One-minute oral reading fluency (ORF) tests are widely used, but concerns have been raised regarding whether readers able to maintain their performance if asked read for a larger period. The main goals of this study were investigate students ORF in three-minute task and scores measured at one three minutes equally good predictors the standardized comprehension measure. sample was composed 159 P...

TO THE EDITOR: Genetic factors have been suggested to play an important role in the development of achalasia, and various candidate genes have been documented. ALADIN is one of the candidate genes. However, the study by Di Nardo et al has shown that no pathogenic mutations were detected in the ALADIN gene of 41 patients with isolated achalasia. In addition, Allgrove syndrome is a rare disorder,...

PURPOSE An oil in water emulsion of 0.01% all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) was prepared and clinically evaluated in dry eye patients. METHODS The ophthalmic emulsion consisted of 10% of arachis oil and 90% of the hydrogel of Carbopol 940. To evaluate retinoic acid emulsion clinically, a placebo-controlled, open-labeled, randomized study was performed with 22 dry-eye patients. Symptoms were...

PURPOSE To describe the ocular surface disorders of 362 patients with severe active atopic dermatitis (AD) treated in the Ophthalmology Department of Kobe University Hospital and Kobe Rosai Hospital Eye Clinics during the period 1994-1996. METHODS Routine ophthalmic examinations as well as tear film break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer tests were carried out. RESULTS Lid eczema (65.7%), atopic ...

PURPOSE To establish a rabbit dry eye model with topical medication of the ocular preparation preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAC). METHODS Sixteen white rabbits were used. One eye of each rabbit was chosen randomly for topical administration of 0.1% BAC twice daily for 14 days. The other untreated eyes served as controls. Schirmer test, fluorescein, and rose bengal staining were performe...

Three adult patients with Bitot's spots of the conjunctiva were observed in the American Southwest; all were in good health without obvious cause for vitamin A deficiency. Serum vitamin A levels were low normal in two; the third patient was on replacement vitamin A therapy with resultant high serum levels. Serum beta-carotene levels were low in two and normal in one. Schirmer test without anest...