The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign began in February 2021 and achieved a high rate of 62.7% of the total population fully vaccinated by August 16, 2021, in Mongolia. We aimed to assess the initial ...protective antibody production after two doses of a variety of types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the Mongolian pre-vaccine antibody-naïve adult population. This prospective study was conducted from March-April to July-August of 2021. All participants received one of the four government-proposed COVID-19 vaccines including Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2), AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S), Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV), and Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac). Before receiving the first shot, anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD human IgG titers were measured in all participants (n = 1833), and titers were measured 21-28 days after the second shot in a subset of participants (n = 831). We found an overall average protective antibody response of 84.8% (705 of 831 vaccinated) in 21-28 days after two doses of the four types of COVID-19 vaccines. Seropositivity and titer of protective antibodies produced after two shots of vaccine were associated with the vaccine types, age, and residence of vaccinees. Seropositivity rate varied significantly between vaccine types, 80.0% (28 of 35) for AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S; 97.0% (193 of 199) for Pfizer BNT162b2; 80.7% (474 of 587) for Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV, and 100.0% (10 of 10) for Sputnik V Gam-COVID-Vac, respectively. Immunocompromised vaccinees with increased risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease had received the Pfizer vaccine and demonstrated a high rate of seropositivity. A high geometric mean titer (GMT) was found in vaccinees who received BNT162b2, while vaccinees who received ChAdOx1-S, Sputnik V, and BBIBP-CorV showed a lower GMT. In summary, we observed first stages of the immunization campaign against COVID-19 in Mongolia have been completed successfully, with a high immunogenicity level achieved among the population with an increased risk for developing severe illness.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: In the present study, we compared LASIK flap thickness predictability created by a FS laser versus a Moria microkeratome in Mongolian patients. Methods: A total of ninety-six candidates ...for the LASIK procedure were stratified into two groups: FS laser-assisted and MK flap creation. Flap thickness was determined at five points. The side-cut angle was measured in three directions at the margin interface. LASIK flap assessment was performed one month postoperatively by Spectralis anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Results: Ninety-five participants (190 eyes) were recruited; 190 eyes were stratified to the FS group and 78 eyes to the MK group. The FS group had relatively even flap configurations, and the MK group had meniscus-shaped flaps. Regarding CR-sphere and cylinder, there was significant difference between 2 groups. The mean cylinder was -1.216 ± 0.924 in FS group while it was -0.730 ± 0.738 in MK group. Similarly, the mean sphere was -3.635 ± 2.031 in FS-LASIK group and -2.984 ± 1.502 in MK-LASIK group. The side-cut architecture varied among the two groups. OCT-C and OCT1Temporal values were significantly different between two groups. Conclusion: Improving the predictability of LASIK flap thickness and morphology is significantly important.
In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, coal combustion in the ger area is the main source of indoor and ambient air pollution that contributes significantly to residents’ health. It was critical to characterize ...personal exposure to PM
2.5
to help prevent adverse health effects from indoor coal burning. This study compared personal exposure to PM
2.5
between ger and apartment residents and evaluated the influence of time-activity patterns. Two-day personal exposure of 16 couples from gers and 16 couples from apartments in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, was measured in January and February 2019. A portable monitor (ASLUNG, Rododo Science, Taipei, Taiwan) was used to measure real-time personal PM
2.5
exposure, and information on participants’ time-activity patterns was recorded in a logbook. Ger residents were exposed to a significantly higher PM
2.5
concentration (59.1(1.7) μg/m
3
) than apartment residents (26.8(2.0) μg/m
3
). However, the personal exposure of couples in gers and apartments was not affected by the time-activity pattern. The ambient PM
2.5
concentration was higher than the personal PM
2.5
exposure of ger and apartment residents. Daily personal PM
2.5
exposure profiles of all residents showed a sharp increase at 8:00 a.m. and a decrease after dawn. For all residents, the largest personal PM
2.5
exposure was at home. National measures to reduce ambient PM
2.5
concentrations are necessary for the reduction of personal PM
2.5
exposures of Ulaanbaatar residents.
