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"One way to stop the spread of diseases transmitted by insects is to make the blood of animals and humans toxic," according to researchers. Researchers have discovered that a medication typically prescribed for rare diseases could make human blood deadly for mosquitoes, offering a potential lead to curb diseases such as malaria. They experimented with a drug called nitisinone, which is usually prescribed to individuals with rare inherited diseases that typically prevent them from being able to fully break down certain amino acids. The medication works by blocking an enzyme to prevent the build-up of harmful disease byproducts in the...

A commonly available pesticide has been associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a University of Queensland study. Researchers analyzed links between pesticide exposure and the risk of kidney dysfunction in 41,847 people, using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). School of Public Health Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne said the study found people exposed to higher amounts of the insecticide Malathion, known as Maldison in Australia, had 25 percent higher risk of kidney dysfunction. "Nearly one in 10 people in high income countries show signs of CKD, which is permanent kidney...