Retail Clinics

NEW YORK Computerized systems may be able to detect early eye problems related to diabetes, according to a University of Iowa analysis.

WASHINGTON According to prepared testimony immediately posted online before members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform convened its “Johnson & Johnson Recall of Children’s Tylenol and other Children’s Medicines” hearing Thursday morning, J&J may be under scrutiny for more than the 40 varieties of over-the-counter infant’s and children’s liquid medicines recalled April 30.

LANDOVER, Md. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on Thursday released its new list of the 100 “Allergy Capitals” (www.AllergyCapitals.com), naming Knoxville, Tenn. as the most challenging place to live with spring allergies this year due to high pollen counts, high use of allergy medications by patients and too few allergists to treat the burgeoning allergy population.

WASHINGTON The expansion of Medicaid under the new health-reform law significantly will increase the number of people covered by the program and will markedly reduce the uninsured in states across the country, with the federal government picking up the overwhelming majority of the cost, according to a state-by-state analysis released Wednesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

SILVER SPRING, Md. Prolonged use of a common class of drugs for treating digestive problems may increase the risk of bone fractures, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

The FDA issued a warning to consumers and healthcare professionals based on a review of several epidemiological studies that long-term use of prescription and OTC proton-pump inhibitors or use of the drugs in high doses could increase the risk of fractures of the hip, wrist and spine. Information about the possible risks will be included on revised product labels for PPIs, the FDA said.

SAN DIEGO Researchers presented findings at the 110th general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego that suggested an association between Type 1 diabetes and enteroviral infections.

DENVER The use of at-home blood pressure monitors and Web-based reporting tools that connect clinicians and patients via the Internet appears to significantly improve patients’ ability to manage their high blood pressure to healthy levels, according to research from Kaiser Permanente released Friday.

BERKELEY, Calif. A nonprofit organization's Web site -- which connects people touched by diabetes and raises diabetes awareness -- and a children's hospital have developed an app that measures and shares blood glucose levels.

Diabetes Hands Foundation's TuDiabetes.org and Children's Hospital Boston have launched TuAnalyze, which supports sharing of diabetes information throughout the community and feedback of community-level diabetes information to users.