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: Type I hypersensitivity, commonly known as an allergic reaction, is characterised by an IgE-mediated immune response triggered when foreign proteins enter the body. During allergic reactions, cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13, secreted by T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, play a crucial role in activating immune effector cells like eosinophils and mast cells, which contribute significantly to airway inflammation and obstruction. Conversely, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), produced by Th1 cells, suppresses Th2-mediated responses and plays an essential role in regulating allergic inflammation. Therefore, determining the balance of cytokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying allergic responses. Aim: We aimed to induce an allergic response in experimental animals using ovalbumin and to determine the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Materials and Methods: A total of 20 female C57BL/6 mice aged 6–8 weeks were selected for the experiment and randomly divided into two groups: control and experimental groups. The concentrations of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in mouse serum were determined using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Compared to the control group, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines in the serum of allergic model-induced C57BL/6 mice were determined to be 513.7 pg/mL and 193.2 pg/mL, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in IL-4 cytokine levels between the two groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion In the allergic model group, serum levels of IL-4 cytokine were elevated, while IFN-γ cytokine levels were decreased, suggesting a predominant Th2-type immune response.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder in which immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction play crucial roles, alongside neuroendocrine factors. Psychological stress influences the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thereby altering cortisol secretion and inflammatory responses. However, the relationships among cortisol levels, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), psychological parameters, and disease severity remain insufficiently explored. Aim: To compare cortisol levels, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and psychological parameters between adults with atopic dermatitis and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 12 patients with atopic dermatitis and 12 healthy controls. Serum cortisol levels and complete blood counts (for NLR calculation) were assessed. Psychological status was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Disease severity was measured using the SCORAD index. Statistical analyses included group comparisons and correlation analyses. Results: Cortisol levels in the atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.001). Cortisol levels showed a significant negative correlation with SCORAD scores (r = -0.65, p = 0.021) and GAD-7 scores (r=-0.56, p=0.036). A negative correlation was also observed between disease duration and cortisol levels (r=-0.53, p=0.075), although this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion Dysregulation of the HPA axis in atopic dermatitis, reflected by reduced cortisol levels, may be associated with increased disease severity and psychological stress. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological assessment into the comprehensive management of atopic dermatitis.

Introduction : Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) caused at least 43 million deaths in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or at least 19 million deaths in 2021, followed by cancers (10 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (over 2 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes). These four groups of diseases account for 80% of all premature NCD deaths. According to the Fourth National Survey on the Prevalence of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injuries, and Their Risk Factors: 14.0% of adults aged 15–69 have experienced a heart attack or stroke, 11.0% report taking aspirin to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease (CVD), 2.2% use lipid-lowering medications (statins) for CVD prevention or treatment, among adults aged 40–69, 19.3% are at high risk of developing CVD within the next 10 years. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen cardiovascular disease prevention efforts and improve the management of key risk factors in Mongolia. Goal: To determine the population’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cardiovascular disease risk factors and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 2,532 participants aged 18–69 years from all 21 provinces of Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar city, as part of the “Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, and Telemedicine in Mongolia” (MON/007) Project. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising six sub-sections, designed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to 10 modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Thirty-three percent of study participants reported having no knowledge of cardiovascular disease, indicating that roughly one in three adults consider themselves to have little or no understanding of cardiovascular health. In the study, 53.0% of participants reported being unaware of the symptoms of a heart attack, while 42.0% did not recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Among participants who could identify these symptoms, 68.0% indicated dizziness as a sign of hypertension, 65.0% reported headache, and 58.0% noted blurred vision. Among the respondents, 31.0% knew that the normal arterial blood pressure for an adult is 120/80 mmHg, 57.0% were aware that an adult should sleep 7–8 hours per day, 13.0% knew about body mass index (BMI), 30.0% were aware of fasting blood glucose levels, and 44.0% recognized that adults should engage in 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Knowledge of key physiological indicators was significantly associated with educational attainment, gender, and age group, with lower levels of awareness observed among participants with lower education, males, and younger adults (p=0.001). The majority of participants (75.0%-96.0%) reported being aware of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Among the study participants, nine out of ten agreed that maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes regular physical activity, exercising, walking short distances, and understanding that hypertension is harmful and smoking adversely affects the heart. Furthermore, 80–85% reported avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and 79% believed that cardiovascular disease is preventable. To prevent or reduce obesity, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, 49.0% of participants reported engaging in regular physical activity, while 33.0% reported following a healthy diet. Among all study participants, 61.0% had never checked their cholesterol levels, 49.0% had never measured their blood glucose, and 15.0% had never monitored their blood pressure. Among respondents exhibiting 1–3 common risk factors, the majority were female, aged 25–34 years, living in rural areas or ger districts, with secondary or specialized secondary education, employed in government institutions, and had a normal BMI. In contrast, among those with 7 or more common risk factors, the majority were male, aged 35–44 years, residing in Ulaanbaatar, living in ger districts, and employed in private organizations. Conclusion Most of surveyed participants had sufficient knowledge and positive attitudes toward modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (p=0.001). However, they exhibited inadequate preventive practices related to these risk factors. This indicates the importance of targeted intervention on behavior change to address this gap.

