Background: A 2018 study on the global burden of disease, accidents, and risk factors reported that 1.6 million peo ple died in 2017 due to household air pollution. Poor indoor air quality has been highlighted as a contributing factor to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and exacerbation of asthma and allergies. A 2019 study estimated that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less reduces average life expectancy by 1.8 years, with more severe effects in highly polluted regions. Additionally, a study by Miller et al. (2007) found that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly among women. Direct measurement devices are highly effective in determining indoor PM2.5 concentrations, identifying sources of pollution, tracking pollutant dispersion, and monitoring temporal variations. Studies suggest that direct measurement is an accurate, cost-effective method that provides detailed data suitable for local conditions. Aim: To investigate the indoor air quality of houses and apartments in Darkhan city during the winter season using the Purple Air monitoring device. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a targeted sample of 128 households in Darkhan city. The study examined factors such as stove type, type of coal used, annual and daily coal consumption, frequency of heating, and chimney sealing conditions. To collect data, the Purple Air monitoring device was installed in each house hold for a month, after which it was retrieved. During retrieval, participants completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 55 questions across 7 pages at the time of device installation and 25 questions across 3 pages at the time of device retrieval. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results: A total of 128 households in Darkhan city participated in the study. The average duration of residence in the current home was 9.5 years, with no statistically significant variation. The distribution of housing types was as follows: traditional Mongolian gers (40.6%), houses (39.1%), and apartments (20.3%). The 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration was highest in gers (70.9 μg/m³), followed by houses (46.8 μg/m³) and apartments (22.8 μg/m³), with a statistically significant difference (p=0.0001). PM2.5 levels were most variable in gers, followed by houses and then apartments. House holds using central heating (apartments) had an average 24-hour PM2.5 concentration of 22.8 μg/m³, whereas households using stoves (gers and houses) had a significantly higher concentration of 59.4 μg/m³ (p=0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between traditional and improved stoves. Among study participants, 21.4% reported that someone in their household smoked indoors. Additionally, 86.5% regularly burned incense, candles, or herbs, while 99.2% did not use an air purifier. Conclusion The indoor particulate matter concentration in houses and gers in Darkhan was 59.4μг/m3. Variations in stove types, poor chimney sealing limited space, and frequent gaps and cracks contribute to increased spread of indoor air pollutants.

Background: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the alveoli through the respiratory tract and is characterized by its ability to induce oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and vascular inflammation. Mongolia ranks among the countries with the highest levels of air pollution. In Ulaanbaatar, where more than half of the country’s population resides, wintertime PM2.5 concentrations often exceed 200 μg/m³, which is about eight times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value. A study involving 1,200 adults in Ulaanbaatar showed that quality of life deteriorated sharply during periods of high air pollution, with effects more pronounced among individuals who already had impaired respiratory function. Aim: To examine the relationship between indoor household PM2.5 concentrations and lung function indicators among adults in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study recruited adult participants from Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan through targeted sampling. Household air quality was measured using PurpleAir sensors, which were installed in participants’ homes for one month. After exposure measurement, lung function was assessed via spirometry. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.0. Results: A total of 236 participants were included: 114 (48.3%) from Ulaanbaatar and 122 (51.7%) from Darkhan. The sample consisted of 111 men (47.0%) and 125 women (53.0%). The mean indoor PM2.5 concentration was 66.24 μg/m³ (SD 44.87 μg/m³), ranging from a minimum of 7.79 μg/m³ to a maximum of 264.55 μg/m³. Stratification by housing type showed the highest PM2.5 levels in gers (82.34 μg/m³), followed by detached houses (67.34 μg/m³), while apartments had the lowest concentrations (32.24 μg/m³). Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant negative associations between PM2.5 levels and measures of expiratory function, including the FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and mid-expiratory flow (FEF25–75). Reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) was observed in 9.4% of participants, reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in 15.3%, and a decreased FEV1/FVC ratio in 3.8%. Conclusion Indoor household PM2.5 concentrations were highest in gers, and expiratory flow-related lung function parameters showed significant negative associations with particulate exposure. This suggests that indoor PM2.5 primarily affects airflow limitation rather than overall lung volumes in this population.

This article provides an overview of the clinical evidence of interactions between herbal and conventional medicines. Herbs involved in drug interactions – or that have been evaluated in pharmacokinetic trials – are discussed in this review. While many of the interactions reported are of limited clinical significance and many herbal products (echinacea, valerian) seem to expose patients to minor risk under conventional pharmacotherapy, a few herbs, notably St. John’s wort, may provoke adverse events sufficiently serious about endangering the patient’s health. Healthcare professionals should remain vigilant for potential interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs, especially when drugs with a narrow therapeutic index are used. Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) extracts are widely used as a safe alternative to conventional antidepressant drugs for mild to moderate forms of depressive disorders. St. John’s wort represents the herbal product that is most involved in herb-to drug interactions. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the clinical data regarding the E2 interactions between herbal remedies and prescribed drugs. For patients on prescription medications, the concomitant use of herbal medications can cause serious and adverse effects. It is the responsibility of health professionals to be well informed about the clinical evidence of herb-drug interactions.

Background: Induction of labor is a procedure performed to prevent maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The effects of birth control pills on babies are still controversial. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the effects of oxytocin and misoprostol on fetal blood gas parameters. Aim: To compare the effects of misoprostol and oxytocin used in labor induction on umbilical cord blood parameters Materials and methods: We conducted this study among mothers who gave birth in the NICU, according to the inclusion criteria, a control group (n=30), misoprostol alone vaginally (n=30) and oxytocin drip alone (n= 30) and oxytocin with misoprostol group (n=30) 4 groups used 100 mothers were selected respectively. Umbilical artery blood was sampled and umbilical artery blood pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, and VE (blood base excess) parameters were measured in the laboratory. The umbilical cord blood acid-alkaline parameters and lactate levels were analyzed and evaluated using COBAS C311 and COBAS B221 instruments. It was compared and determined using SPSS26 and EXCEL programs. Results: The average age of all mothers included in the study was 27.87±6.12, the average gestation period was 39.6±0.7 weeks, and the average weight of the newborn was 3466±323 gr. The average umbilical cord blood pH value was 7.34±0.04 in the control group, 7.25±0.07 in the oxytocin group, 7.27±0.04 in the misoprostol group, and 7.24±0.04 in the oxytocin and misoprostol group. And lactate valie was 5.8 in the control group, 7.5 in the oxytocin group, 9.87 in the misoprostol group, 8.7 in the combined group. Conclusions Compared to the group that did not use labor-inducing drugs, the mean pH of umbilical cord blood and lactate level were higher or statistically significant in the 3 groups that used labor-inducing drugs, indicating that birth-inducing drugs affect the umbilical cord blood parameters.