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— Morphine might help soldiers forget more than just the physical pain of their wounds. A study of nearly 700 US military personnel injured in Iraq found that patients given morphine within the first hours of treatment were nearly 50% less likely to develop the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder later on. (NYTimes)

— While countries have spent millions stockpiling Tamiflu, the $8-per-dose flu drug could get cheaper with a new production method. Researchers were able to substitute shikimic acid, the drug’s raw material, which is extracted from Chinese star anise and can cost up to $1000 per kilogram, with D-ribose. The latter, a naturally occurring sugar commonly used as a weight-loss supplement, carries a much lower average price of $30 per kilogram. (ScienceDaily)

— A review of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which accounts for 25% of all breast cancer diagnosed in the US, questions whether the collection of abnormal cells in the milk duct should even be called a ‘carcinoma.’ Researchers cite that DCIS might be better described as a tumor, and the name ‘carcinoma’ can trigger unnecessary anxiety among patients. But the suggested name change might cause even greater anxiety. Besides, who wants to be diagnosed with DTIS? (LATimes)

— Merck has submitted clinical trial data to the US Food and Drug Administration for its blockbuster human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, hoping to expand its use to women ages 27–45. With the vaccine already approved for men and women ages 9–26, approval could catapult the drug maker’s profit for its $390 three-dose treatment. (Wall Street Journal)

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