The 2024 Shandong Provincial Continuing Medical Education Program: Promotion Conference on Hydrogen-Oxygen Inhalation as an Appropriate Health Technology for Improving Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders was grandly held on June 1 in Taian, where numerous renowned experts and distinguished guests delivered outstanding academic presentations and speeches.
(Group photo of participants and experts)
(Conference venue)
This conference invited Academician Su Dingfeng, Director of the Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University; Professor Wei Youzhen, Director of the Hydrogen Medicine Research Center of Taian Central Hospital and former Director of the Translational Medicine Center of Shanghai East Hospital affiliated with Tongji University; Professor Cheng Youqin, Deputy Director of the First Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Clinical Division, South Building of the PLA General Hospital; Professor Gao Yuhong, Deputy Director of the Department of Neurology, PLA General Hospital; Professor Su Jing, Deputy Director of the Geriatric Cardiovascular Department of Taian Central Hospital; Director Cui Chao, MD, PhD, and postdoctoral researcher at Shandong University; and Mr. Shao Jianquan, Urban Partner for Dongying, Shandong, of Shanghai Asclepius Meditec Technology Co., Ltd., who shared research findings and application progress related to hydrogen-oxygen medicine for improving sleep-related breathing disorders.
Teng Qingliang, Vice President of Taian Central Hospital delivered the opening address, and Lin Hsin-Yung, President and Founder of Asclepius Meditec, was invited to speak at the conference.
Highlights from expert and guest presentations
Vice President Teng Qingliang
Vice President Teng Qingliang of Taian Central Hospital delivered the opening address for the conference.
Academician Su Dingfeng
Academician Su Dingfeng, Director of the Department of Pharmacology at the Second Military Medical University, delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Prevention and Treatment of Insomnia,” sharing insights into the role of hydrogen-oxygen therapy in insomnia prevention and management.
Professor Wei Youzhen
Professor Wei Youzhen, Director of the Hydrogen Medicine Research Center of Taian Central Hospital and former Director of the Translational Medicine Center of Shanghai East Hospital affiliated with Tongji University, presented a keynote lecture entitled “Mechanisms of Sleep Disorders and Advances in Clinical Medical Research.”
Professor Cheng Youqin
Professor Cheng Youqin, Deputy Director of the First Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Clinical Division, South Building of the PLA General Hospital, focused her presentation on the application prospects of hydrogen-oxygen medicine in the management of chronic diseases in elderly populations.
Professor Gao Yuhong 
Professor Gao Yuhong, Deputy Director of the Department of Neurology at the PLA General Hospital, shared insights on the effects of hydrogen-oxygen therapy on improving sleep disorders.
President Lin Hsin-Yung
President Lin Hsin-Yung, Founder of Asclepius Meditec, spoke at the conference, introducing the development history and achievements of Asclepius Meditec and hydrogen-oxygen medicine.
Professor Su Jing
Professor Su Jing, Deputy Director of the Geriatric Cardiovascular Department of Taian Central Hospital, delivered a presentation entitled “Clinical Experience with Hydrogen Inhalation Therapy in Patients with Sleep Disorders,” with particular focus on the effects of hydrogen-oxygen therapy in patients with mild depression accompanied by anxiety-related insomnia.
Director Cui Chao
Director Cui Chao, MD, PhD, and postdoctoral researcher at Shandong University, presented on “Application of Hydrogen-Oxygen Inhalation for Improving Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders,” and the team she leads has received multiple innovation awards in this field.
Mr. Shao Jianquan
Mr. Shao Jianquan, Urban Partner for Dongying, Shandong, of Shanghai Asclepius Meditec Technology Co., Ltd., discussed and explored topics related to the clinical application of hydrogen-oxygen inhalation therapy following its inclusion in medical insurance coverage, as well as its impact and benefits for medical institutions—particularly primary-level hospitals—under new policies and healthcare environments.
Application of Hydrogen-Oxygen Inhalation for Improving Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders
The hydrogen-oxygen inhalation technology for improving sleep-related breathing disorders was included in the Shandong Provincial Appropriate Health Technology Promotion Program in 2023 and was also listed as a provincial continuing medical education program for primary-level healthcare personnel in 2024; this conference represents one of the key implementation measures of these promotion initiatives.
According to the China Sleep Research Report 2023, more than 300 million people in China suffer from sleep disorders, which are not only highly prevalent among middle-aged and elderly populations, but are increasingly affecting younger individuals as well; difficulties falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and insufficient sleep duration are widespread across various population groups.
Individuals with long-term poor sleep are highly susceptible to dysregulation caused by exhaustion of the body’s neuroendocrine stress-regulation system, which also impairs immune function and manifests as signs of accelerated aging.
Hydrogen molecules, by virtue of their ability to readily penetrate cellular barriers through a “physical diffusion” effect, provide a safe and effective pathway for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity; their capacity to “chemically reduce” harmful free radicals further supports safe and effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, thereby selectively enhancing sleep quality through hydrogen’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
At the same time, hydrogen molecules exhibit a high safety profile, ensuring that hydrogen-oxygen inhalation for improving sleep-related breathing disorders does not result in issues such as reduced blood oxygen saturation.
The research and promotion of hydrogen-oxygen medicine have benefited from the extensive efforts of numerous experts; Professor Wei Youzhen, Director of the Hydrogen Medicine Research Center of Taian Central Hospital and former Director of the Translational Medicine Center of Shanghai East Hospital affiliated with Tongji University, as well as Director Cui Chao, MD, PhD, and postdoctoral researcher at Shandong University, among others, have made important contributions throughout this process.
The application and promotion of hydrogen-oxygen inhalation for improving sleep-related breathing disorders still present many areas for future exploration and research, and it is hoped that such promotional efforts will bring greater health benefits to populations affected by sleep disorders!
