Background: Accreditation of healthcare institutions serves as a fundamental mechanism for ensuring patient safety and validating the quality of medical services provided to the population. At Intermed Hospital, a quality measurement system for healthcare services has been established since 2015, encompassing 126 quality indicators at both institutional and departmental levels. This system facilitates continuous quality improvement efforts. In this context, quality indicators specific to the endoscopy department play a pivotal role in objectively assessing the quality of endoscopic services. Aim: To assess the quality indicators in gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted by collecting data from the Intermed hospital’s electronic information systems which included HIS and PACS and Quality and Safety Department’s Database and the results were processed using the SPSS software. Ethical approval was granted by the Intermed hospital’s Scientific research committee. The quality of endoscopic services in the Intermed hospital was assessed based on: a) the average values of four quality indicators measured monthly; b) sample survey data from five categories of quality indicators. Results : Between 2016 and 2024, the quality indicators of the endoscopy unit measured as the level of early warning score evaluations for patients was 95.97%±3.33, the level of cases where peripheral blood oxygen saturation decreased during sedation was 1.54%±3.78, the level of cases where patients experienced paradoxiical response during sedation was 5.82%±1.75, surveillance culturing level for validation of endoscopy reprocessing was 11.6%. The endoscopic documentation quality by peer review showed 95.7-100%, the colonoscopy quality indicators were followings as adenoma detection rate: 24.5% Cecal intubation rate: 99.1%, 95.2%, Colonoscope withdrawal average time: 13.28±10.62 minutes, Bowel preparation quality (Boston Scale): 89.3% 95.7%), patient discharge from the recovery room, Average discharge time post-procedure: With propofol alone: 30.92 minutes; With propofol and fentanyl combined: 31.52 minutes, The intermediate risk was 0.28% by the TROOPS evaluation during procedural sedation. Conclusion The quality benchmark levels for these endoscopic units, as determined by a single-center study, can be effectively implemented by benchmark endoscopy centers to enhance their quality and safety operations.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted mental health, particularly exacerbating conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and emotional disorders among hospitalized patients. This study examined the prevalence of COVID-19-related mental health issues and risk factors in hospitalized patients affiliated with MNUMS, compared to a control group. Aim: To assess the prevalence of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to identify their associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at hospitals under MNUMS, including the Mongolian-Japanese Hospital, Central Hospital, and the National Center for Maternal and Child Health. A total of 552 participants (399 case group, 153 control group) who were hospitalized were included. Depression (PHQ-9≥10), anxiety (GAD-7≥10), insomnia (ISI≥15), and PTSD (PCL-5≥33) were assessed using standardized scales. Analysis was performed using chi-square tests and binary logistic regression (crude odds ratio [cOR]/adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]), adjusted for group, age, and sex. Results: In the case group, depression (23.1% vs. 13.7%, p=0.015, cOR=1.884 [1.124-3.156]), anxiety (16.8% vs. 11.1%, p=0.096), and any mental disorder (18.0% vs. 13.7%, p=0.225) were higher, while insomnia was lower (19.5% vs. 30.1%, p=0.008). PTSD was low overall (1.8% vs. 0.7%, p=0.333). Risk factors included female sex (p<0.001, cOR=0.362 for depression in males), younger age (p=0.004), unemployment (p=0.017), and prior trauma (p<0.001). COVID-19 symptoms (difficulty breathing) increased the risk of depression (p<0.001, cOR=2.828 [1.708-4.682]). Conclusion Hospitalization for COVID-19 increases the risk of depression and anxiety, modulated by demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors. Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups are essential.

