Introduction: Improper disposal of unused and expired medicines poses severe threats to environmental safety and public health, notably accelerating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Globally, pharmaceutical consumption rose by 14% between 2019 and 2023. Despite this surge, Mongolia continuously lacks an established national pharmaceutical take-back framework, and public behaviors regarding residential medical waste management remain insufficiently evaluated. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adult residents in Ulaanbaatar concerning medication disposal. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2026 among 301 adult citizens across nine districts of Ulaanbaatar. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire evaluating demographic parameters, knowledge (10 items), attitudes (10 items), and practices (8 items). Statistical analysis was executed using IBM SPSS v26.0, applying descriptive frequencies, percentages, and one-way ANOVA. Conclusion The findings reveal a prominent knowledge-behavior gap among citizens. While the mean knowledge score was moderate (62.4%), with 92.2% recognizing the dangers of expired drugs, practical behaviors were profoundly unsafe. Specifically, 86.4% of participants discarded medication alongside ordinary household waste, 94.0% had never returned products to pharmacies, and 0% had utilized a designated medical disposal point. Conversely, an overwhelmingly positive public attitude was observed, as 88.4% expressed willingness to return unused medicines if a formal pharmacy-based collection system existed. This critical disparity underscores that public awareness campaigns alone are inadequate. There is an urgent necessity to integrate pharmacy-led take-back programs into national environmental and health policies, establish accessible urban disposal infrastructure, and enforce rigorous pharmaceutical waste standards in Mongolia.

Background: Dental caries is a worldwide spreader infectious decease. According to the present studies, the prevalence of the disease is highly dependent on the developmental of the country and its prevention strategies. By the World Dental Federation and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, dental caries prevalence is increasing every year in Mongolia, which is becoming one of the main problems in our country. According to studies, the most effective method of decreasing prevalence of caries is to have an oral health knowledge, provide caries treatment on early-stage and focusing more on prevention. Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the oral health status among the groups aged between 5, 12, 35-44, 65-74. Materials and Methods: The study has consisted 3512 subjects who selected from 4 age groups (5, 12, 35-44, 65-74) and from 6 districts of Ulaanbaatar city and 5 provinces of Mongolia. The oral examination of each person was done by calibrated dentists according to recommendation of WHO, 2013. The statistical analysis was processed using statistical software system (Stata version 16.0). Result: The prevalence of dental caries and mean of Decayed, Missed, Filled, permanent teeth (DMFt), decayed filled primary teeth were 87.6%, 6.2±0.14 among 5 years old, 77.0%, 2.2±0.03 among 12 years old, 98.1%, 11.8±0.19 among 35-44 years old, 99.8%, 23.6±0.27 among 65-74 years old. The good oral hygiene index was 51.5%, 46.3%, 49.0% and 65.7%. The prevalence of gingivitis was 2.3%, 9.8%, 34.5%, 17.6% and of calculus 0.8%, 7.6%, 62.8%, 31.6%, respectively above groups. The percent of people with removable dentures among 65-74 years old was higher than among 35-44 years old. Conclusion Across multiple age groups, the prevalence and severity of dental caries remain high. Oral hygiene status is predominantly classified as fair to poor. Among adults, partial or complete tooth loss is common; however, the utilization of dental prostheses is low, indicating inadequate prosthetic rehabilitation and limited adaptation to tooth replacement.

Background: Functional constipation is a common condition in early childhood, with an estimated global prevalence of approximately 3%. In Mongolia, functional constipation has been increasingly diagnosed among young children, particularly those aged 2–6 years. The condition is associated with abdominal pain, bloating, painful defecation, stool retention behaviors, and long-term physical and psychological complications. Although pediatric Tuina massage is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a non-pharmacological intervention, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains limited in the local context. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage on stool frequency and stool consistency in children with functional constipation. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted between May and December 2025 at the “Bomborduk” Pediatric Traditional Medicine Center. Sixty children diagnosed with functional constipation (ICD-10 K59.04) were randomly assigned to a therapeutic massage group (n=30) or an exercise therapy group (n=30). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after one month using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Result: The mean age of participants was 3.75±0.94 years, with no significant difference between groups. In the massage therapy group, CAS scores decreased from 8.23±2.39 to 3.17±2.36, while Bristol Stool scores improved from 1.33±0.48 to 3.00±0.87. Improvements were significantly greater in the massage group compared with the exercise therapy group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Therapeutic massage is a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention that significantly improves stool consistency and reduces constipation severity in children with functional constipation.