Objectives: VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are a group of organic chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. They are called “volatile” because they have high vapor ...pressure and can readily form vapors or gases at normal atmospheric conditions. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to assess VOC exposure and its associated health risks.Method: Samples were collected through the adsorbent tube, followed by detachment from the solvent by organic solvents solvent or methanol, and analyzed by gas chromatographic equipment attached with a flame ionization detector (FID). We selected 150 households from the Chingeltei and Bayangol districts in Ulaanbaatar city, specifically sections 4, 5, 6, and 12, to examine the levels of indoor VOCs in this study. We used the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test to compare medians of VOC levels for two independent groups. Kruskal-Wallis test was carried out to determine if there was any significant difference between medians of VOC levels for more than two independent groups, including the type of paint used, wooden furniture used, and construction year.Results: We found no significant difference in benzene concentration among different types of households (p<0.8112). The highest benzene concentration (0.181 µg/m3) was measured in apartments and houses. Although there was no statistically significant difference between household room types, the kitchen had a higher benzene concentration than other rooms (p<0.8156). Factors such as household total volume, building construction year, and materials used for floors and walls did not significantly affect indoor benzene concentration. Most of the day, the benzene levels exceeded the standards set by the Indoor Air Quality Act of South Korea and the recommended levels by the Health Minister and Construction and Urban Development Minister of Mongolia. In 133 households in Ulaanbaatar city, indoor VOCs, specifically benzene concentration, exceeded the recommended level stated in Order No. A105/08 by the Health Minister and Construction and Urban Development Minister in 2017.Conclusion: Indoor benzene concentration did not vary significantly based on household type, room type, household volume, building construction year, construction wall material, construction floor material, whether new furniture was purchased or the dwelling was repaired and painted within the last two months, proximity to major roads, or indoor smoking status.
Objectives: To compare the pre and post-operative outcomes of Mongolian patients who had LASIK surgery. Methods: We conducted hospital based prospective study. A total of 176 consecutive patients who ...underwent conventional LASIK were examined for the correction of myopia. Study participants were followed for 5 years after surgery.Results: The mean age was 29.89 ± 6.42 years. 145 patients were female and 31 were male. The mean UCVA was 0.10 ± 0.09 Decimal and the mean BCVA was 0.81 ± 0.16 Decimal. Preoperative analysis showed that UCVA and BCVA were significantly different in mild, moderate, and high myopia groups. Especially, patients with mild myopia had higher acuity compared to other groups (0.21 ± 0.13 and 0.86 ± 0.12, respectively). Moreover, the manifest spherical equivalent the of mild myopia group also had significantly lower compared to the other two groups (-1.73 ± 1.17).Conclusions: Our results support the view that preoperative clinical examination is an extremely important part of the LASIK procedure to improve refractive predictability.
Infections with hepatitis B, C, and D virus (HBV, HCV, and HDV) are a major public health problem and lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to ...determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, anti-HDV immunoglobulin G, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and dual and triple hepatitis virus infections in Mongolia.
A total of 2313 participants from urban and rural regions were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used to identify the risk factors for hepatitis virus infections, and the seromarkers were measured using immunoassay kits.
Among all participants, the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HDV was 15.6%, 36.6%, and 14.3%, respectively. The infection rates were significantly higher in females and participants with a lower education level, rural residence, older age, and a history of blood transfusion. HBV and HCV co-infection was found in 120 (5.2%) participants and HBV, HCV, and HDV triple infection was detected in 67 (2.9%) participants. The prevalence of elevated AFP was 2.7%, 5.5%, and 2.6% higher in participants who were seropositive for HBsAg (p=0.01), anti-HCV (p<0.001), and anti-HDV (p=0.022), respectively. Elevated AFP was more prevalent in participants co-infected with HBV and HCV (5.8%, p=0.023), HBV and HDV (6.0%, p<0.001), and triple-infected with HBV, HCV, and HDV (7.5%) than in uninfected individuals.
Nearly half (49.8%) of the study population aged ≥40 years were infected with HBV, HCV, or HDV, and 22.4% had dual or triple infections.
