Outcomes of the retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment in Mongolia Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease characterized by abnormal retinal vasculature that can have devastating visual consequences. Despite evidence that early detection and treatment can prevent blindness, ROP remains a leading cause of pediatric blindness worldwide. We aimed at investigating the outcomes of ROP screening, intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and laser surgery in the treatment ROP and describe an evidence-based and specific process for identifying birth weight and gestational age screening guidelines in Mongolia utilizing telemedicine. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective of prematurity infants screened ROP from 2012 September to July 2020 and prospective cohort study of premature infants with treatment-requiring ROP who received intravitreal injections, laser surgery and combined therapy from 2015 December 01 to January 31, 2017. Demographic factors, diagnosis and clinical course were recorded in a de-identified manner using REDCap, a secure, web-based platform to collect image and demographic data. The IRB approved the study protocol not requiring parental consent due to the de-identified nature of the data which was used for program monitoring purposes. Indirect ophthalmoscopy and Retinal imaging was performed using RetCam (Natus Medical, Pleasanton, CA) and images were uploaded to the web-based platform which could be accessed by the Mongolian ophthalmologist for reference. Each eye was evaluated by the local Mongolian ophthalmologist for the presence or absence of ROP, zone of vascularization, stage, plus disease, and aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP). The diagnosis and classification of ROP for this current study were determined by examination using indirect ophthalmoscopy, and treatment plans were determined according to the International Classification for ROP and the Early Treatment for ROP Study (ET-ROP).2,13 Regression analysis to determine association between BW and GA and the development of ROP. Results: A total of 9126 premature infants with BW ≤ 2500 g and/or GA ≤ 36 weeks were screened for ROP during the study period. 327 (3.5%) of the 9126 infants screened required treatment. The193 infants who received ROP screening had a mean GA of 30.09 ± 1.7 weeks, and mean BW of 1500.3 ± 125.42g. The BW of infants in this study ranged from 750g to 2000g, and the GA at birth ranged from 25 to 35 weeks. The BW of infants in this study ranged from 750g to 2000g, and the GA at birth ranged from 25 to 35 weeks. There were 96 boys (49.7%) and 97 girls (50.3%). Among infants receiving treatment, the highest BW was 2000g (born at 31 weeks GA), and the oldest was 34 weeks (with a BW of 1300g). The distribution of birth weight and gestational age in Mongolia was similar to other low-middle income countries, with higher birth weight and older gestational age. As birth weight and gestational age decreased, relative risk of developing ROP increased. Conclusions: After treatment, resolution of ROP was noted in approximately 90 % of the patients who had treatment-requiring ROP. 10 % of patients treated with IVB, IVR, Laser surgery and combined therapy however, did not respond and progressed to retinal detachment. This prospective study provides information about the development of ROP in preterm infants in the capital city of Mongolia. The distributions of BW and GA among infants developing ROP in Mongolia differ from those found in higher-income countries, and are comparable to other low and middle-income countries. We used a secure, web-based data collection and retrieval system that could be extended to multiple countries, which is now equipped with a telemedicine platform enabling remote grading of fundus images.

BackgroundClimate change, as defined by the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, is a “Change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is observed over time”. In 2001 an Initial Communication on Climate Change was prepared by the Government as part of its obligations under the UNFCCC. One of its recommendations was for “creating public awareness among a wide range of stakeholders including public, private and community sector organizations”. GoalThe main goal of the study was to develop recommendations and measures on prevention from diseases and adaptation to climate change by assessing knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of population towards climate change. Based on the main goal the following objectives were setup. Therefore addressing the different levels of knowledge and types of attitudes and practices people have towards climate change must initially be dealt with at the local level where site specific variations can be accounted for. Once research has been undertaken at the local level it can later inform decisions and policy at the regional, continental and global levels on how to incorporate site specific variations with in the greater context of the global threat.Objectives:1. To determine knowledge and attitude of population towards climate change;2. To determine practice of population on some adverse consequences of climate change;3. To develop recommendations and measures on prevention from and adaptation to climate change;Materials and MethodsThe study was at once carried out by means of questionnaire. In order to assess KAP of population, the data was collected using a card with 38 questions in three chapters which previously produced and ratified. The questionnaire was structured into 4 sections; demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practices. Two sums in an aimag from each climate zone of Mongolia were selected. In total, 2258 respondents aged 15 to 64 were involved from eight sums in four aimags (Zavkhan, Selenge, Dornod and Umnugovi), and two districts in Ulaanbaatar. The study data was input to computer using EPIDATA-3.6 software and statistically analyzed using SPSS-18.0 software.ResultsA total of 2258 individuals were interviewed. 44.1% 44.1% (995) of the participants was residents of Ulaanbaatar city and remained percentages accounted for residents living in the center of aimags and soums. 56.7% (1281) of participants were women and 43.3% (977) were men aged with 35.2±15.1 in average. Most of the study participants had educated with medium level (34.8%) and high level (30.0%). Employment percentage is 47.5% (1073). However, most respondents interpreted the meaning of climate change as “a change in weather,” “a change in normal climate conditions,” or “a change in temperature” – answers that requires more common sense than climate change savvy. Global warming is one of the evident of climate change. To know study participants awareness about climate change we used terminology of global warming. 25.3% (571) of the total participants answered that climate change revealed by the overheating or warming earth surface. 42.4% of the respondents answered the climate change could affect to health, 33.2% to environment and 16.3% to economy. 84.5% (1908) of the study participants agreed with that climate change has been started. Most of them (71.3%, 1824) allowed that people’s improper use of nature tend to global warming. When ranging the protection practices during the strong storm means of timbering the houses or gers accounted for 42.5% (960). Study participants supported the following activities; 41.2% (931) agreed that is it necessary to increase health services and 34.1% (769) suggested that it is better to enhance training and propagation for increasing awareness of population about climate change adaptation procedures and some information on climate changes and protection events. 85.2% (1923) of the study participants answered that they want to get the information on climate change from public TV.ConclusionsAlthough knowledge on global warming as the climate change was poor among the respondents, they agreed the climate change has already been started worldwide as well as in Mongolia. Only half of the respondents have had practice to prevent themselves from natural disaster.

This survey had conducted for determining respiratory system disease and mortality trend of Ulaanbaatar city population and for developing evidence based recommendations. In accordance with the methodology we had done meta-analysis and statistical analysis on data 2004-2008. For the data analysis we used SPSS and parametric and non-parametric tests were used for determining disease changes and differences of seasonal, age and gender. In recent 5 years, in Ulaanbaatar, respiratory system disease cases are continuously leading 5 leading causes of disease. In 2008, respiratory system disease cases were 865.0 per 10000 populations and it is compare to 2004 increased by 10-30 percent. Children and women are more tend to attend to hospitals due to diseases cases. The survey also revealed that incidence of pneumonia (116.7-145.8 per 10000 populations) was the most visited case from other ICD10 causes of diseases.The mean age of mortality of respiratory system disease was 36.6±31.8 and the oldest age was 101 and the youngest was under 1 year old during 2004-2008 in Ulaanbaatar. During spring season, acute respiratory system disease, chronic bronchitis pneumonia and others respiratory system disease cases were more admitted from the respiratory system disease. Whereas, during autumn season, emphysema, during winter season bronchitis were the leading causes of respiratory system disease admission (x2=33.779, p=0.013).CONCLUSION: The statistics, 2004-2008 in Ulaanbaatar, were showing respiratory system disease trend constantly and continuously increasing. Age, gender and seasonal characteristics were signifi cantly correlated with the respiratory system disease. During these 5 years, 932 deaths were recorded and mean age of dying was 36.6±31.8.