Background: Previous studies on Deva-5 traditional prescription, which has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of influenza, have demonstrated inhibitory activity against influenza A (H3) virus and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Based on this traditional formula, De-Mon syrup was developed through pharmaceutical processing. Experimental studies have shown that this syrup possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, conducting a clinical study to evaluate its therapeutic effect in influenza is warranted. Aim: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of De-Mon syrup, derived from a traditional herbal formulation, in patients with influenza. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial with a parallel design was conducted among 160 patients diagnosed with influenza (ICD-10: J09–J11) who met the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. The treatment group received standard influenza therapy with oseltamivir combined with De-Mon syrup, administered four times daily for five days at age-appropriate doses for children and adults. The control group received oseltamivir twice daily for five days. Complete blood count parameters were measured before and after treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result: According to the study results, the adult treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in white blood cell and neutrophil counts compared with the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, when children in the treatment group were compared with those in the control group, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein levels, and neutrophil counts were significantly decreased, indicating statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Conclusion De-mon syrup, based on a traditional prescription, significantly reduced white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil levels in patients with influenza (p<0.05), indicating a potential anti-inflammatory effect.

Background: Visual impairment may negatively affect children’s daily activities, educational opportunities, and hygiene practices, including their ability to maintain oral hygiene independently. Therefore, assessing the oral health status of visually impaired children is important for improving access to dental care services and developing preventive oral health programs. Aim: To compare the oral health status of visually impaired and sighted children. Materials and Methods: A total of 174 children from grades 1–12 of School No. 116 for visually impaired children and Logarithm School in Ulaanbaatar were included in this study. Oral examinations were conducted using an examination form developed according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013) guidelines. The study was carried out using a descriptive cross-sectional design, and the collected data were statistically analyzed. Result: Among visually impaired children, the prevalence of dental caries was 77%, with a mean DMFT index of 4.4±3.8. Among sighted children, the prevalence of dental caries was 75.9%, with a mean DMFT index of 4.7±3.8. The prevalence of gingivitis was 18.4% in visually impaired children and 11.5% in sighted children. Oral hygiene status was predominantly classified as poor or fair among visually impaired children, whereas a good level of oral hygiene predominated among sighted children. Conclusion 1. The prevalence and severity of dental caries were similar between visually impaired and sighted children. 2. The prevalence of gingivitis was comparable between visually impaired (18.4%) and sighted children (11.5%). 3. Oral hygiene status was generally poorer among visually impaired children, while sighted children predominantly demonstrated good oral hygiene.

Background: Dental caries is a preventable disease influenced by individual behavior, dietary habits, lifestyle, and health literacy. According to data from preventive health screenings initiated in Mongolia in 2022, dental caries accounted for 77.7% of 258,008 suspected conditions identified among children aged 0–17 years. Reducing the prevalence and severity of dental caries in children requires strengthening primary health care systems that emphasize the prevention and early detection of oral diseases and the provision of oral health education, rather than focusing solely on the treatment of existing dental caries. Aim: To assess the policy environment and implementation context of oral health care within primary health care in Mongolia and to identify key challenges and priority areas for improvement. Materials and Methods: A policy document review was conducted. The study included legal and policy documents governing primary health care as of 2026, together with relevant statistical data on oral diseases, health workforce, and financing. The collected information was categorized into key domains and synthesized and compared using an analytical matrix. Result: The current policy environment for primary health care in Mongolia does not yet provide all the conditions necessary to deliver equitable and prevention-oriented oral health services to the population. In particular, residents of soums and villages have limited access through their local health facilities to comprehensive services for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of oral and maxillofacial conditions. The inclusion of prevention, early detection, and primary oral health care within the “Healthy Teeth” initiative represents a positive policy development; however, mechanisms to ensure effective implementation remain insufficient. Although the Health Insurance Fund covers the costs of selected dental treatments for children and pregnant women, oral health care remains costly for other age groups, creating a considerable financial burden and limiting access to necessary services. Conclusion Reducing the burden of oral and maxillofacial diseases in Mongolia requires a transition from a treatment-oriented system toward primary health care based on prevention, early detection, and oral health education. Oral health care should be integrated into primary health care, with improved access at the soum and village levels and comprehensive strengthening of the health workforce, financing, and implementation mechanisms.