Background: Currently, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. CRC frequently metastasizes to the liver (50%), lungs (10–15%), peritoneum (4%), bones (10.7%–23.7%), brain (0.3%–6%), and spinal cord. Approximately 35% of CRC cases are diagnosed before distant metastasis, 36% upon lymph node involvement, and 23% after distant organ metastasis. Although several studies have established primary tumor models in mice in our country, there are limited studies on experimental lung metastasis models, prompting the need for this research. Aim: To establish and evaluate a lung metastasis model of colorectal cancer in C57BL/6J mice using the MC38 cell line. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. Approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Board of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (2023/3-09) and all laboratory safety regulations and protocols were strictly followed. Male C57BL/6J mice bred at the Experimental Animal Center of Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences were used. MC38 murine colorectal carcinoma cells were cultured and injected intravenously (via the tail vein) at a concentration of 0.25×10⁶ cells per mouse (n=12) to induce lung metastasis. Histological analysis was subsequently performed. Results: Histological examination revealed significant alterations in lung tissue architecture, characterized by areas of dense infiltration by pleomorphic, hyperchromatic cells, disrupting the normal alveolar structure. No histological abnormalities were observed in other organs. Conclusion Intravenous injection of MC38 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells into the tail vein of C57BL/6J mice successfully induced lung metastases, characterized by hyperchromatic, pleomorphic cell infiltrates forming glandular structures within the lung parenchyma.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality are steadily increasing both globally and in Mongolia. As these rates rise, traditional Mongolian medicine has long utilized herbal formulas for the treatment of gastric and esophageal cancers and precancerous conditions. One such formulation—Hot Natured 3 Herbs (HN3H)—comprises three species from the Ranunculaceae family: Atragene sibirica L., Ranunculus repens L., and Pulsatilla bungeana L.. However, scientific validation of its anti-tumor effects is essential. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HN3H in a tumor-induced animal model. Aim: To identify the biologically active compounds of HN3H and evaluate their effect in an experimentally induced tumor model in animals. Materials and Methods: The three herbs comprising HN3H—Atragene sibirica L., Ranunculus repens L., and Pulsatilla bungeana L.—were collected during their flowering stage (May–June) in Khishig-Undur, Bulgan province, and dried according to official procedures. Extraction was carried out by maceration in 96% ethanol at a 1:10 ratio. The concentrated extract was suspended in water (1:1) and successively fractionated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, chloroform, and n-hexane. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (Protocol №2020/03-04). A colorectal cancer model was established by subcutaneous injection of MC-38 cells (Kerafast, USA) into C57BL/6 mice. Immunohistochemistry was performed using CK20, CDX2, Ki67, and p53 antibodies at 1:100 and 1:200 dilutions. Results: The ethanol extract of HN3H contained 2.98±0.04% total phenolics and 2.16±0.05% total flavonoids. Body weight and tumor volume were measured daily with three repetitions. All groups showed a time-dependent increase in body weight. Mice in groups 1A and 1B received ethanol extract at 50 and 100 mg/kg doses; groups 2A and 2B received dichloromethane extract at the same doses. The negative control group was administered 0.5 mg/kg PBS orally, while the positive control group received intraperitoneal injections of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) at 10 mg/kg twice a week. Tumor growth increased in a time-dependent manner across groups. Compared to the negative control, tumor volumes in four treatment groups showed statistically significant reduction (p˂0.05), while no significant difference was observed when compared to the positive control (p=0.08). Histological analysis revealed necrosis in all groups, with variation in extent. Conclusion The ethanol extract of HN3H exhibited moderate levels of phenolic compounds and a high concentration of flavonoids. HN3H extract inhibited tumor progression and activated lymphocyte-predominant inflammation in tumor tissues, indicating potential anti-tumor activity (p˂0.05).

Introduction : Water is a vital resource for human existence and is essential for daily food processing, preparation, washing, hygiene, and sanitation. Furthermore, providing the population with safe drinking water is one of the pressing problems of the world and some regions.
In recent years, population density and the scale of commercial and industrial activities, as well as clean and dirty water consumption were increased in the capital city. As a result of these, ground and surface water resources are becoming scarce and polluted.
