Mitochondrial bioenergetics plays a fundamental role in neuronal development and function. Prenatal exposure to corticosterone in rats (Corti.Pup) has previously been shown to cause delayed neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity deficits, showing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - like behaviors. However, the underlying mitochondrial metabolic adaptations remain unclear. This study investigated mitochondrial function and metabolic remodeling in prefrontal cortex neurons of Corti.Pups, focusing on oxidative phosphorylation, calcium handling, and redox balance. We assessed neuronal viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) through experiments conducted in both neuron-glia co-culture and neuron-only conditions. Furthermore, we evaluated electron transport chain (ETC) activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in purified isolated mitochondria. In results, Corti.Pup neurons exhibited increased vulnerability to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the absence of glial support. Despite reduced ROS production, these neurons showed elevated mitochondrial OCR and proton leak, coupled with decreased non-mitochondrial OCR and ETC complex activity. Surprisingly, MMP remained elevated despite ETC dysfunction, and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was suppressed. These features indicate mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming, prioritizing MMP maintenance over ATP synthesis. The observed mitochondrial inefficiency and compensatory adaptations may impair energy production, contributing to delayed neuronal development in Corti.Pups. These findings suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic remodeling play central roles in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD.

Background: Among the estimated 20% to 40% of stroke survivors who develop spasticity, the burden of this condition on patients, caregivers, and society is substantial. Aim: To determine the level of activities of daily living (ADL) among patients with paralysis. Materials and Methods: In this study conducted descriptive research design. We collected data from 138 post stroke patients, between January and April 2024. The activities of daily living (ADL) assessed by Barthel index Scale. Research approval was obtained from the research ethics committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (approval no. 03/2023) This research using purposive sampling from three in public tertiary care hospitals in Mongolia. Sample size calculated using 3G power analysis and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. p<0.05 considered as a significant level. Result: Most of the participants were female (46.4 %) and male (53.6 %) mean age with an average of (50.914.3) As results, the mean of the Barthel index was (37.02±22.43). Assessment of activities of daily living using the Barthel Index revealed that 76 patients (55.1%) had impaired ADL performance. Conclusion The findings indicate that patients with paralysis have limited self-care ability and require caregiver assistance to perform activities of daily living

Background: Copper is a mineral that is involved in many functions og the human body and copper has antibacterial reaction. However many scientists have studied the antibacterial activity of nano copper, in our country, the lack of research is the basis of our research. Aim: Determination of antibacterial activity of colloidal copper (CuNP) Materials and Methods: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences on February 18, 2022 (Protocol No. 2022/3-02). An ionized copper solution was produced by passing an electric current (19–20 V, 3–5 A, for 24 h) through sterilized distilled water using copper plates. Ascorbic acid was then added to prepare colloidal copper. The concentration was determined using a PPM meter, and the solution was filtered through a 0.22 µm bacterial filter. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against standard bacterial strains were determined by the broth dilution method. To determine the bactericidal time, bacterial cultures were exposed to the bactericidal concentration and subcultured hourly for 10 hours. Additionally, antibacterial activity was evaluated on Mueller–Hinton agar using the disk diffusion method according to CLSI standards, where 20 µL of colloidal copper was applied onto antibiotic disks. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, and the diameter of the inhibition zones was measured. Result: The concentration of the prepared colloidal copper was 0.7 ppm. Using the broth dilution method, complete bactericidal activity was observed at 0.006 ppm against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was completely killed at 0.008 ppm. In terms of exposure time, complete bacterial killing occurred after 2 hours for S. enteritidis and K. pneumoniae, after 6 hours for E. coli, and after 11 hours for P. aeruginosa. In addition, antibacterial activity was evaluated on Mueller–Hinton agar using the disk diffusion method according to CLSI standards. Colloidal copper increased the inhibition zone diameter of most antibiotics by 1–5 mm, particularly against P. aeruginosa. In K. pneumoniae, the activity of aztreonam and ceftriaxone was enhanced. When evaluating the inhibition zone diameter of cefotaxime against E. coli, the susceptibility result changed from intermediate to susceptible, while no significant change was observed for the other antibiotics tested. For K. pneumoniae, the addition of colloidal copper increased the inhibition zone diameter of aztreonam and ceftriaxone by approximately 1–2 mm. In P. aeruginosa, the inhibition zone diameters of most antibiotics increased by 1–5 mm; however, the activity of imipenem decreased. For S. enteritidis, most antibiotics showed an increase in susceptibility of approximately 1–2 mm, while ceftriaxone showed no observable effect. Conclusion 1. Colloidal copper solution, at low concentrations, exhibits bactericidal activity against some Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria. 2. Colloidal copper solution shows a synergistic effect with certain drugs, enhancing their activity; however, it exhibits an inhibitory effect on the activity of imipenem.