Background: In the treatment of early gastric cancer, patients suitable for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are selected on the basis of endoscopic findings and biopsy results, while the final diagnosis is confirmed by examination of the resected specimen. Aim: To examine the discrepancies between clinical and pathological findings before and after ESD. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 335 lesions treated by ESD for early gastric cancer at the National Cancer Center between 2020 and 2025, compared the endoscopic, biopsy and pathological findings, and identified the factors associated with discrepancy. Result: At least one of the three pre-treatment parameters was discordant in 175 lesions (52.2%). Of the 249 lesions judged to be ulcer-free on endoscopy, 51 (20.5%) were ulcerated histologically, while 28 lesions were overestimated (P<0.05). Underestimation of ulceration was more likely in lesions located in the upper or middle third of the stomach (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.22–3.99) and in lesions measuring ≥20 mm (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.00–2.84). Of the 110 lesions diagnosed as high-grade dysplasia on biopsy, 36 (32.7%) contained adenocarcinoma in the resected specimen, one of which was of undifferentiated type. Of the remaining 18 undifferentiated lesions, 6 (33.3%) had been diagnosed as differentiated type before treatment. Submucosal and lymphovascular invasion were associated with a tumor size of ≥20 mm (OR 3.58 and 3.15) and undifferentiated histology (OR 4.47 and 7.56); all P<0.01. Conclusion A significant discrepancy was observed between the pre- and post-ESD clinicopathological findings.

Background: CagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A protein) is an oncoprotein produced by Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium implicated in gastric carcinogenesis. CagA has been identified in all H. pylori strains isolated from patients with gastric cancer. To date, comparative studies investigating the genetic diversity of the cagA gene at the international level remain limited, and its pathogenic mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Aim: To characterize the global and regional diversity of the cagA gene in H. pylori, and to evaluate the relationship of its prevalence and genotypic variants with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: This molecular epidemiological study analyzed 9,276 H. pylori genomes from human hosts across 93 countries that were publicly available in international databases as of November 2024, together with 300 newly generated whole-genome sequences of H. pylori isolates from the Mongolian population that had not previously been deposited in public databases. To determine the genetic diversity of this oncogene, comprehensive genome bioinformatics analyses were performed, including genomic, phylogenetic, genotypic, and in silico protein analyses. Result: After quality control, 7,150 H. pylori genomes were included in the final analysis. Overall, 80.9% (n=5,783) of H. pylori strains were found to harbor the cagA gene, with the highest prevalence observed in Asia and the lowest in Europe. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis revealed substantial genotypic diversity of cagA and marked geographic variation in its distribution. Specifically, five distinct CagA protein types were identified, two of which represented previously undescribed novel types. The distribution of CagA types was found to correlate more strongly with the incidence of gastric cancer than the mere presence of cagA-positive H. pylori. Conclusion The majority of H. pylori strains in human populations worldwide harbor the CagA oncoprotein, with an overall prevalence of approximately 81%. Differences among CagA types may contribute to regional variation in gastric cancer risk. The diversification and evolutionary changes of the cagA gene may reflect recent processes of genetic admixture, which in turn shape its geographic and ethnic distribution as well as its pathogenic potential.