Background: COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was declared a global pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020, leading to over 770 million infections and 7 million deaths worldwide. In Mongolia, the first case emerged on March 10, 2020, followed by more than 1 million infections and over 2,100 deaths by 2023. The virus affects the central nervous system, manifesting as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD through biological pathways (e.g., ACE-2 receptor invasion, cytokine storm) combined with psychological stressors (e.g., fear, isolation). Global studies (WHO Mental Health Atlas 2022; Ettman et al., JAMA 2020; Huang et al., Lancet Psychiatry 2021; Xie et al., BMJ 2022) indicate a 25–40% rise in depression and anxiety during the pandemic’s first year, with 30–60% of infected individuals experiencing persistent symptoms 6–12 months post-infection. In Mongolia, cross-sectional surveys (National Center for Mental Health 2021: 28.7% moderate-to-severe depression, 22.4% high anxiety) have been conducted, but long-term prospective data remain scarce. This study evaluates longitudinal changes in depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD among COVID-19 patients over 12 months, compared to a control group. Aim: To conduct long-term follow-up and comparative assessment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals who have had COVID-19 Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 459 adults (326 COVID-19 cases, 133 controls) were recruited from MNUMS-affiliated hospitals, Central Hospital, and the National Center for Maternal and Child Health between 2021 and 2023. Participants without baseline mental disorders underwent follow-up assessments at 14 days, 3 months, and 12 months using validated scales: PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), ISI (insomnia), and PCL-5 (PTSD). Incident cases were identified through baseline exclusion. Data were analyzed via χ² tests, t-tests, relative risk (RR) calculations, and multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05). Results: Baseline demographics were comparable between groups (mean age 46.3 ± 13.8 years; 58.4% female). At 12 months, the COVID-19 group exhibited higher rates of depression (37.3% vs. 16.9%; RR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.28–3.83, p = 0.003) and anxiety (28.0% vs. 11.2%; RR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.25–4.96, p = 0.006). Insomnia was lower in the COVID-19 group (33.3% vs. 49.4%; RR = 0.67, p = 0.037), while PTSD rates remained low (<3%, p > 0.05). Adjusted odds ratios confirmed COVID-19 as an independent predictor of depression (aOR = 2.18) and anxiety (aOR = 2.41). Females and individuals aged 40–59 years were at elevated risk. Conclusions 1. In the cohort of individuals who had contracted COVID-19, levels of depression after 12 months were 2.2 times higher, levels of anxiety were 2.5 times higher, and levels of insomnia were 0.67 times lower compared to the control group. 2. Post-traumatic stress disorder was observed in 3.1% of participants 14 days post-exposure, but was not detected after 12 months; this resolution is posited to be associated with the adaptive capacity of the population. 3. COVID-19 constitutes a long-term independent risk factor for the onset of depression and anxiety.

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.

Abstract In this article, the self-evaluation and internal analysis of the “Pharmacology” course program at the Mongolian University of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MUPS) are described. The “Pharmacology” curriculum is included in the professional course category in the curriculum of school’s Pharmacy program and includes 48 hours of lectures and 96 hours of seminar content. A total of 1,997 pharmacists have been trained by this curriculum since 2005. The pharmacy program was accredited by the National Council for Educational Accreditation with a rating of 94 percent in 2014 and 100 percent in 2021. This time, the teachers who mainly teach in the program, together with the evaluation specialist, have collected the experience and evaluation results of the “Pharmacology” curriculum in this article. Data was collected by google form and processed by the SURE online tool and used the structure-oriented evaluation (SURE) model.

Background: According to the WHO, WB estimation, there are over 1 billion people living with some form of disability in the world.² Out of which, 284 million people have vision impairment, 360 million people have hearing and speech impairment, ten percent of them living in developing countries.³ According to the National Statistical Office’s 2018 data there are 105,730 people with disabilities in the country which is 3.2% of the total population.⁴ In Mongolia, 28% of the disabled population in the working age are employed while 43% of the population aged 6-18 are illiterate. People with vision, hearing and intellectual disabilities have the same right to access health, education, employment, social welfare and protection services as others, but due to the lack of access to facilities and public transport, they cannot fully access social services. Also, the legal framework that provides equal opportunities for social contacts is not enough. There is virtually no comprehensive study on access of social service and environmental accessibility for the disabled people in the country. Therefore, there is a need to study in detail of social services and environmental accessibility of the people with visual and hearing impairment and adapt their demands into policy and develop policy recommendations and to further improve legal regulations. Purpose: Main objective of the study is to assess social service delivery and environmental accessability of the people with visual and hearing impairment Methods: The direct-observation, household based survey and document review, methods have been used for this study. Direct observation method has been applied for 100 public constructions. Total of 100 disabled people, out of 50 people with visual impairment and 50 people with hearing impairment has been covered for the public transportation accessibility assessment questionnaire survey. Information and communication accessibility studies carried out among 100 organizational websites and 31 broadcasting internet television including Univision and Sky media.
