Objective To analyze the distribution, diversity, and the sensitivity of common pathogen species to antifungal drugs in fungal keratitis during 2000 - 2006 in Shandong province. Methods Samples from corneal serapings and corneal buttons from keratoplasties were used for fungal culture and identification. The distribution and diversity of the pathogens in different years were analyzed. The sensitivity of some common species to antifungal drugs were tested. Results A total of 898 patients were diagnosed as fungal keratitis, in which 770 (85.7%) were positive in fungal culture. Pathogens in 748 cases caused by fungal infection were identified, of which 547 cases were caused by Fusarium (71.0%). The prevelence of Fusarium from 2000 to 2006 was 75.5%, 72.8%, 71.5%, 75.2%, 76%, 68. 8% and 56.4% respectively. Eighty-four cases were caused by Aspergillus( 10.9% ) , which accounted for 15.1% , 15.2% , 13.1%, 10. 2%, 10. 4% , 8.0% and 6. 9% of the cases from 2000 to 2006, respectively. Seventy-four eases were caused by Alternaria (9. 6% ), the percentage of which during 2000 -2006 was 1. 9%, 3.3%, 3.7%, 6. 6%, 8. 8%, 12. 0 and 29. 7% respectively. In genus Fusarium, 10 species were found and the most common species were Fusarium Solani ( 33. 8% ), Fusarium oxysporum ( 28.2% ) and Fusarium moniliforme( 27.4% ). Six species were identified in genus Aspergillus, with Aspergillus flavus (53.6%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (39.3% ) being the most common species. The geometric mean MICs of amphotericin B, terbinafin, itraconazole, 5-flucytosine and fluconazole against the common species were 0. 647, 0. 714, 1. 624, 15. 108 and 27. 070 μg/ml, respectively. The mean MICs of the above five antifungal drugs against Fusarium were 0. 899, 0. 893, 3.077, 37. 124 and 21. 687 μg/ml, respectively, and for Aspergillus, the mean MICs of these agents were 0.794, 0.591, 0.416, 23.973 and 7.127 μg/ml, respectively; for Alternaria,the MICs were 0. 409,0. 479,0. 433,11. 655 and 7. 104 μg/ml ,respectively. Conclusions Genus Fusarium, Aspergillus and Alternaria were the predominant pathogens in fungal keratitis in Shandong Province. During 2000 -2006, Fusarium was the most common one, followed by Aspergillus. The percentage of Aspergillus decreased annually. The third most common pathogen, Alternaria increased during the period. The geometric mean MICs of amphotericin B and terbinafin against Fusarium were lower than those of itraconazole, 5-flucytosine and fluconazole. The MICs of these five anti-fungal drugs against Aspergillus and Alternatia were lower than those for Fusarium.

Objective To improve the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) solution method for measuring the viability of Cistanche deserticola seeds and investigate the change in viability during storage at 5 ℃. Methods The effect of the testa,TTC concentration,sodium hypochlorite concentration (NaClO),and staining time were studied,and seed viability during storage at 5 ℃ was measured with the improved method. Results Seeds were kept for 48 h in 0.5% TTC solution at 40 ℃,and then for 2 h in 0.2% NaClO solution;Seed viability was measured under a stereomicroscope. Storing seeds of C. deserticola for 1 to 2 years at 5 ℃ had no significant effects on their viability. However,the percentage of seeds with high viability was increased with the extension of the storage time at 5 ℃. Conclusion A convenient and rapid method for measuring the viability of C. deserticola seeds is developed. Storing C. deserticola seeds at 5 ℃ could improve their viability