Mongolian Population Research Articles

Sex differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated factors in the general population of Mongolia: A nationwide study.

The prevalence and factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) between men and women in Mongolia were compared using secondary data from the STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance conducted in 2019. In total, 5,695 participants (2,577 males and 3,118 females) aged 18-69 years old were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of MetS was 37.4% in total and the prevalence was significantly higher in women (39.2%) than men (35.2%, P = 0.002). The most prevalent MetS components were abdominal obesity in women (74.2%) and high blood glucose levels in men (58.7%). All of the 2,128 participants who were categorized into MetS met the criteria of abdominal obesity. Factors associated with MetS included being 30-69 years old compared to 18-29 years old, low and moderate physical activity levels compared to high levels, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and a high body mass index (overweight and obesity) compared to a normal body mass index in both sexes. Additional factors included Buryat ethnicity compared to Khalkh ethnicity, living in Ulaanbaatar, no education compared to primary education, higher monthly income, and currently drinking in men; and smoking and sufficient fruit and vegetable intake in women. Significant differences were observed between men and women in terms of the prevalence of MetS, components of MetS, and factors associated with MetS. To reduce MetS prevalence in Mongolia, sex-specific programs should be designed to promote health behavior, such as reducing alcohol consumption in men and smoking in women.

Cardiovascular Risk across Glycemic Categories: Insights from a Nationwide Screening in Mongolia, 2022–2023

(1) Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death globally. Recent studies have highlighted the role of pre-diabetes, particularly impaired fasting glucose (IFG), in elevating CVD risk even before the onset of diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk across specific glycemic categories, including normoglycemia, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), newly diagnosed diabetes, and long-standing diabetes, in a large Mongolian population sample. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from a nationwide health screening program in Mongolia between 2022 and 2023, involving 120,266 adults after applying inclusion criteria. The participants were categorized based on fasting plasma glucose levels (NGT): normoglycemia, IFG, newly diagnosed diabetes, and long-standing diabetes. CVD risk was assessed using WHO risk prediction charts, considering factors like age, blood pressure, smoking status, and diabetes status. (3) Results: CVD risk varied significantly with glycemic status. Among those with NGT, 62.9% were at low risk, while 31.2% were at moderate risk. In contrast, the IFG participants had 49.5% at low risk and 39.9% at moderate risk. Newly diagnosed diabetes showed 38.1% at low risk and 43.3% at moderate risk, while long-standing diabetes had 33.7% at low risk and 45.9% at moderate risk. Regression analysis indicated that glycemic status was independently associated with moderate to high CVD risk (OR in IFG: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.09–1.18), even after adjusting for age, gender, and central obesity. (4) Conclusions: This study emphasizes the need for early cardiovascular risk assessment and intervention, even in pre-diabetic stages like IFG.

Investigation of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of traditional mongolian cheese

The traditional technology of Mongolian cheese is almost the same in different parts of the country, it differs from other types of cheeses, there is no microbiological process in it. Within the framework of this study, physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were determined in order to assess the quality and safety of Mongolian cheese sold on the market in Ulanbaatar. The article is devoted to the traditional Mongolian cheese, which belongs to the group of fresh fermented milk cheeses produced by thermal acid coagulation of milk. The main stages of its production include pasteurization of milk, coagulation, molding and pressing of cheese mass. Unlike other types of cheese, the production process of Mongolian cheese does not include clot processing, salting and maturation, which limits its shelf life. However, this cheese is an important source of casein and whey proteins for the Mongolian population. The method of cheese production is based on thermic acid coagulation, which uses high temperature. Mongolian cheese, like other cheeses of this group, is absorbed by the body by 96-98%, being an important source of calcium, phosphorus and amino acids. Milk proteins in such cheeses are not decomposed by microorganisms, which reduces the content of soluble proteins. Studies of the microflora of Mongolian cheese have shown the presence of various microorganisms, mainly lactic acid bacteria, and the absence of pathogenic bacteria when properly stored. The addition of preservatives such as nisin and natamycin can extend the shelf life of cheese up to 15 days.

Genetic characterization of cashmere goat (Capra hircus) populations in Mongolia.