Background: In the modern era, information technology has become an integral component of the healthcare sector, increasingly requiring healthcare providers to possess basic computer literacy and information technology skills to effectively manage and utilize care delivery technologies. With the rapid digitalization of health information systems across all levels of healthcare facilities, there has been a transition toward electronic platforms, where comprehensive patient data are entered into databases and managed through digital applications. Consequently, the delivery of nursing care through electronic systems and technologies has placed growing demands on nurses to develop strong informatics skills and competencies. Aim: To describe the informatics competency of nurses in Mongolia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was used for the study. Data were collected from 233 nurses who use information technology. Study setting was taken from three hospitals including National Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics (NCTO), National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), Ulaanbaatar Railway Hospital by using convenience sampling method. The self-assessment of Nursing Informatics Competency instrument for evaluating the informatics competence of nurses has 48 questions and is rated on a 1-4 Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were calculated using SPSS-25.0 Result: The quality of life among those with breast cancer was at a moderate level with the mean overall score of 58.8 (SD=13.08). The results of this study shown that the average age of subjects as (36±9.4) and 31.3% of participants were 20-29 years old. The majority of the subjects were 73.4% (n=171) use the computer several times a day, and 81.5% (n=190) use the computer more than 2 hours a day. 51.1% of nurses’ informatics skills are relatively good. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (β=–0.287, p=0.032) and computer use (β=–0.156, p=0.017) were significant predictors of total informatics competency among nurses. Increasing age was associated with a decrease in informatics competency scores. Other variables including gender, years of experience, education level, professional rank, and computer utilization were not statistically significant predictors. Conclusion The level of nurses’ informatics competency was determined to be 51.1%. Age and computer usage were identified as significant factors influencing nurses’ informatics competency.

