical Sciences, investigating the effect of flavanones on cancer cell viability under in vitro conditions using the MTT assay. In the study, colon, liver, and lung cancer cells were cultured, stabilized, and used for the experiments. Colorectal cancer cells (MC38), liver cancer cells (HepG2), and lung cancer cells (A549) were revived, cultured, and stabilized for use in the experimental procedures. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010, and graphs were generated using GraphPad Prism 8. Differences between groups were analyzed using Student’s t-test, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : We treated MC38, HepG2, and A549 cancer cells with different concentrations of flavanone (2.5 µM, 5 µM, and 10 µM) for 24 to 48 hours to evaluate cell viability. Flavanone inhibited A549 cell viability by 2.5 μM-10%, 5 μM-25%, and 10 μM-38%, respectively. For HepG2 cells, flavanone treatment at concentrations of 5-10 µM reduced cell viability by 28–58%. No statistically significant effect on the viability of MC38 cells was observed following treatment with flavanone at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 µM. Additionally, although MC38 inhibited cell viability in a dose-de pendent manner in cell cultures, it had a statistically significant effect at higher concentrations of 30-200 μM (p<0.01). Conclusion Flavanone inhibits the cancer cell viability in a dose and time dependent manner

Background: As of 2024, digestive system diseases rank fourth among the causes of mortality in Mongolia. Among these, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) accounted for 20,501 deaths, leading in total mortality rates. In Traditional Mongolian Medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is used to cool blood heat, clear internal heat, and regulate imbalances; Saussurea amara L. is used for its antibacterial, anti-infective, and anti-inflammatory properties; Carthamus tinctorius L. serves for disinfection, pain relief, fever reduction, and detoxification; and Chiazospermum erectum L. is used to eliminate toxic heat and febrile conditions. Studies have confirmed that the Hepaclin-4 formulation exhibits antioxidant, membrane-stabilizing, hepatoprotective, anti-necrotic, detoxifying activities, and reduces the accumulation of harmful byproducts from excessive peroxidation. Therefore, developing a solid dosage form from the raw herbal materials of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Saussurea amara L., Carthamus tinctorius L., and Chiazospermum erectum L.in the He paclin-4 formula forms the basis of our research. Aim: To formulate and develop a tablet dosage form based on the compound prescription of Hepaclin-4 Materials and Methods: The raw materials of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Saussurea amara L., Carthamus tinctorius L., and Chiazospermum erectum L.were weighed at a 1:1:1:1 ratio and extracted with 40% ethanol at a 1:10 ratio using the remaceration method. Ethanol was evaporated using a vacuum evaporator to obtain a thick extract, and quality indicators were determined. From the obtained thick extract, granules were prepared using two types of excipients through the wet granulation method, and their quality characteristics were studied. Based on the most suitable granules, tablet and capsule dosage forms were prepared and standardized according to the methods outlined in the Mongolian National Pharmacopoeia. Results: The Hepaclin-4 tablets were found to be round, well-formed, smooth, with intact edges, a slight characteristic odor, no unpleasant taste, and light yellow in color. The friability resistance of the 0.5 g tablet was 99.6±0.08%, hardness was 1.07±0.12 MPa, weight variation ranged from -2.6% to +3.9%, all within the acceptable 5% limit. The disintegration time was 4.23±0.05 minutes, and dissolution was 95.4±0.47%, meeting the permissible standards. When flavonoids in the tablets were detected by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), brownish-yellow spots appeared at Rf values identical to standard quercetin (Rf=0.94) and rutin (Rf=0.48). The total flavonoid content, determined by Spectrophotometric Method (SPM), was 0.165±0.01%. Conclusion Tablets were successfully developed from the thick extract of the Hepaclin-4 herbal compound. Upon eval uation, the tablets met all the required technical specifications.

Background: Globally, approximately 684,000 deaths occur annually due to falls. In Mongolia, 47 individual aged between 45 and 85 have died as a result of falls. Therefore, there is a pressing need to assess fall risks among the general population in Mongolia and identify risk factors to prevent accidents and injuries. Aim: To assess the risk of falls among individuals aged 45 years and older who are receiving care at tertiary-level referral hospitals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 408 participants aged 45 years and above who were attending tertiary-level hospitals in Ulaanbaatar. Fall risk was assessed using the internationally recognized Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 59.24±6.54 years; 40% were male and 60% were female. Among the participants, 45.3% (n=185) were categorized as low risk, 33.6% (n=137) as moderate risk, and 21.1% (n=86) as high risk for falls. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant risk factors associated with falls. Key factors included: slippery shoe soles (OR=0.226, 95% CI: 0.119–0.428, p=0.001), performing unexpected hazardous movements while changing positions (OR=0.262, 95% CI: 0.143–0.480, p=0.001), use of assistive walking devices (OR=0.209, 95% CI: 0.110–0.397, p=0.001), anxiety or unstable mental status (OR=0.276, 95% CI: 0.148–0.514, p=0.001), tendency to resist instructions or behave stubbornly (OR=0.330, 95% CI: 0.183–0.596, p=0.001), difficulty in recognizing the surrounding environment (OR=0.354, 95% CI: 0.187–0.671, p=0.001), and a history of previous falls (OR=4.737, 95% CI: 2.151–10.429). Conclusion 1. Based on the FRAT assesment, 45.3% of participants had low fall risk, 33.6% moderate risk, and 21.1% high risk. 2. Risk factors such as sudden movements, the use of assistive devices, and emotional instability significantly influence fall risk assessment, and individuals with a history of previous falls are 4.7 times more likely to experience another fall.

