Background: According to the WHO, 1.28 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension, with the majority living in developing countries. In Mongolia, the prevalence of hypertension remains high, and the STEPS-2019 survey found the disease is common even among younger age groups. Manual/Automated blood pressure measurement methods require specific conditions and carry risks of measurement error. In recent years, the availability of AI-based mobile applications to measure blood pressure and vital signs has increased; however, there is a lack of research in Mongolia evaluating their accuracy in accordance with the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060-2:2022 standard, highlighting the necessity for this study. Aim: To compare the results of blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation SpO₂ determined by an AI-based application with the results of traditional clinical device measurements. Materials and Methods: We included 120 participants who consented to the study. Measurements were taken 3 times each using both the clinical device and the AI-based application, collecting a total of 360 measurement values. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Paired t-Test, Bland-Altman plots, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Result: The mean difference between the clinical device and the AI-based smartphone measurements was -2.05 mmHg (p<0.001) for systolic pressure, -2.36 mmHg (p<0.001) for diastolic pressure, -0.30 bpm (p=0.088) for heart rate, and 0.32% (p<0.05) for SpO₂. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were r=0.772 (p<0.001) for systolic pressure, r=0.892 (p<0.001) for diastolic pressure, r=0.978 (p<0.001) for heart rate, and r=0.391 (p<0.001) for SpO₂. Conclusion While AI-based application measurements are capable of determining blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation, they are not accurate enough for use in clinical practice.

Background: Numerous international studies have established that the antibacterial activity of honey is attributed to its key components, including hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, peptides, polyphenolic compounds, high sugar content, and acidic pH. Despite the vast consumption of different types of honey in Mongolia, there is a lack of sufficient scientific evidence on their antibacterial properties, which served as the rationale for conducting this study. Aim: A study comparing the antibacterial activity of honey commonly traded in Mongolia. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using an experimental research design. Eight standard pathogenic bacterial strains were utilized: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 1706, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 700699, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984, Salmonella enterica ATCC 13076, and Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606. A total of 14 honey samples were selected for the study, comprising 11 samples sourced from the Uvs, Tuv, Sukhbaatar, Khentii, Dornod, Darkhan, Selenge, and Khuvsgul provinces of Mongolia, and 3 Manuka-type honey samples from Australia. The samples were serially diluted in broth using a 96-well U-bottom microtiter plate. One microliter of each bacterial suspension was added, and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 18–24 hours. Subsequently, the cultures were spread onto Mueller-Hinton agar and incubated under the same conditions. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by evaluating bacterial growth inhibition and bactericidal activity, respectively. Result: Among the tested samples, the Manuka honey with MGO 570 and the honey collected from Tumentsogt soum in Sukhbaatar province exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity against MRSA, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5% (v/v) and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25% (v/v). In contrast, the antibacterial activity of Manuka honey with UMF 5 and the honeys sourced from Tuv, Uvs, and Khalkhgol soum in Dornod province demonstrated MIC and MBC values of 25% (v/v) and 50% (v/v), respectively. The Manuka honey with MGO 30, as well as the honeys collected from Selenge, Darkhan, Sukhbaatar, Khentii, and Rashaant and Tarialan soums in Khuvsgul province, showed comparatively weaker activity against MRSA, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion 1. The antibacterial activity of natural and cultivated floral honeys was assessed by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against eight standard bacterial strains. 2. All seven natural floral honey samples exhibited measurable antibacterial effects against the tested strains, whereas some of the cultivated floral honey samples showed no observable activity against certain bacterial strains.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a highly prevalent pathogen infecting more than half of the global population, with considerable geographic variation in its genetic characteristics and antibiotic resistance patterns. The EPIYA motifs of the CagA protein play a critical role in bacterial virulence; however, data on the association between CagA genotypes and antibiotic resistance remain limited in Mongolia. Aim: To determine the antibiotic resistance, CagA EPIYA patterns, and clarithromycin resistance-associated mutations of H. pylori strains in Mongolia, and to evaluate the agreement between phenotypic and molecular diagnostic methods. Materials and Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens were collected from 210 patients undergoing endoscopy and cultured for H. pylori. Antibiotic susceptibility to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and tetracycline was determined using the E-Test method according to EUCAST guidelines. CagA EPIYA patterns were analyzed, and clarithromycin resistance-associated mutations (A2142C, A2142G, A2143G) were detected using real-time PCR. Result: H. pylori was successfully cultured in 86 of 210 samples (41%), and 61 isolates were included in the final analysis. CagA-positive strains accounted for 86.9%, with a predominance of Western-type CagA (52/53), while only one East Asian-type strain was identified. Among Western-type strains, the ABC (58.5%) and ABCC (37.7%) patterns were most common. The highest resistance rate was observed for metronidazole (70.5%), followed by levofloxacin (50.9%). Clarithromycin and amoxicillin resistance were both 19.7%, whereas no resistance to tetracycline was detected. Multidrug resistance (≥2 antibiotics) was observed in 45.9% of isolates, and 14.8% showed resistance to ≥3 antibiotics. Clarithromycin resistance-associated mutations were detected in 21.3% of isolates, predominantly A2143G. The agreement between E-test and real-time PCR methods was excellent (κ=0.95, p<0.001). Conclusion H. pylori strains in Mongolia are characterized by a predominance of Western-type CagA, with ABC and ABCC as the most common subtypes. Notably, the AAABC and AAAAB subtypes were identified for the first time. High levels of antibiotic resistance, particularly to metronidazole and levofloxacin, as well as a substantial prevalence of multidrug resistance, highlight the need for region-specific treatment strategies. In Mongolia, H. pylori demonstrated the highest resistance to metronidazole, accompanied by a high proportion of multidrug-resistant isolates.