Background: Liver transplantation has become an effective treatment option worldwide for a wide range of malignant and non-malignant liver diseases. In Mongolia, the high prevalence of single and co-infections with viral hepatitis is a major contributing factor to the development of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. However, data on the indications, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of liver transplantation in the Mongolian population remain limited. Aim: To evaluate the indications and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing liver transplantation and to determine their survival outcomes. Materials and Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 238 patients who underwent liver transplantation at the National Cancer Center of Mongolia between 2018 and feb 2026. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the indication for transplantation: malignant and non-malignant liver diseases. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and differences in survival were assessed using the log-rank test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The mean age of the liver transplant recipients was 49.0 ± 8.4 years. Relatively older male patients were more likely to undergo liver transplantation for malignant liver diseases, whereas younger female patients predominated among those transplanted for non-malignant conditions (p=0.0001). No statistically significant difference in body mass index was observed between the groups (p>0.05). MELD and Child–Pugh (CPT) scores, reflecting the severity and prognosis of liver disease, differed significantly between the two groups. However, no statistically significant difference in survival was observed between the groups at 1-, 3-, or 5- years after liver transplantation (p=0.974). Conclusion Although age, sex, and liver disease severity as assessed by MELD and Child–Pugh scores differed significantly between patients undergoing liver transplantation for malignant and non-malignant indications, no statistically significant difference was observed in survival at 1-, 3-, or 5- years following liver transplantation.

Background: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disorder characterized by the accumulation of surfactant within the alveoli, leading to impaired gas exchange and respiratory insufficiency. Although the disease is uncommon, it significantly affects patients’ quality of life and requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Whole lung lavage (WLL) is considered the standard treatment; however, it has not been widely implemented in Mongolia. We report the first successful case of WLL performed for PAP in Mongolia. Case Presentation: A 56-year-old male presented with dyspnea. Chest computed tomography demonstrated a bilateral “crazy paving” pattern. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was positive for periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining, and anti–GM-CSF antibodies were detected, confirming the diagnosis of PAP. WLL was performed under general anesthesia using a double-lumen endotracheal tube with bronchoscopic guidance. One lung was ventilated with 100% oxygen while the contralateral lung was sequentially lavaged with 800–1000 mL of warm (37°C) saline per cycle until the effluent became clear. A total of approximately 20 liters of saline was used. Result: The procedure was completed successfully without complications. Following treatment, the patient showed marked clinical improvement with reduced dyspnea and increased exercise tolerance. Oxygen saturation improved from 88% to 93%, and spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV₁) demonstrated improvement. Chest imaging revealed a reduction in pulmonary opacities. Conclusion This case demonstrates the successful implementation of whole lung lavage (WLL) in Mongolia and highlights its importance in improving the diagnostic and therapeutic capacity for rare pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The procedure resulted in significant improvement in clinical, functional, and radiological parameters, consistent with findings from international studies. Early diagnosis of PAP and the adoption of standardized protocols in accordance with international guidelines are essential to optimize treatment outcomes and enhance patients’ quality of life.

Background: In December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly worldwide, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a pandemic in March 2020. COVID-19 is an infectious disease with symptoms similar to the flu, varying in severity from mild to critical. Post-COVID-19 syndrome refers to the persistence of certain symptoms after recovery from the acute infection. The most common symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, and headaches, negatively affect patients’ daily lives. Aim: To investigate the clinical manifestations of post-COVID-19 syndrome concerning the severity of the initial infection. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 at the Pulmonology and Allergy Center of the National Center for Health. In this study, we included participants who came for follow-up one year after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 was categorized according to Living guidance for clinical management of COVID-19 issued by WHO and the COVID-19 diagnostic and treatment guidelines approved by the Minister of Health (A/549). Post-COVID-19 conditions were assessed using the 6-minute walk test, Borg rating of perceived exertion, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests used on SPSS 26.0, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Science (2022/03-06). Results: A total of 185 participants were included, comprising 74 men (40%) and 111 women (60%), with a mean age of 57.15±11.29 years. Among them, 90 (48.6%) had severe COVID-19, while 95 (51.4%) had non-severe cases. Clinical symptoms, including cough, dyspnea, fatigue, headache, and myalgia, were statistically different between the non-severe and severe groups. The median FSS score was 45 in the severe group and 38 in the non-severe group, showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The median of 6-minute walking distance was 265 meters in the severe group and 282 meters in the non-severe group (p<0.05). The median Borg score was 2 in the severe group compared to 1 in the non-severe group (p<0.05). Conclusion Individuals who experienced severe COVID-19 exhibited reduced exercise tolerance, increased breathlessness, and more pronounced fatigue than those with non-severe cases.

Background: Systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a major cause of mortality among patients with systemic sclerosis. During this disease, when the forced vital capacity (FVC) is <50% on spirometry, the prognosis is considered poor. Although early changes in systemic sclerosis-related ILD can be identified by chest computed tomography (CT), evaluating the spirometry test is essential for monitoring further follow-up and assessing treatment outcomes. This study aimed to highlight the importance of considering the role of the spirometry test among patients with systemic sclerosis. Materials and Methods: We conducted this study using a cross-sectional research design based at a single-center hospital. The study included 40 patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis who were attending the rheumatology outpatient clinic at the Mongolia-Japan Hospital. The inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis who had undergone chest imaging (chest x-ray, chest CT scan) and spirometry tests. Results: In our study, in 62.5% of patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis, a chest CT scan revealed abnormalities indicative of SSc-ILD. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in certain parameters of spirometry between the two groups (normal chest CT, abnormal chest CT). The group with abnormal chest CT had a higher usage of mycophenolate mofetil (p<0.05). A negative correlation was found between changes on chest CT scan and FVC (r= -.453, p<0.05). However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between FVC and disease duration or comorbidities. Conclusion Using spirometry to assess pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease may be an appropriate method for evaluating the progression of the disease and detecting complications.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer originating from liver cells, classified as a chronic liver disease. This cancer ranks third in the world in terms of mortality rate. The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) and Child-Pugh scoring systems are utilized to assess the prognosis of chronic liver diseases. Based on studies suggesting that certain blood test indicators, particularly red cell distribution width (RDW), could be used to predict the prognosis of liver cancer and other cancers, as well as serve as diagnostic markers, this topic was chosen to evaluate the clinical significance of RDW in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim: The aim is to study some blood test indicators and compare them with the MELD score and Child-Pugh score systems in order to determine the prognosis of chronic liver diseases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at Mongolia-Japan Hospital. Among 322 patients diagnosed with HCC, 24 patients were selected for the case group, and 37 patients with liver cirrhosis were included in the control group. Results: According to the research criteria, 61 patients were selected and divided into 3 groups, and statistical analysis was performed. In the detailed blood test, platelet count and WBC count showed statistically significant differences among the 3 groups (p< 0.024). In the biochemical tests, C-reactive protein (CRP) was p< 0.018, total bilirubin p< 0.001, and the mean albumin level p< 0.015, all showing statistically significant differences among the 3 groups. A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between RDW-CV and the clinical MELD score (r=-0.356). Conclusion Platelet count, RDW, CRP, total bilirubin, and average albumin levels are significantly different across the studied groups. RDW-CV shows a moderate inverse correlation with MELD scores, suggesting its potential as a prognostic marker in chronic liver diseases. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these findings.