Therefore, assessment of daily drinking and residential water consumption of Ulaanbaatar should be determined to use drinking water properly in daily life and water loss. This study assessed the actual amount of households’ daily water consumption. Goal: The purpose of this study is to determine the daily consumption of drinking water for households in ger areas and apartments in Ulaanbaatar. Materials and Method: This study covers 30 households in ger areas and 15 apartment households, in Ulaanbaatar. Household members performed 6-10 types of measurements every day, within 7 days. As a result of these measurements, actual consumption of water quantity used for drinking and household purposes was calculated. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS Version 21 to calculate the true probability of difference between parameters. Result: 67.9% of the households in the ger areas were 4-5 family members. The average daily household consumption of drinking and domestic water were 68.3 ± 3.57 L (95% 61.3-75.3), the minimum consumption was 12 L, and the maximum was 227 L. Average of the household water consumption water was 97.6-108.9 liters during the weekends, and water consumption was statistically higher than weekdays (p=0.001; p=0.01).
The water consumption of residential households with 3 family members accounted for the majority (30.8%) in this study. The average daily consumption of drinking and domestic water was 297.67±19.7 liters. There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.96) in week. The average daily water consumption including drinking and residential was 270.3-335.97 L.
The total daily drinking and residential water consumption per person was 15.57 L for households in ger areas and 90 L for apartment households. Calculating the daily water consumption of households in ger areas, 60.3% of it is used for laundry, washing dishes, food preparation, washing face and hands, and clothes, 31% for drinking, and 8.7% for outdoor water use. While apartment households, approximately 94.1%, were used for household and 5.9% for drinking purposes. Research ethics approval : This study was discussed at the meeting of the Academic Council of the National Center for Public Health. In addition, this study was carried out according to the methods and methods discussed and approved at the meeting of the Medical Ethics Control Committee of the Ministry of Health (Resolution No. 08). Conclusion The total daily consumption of drinking and residential water per person were 15.57 litres for the households in the ger areas and 90 litres for the apartment households. It implies that it does not exceed the WHO recommendations

Background: Worldwide, the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50 is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a complication of the exudative “wet” and dry type. AMD is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease relating with a combination of environmental and genetic factors, and a contribution of age effect and smoking also, obesity was investigated to be associated with the disease. Number of previous studies have shown that the polymorphisms in the ARMS2, CFH and VEGF-A genes are associated with AMD. Therefore, we investigated the associations between the five common vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms and AMD with its therapeutic results. Materials and Methods: Totally 161 AMD patients and 223 controls were enrolled in this case-control study. A prospective analysis of 66 eyes of 34 patients with neovascular AMD evaluated intravitreal bevacizumab injections. The polymorphisms in CFH, ARMS2 and VEGF-А were detected by using the methods of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and PCR based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Statistical analyses were performed by SNPalyze software. Results: Results of the study showed that rs1061170, rs1065489, and rs800292 polymorphisms are associated with arterial hypertension. Anti-coagulant intake rs1061170 polymorphism T/C, C/C/C/C risk genotype (OR=5.04, 95% CI, 1.81-14.09, p=0.002, RERI=2.568, AP=0.509, S=2.7302) , combined effect of G/C/C/C/ /G, G/A risk genotype (OR=6.52, 95% CI, 2.88 14.79, p<0.001, RERI=4.187, AP=0.642, S=4.136) are associated with increased risk of AMD. In the study, in 66 eyes of a total of 34 people who received intravitreous injection treatment, the central retinal thickness before and after treatment was 294.59±83.52 before treatment, 262.74±87.02 on the first day after treatment, 259.5±111.83 after one month, 248.98±84.96 after 3 months, and 262.69 after 6 months. ±110.59, after 1 year it decreased to 259.19±112.29 (95% CI, 226.74-291.65), which is a statistically significant difference. A comparative study of polymorphisms in therapeutic and non-therapeutic groups revealed statistically significant differences in the G/G groups of rs2010963 polymorphisms. Also, people with G/G genotype of rs2010963 polymorphism are more effective in treatment than people with other genotypes. Conclusion Individual factors such as not wearing sunglasses and arterial hypertension and using anti coagulant medication have been identified as risk factors for AMD. The result showed that polymorphisms of ARMS2, CFH, VEGF genes can be a genetic risk factor for AMD. The decreased in central retinal thickness and improving VA after anti-VEGF treatment confirm the effectiveness of the treatment. Also, people with G/G genotype of rs2010963 polymorphism are more effective in treatment than people with other genotypes. Identification of genetic markers that affect clinical response may result in optimization of anti-VEGF therapy.