Characterization studies of the phenotypic and genetic diversity of Mongolian goats are limited, despite several goat breeds being registered in the country. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic diversity of 14 cashmere goat populations in Mongolia, consisting largely of identified goat breeds. Body weight, cashmere quality, and coat color were the phenotypic traits considered in this study. A linear model was used to fit body weight and cashmere traits, and least squares means (LSMs) were estimated for the region and location classes. Genetic diversity and structure were assessed using a goat 50K SNP array. The studied populations exhibited greater phenotypic diversity at the regional level. A very small overall differentiation index (Fst: 0.017) was revealed by Wright's Fst and a very small overall inbreeding index (F ROH1 :0.019) was revealed based on runs of homozygosity. Genetic clustering of populations by principal components showed large variances for the two goat populations of the Russian admixture (Gobi Gurvan Saikhan and Uuliin Bor), and smaller but differentiated clusters for the remaining populations. Similar results were observed in the admixture analysis, which identified populations with the highest (Govi Gurvan Saikhan and Uuliin Bor) and lowest (Tsagaan Ovoo Khar) exotic admixtures. A genomewide association study (GWAS) of body weight and cashmere traits identified a few significant variants on chromosomes 2, 4, 5, 9, and 15, with the strongest variant for cashmere yield on chromosome 4. The GWAS on coat color yielded nine significant variants, with the strongest variants located on chromosomes 6, 13, and 18 and potential associations with KIT, ASIP, and MC1R genes. These signals were also found in other studies on coat color and patterns in goats. Mongolian cashmere goats showed relatively low genetic differentiation and low inbreeding levels, possibly caused by the traditional pastoral livestock management system and the practice of trading breeding bucks across provinces, along with a recent increase in the goat population. Further investigation of cashmere traits using larger samples and alternative methods may help identify the genes or genomic regions underlying cashmere quality in goats.

The burden of headache disorders in the adult population of Mongolia: estimates, and a health-care needs assessment, from a cross-sectional population-based study

BackgroundHaving previously shown headache disorders to be prevalent in Mongolia, here we elaborate on headache as a public-health concern in this country, reporting symptom burden and headache-attributed impaired participation at individual and societal levels, and conducting a health-care needs assessment.MethodsThe study followed the standardized methodology developed by the Global Campaign against Headache, generating a representative general-population sample through multi-level randomized cluster sampling. Participants aged 18–65 years were interviewed at unannounced household visits by interviewers administering the HARDSHIP questionnaire. Symptom burden was established through questions on frequency, duration and intensity of headache, with proportion of time in ictal state calculated from frequency and duration. Individual impaired participation was established through the HALT questionnaire, enquiring into lost time from paid and household work and from leisure activities. Symptom burden and impaired participation yesterday were also assessed in those reporting headache yesterday. Population-level estimates were derived by factoring in prevalence.ResultsThe total sample included 2,043 participants. Those reporting any headache in the last year (n = 1,351) spent, on average, 9.7% of all their time with headache, losing 1.3 workdays and 2.4 household days/3 months. These losses were considerably higher among those with probable medication-overuse headache (37.5%, 3.5 workdays, 6.7 household days) or other headache on ≥ 15 days/month (H15+) (21.9%, 2.4 workdays, 5.1 household days). At population-level (including those with and without headache), 6.2–7.4% of all time was spent with headache, 3.1% with H15+; 0.8 workdays and 1.4 household days/person/3 months were lost to headache, 0.3 workdays and 0.6 household days to migraine (the biggest contributor of all headache types). Our needs assessment estimated that one third (33.2%) of the adult population of Mongolia have headache (mostly migraine or H15+) likely to benefit from health care.ConclusionThis first population-based study on headache burden in Mongolia shows high levels of individual and societal burden, with H15 + the cause of greater burden at population level than migraine and TTH combined. Migraine, however, has the biggest impact on the nation’s productivity. From a purely economic perspective, Mongolia, with limited health resources, would probably be best served by focusing on mitigating migraine-attributed burden.