Background: Academic burnout negatively affects academic performance. Excessive academic workload may lead students to disengagement from learning, reduced motivation, mental fatigue, and chronic stress. Aim: To examine academic burnout and its influencing factors among nursing students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students’ years 1–4 at the School of Nursing, MNUMS. From a total population of 671 students, 250 were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected between December 2024 and February 2025 using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale (MBI). Result: Participants ranged in age from 17 to 52 years; 242 (96.8%) were aged 22 years or younger, with a mean age of 20.01 years. The overall academic burnout score was 74, indicating a moderate level of burnout. Age, marital status, and employment status were not significantly associated with overall burnout. However, personal burnout (r=.95, p<.000), study-related burnout and peer-related burnout (r = .98, p<.000), and teacher-related burnout (r=.94, p<.000) showed that strong positive correlations and were statistically significant. Conclusion Personal factors, study-related factors, peer-related factors, and teacher-related factors contributing to burnout were each at a moderate level.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the leading causes of lower back pain and disability, significantly impacting public health and socio-economic well-being. International studies have shown that paraspinal muscle size and structure correlate with age, body mass index (BMI), and spinal disorders. However, comprehensive MRI-based research investigating the correlation between LDH and specific morphometric parameters in Mongolia remains limited. Aim: To evaluate lumbar disc herniation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare paraspinal muscle volume and subcutaneous fat thickness. Materials and Methods: An observational retrospective study design was conducted between June 2024 and June 2025 at Asraltmed and Orgil hospitals, enrolling 300 cases selected from 2,840 lumbar spine MRI scans based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic data (age, sex, BMI) were collected alongside MRI metrics. LDH type, size, location, and severity were evaluated using axial, sagittal, and coronal views across T1WI, T2WI, and STIR/T2FS sequences. Paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (Multifidus, Erector spinae, Psoas) was measured on axial T1WI and T2WI sequences, while subcutaneous fat thickness was measured on sagittal T2WI sequences. LDH parameters were evaluated in relation to paraspinal muscle measurements, subcutaneous fat thickness, and BMI. Disc degeneration was classified using the Pfirrmann grading system, and statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 25.0. Result: The mean age of participants was 45.6±12.3 years. Higher BMI (r=0.41) and increased subcutaneous fat thickness (r=0.46) showed a significant positive correlation with LDH severity (p<0.001). Conversely, paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was negatively correlated with LDH severity (r=0.49, p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, sex, BMI, subcutaneous fat thickness, and paraspinal muscle CSA were statistically significantly associated with LDH (p<0.01). Subgroup analysis by sex demonstrated similar correlations between paraspinal muscle size, subcutaneous fat thickness, and LDH severity in both male and female groups. Conclusion Lumbar disc herniation severity is associated with increased BMI and subcutaneous fat thickness, as well as decreased paraspinal muscle mass. Normalized muscle parameters reduce sex-related discrepancies and establish an effective MRI-based risk assessment approach.

Background: Respiratory and gastrointestinal infectious diseases are the leading causes of morbidity in children. Numerous international studies have demonstrated that handwashing with soap is one of the most effective and cost-efficient methods for preventing these diseases in children. A previous study conducted in Ulaanbaatar found that only 50.1% of general education school students practiced proper handwashing, which is considered insufficient even in areas with relatively adequate facilities. In Mongolia, 56.1% of the 865 schools lack handwashing facilities and soap, and 25% do not meet the WASH standards. Although knowledge about handwashing increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, sustained behavioral change remained limited, highlighting a gap between knowledge and practice and indicating the need for targeted educational interventions. Furthermore, there is limited research comparing the effectiveness of such interventions across different school environments and urban–rural settings, which provides the rationale for this study. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a handwashing educational intervention among primary school students and determine differences in knowledge change across four schools in urban and rural areas. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was used from December 2024 to June 2025. A total of 1,353 students from grades 3–5 in four general education schools (two in Ulaanbaatar and two in rural areas) were included in the study. Preand post-intervention handwashing knowledge scores were analyzed using paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA (α=0.05) with STATA 14.0. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Result: The mean handwashing knowledge score increased significantly from 9.68 (±2.64) before the intervention to 10.30 (±2.74) after the intervention, with a mean difference of +0.63 (p<0.001). The differences in improvement between schools were also statistically significant (ANOVA: F(3,1335)=5.90, p=0.0005). The highest improvement was observed in urban School A (+1.49), while the lowest was observed in School B (+0.16). Rural schools C and D showed moderate and relatively consistent improvements (+0.51 and +0.70, respectively). Conclusion School-based handwashing educational interventions effectively improve knowledge among primary school students. However, environmental factors, such as infrastructure and geographic location, significantly influence the effectiveness of the intervention. Therefore, educational interventions should be implemented alongside infrastructure improvements.

Background: Developing a standardized methodology and a reliable and valid assessment tool for assessing the professional competence of nurses in Mongolia is of great importance for nursing research and practice. Aim: To determine the psychometric properties of the Mongolian version of the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a methodological research design. The study included 550 nurses from 11 state hospitals and collected data between June and December 2024 using the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses Scale (CIRN) developed by Ming Liu et al. (2007). Result: The internal reliability of the questionnaire was Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (Cronbach’s α=0.98). Content validity indices (Content Validity Index CVI) were I-CVI ≥ 0.78, S-CVI/Ave=0.98, and S-CVI/UA=0.85, indicating good content validity. Varimax factor analysis revealed factor loadings ranging from 0.380 to 0.780. Conclusion 1. The Mongolian version of the Competency Inventory Registered Nurses demonstrated adequate internal reliability. 2. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed to be acceptable.