Introduction: This field assessment was performed to ensure the effective implementation of Order No. A/142 of the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia dated 30^th December 2021 and Order No. A/01 of the Head of the National Committee for Reducing Environmental Pollution dated 3^rd January 2022 and to monitor the level of indoor air pollutants emitted from traditional stoves and standard stoves. Purpose: To determine the level of indoor air pollutants emitted from briquette combustion and to develop recommendations by comparing various types of stoves and dwellings. Materials and Methods: Through analytical cross-sectional designs, three households from Songinokhairkhan district and one household from Chingeltei district were selected to participate in this assessment as they use briquettes for heating, vary in their dwelling types (ger (traditional Mongolian tent), house) and their stove types (traditional, standard), stay home during the day and chose to participate in the assessment. 24-hour continuous measurements were conducted for each dwelling and before taking measurements, we calibrated and adjusted the air suction velocity of the measuring instrument at the Central Metrology Laboratory. The monitor was placed at a distance of 0.5m from the stove and a height of 0.5-1.0m from the floor. The results were then compared with the Mongolian National Standard “General air quality and technical requirements MNS4585:2016” and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 software, mean, ANOVA test, and if the p-value is less than 0.05, our results are statistically significant. Results: The concentration level of SO₂ in houses with “Dul” stoves was within the level specified in the Mongolian standard MNS4585: 2016 and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021, while 24-hour SO₂ concentration in gers and houses with traditional stoves was 1.3-2.92 times higher than the standards. The 24-hour average concentration of nitrogen dioxide in houses with traditional stoves was 1.73 times higher than the Mongolian air quality standard MNS4585: 2016. There were statistically significant differences in the emission levels of SO₂ and NO₂ depending on dwelling and stove types (df=4, f=4.04, p=0.008 and df=4, f=17.17, p=0.001, respectively.). The 8-hour average (10,000 μg/m3) CO concentration was statistically significant for various types of dwellings and stoves (df=4, f=45.17, p=0.001), whereas there was a statistically significant difference in CO concentrations in gers with traditional stoves and gers with standard stoves in terms of morning, afternoon, and evening hours (df=3, f=33.17, p=0.001). Conclusion Indoor air pollutants in the households except for houses with “Dul” stoves have been determined to exceed the air quality standards set by the Mongolian air quality standards and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021.

Introduction: Mongolia’s capital hosts about half the country’s total population, and its air pollution ranks among the highest in the world during winter. Air pollution is linked to reduced fetal growth, preterm birth, low birth weight, impaired cognitive intra-uterine development, impaired cognitive development, and even spontaneous abortion. Antenatal care includes fetal development monitoring, prevention of anemia, immunization against infectious diseases, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and any health risk factors such as environmental pollution.
Health care measures for pregnant women and children under one year of age have the potential to be highly effective because they are directly aimed at reducing pneumonia in children. As such, we need to conduct this survey to determine whether pregnant women were satisfied with the information and advice on air pollution prevention provided by health facilities and to take evidence-based measures. Materials and Methods : The survey data were collected using quantitative and qualitative research methods. In this study, a total of 958 pregnant women participated from Songinokhairkhan district, Bayanzurkh district, and Bayankhongor province center. The overall satisfaction of health services is calculated using the three dimensions namely: satisfaction with health service, operation, and environment of the Health Organization. Satisfaction scores were assessed using an even-point scale. These are “Very Dissatisfied-1 point”, “Dissatisfied-2 point”, “Satisfied-3 point”, “Very satisfied-4 point”. The results were calculated after entering the survey data into SPSS-23, creating a database, and performing error control. The research methodology was discussed at the meeting of the Academic Council of the National Center for Public Health on December 25, 2019, and the methodology was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the MOH (Stagnant №2). Results : The survey covered 958 pregnant women aged 16-45 in Bayanzurkh district Songinokhairkhan district, and Bayankhongor province. During antenatal care visits, the majority of pregnant women (BZD- 56.9%, SKHD- 68.3%, BKH province - 86.7%) were advised by their health specialists to go outside for fresh air, while women in Ulaanbaatar (BZD- 18.9%, SKHD- 24.7%) received the information and advice at the lowest percentage. Pregnant women in Ulaanbaatar were less involved in air pollution training than in Bayankhongor. Participants in the air pollution prevention training rated it as “satisfied” regardless of location. 37.2% of pregnant women obtained information on protecting their health from air pollution from the board of Family Health Center and 34% from their district health centers. 86.1% of the participants were able to obtain information on air pollution on their own, while 86% of them got information from their family and friends. Conclusion The percentage of pregnant women getting medical advice, training, and information on air pollution prevention from hospitals during their antenatal care visits was the highest in rural areas. Moreover, their level of satisfaction with counseling had been rated as “satisfied”. Pregnant women often seek information on air pollution prevention from non-professional sources, such as their family and friends.