The burden of liver cancer in Mongolia from 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Liver cancer remains the leading cause of death and public health threat among the Mongolian population. So far, there has been no in-depth analysis to describe the burden of common attributable factors to liver cancer in Mongolia. Therefore, we aimed to explore the most prevalent causes of liver cancer and its trends from 1990 to 2019. We extracted the primary liver cancer data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to examine the mortality and morbidity of liver cancer by its etiological types, which included alcohol, viral hepatitis B and C, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The data was extracted by sex and 5-year age intervals from 1990 to 2019. Data included mortality, incidence, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of liver cancer among the Mongolian population. Mongolia had the world's highest age-standardized DALYs for liver cancer (2558.1) in 2019. Alcohol-attributable DALYs (786.6) were 29 times higher than the global average (26.1), and liver cancer due to hepatitis C (752.6) and B (763.2) were 21.5 (35.0) and 10.9 (69.1) times higher, respectively. Over the past 30 years, there has been a steady increase in the incidence and number of deaths caused by liver cancer in Mongolia. In 2019, liver cancer incidence due to alcohol consumption was 3.1 times higher for males than females, and hepatitis B was 2.7 times higher for males than females. However, the incidence of hepatitis C and NASH were slightly higher for females. Deaths from liver cancer accounted for 9.51% (2365) of total deaths in Mongolia in 2019, with a continuously increasing trend in the fraction of death compared to 1990, which was 11 times higher than the global average (0.86%), particularly in females with a 319.6% (95% UI 234.9-435.7) increase observed during the study period. Liver cancer due to hepatitis B, C, and alcohol each shared about one-third of liver cancer deaths. A comprehensive analysis of the burden of liver cancer in Mongolia reveals alcohol use as a primary cause of liver cancer mortality, particularly affecting men and significantly impacting the disease burden. Viral hepatitis continues to pose a major public health concern in the country. Although significant milestones have progressed, addressing the unique demographic and geographical challenges requires tailored approaches for specific target populations. The evidence generated from this analysis is crucial to support policy guidance, contribute to evidence-based decisions, guide public health prevention measures, and amplify population health promotion and disease prevention throughout Mongolia.

Prevalence and risk factors for refractive error in older adults in eight ethnicities in China: The China national health survey

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of refractive error (RE) and risk factors for myopia among older adults in the Han and various minority ethnic groups across seven provinces in China. MethodsThis cross-sectional study forms a part of the ophthalmic dataset of the China National Health Survey (CNHS). Face-to-face interviews and ophthalmic examinations were conducted in seven provinces located in western and northern China. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of RE among Han and seven other ethnic groups aged 50–80 years were compared. A mixed-effects model was used to identify the risk factors associated with RE. ResultsA total of 12,902 participants, including 8800 Han and 4102 from ethnic minorities, were included in the study. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of myopia, high myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism ranged from 15.3 % (Manchu) to 22.9 % (Han), 0.2 % (Yugur) to 2.8 % (Han), 21.6 % (Tibetan) to 48.9 % (Uyghur), and 38.7 % (Yi) to 57.5 % (Manchu) across different ethnicities, respectively. Compared to the Han population, the Mongolian (odds ratios (OR) 0.62, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.46–0.84, p = 0.002), Tibetan (OR 0.66, 95 % CI 0.52–0.85, p = 0.001), Uyghur (OR 0.63, 95 % CI 0.49–0.80, p < 0.001), Yi (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.46–0.92, p = 0.014), and Yugur (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.50–0.85, p = 0.001) ethnicities were less likely to have myopia. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of myopia between the Manchu, Korean, and Han ethnic groups. Factors associated with a lower prevalence of myopia included rural residence (p < 0.001), a body mass index (BMI) > 18.5 kg/m2 (all p < 0.001), residence in higher latitude areas (p = 0.020), and a history of smoking (p = 0.002 in the past smoking group, p = 0.031 in the current smoking group). The Mongolian (p = 0.006) and Yugur (p = 0.007) populations, participants living in rural areas (p = 0.012), and those with a BMI >24 kg/m2 (p = 0.038 in the >24.0 ≤ 27.0 kg/m2 group or p = 0.041 in the >27.0 kg/m2 group) were less likely to have high myopia. Factors associated with a higher prevalence of hyperopia included older age (all p < 0.001), rural residence (p = 0.039), higher latitude areas (p = 0.031), smoking history (p = 0.040), and Mongolian (p = 0.001), Uyghur (p < 0.001), Yi (p < 0.001), and Yugur (p = 0.002) ethnicities. Conversely, the Manchu population (p = 0.004) and individuals with higher education levels than illiteracy (p = 0.024 or p < 0.001) were less likely to have hyperopia. ConclusionsMyopia affected more than one-fifth of the older adults in the Han population in this survey. Significant differences in the prevalence of RE were observed between minority ethnicities and Han individuals, except for the Manchu and Korean groups.

Efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy for pediatric achalasia: A nationwide study.

Achalasia, a rare esophageal motility disorder characterized by the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and loss of esophageal peristalsis, significantly impacts pediatric patient quality of life through symptoms like dysphagia, chest pain, and weight loss. This nationwide retrospective cohort study evaluates the efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for pediatric achalasia in Mongolia, contributing to the limited global data on this minimally invasive treatment in children. Conducted between February 2020 and March 2022 at 2 tertiary centers, the study included symptomatic achalasia patients, treatment-naive or those with unsatisfactory outcomes from previous esophageal dilations. The POEM procedure was assessed for its impact on esophageal structure and function, symptom severity via the Eckardt score, and procedure-related safety, with outcomes measured at baseline, 3 days, and 12 months post-procedure. The study demonstrated notable post-procedure improvements across all measured outcomes: abnormal contraction length and esophageal width significantly reduced, underscoring the procedure's effectiveness. More precisely, the integrated relaxation pressure showed a significant improvement from a mean of 26.8 mm Hg (standard deviation [SD], 5.4 mm Hg) pre-procedure to 10.8 mm Hg (SD, 1.1 mm Hg) 12 months (P < .001). Similarly, Eckardt scores, which assess symptom severity, improved significantly from a pre-procedure mean of 7.0 (SD, 1.0) to a substantially lower score post-procedure (P < .001), reflecting enhanced patient quality of life and symptom alleviation. This study underscores POEM's role as an effective, minimally invasive option for pediatric achalasia management within the Mongolian population, offering significant symptomatic relief and improved esophageal function.

Gut Microbiota, Diet and Health Status of Nomadic and Urban Population in Mongolia

Gut Microbiota, Diet and Health Status of Nomadic and Urban Population in Mongolia

Incidence and Mortality due to Colorectal Cancer in Mongolia, 2018-2022.

We aimed to update data on the morbidity and mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) among the population of Mongolia by province between 2018 and 2022. This study was designed using a descriptive method. The data were collected from 21 general hospitals of provinces, 9 general hospitals of districts, and the National Cancer Center in 2018-2022. The incidence and mortality were calculated as mean annual numbers per 100,000 populations. The age-standardized rate (ASR) was utilized by the direct method, and it was rated by weighted average of age-specific incidence rates against the world population. In the country, a total of 1316 new cases were diagnosed and 782 deaths were caused by CRC in the last 5 years (2018-2022). The incidence of CRC in the last 5 years (2018-2022) was 7.9 per 100,000 populations, and the mortality rate was 4.7 per 100,000. The provinces of Orkhon (12), Khentii (11), and Central (10) reported the highest incidences of CRC, whereas the provinces of Sukhbaatar (6.9), Selenge (6.6), Dornod (6), and Darkhan-Uul (6) had the highest death rates (per 100,000 populations). The incidence of CRC didn't differ statistically significantly between men and women. Additionally, the estimated incidence has grown dramatically with patients' ages. Our study presents evidence of a steadily increasing CRC incidence in Mongolia over the past five years. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the distribution of risk factors, learn from.

Harnessing Drones for Snow Leopard Conservation

Censusing snow leopard prey species like argali, ibex or blue sheep, is time-consuming, expensive, and challenging. We tested thermal-sensor-equipped drones to census ungulate populations in Mongolia’s Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. In 2019 and 2022 we used drones to detect wild ibex and argali. Here we report on 2022 findings: ~400 km along 5 fixed transects totaling forty-three missions, including several double count surveys. Drones detected 259 prey animals and 265 livestock; on average, 34% of all sightings were in areas obscured by topographic features from ground-based observers. Overall, tests reinforced the utility of drones for counting ungulates, along with highlighting important issues and future advances for supporting largely autonomous prey surveys. We recommend biologists build upon existing technology to attain an inexpensive, easy to use, and field ready set of equipment and procedures that can reliably improve or replace traditional walking or transect count methods for large prey species.

