Objective:To evaluate the effect of high-concentration hydrogen inhalation on sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) in mice.Methods:Healthy male ICR mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=50 each) using the random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SAE group, sham operation plus high-concentration hydrogen group (Sham+ H 2 group), and SAE plus high-concentration hydrogen group (SAE+ H 2 group). SAE model was prepared by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in anesthetized animals.At 1 and 6 h after operation, Sham+ H 2 and SAE+ H 2 groups inhaled the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen (67% hydrogen-33% oxygen) for 1 h, and Sham and SAE groups inhaled the mixture of nitrogen and oxygen (67% nitrogen-33% oxygen) for 1 h. The postoperative 7-day survival rate was recorded.Cognitive function was assessed by Y maze test at days 3, 5 and 7 after operation.The mice were sacrificed at 24 h after operation, and hippocampal tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region (with a light microscope) and for determination of normal neuron count, contents of tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-α) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (by fluorescence spectrophotometry) and content of mitochondrial ATP (by fluorescein-fluorescent enzyme luminescence method). Results:Compared with Sham group, the 7-day survival rate after operation, percentage of spontaneous alternation at each time point after operation, and the number of normal neurons were significantly decreased, the contents of TNF-ɑ and HMGB1 were increased, and the contents of ATP and MMP were decreased in SAE and SAE+ H 2 groups ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in Sham+ H 2 group ( P>0.05). Compared with SAE group, the 7-day survival rate after operation, percentage of spontaneous alternation at each time point after operation, and the number of normal neurons were significantly increased, the contents of TNF-ɑ and HMGB1 were decreased, and the contents of ATP and MMP were increased in SAE+ H 2 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:High-concentration hydrogen inhalation can reduce SAE, and the mechanism may be related to reduction of hippocampal inflammatory responses and improvement in mitochondrial function in mice.

Objective To explore the correlation between TCM constitution and sleep status in escort troops. Methods Standardized TCM Constitution Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to investigate escort troops. Factors of PSQI and constitution types were analyzed. Results The results of PSQI showed the number of escort troops who had bad sleeping (PSQI>7) was 64, which accounted for 46%of the escort troops, among which, 45 people (70.3%) were justified as biased constitution, while 19 were normal constitution (29.7%). The top three biased constitution in bad sleeping were:qi deficiency, phlegm-dampness and dampness-heat. PSQI factors such as sleep disorder, daytime dysfunction and total score had positive correlation with qi deficiency, yang deficiency, yin deficiency, dampness-heat and blood stasis, and negative correlation with normal constitution. Conclusion Sleep condition of escort troops has correlation with TCM constitution, which indicates that sleep status could be improved by regulating TCM constitution.