Background: Children with disabilities experience long-term impairments in one or more developmental domains, including cognitive, communicative, motor, behavioral, sensory, and self-care functions, often requiring continuous support in daily life. These children are particularly vulnerable to poor oral health due to a combination of factors such as limited motor coordination, dependence on caregivers, longterm medication use, and unfavorable dietary patterns. Consequently, they are at increased risk for dental caries, periodontal diseases, and oral infections. In Mongolia, oral health disparities among children with disabilities remain insufficiently explored, and evidence-based data on their treatment needs are limited. Addressing this gap is essential for planning targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies. Aim: To evaluate the oral health status and determine the dental treatment needs of children with disabilities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 888 children with disabilities attending special education schools in Ulaanbaatar. Oral examinations were performed following ethical approval (No. 2023/3-06) from the Research Ethics Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Dental caries was assessed using dmft/DMFT indices, and oral hygiene status was evaluated using a plaque index. Data were analyzed using Stata 16.0, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Result: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 85.5%, indicating a substantial disease burden. Caries prevalence and mean experience were 66.7% and 5.28±4.58 (dmft) in primary dentition, 86.2% and 5.23±3.75 (DMFT + dmft) in mixed dentition, and 83.6% and 5.44±4.00 (DMFT) in permanent dentition. Oral hygiene assessment showed that only 9.8% of children had good hygiene, whereas 46.3% exhibited poor oral hygiene, which was consistently associated with higher caries levels across diagnostic groups. Notably, 83.3% of children had at least one untreated decayed tooth or caries-related complication, reflecting a considerable unmet treatment need. Conclusion 1. The prevalence of dental caries among children with disabilities in Ulaanbaatar was 85.5%. Specifically, during the primary dentition stage, the prevalence was 66.7% with a mean caries experience of 5.28±4.58 (dmft). In the mixed dentition stage, the prevalence increased to 86.2% with a mean caries experience of 5.23±3.75 (DMFT+dmft). During the permanent dentition stage, the prevalence was 83.6%, with a mean DMFT score of 5.44±4.00. 2. Assessment of oral hygiene status using the plaque index revealed that 9.8% of the children had “Good” oral hygiene, 43.9% had “Fair” hygiene, and 46.3% had “Poor” oral hygiene. 3. The caries profile was predominantly characterized by untreated decayed teeth, and a strong direct association was observed between dental caries and oral hygiene status. Overall, 83.3% of the children required oral healthcare services and treatment, with the highest needs observed among those with permanent dentition, males, and children with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Mongolian traditional bone-setting is a non-surgical treatment method for fractures; however, there is a lack of evidencebased research evaluating its effectiveness, which forms the basis of our study. Aim: To study the therapeutic efficacy of traditional bonesetting treatment for surgical neck fractures of the humerus. Materials and Methods: From June 2023 to June 2025, 120 patients diagnosed with surgical neck fractures of the humerus and treated at the Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Hospital were randomly divided into a traditional bone-setting group (n=64) and a surgical treatment group (n=56). Shoulder and upper limb function were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment using the Constant–Murley score, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. Result: A total of 120 patients with surgical neck fractures of the humerus were divided into two groups, with no significant differences in the baseline characteristics (p>0.05).In the traditional bone-setting group, pain (VAS) decreased more rapidly at 1–3 months (p<0.01), while activities of daily living and functional outcomes improved significantly at 3–6 months (p<0.01). At 6 months, shoulder function (Constant–Murley score) was significantly improved (p=0.049).In contrast, the surgical group showed faster recovery in joint range of motion and muscle strength in the early stage; however, by 6 months, the outcomes between the two groups were comparable. Conclusion In the treatment of surgical neck fractures of the humerus, no significant difference was observed between traditional bone-setting and surgical treatment in terms of shoulder range of motion and muscle strength recovery. However, the advantages of traditional bone-setting lie in its ability to relieve pain more rapidly, promote faster functional recovery, improve activities of daily living, and achieve better long-term outcomes than modern bone-setting. Therefore, traditional bone setting is a safe and effective treatment method that aligns with modern theories of bone healing and rehabilitation principles and holds significant value for wider clinical application and further research in the management of surgical neck fractures of the humerus.