The Metabolic Functional Feature of Gut Microbiota in Mongolian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

The accumulating evidence substantiates the indispensable role of gut microbiota in modulating the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Uncovering the intricacies of the mechanism is imperative in aiding disease control efforts. Revealing key bacterial species, their metabolites and/or metabolic pathways from the vast array of gut microorganisms can significantly contribute to precise treatment of the disease. With a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Inner Mongolia, China, we recruited volunteers from among the Mongolian population to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and the disease. Fecal samples were collected from the Volunteers of Mongolia with Type 2 Diabetes group and a Control group, and detected by metagenomic analysis and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The findings suggest that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla are the predominant gut microorganisms that exert significant influence on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the Mongolian population. In the disease group, despite an increase in the quantity of most gut microbial metabolic enzymes, there was a concomitant weakening of gut metabolic function, suggesting that the gut microbiota may be in a compensatory state during the disease stage. β-Tocotrienol may serve as a pivotal gut metabolite produced by gut microorganisms and a potential biomarker for type 2 diabetes. The metabolic biosynthesis pathways of ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinones could be the crucial mechanism through which the gut microbiota regulates type 2 diabetes. Additionally, certain Clostridium gut species may play a pivotal role in the progression of the disease.

Years lived with disabilities of the working-age population owing to injuries

Introduction: Cases of mortality and illness caused by injury in Mongolian population have increased drastically in recent years, and in 2022, 5th cause of illness and the 3rd cause of mortality. On average, more than 146,000 new cases of accidents and injuries are registered in Mongolia every year. More than 69% of it is a working-age population. Purpose and objectives: The purpose of the research work is to calculate the number of years lived with disability due to accidents among the working-age population of Mongolia. Research materials and methods: The study design is a Retrospective Cohort Study. The research work was carried out according to the WHO's burden of disease determination method. We collected quantitative data on disease numbers in Mongolia from the year 2016 to 2020 from the database of the Health Development Centre and National Center for Traumatology. The number of years lived with a disability was calculated using 306,823 quantitative information of the working-age (15-61) population of Mongolia in 2016-2020. Results: In Mongolia, 61.0% (n=187047) of the causes of accidents and injuries among the working-age population over 5 years were men and 39.0% (n=119776) were women. Considering the causes of accidents and injuries among the working-age population, 49.3% of all illnesses are falls, 25.3% are homicides, 22.9% are road accidents, and the rest are suicides, intoxication/exposure to toxic substances.120469 years of living with disability due to accidents caused by external causes of the working-age population of Mongolia over 5 years. The number of years lived with a disability was 77,135 years (64.0%) for men and 43,334 (36.0%) years for women. Conclusion: The working-age population of Mongolia has 120,469 years of living with disabilities caused by accidents caused by external causes. 1.8 times more years are lost than men and women.

Ancient genome of the Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou

Emperor Wu (, Wudi) of the Xianbei-led Northern Zhou dynasty, named Yuwen Yong (, 543-578 CE), was a highly influential emperor who reformed the system of regional troops, pacified the Turks, and unified the northern part of the country. His genetic profile and physical characteristics, including his appearance and potential diseases, have garnered significant interest from the academic community and the public.In this study, we have successfully generated a 0.343×-coverage genome of Wudi with 1,011,419 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 1240k panel. By analyzing pigmentation-relevant SNPs and conducting cranial CT-based facial reconstruction, we have determined that Wudi possessed a typical East or Northeast Asian appearance. Furthermore, pathogenic SNPs suggest Wudi faced an increased susceptibility to certain diseases, such as stroke. Wudi shared the closest genetic relationship with ancient Khitan and Heishui Mohe samples and modern Daur and Mongolian populations but also showed additional affinity with Yellow River (YR) farmers. We estimated that Wudi derived 61% of his ancestry from ancientNortheast Asians (ANAs) and nearly one-third from YR farmer-related groups. This can likely be attributed to continuous intermarriage between Xianbei royal families, and local Han aristocrats.1,2 Furthermore, our study has revealed genetic diversities among available ancient Xianbei individuals from different regions, suggesting that the formation of the Xianbei was a dynamic process influenced by admixture with surrounding populations.