Background: Insomnia is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders in the United States, affecting up to half of primary care patients and often necessitating psycho-behavioral interventions. Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese and Mongolian medicine, has been increasingly studied as a treatment for insomnia in recent years. Aim: Evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a randomized controlled clinical trial design. 148 participants, aged 18-65 years, with a diagnosis of Nonorganic Insomnia (F51.0) according to the ICD-10, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) >7, were divided into the transverse acupuncture, conventional acupuncture, and the control group. The results were analyzed using a Cardiopulmonary Coupling - CPC machine before and after treatment in the 3 groups to assess 1. Total sleep (hours), 2. Deep sleep (hours), 3. Light sleep (hours), 4. REM (hours), 5. Wake time (minutes), 6. Time to first fall asleep (minutes), 7. Sleep rate (%), 8. Number of apneas, and sleep quality was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. The research approval was reviewed and granted by the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences on January 19, 2024 (Approval No. 24/19/01). Results: The mean age of participants was 51.5±10.8 years, with 79.7% (n=118) being female and 20.3% (n=30) male. In the transverse acupuncture group, post-treatment results demonstrated a 53.8% increase in total sleep time, a 102.8% increase in deep sleep time, a 19.8% increase in light sleep time, a 36.1% increase in REM sleep time, and a 22.1% improvement in sleep normalization rate. The mean differences between pre- and post-treatment scores were statistically significant based on a one-sample t-test. In contrast, no statistically significant improvements were observed in the control group, except for sleep quality. Conclusion Both transverse acupuncture and conventional acupuncture significantly improved sleep quality indicators following treatment.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a clinical syndrome seen in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, marked by organ failure and high risk of mortality. In Mongolia, liver cirrhosis and chronic liver disease are among the leading causes of death, with mortality rates four times higher than the global average. Despite this, full data on ACLF in the country remains insufficient. Aim : This study aims to determine the prevalence, etiology, and outcomes of ACLF in patients admitted with acute de compensated liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods : This retrospective registry study analyzed all hospital admissions at the Mongolia-Japan Hos pital from Jan 1, 2022, to Dec 31, 2024. Definitions from the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (EASL-CLIF) were used. Organ failure was assessed using the adapted Chronic Liver Failure-Organ Failure (CLIF-OF) score. Patients with malignancies meeting the Milan criteria were excluded. Results : A total of 83 patients were included, of whom 41% (n=34) met the ACLF criteria. Among ACLF patients, 58.8% were male, with a median age of 52 years. The most common underlying cause of cirrhosis was viral hepatitis B and D. The main triggers for ACLF were infection (50%) and alcoholic hepatitis (20.6%). ACLF grades were as follows: 29.4% for Grade 1, 29.4% for Grade 2, and 41.1% for Grade 3. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 28.9%, but it was significantly higher in the ACLF group (75%) compared to the non-ACLF group (25%). Mortality rates increased with ACLF grade: 20% for Grade 1, 50% for Grade 2, and 78.6% for Grade 3 (p < 0.00001). Conclusion 1. The prevalence of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) among patients with decompensated cirrhosis was 41%, with a notably high in-hospital mortality rate of 52.9%. 2. Bacterial infections, rather than hepatic insults, were the leading precipitating factors for ACLF, accounting for 50% of the cases.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders account for 23.1-47.1% of occupational diseases in several countries. Studies have shown that operators of heavy machinery, including tractors and dump trucks, are twice as likely to experience lower back pain compared to workers not exposed to whole-body vibration. Furthermore, research has indicated that acute exposure to vibration can cause vasoconstriction and vascular inflammation. However, limited research has explored the relationship between lower back pain and specific biomarkers, highlighting the need for this study. Aim: This study aimed to compare lower back pain prevalence and muscle inflammation biomarkers among heavy machinery operators. Materials and Methods: A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 15 male participants aged 25-35 years who had worked as heavy machinery drivers for no more than three years. Inclusion criteria were: no alcohol consumption within 24 hours prior to sampling, body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-28.9 kg/m², no prior diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders, and absence of infectious or non-infectious diseases during the study period. Blood samples were analyzed for Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean BMI of participants was 25.89±3.23 kg/m². Over half (53.3%, n=8) exceeded the exposure limit for whole-body vibration. Low back pain was reported by 13 participants (86.7%) over the past six months and by 12 participants (80%) over the past seven days. TNF-α levels did not differ significantly between groups based on low back pain status or vibration exposure. However, IL-6 levels showed a significant increase 24 hours after whole-body vibration exposure (p=0.027). Conclusion Lower back pain was highly prevalent among participants exposed to whole-body vibration. Furthermore, IL-6 levels were elevated among participants reporting lower back pain, regardless of vibration exposure levels.

