Background: A 2018 study on the global burden of disease, accidents, and risk factors reported that 1.6 million peo ple died in 2017 due to household air pollution. Poor indoor air quality has been highlighted as a contributing factor to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and exacerbation of asthma and allergies. A 2019 study estimated that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less reduces average life expectancy by 1.8 years, with more severe effects in highly polluted regions. Additionally, a study by Miller et al. (2007) found that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly among women. Direct measurement devices are highly effective in determining indoor PM2.5 concentrations, identifying sources of pollution, tracking pollutant dispersion, and monitoring temporal variations. Studies suggest that direct measurement is an accurate, cost-effective method that provides detailed data suitable for local conditions. Aim: To investigate the indoor air quality of houses and apartments in Darkhan city during the winter season using the Purple Air monitoring device. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a targeted sample of 128 households in Darkhan city. The study examined factors such as stove type, type of coal used, annual and daily coal consumption, frequency of heating, and chimney sealing conditions. To collect data, the Purple Air monitoring device was installed in each house hold for a month, after which it was retrieved. During retrieval, participants completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 55 questions across 7 pages at the time of device installation and 25 questions across 3 pages at the time of device retrieval. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results: A total of 128 households in Darkhan city participated in the study. The average duration of residence in the current home was 9.5 years, with no statistically significant variation. The distribution of housing types was as follows: traditional Mongolian gers (40.6%), houses (39.1%), and apartments (20.3%). The 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration was highest in gers (70.9 μg/m³), followed by houses (46.8 μg/m³) and apartments (22.8 μg/m³), with a statistically significant difference (p=0.0001). PM2.5 levels were most variable in gers, followed by houses and then apartments. House holds using central heating (apartments) had an average 24-hour PM2.5 concentration of 22.8 μg/m³, whereas households using stoves (gers and houses) had a significantly higher concentration of 59.4 μg/m³ (p=0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between traditional and improved stoves. Among study participants, 21.4% reported that someone in their household smoked indoors. Additionally, 86.5% regularly burned incense, candles, or herbs, while 99.2% did not use an air purifier. Conclusion The indoor particulate matter concentration in houses and gers in Darkhan was 59.4μг/m3. Variations in stove types, poor chimney sealing limited space, and frequent gaps and cracks contribute to increased spread of indoor air pollutants.

Background: The prevalence of neck pain among adults worldwide is 4.9-22.3%. It occurs in 34.7% of office workers in industrialized countries. Aim: To study the effect of massage therapy of Mongolian medicine on neck pain Materials and Methods: In this study, a parallel clinical trial design was used, and 50 patients with neck pain were divided into two groups: the treatment group received massage therapy of Mongolian medicine and the control group received exercise therapy, and the treatment results were compared. VAS assessment, NDI, Digital Algometer, and European Quality of Life Questionnaire were used in the study. Results: 52 % of the study participants were male, while 48 % were female, and their mean age was 43.3±21.3. The VAS score for pain assessment was 5.44±0.96 in the treatment group and 5.44±0.96 in the comparison group before treatment, but after the treatment it decreased to 0.80±0.71 in the treatment group and 1.44±0.77 in the comparison group, respectively, which showed a statistically significant difference. Massage therapy of Mongolian medicine has a greater pain-relieving effect than exercise therapy in the treatment of neck pain (p<0.01). The pressure pain threshold was 934±154.60 in the treatment group and 934±154.60 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment, it increased to 1536±22.91 in the treatment group and 1392±83.77 in the comparison group, which was statistically significant (p<0.01). The neck disability index of patients with neck pain was 11.44±2.87 in the treatment group and 11.56±2.55 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment it decreased to 0.84±0.69 in the treatment group and 1.40±0.87 in the comparison group. Although exercise therapy has the effect of reducing the neck disability index, when comparing the treatment results of the two groups, massage therapy of Mongolian medicine had greater effect (p<0.05). European Quality of Life Questionnaire was 8.64±2.25 in the treatment group and 8.16±1.60 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment it was 5.28±0.54 in the treatment group and 7.44±1.23 in the comparison group. Massage therapy of Mongolian medicine has a greater effect on improving the quality of life of people with neck pain compared to exercise therapy (p<0.01). The neck forward bending was 36.60±2.45 in the treatment group and 37.24±2.35 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment, it increased to 42.32±2.14 in the treatment group and 39.32±2.14 in the comparison group, which was statistically significant (p0.01).The neck abduction was 36.20±1.89 in the treatment group and 36.56±2.24 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment, it increased to 42.80±2.06 in the treatment group and 39.76±1.88 in the comparison group, which was statistically significant (p=0.01).The neck left rotation was 60.84±3.77 in the treatment group and 61.56±4.31 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment, it increased to 75.08±3.55 in the treatment group and 67.20±4.29 in the comparison group, which was statistically significant (p0.01). The neck right rotation was 61.80±4.39 in the treatment group and 62.00±4.42 in the comparison group before treatment, but after treatment, it increased to 76.52±2.95 in the treatment group and 68.04±4.46 in the comparison group, which was statistically significant (p0.01).When comparing the treatment results of the two groups, Mongolian medical bariatric surgery was more effective (p<0.01). Conclusions 1. Massage therapy of Mongolian medicine reduces disability index in people with neck pain (p<0.05). 2. Massage therapy of Mongolian medicine has a significant effect on reducing pain and pressure pain threshold in people with neck pain (p<0.01). 3. Massage therapy of Mongolian medicine has the effect of improving the quality of life of people with neck pain (p<0.01).