A phylogenetic study of the Mongolian Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis, Linnaeus, 1758) population based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes

Our aim was to identify nucleotide polymorphisms, assess their distribution in haplotype diversity, and construct a phylogenetic tree by analyzing mtDNA markers of the Mongolian Tree Pipits(Anthus trivialis). We conducted this study using partial gene sequencesof mitochondrial marker genes, such as COI, Cyt-b, D-loop, andND2,to determine the genetic diversity of Mongolian Tree Pipits. We successfully amplified 2307 bp of the mitochondrial DNA fragments, including 469bp of COI, 435bp of Cyt-b, 554bp of D-loop and 846bp of ND2 from total 27 individuals of Mongolian (21) and Hungarian (6) populations of Anthus trivialis.The Hd value wasthe highest for ND2 (0.96) as compared with the other gene fragments in all populations, whileit was 0.94 in the Mongolian population. Moreover, the nucleotide diversity (Pi) ranged from 0.00234 to 0.004 in all population, it was observed that the Pi was between 0.00183 and 0.00376 in the Mongolian population. The phylogenetic tree based on combined mtDNA sequences revealed two mean clades. The probability value of the node supporting the posterior between these clades is 0.65,which suggests an indicative support in relationship between the two clades. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that Mongolian Tree Pipits do share common genetic characteristics with other populations and do not form distinct clusters. Publisher correction: Author name Sabor Sramko was revised to Gabor Sramko dated on 2024-10-07.

Questionnaire survey on public awareness of cleft lip with/without palate in Mongolia.

The frequency of cleft lip with/without palate (CL/P) in the Mongolian population is approximately 1 in 1314 live births. This research aims to disseminate information about this congenital disability to the public to better understand CL/P, and people's fissures, and review administrative measures, as there is a lack of research in this area. A questionnaire survey was conducted using Google Forms, with 1000 Mongolian participants. Most participants (86.7%) said they had knowledge of the word, whereas 86.2% said they had knowledge of the condition. Most participants' answers were question-related disadvantages of CL/P patients, including statements such as "It's uncomfortable in human relationships" and "It makes an uncomfortable impression on the person you meet the first time." The results of this study revealed that most Mongolians were aware of CL/P and are concerned about patients. However, the causes of CL/P in the general population remain unknown, and further research is needed in this area.

Anxiety, depression, and brain overwork in the general population of Mongolia

In Mongolia, there is limited data on the prevalence and correlates of common mental health conditions. This study addresses this data gap by exploring anxiety, depression, and brain overwork. The aim of this study was to determine normative data on these conditions in the general population of Mongolia. This nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 sampling centers across Mongolia in 2020. A total of 613 participants (190 men and 423 women) with a mean age of 41.8 ± 12.4 years were recruited. The participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Brain Overwork Scale (BOS-10). Vital signs, body measurements, and lifestyle determinants were also assessed. The prevalence of anxiety was 9.9%, depression was 4.9%, and brain overwork was 18.3% among the participants. Anxiety and depression were correlated with brain overwork symptoms. Brain overwork was associated with young age, unemployment, low income, and alcohol use. These findings suggest that anxiety, depression, and brain overwork are a significant problem in the general population of Mongolia. Further research is needed to develop effective interventions to reduce the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety, depression, and brain overwork.

Psychometric properties of the Mongolian version of shitsu-taikan-sho (alexisomia) in young adults.

Objective: Alexisomia is characterized by difficulty in identifying and describing bodily feelings. Shitsu-taikan-sho scale (STSS) is a self-report tool that assesses alexisomia. This study aimed to validate the Mongolian version of STSS in a nonclinical student sample. Methods: A total of 593 undergraduate students (217 males, 376 females, 18-25 years), who were studying at medical universities, were recruited. Participants completed the Mongolian version of STSS, which was translated from Japanese to Mongolian, back-translated, and finalized by an expert committee. Construct validity was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for a three-factor structure. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were measured using Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. Results: The mean scores of STSS were 18.6 ± 5.7 for difficulty identifying bodily feelings (DIB), 18.8 ± 4.0 for overadaptation (OA), 23.7 ± 4.1 for lack of health management (LHM), and 61.1 ± 10.5 for the total score (possible range: 7-35 for DIB, OA, LHM, and 21-105 for the total score, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure consisting of 21 items that explained 40.3% of the variance (KMO = 0.916, RMSEA = 0.049, χ2 = 372, p < .001). Confirmatory factor analysis provided a good fit to the data (CFI = 0.876, TLI = 0.861, RMSEA = 0.068, χ2 = 703, p < .001). Cronbach's alpha for the STSS was 0.860, indicating good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability analysis demonstrated good reliability (ICC = 0.791). Conclusion: The 21-item Mongolian version of STSS demonstrated evidence of good reliability and validity for assessing alexisomia in a nonclinical population in Mongolia. This suggests that the Mongolian version of the STSS may allow for the comparison of alexisomia among adults in Mongolia with those in other countries.