Background: The first supposition of a possible relationship between occlusion and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) function was suggested by Costen, who hypothesized that changes in dental condition (loss of vertical dimension) can lead to symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Symptoms of temporomandibular disorders are more common in women, with a female-to-male ratio ranging from 2:1 to 8:1. Temporomandibular disorders occur in 25-38% of the general population. The reason for conducting this study is that no research has been conducted in Mongolia on the relationship between malocclusion and TMJ. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between malocclusion and temporomandibular disorders. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a case-control design, and patients requiring orthodontic treat ment who visited the Orthodontics Department of the Center Hospital of the Dentistry, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences were included in the case group, while relatively healthy individuals with normal occlusion who had not undergone orthodontic treatment were included in the control group. The sample size for each case and control group was calculated to be 20 people, for a total of 40 people aged 20-30. The need for orthodontic treatment was determined by the IOTN index (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need). Relatively healthy occlusion was defined according to Andrew’s six keys. The condition of the temporomandibular joint was determined using a questionnaire and physical examination. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 24.4±3.7 years in the malocclusion group and 26.0±3.6 years in the control group, 45% (n=8) of the malocclusion group were male and 40% (n=9) of the control group were male. The indicators of malocclusion, such as increased overjet, decreased overjet, increased overbite and mouth breathing were statistically significantly different between the malocclusion group and the control group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that CII (OR=11.66, p=0.007) and CIII (OR=16.33, p=0.017) occlusion, increased overbite (OR=6.87, p=0.025) and mouth breathing (OR=4.22, p=0.042) had an impact on the occurrence of TMJ noise in both vertical and horizontal directions. Conclusions 1. Among the study participants, Angle’s Class I accounted for 50% (the highest percentage), while Angle’s Class III accounted for 20% (the lowest percentage). But Angle’s Class II accounted for 30%. 2. Symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder were statistically significantly higher in the case group (p<0.05). 3. People with Angle’s Class II and Class III were 11-16 times more likely to develop temporomandibular joint (TMJ) noise, a symptom of TMD, compared to people with normal occlusion.

Background: In recent years, the incidence of liver diseases due to complications of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has shown a significant upward trend in Southeast Asian countries. NAFLD is a hepatic disorder characterized by lipid accumulation in the microstructure of the liver in individuals who consume little to no alcohol. It is often associated with insulin resistance and is diagnosed when steatosis affects more than 5% of hepatocytes histologically, or when the fat signal intensity on MRI exceeds 5.6%, based on fat-to-water ratio measurements. In Mongolia, histological studies using frozen liver sections with routine and special staining techniques are limited, highlighting the necessity of this study. Aim: To determine and compare the degree of steatosis and fibrosis in frozen liver tissue samples of patients with NAFLD through histological analysis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the the Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedicine and Bio medical Research Institute of MNUMS in collaboration with the Second State Central Hospital. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of MNUMS (Protocol No. 2024/3-06). All procedures adhered strictly to laboratory biosafety protocols. Participants were selected among patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, from whom informed consent was obtained. Based on inclusion criteria, five participants were grouped as follows: healthy control (n=1), NAFLD without fibrosis (n=2), and NAFLD with fibrosis (n=2). Liver biopsies (approx. 1 cm in size) were obtained intraoperatively, immediately deep-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and prepared for histological evaluation. Results: In patients with NAFLD compared to the healthy liver group, disruption of hepatocyte columnar architecture and mild periportal lymphocytic infiltration were observed. Oil Red O staining revealed 34–66% micro- and macrovesicular steatosis, corresponding to grade 2 steatosis. Masson’s trichrome staining showed no fibrotic changes in perivenular or periportal areas (Ishak grade 0/4) at this stage. However, upon progression to grade 3 steatosis, early-stage fibrosis was observed in both perivenular and periportal regions (Ishak grade 1/4). Further progression to stage 4 fibrosis was characterized by the development of connective tissue septa, although no significant changes in droplet size were observed. Conclusions 1. Increasing stages of fibrosis are not directly influenced by the severity of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD. 2. Although the degree of steatosis increases, the absence of corresponding fibrotic changes in early stages indicates a complex progression pattern of NAFLD requiring further investigation.