Objective: We aimed to assess the relationship between white blood cell count, pediatric appendicitis score and the measurement of the outer diameter of the appendix. Methods: The study was performed ...on 480 children admitted for suspected acute appendicitis and underwent an appendectomy at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, between May 2019 and December 2019. Clinical diagnosis was performed using the pediatric appendicitis score based on the pre-operative blood test results, including white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocytes count, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. The diameter of the appendix was determined by ultrasound. Results: 516 pediatric patients (≤ 18 years old) were suspected of having acute appendicitis and subsequently underwent surgery. The pediatric appendicitis score and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were moderately correlated (r = 0.494), but the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and outer diameter of the appendix were poorly correlated (r = 0.169). In patients with an appendix outer diameter of ≤ 6 mm, 44% were inflamed, and 56% were not. Conclusions: Ultrasonic measurement of the outer diameter of the appendix had a 79.8% accuracy. This diagnostic accuracy can be enhanced with the combined usage of the pediatric appendicitis score and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio.
Hepatitis B, C, and D virus infections are a major public health problem, and Mongolia has one of the highest prevalences of dual and triple infections in the world. We aimed to determine the ...seroprevalence of hepatitis infection and dual or triple hepatitis infections among 10–64-year-olds. A questionnaire was used to identify risk factors for hepatitis infection, and seromarkers were measured by the fully automated immunologic analyzer HISCL-5000. Among a total of 10,040 participants, 8.1% of the population aged 10–64 was infected with HBV, 9.4% with HCV, and 0.4% with HBV and HCV, and the prevalence of the disease varied by age, sex, and the area of residence. Young people were particularly unaware of their hepatitis infection status. A small proportion of children aged 10 to 19 years and the majority of adults younger than 30 years were unaware of their HBV and HCV infection. Men were also more likely to be unaware of their HBV and HCV infection status than women. The results suggested that the prevalence of infection in the general population is high and that most people are unaware that they are infected or have become chronic carriers. Identifying mono-, co-, or triple-infection status is critical to prevent the rapid progression of liver disease among the Mongolian population.
Objectives: Establishment of reference interval for M2BPGI glyco-biomarker in the serum of relatively healthy Mongolian people. Methods: Serum analysis for M2BPGI glyco-biomarker, hepatitis virus ...markers, and AFP analysis were performed using a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. Non-parametric methods were used for establishment of reference interval according to the guideline of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS ver. 20.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL software. Results: Total of 3384 people were involved in this study. Of the total participants, 40% were overweight and 31.3% were obese. Also, of the population 10.1 percent were positive for HBsAg, 17 percent were positive for Anti-HCV, and 1.1 percent had co infection of both HBV and HCV. A total of the 316 individuals met the inclusion criteria for reference interval establishment and 77 (24.4%) of them were men and 239 (75.6%) were women. The reference interval of M2BPGI glyco-biomarker for men was 0.883 ± 0.311C.O.I and for women was 0.951 ± 0.411C.O.I. Conclusion: It is determined that the reference interval for M2BPGI glyco-biomarker in the serum of relatively healthy Mongolian people was 0.936 ± 0.391C.O.I.
Objectives: This study is aimed to investigate potential socio-economic risk factors associated with Nicotine Dependence among UB residents. It is important to identify and understand the various ...elements that may make people more susceptible to the negative health effects of smoking. Methods: We applied a cross-sectional study design to define the level of nicotine dependence on 875 participants. In addition, risk factors associated with nicotine dependence were assessed through a questionnaire survey. Results: Higher nicotine dependence in this study was associated with being a female (OR=1.208), older age groups (OR=1.5-2.9), divorced (OR=1.091), living in a house (OR=1.602), having a high school education level (OR=1.794), not having a regular job (OR=1.137), having a higher alcohol consumption level (OR=1.18-1.62), and age at initiation of smoking at 18 or younger (OR=1.796). Conclusion: According to the results of our research, countries with low and moderate levels of income, such as Mongolia, have a significant problem with high levels of nicotine dependence. In addition to this, it underscores the importance of developing smoking cessation programs that consider the extent of nicotine dependence while placing a greater emphasis on early interventions of the linked factors.