Analysis of the Correlation between FH and PCSK9 and APOB Gene Mutations in Han and Mongolian Populations of the Hulunbuir.

The goal of the study was to provide an individual and precise genetic and molecular biological basis for the early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of local FH by analyzing the risk factors for the development of FH in Han and Mongolian patients in the Hulunbuir, comparing the lipid levels of FH patients of the two ethnicities, and assessing differences in mutations to two genes between the two ethnic groups. Twenty cases each of Han Chinese and Mongolian healthy controls and fifty patients who each met the inclusion criteria from November 2021 to December 2022 in five general hospitals in Hulunbuir were selected. Multifactor logistic analysis was used to analyze the risk factors associated with the development of FH. We used t-tests to analyze statistical differences in lipid levels between the groups, and Sanger sequencing to detect the dis-tribution of common mutation sites of PCSK9 and APOB in all study subjects. The mutation rates and differences between regions and ethnic groups were summarized and compared. 1) Gender, age, alcohol consumption, dietary status, and a family history of FH were risk factors associated with the development of FH. 2) TC, LDL-C, and APOB were significantly higher in Mongolian cases than Han cases (p < 0.05). sdLDL-C was not statistically different between the two ethnicities (p > 0.05). 3) We detected four (8%) heterozygous mutations at the PCSK9 gene E670G mutation site in the Han case group and a total of nine (18%) mutations at this site in the Mongolian cases, including one (2%) homozygous and eight (16%) heterozygous mutations. One case of a heterozygous mutation was detected in the Mongolian control group. We detected a total of ten (20%) mutations at the APOB gene rs1367117 mutation site in the Han case group, including eight (16%) heterozygous and two (4%) homozygous mutations, 11 cases (22%) of heterozygous mutations in the Mongolian case group, two cases of heterozygous mutations in the Han control group, and one case of a heterozygous mutation in the Mongolian control group. 4) The D374Y and S127R mutation sites of PCSK9 and the R3500Q mutation site of APOB were not detected in any of the study subjects. The mutation sites of the PCSK9 and APOB genes in FH patients in Hulunbuir are different from other regions, and the mutation rate is higher than in other regions. Therefore, we recommend that the mutation sites of the PCSK9 and APOB genes described herein be used as clinical detection indicators to assist the diagnosis of FH in this region.

Factors influencing the 5-year survival rate of oral cancer patients in the Mongolian population: a retrospective cohort study.

The high mortality rate of head and neck cancers, particularly oral cancer, poses a significant health challenge in developing nations such as Mongolia. This retrospective survival analysis study was conducted to identify factors influencing the 5-year survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The study analyzed data from 173 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, including multiple variables such as age, gender, residence, education, tobacco and alcohol consumption, oral health indicators, family history, precancerous conditions, cancer characteristics, treatment, rehabilitation, cancer recurrence, and 5-year survival. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and STATA was used for statistical analysis. The study revealed a 5-year survival rate of 50.3% for oral cancer patients, with a survival rate of 38% for tongue cancer patients. Age, residence, cancer stage, and cancer recurrence were identified as significant survival predictors. Compared to those aged 60 or younger, the hazard ratio (HR) for patients aged 61 or older was 1.52. Survival was associated with female gender (HR = 0.47, CI = 0.29-0.77). Urban residence was associated with decreased survival (HR = 1.92, CI = 1.22-3.05). Significantly worse survival was associated with the presence of cancer recurrence (HR = 1.99, CI = 1.15-3.04). Oral cancer patients in stage IV had a fourfold higher risk of mortality compared to those in stage I (HR = 4.08, CI = 1.2-13.84). This research highlights the influence of age, urban habitation, and cancer recurrence on oral cancer survival. Age, urban residence, and cancer recurrence were all associated with decreased survival, whereas cancer at stage IV substantially increased the risk of death. The significance of early detection, treatment, and active surveillance to identify oral cancer at an early stage is highlighted by these findings. Compared to industrialized nations, Mongolia's lower oral cancer survival rates emphasize the need to increase public awareness and education. A comprehensive approach is required to improve oral cancer patient survival rates and quality of life, including emphasizing early detection through active surveillance, implementing preventive measures, and advancing cancer education initiatives.