Background: Nursing theories help nurses understand the values and beliefs related to human health and support them in providing effective and compassionate care to patients. Nursing theorist Jean Watson defined the relationship between nurses, patients, and their families as an interpersonal interaction, referring to it as a “transpersonal caring relationship.” Currently, there is a lack of studies based on Jean Watson’s theory that examine how nurses’ attitudes and behaviors influence the quality of life of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, this topic was selected for the present study. Aim: To determine how nurse–patient interaction influences patients undergoing hemodialysis based on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed using a quantitative survey method. The study included 72 patients undergoing hemodialysis at Medvic Hospital. The Caring Nurse–Patient Interaction Scale (CNPI-70P), patient version, was used to assess attitudes and behaviors in nurse–patient interactions. This instrument was originally developed by Sylvie Cossette in 2005. Official permission to use the patient version of the questionnaire was obtained from the author on March 29, 2023. Data collection was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze subscales, independent sample t-tests were applied to compare group differences, and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine relationships among variables. Results: The mean age of the participants was 38.8±10.5 years, with a mean age of 39.3 years for males and 38.1 years for females. The overall evaluation of nurse–patient interaction in nursing care among patients undergoing hemodialysis was at a moderate level (3.78±0.82). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean ages of the two groups (t (70) =0.494, p=0.623). The reliability of the CNPI-70 questionnaire was very high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.988. Among the subscales, the highest score was observed for “meeting human needs” (M=4.16, SD=0.87), indicating that nurses most frequently supported patients in fulfilling their needs. High scores were also observed for “humanism” (M=4.02, SD=0.80) and “helping relationship” (M=4.00, SD=0.86). In contrast, the lowest score was found for “sensitivity” (M=3.39, SD=1.13), followed by “spirituality” (M=3.47, SD=0.99) and “problem-solving” (M=3.56, SD=1.07), indicating comparatively lower levels in these aspects. The mean scores of the remaining factors ranged from 3.72 to 3.95. Conclusion Nurse–patient interaction among patients undergoing hemodialysis was found to be at a moderate level (3.78±0.82). However, aspects related to understanding patients’ sensitivity, providing emotional support, and meeting spiritual or psychological needs were relatively lower.

Background: Transitioning HIV care toward a client-centered model is a key strategy for improving treatment outcomes and controlling the spread of HIV infection. Evaluating service accessibility, quality, and client satisfaction is essential for improving strategic planning and strengthening health service delivery. Aim: To assess the accessibility and quality of client-centered health services among people living with HIV. Materials and methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from 50 clients and 30 health managers who participated voluntarily. The reliability of the questionnaire, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, ranged from 0.673 to 0.783. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 with both descriptive and analytical statistical methods. Quantitative variables were summarized using means and standard deviations, and statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. Results: HIV-related services were found to be highly centralized at the NCCD, particularly for blood testing (96.8%) and inpatient care (71.4%). Overall, 84% of clients reported the need to access services outside NCCD, with the highest demand for internal medicine (32%), dental services (14%), and surgical services (14%). Among the barriers to accessing care, 75% were related to stigma and discrimination associated with HIV status, while 18% were linked to healthcare workers’ attitudes. In addition, 56.7% of healthcare facilities had not conducted HIV-related training, and only 40% had dedicated rooms ensuring confidentiality. Client satisfaction was strongly correlated with healthcare providers’ attitudes and communication (R = 0.614) and confidentiality (R = 0.578), both showing significant associations (p = 0.000). Conclusion HIV services remain highly centralized at NCCD, while the readiness of primary and referral healthcare facilities remains insufficient. Strengthening a client-centered care approach requires improving healthcare workers’ attitudes and communication, ensuring confidentiality, and implementing continuous HIV-related training for healthcare providers.