Household survey covered 148 people with visual and hearing impairments to assess social service accessibility. Results: The public construction’s environmental accessibility for the people with vision impairment was assessed at 48.8 percent: 36.8% for the people with poor vision impairment and very bad for blind people at only 16.5%. The public transportation accessibility assessed as not accessible (3.43 odds) for people with vision impairment and as moderate accepable for blind people (2.87 odds). Information and communication accessibility through website assessed at 25% for people with vision impairment which shows not sufficiently accessible for blind people (32%). Total accessibility of information regarding to the organizational website assessed at 34.8% which shows moderately accessible. Services of the Univision, Sky media internet TV (IPTV) wasn’t accessible for people with vision impairment. Regarding to the people with hearing impairment, public construction environmental accessibility assessed at 31.7%, 48.5% for people with moderate hearing impairment which is average accessibility and 21% people with severe hearing problem. The public transport accessibility assessed in high discrepancy (3.51 odds ratio) which means there is an in-sufficient access. Information and communication accessibility for people with hearing impairment assessed at 5% which shows very bad accessibility.
Health service coverage is 64% for the people with vision impairment while 36% for the people of hearing impairment. Education service coverage for vision impairment people is 36% and 18% to people with hearing impairment. Regarding to the accessibility to social service, the coverage is 33% for people with vision impairment and 31% for the people with hearing impairment. Employment rate among people with vision disability resulted in 19% and 24 % for the people with hearing imapirment. Conclusion The public constructions accessibility for people with vision and hearing impairment (37.7%), public transport accessibility (2.90 odds ratio), information accessibility (34.8%) assessed at “moderately accessible”. Assessment result of below 50% considered as “insufficient” for education service -27%, employment service-21.5%, social welfare services -32%. There is a need for special laws and regulations concerning to social services and environment accessibility.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition, that occurs people aged above 50, leads to gradual loss of the vision because of a damage in the macula, which is located in the center of the retina. Several polymorphisms in different genes have been proposed as factors that increase the disease susceptibility. Therefore, we investigated the association between rs833061 polymorphism of VEGF-A gene and rs10490924 polymorphism of ARMS2 gene and AMD in order to analyze with other similar studies by meta analysis. Purpose: To investigate the polymorphisms of VEGF-A gene and ARMS2 gene on AMD susceptibility Methods: is case-control study was conducted on 74 AMD patients and 32 unaffected age-and gender-matched control individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral venous blood. The single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method and results confirmed by gel electrophoresis. The REVIEW MANAGER 5.2 software and MetaXL was used for meta-analysis Results: We did not find statistically significant differences in С allele and СС genotype frequency of rs833061 polymorphism of VEGF-A gene between patients and controls. However, analysis of rs10490924 polymorphism of ARMS2 gene shows that T allele (OR=2.72, 95% CI, 1.47 – 5.02, p=0.001), TT genotype (OR=4.54, 95% CI, 1.49 – 13.87,p=0.019) were significantly associated with AMD risk. Haplotype analysis of these SNPs showed that C+T haplotype was statistically significantly different (OR=5.23, 95% CI, 1.76-15.54, p=0.002) between patients and controls. Conclusion As shown by results, rs10490924 polymorphism of ARMS2 gene show that T allele, TT genotype and C+T haplotype were significantly associated with AMD risk In meta-analysis, T allele of rs10490924 polymorphism of ARMS2 gene was significantly associated with AMD risk in all ethnicity that include Asian and Caucasian. However, T allele prevalence was higher in Asians.