Xerostomia (dry mouth) is frequently experienced by patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancers or with Sjögren's syndrome, with no permanent cure existing for this debilitating condition. To this end, in vitro platforms are needed to test therapies directed at salivary (fluid-secreting) cells. However, since these are highly differentiated secretory cells, the maintenance of their differentiated state while expanding in numbers is challenging. In this study, the efficiency of three reversible thermo-ionically crosslinked gels: (1) alginate-gelatin (AG), (2) collagen-containing AG (AGC), and (3) hyaluronic acid-containing AG (AGHA), to recapitulate a native-like environment for human salivary gland (SG) cell expansion and 3D spheroid formation was compared. Although all gels were of mechanical properties comparable to human SG tissue (~11 kPa) and promoted the formation of 3D spheroids, AGHA gels produced larger (>100 cells/spheroid), viable (>93%), proliferative, and well-organized 3D SG spheroids while spatially and temporally maintaining the high expression of key SG proteins (aquaporin-5, NKCC1, ZO-1, α-amylase) for 14 days in culture. Moreover, the spheroids responded to agonist-induced stimulation by increasing α-amylase secretory granules. Here, we propose alternative low-cost, reproducible, and reversible AG-based 3D hydrogels that allow the facile and rapid retrieval of intact, highly viable 3D-SG spheroids.
Humans ; Hydrogels/chemistry* ; Acinar Cells/cytology* ; Spheroids, Cellular/cytology* ; Salivary Glands/cytology* ; Gelatin/chemistry* ; Collagen/chemistry* ; Alginates/chemistry* ; Cell Culture Techniques/methods* ; Hyaluronic Acid/chemistry* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured

The central nervous system regulates feeding, weight and glucose homeostasis in rodents and humans, but the site-specific mechanisms remain unclear. The dorsal vagal complex in the brainstem that contains the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and area postrema (AP) emerges as a regulatory center that impacts energy and glucose balance by monitoring hormonal and nutrient changes. However, the specific mechanistic metabolic roles of the NTS and AP remain elusive. This mini-review highlights methods to study their distinct roles and recent findings on their metabolic differences and similarities of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) action and glucose sensing in the NTS and AP. In summary, future research aims to characterize hormonal and glucose sensing mechanisms in the AP and/or NTS carries potential to unveil novel targets that lower weight and glucose levels in obesity and diabetes.

The final analysis of the phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen (TITAN) trial showed improvement in overall survival (OS) and other efficacy endpoints with apalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus ADT alone in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). As ethnicity and regional differences may affect treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer, a post hoc final analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of apalutamide in the Asian subpopulation. Event-driven endpoints were OS, and time from randomization to initiation of castration resistance, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, and second progression-free survival (PFS2) on first subsequent therapy or death. Efficacy endpoints were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards models without formal statistical testing and adjustment for multiplicity. Participating Asian patients received once-daily apalutamide 240 mg ( n = 111) or placebo ( n = 110) plus ADT. After a median follow-up of 42.5 months and despite crossover of 47 placebo recipients to open-label apalutamide, apalutamide reduced the risk of death by 32% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-1.13), risk of castration resistance by 69% (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.21-0.46), PSA progression by 79% (HR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.13-0.35) and PFS2 by 24% (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.44-1.29) relative to placebo. The outcomes were comparable between subgroups with low- and high-volume disease at baseline. No new safety issues were identified. Apalutamide provides valuable clinical benefits to Asian patients with mCSPC, with an efficacy and safety profile consistent with that in the overall patient population.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Castration ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy*

Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; Consensus ; Cardiovascular System ; Cardiology ; Asia