BACKGROUND. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA MIM#253300) is a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders caused by degeneration of anterior horn cells. Spinal muscular atrophy is the second most common autosomal recessive disorder. The first substantive descriptions of SMA occurred at the end of the 19th century when Werdnig and Hoffman characterized the features of autosomal recessive SMA. SMA is broadly classified into four major categories characterized by the age of onset as well as severity of the disease. Clinically proximal weakness, predominantly athropy, upper muscle athropy and other muscle weakness including of facial, scapula and respiratory were reported. SMA is inherited by X chromosomal, autosomal recessive and dominant mode. In our study, we recruited an individual diagnosed with SMA, without SMN1 gene mutation to investigate BICD2 mutation. Peripherial blood from the patient and his family members were taken to extract genomic DNA according to commercial protocol. Amplification of target gene was done by special primers. DNA sequencing was done to detect a mutation. As a result, we identified a mutation in location c.484 C>T of third exon of BICD2 gene. This mutation is was a heterozygous in mother’ and child’ DNA, SIFT and Polyphen program was used to detect its pathogenic effect. We also checked by Grantham matrix score is 180.0 representing it,s changing acid and alkaline feature in this amino acid. We diagnoses a suspected case with SMA by his clinical symptoms as a SMA type III, Kugelberg-Belander desease. We detected a mutation of BICD2 gene in a patient with SMA. This mutation altered acid and alkaline checked by Grantham matrix. This mutation has never reported before, showing 100% pathogenic effect on protein function, but because of highly penetrate feature of this disease makes its inheritance mode of autosomal dominant pattern.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab monotherapy or combined with laser versus laser monotherapy in Mongolian patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema.Prospective, randomized, single-center, a 12 month, laser-controlled, clinical trial. Participants: One hundred twelve eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the study eye of 35 to 69 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS)letters at 4 m (Snellen equivalent: ≥6/60 or ≤6/12), with visual impairment due to center-involved diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: Patients were randomized into three treatment groups:(I) intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy (n=42), (II) intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser (n=35), (III) laser monotherapy (n=35). Bevacizumab injections were given for 3 initial monthly doses and then pro re nata (PRN) thereafter based on BCVA stability and DME progression. The primary efficacy endpoints were the mean change in BCVA and central retinal subfield thickness (CRST) from baseline to month 12.Bevacizumab monotherapy or combined with laser were superior to laser monotherapy in improving mean change in BCVA letter score from baseline to month 12 (+8.3 and +11.3 vs +1.1 letters; both p<0.0001). There were significant difference detected between the bevacizumab and bevacizumab combined with laser treatment groups (p=0.004). At month 12, greater proportion of patients gained ≥10 and ≥15 letters and with BCVA letter score >73 (Snellen equivalent: >6/12) with bevacizumab monotherapy (23.8% and 7.1% and 4.8%, respectively) and bevacizumab + laser (57.1% and 28.6% and 14.3%, respectively) versus laser monotherapy. The mean central retinal subfield thickness was significantly reduced from baseline to month 12 with bevacizumab (−124.4 μm) and bevacizumab + laser (−129.0 μm) versus laser (−62.0 μm; both p<0.0001). Conjunctival hemorrhage was the most common ocular events. No endophthalmitis cases occurred.Bevacizumab monotherapy or combined with laser showed superior BCVA improvements over macular laser treatment alone in Mongolian patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an important cause of vision loss around the world, being the leading cause in the population between 40 and 59 years old. Among patients with DR, diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most frequent cause of vision impairment and represents a significantpublic health issue. The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) showed the benefit of focal/grid laser for the management of DME, reducing the risk of moderate visual loss by approximately 50%, and since then,macular photocoagulation (MPC) has been the gold standard treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of blood-retinalbarrier breakdown, which leads to fluid leakage and the development of macular edema. The efficacy and safety of intravitreal anti-VEGF as therapy for DME have recently been proved by various clinical trials providing significantly positive visual and anatomical results. Regarding clinical practice, those outcomes have placed intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF as an optionthat must be considered for the treatment of DME. The aim of this study to evaluate intravitreal bevacizumab and modified Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) macular laser therapy (MLT) in patients with clinically significant macular edema (CSME). Methods: In a1-year, single-center, randomized controlled trial, 70 patients with center-involving CSME were randomized to receive either bevacizumab or MLT. Result: The baseline mean ETDRS BCVA was 58.3±8.6 (range 38–71) in the bevacizumab group and 56.6±7.3 (range 37–69) in the laser group. The mean ETDRS BCVA at one year was 63.2±12.5 (range 41–80) in the bevacizumab group and53.0±8.3 (range 35–74) in the laser group (p=0.0004). At one year, central macular thickness decreased from 405±121 μm (range 275–715 μm) at baseline to 247±141 μm (range 178±541 μm) in the bevacizumab group and in the laser group from 392±137 μm (range 284–741 μm) to 318±129 μm (range 165–615 μm) (p=0.05). Conclusioni: The study provides evidence to support the use of bevacizumab in patients with center involving CSME without advanced macular ischemia.