The discovery of 25 different spots on leukemia cells by Japanese researchers means each of them could be used for designing a new drug to fight the disease.

Scientist publishing their study in Science Translational Medicine said 25 different stretches of DNA especially active in the leukemia cells had been found, with each one having the potential to be targeted by a new drug.

A Japanese team of scientists, whose study appears in the online journal Nature Medicine, have raised the possibility that disturbances in the body’s 24-hour clock have a direct link to cardiovascular disease.

Working on mice, they found a genetic risk factor for high blood pressure to be influenced by the body’s 24-hour or circadian rhythms.

Any mal-functioning in the body clock, directly responsible for influencing much of the body’s chemistry, has been linked to many diseases.

Aaccording to a Japanese study published in Human Reproduction, a European journal, genes in sperm may possibly determine why female mammals outlive the males.

The researchers found female 'bi-maternal' mice produced from the genetic material of two different mothers by manipulating DNA in mouse eggs to make the genes behave like those in sperm, seemed to live significantly longer than those with a normal maternal and paternal gene mix.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK), the British drug manufacturer interested in marketing its Rotarix vaccine has filed for approval of its vaccine for preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis, a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis, including vomiting and diarrhoea in children, in Japan.

According to GSK, the oral vaccine is the first to be filed for approval for preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants in Japan.

According to Japanese doctors, it is just possible older women can increase their chances of successful IVF treatment, simply by splicing their eggs with that of a younger woman.

Using this bold technique to counter age-related damaged eggs, doubles the odds of pregnancy, thereby reducing related costs and ensuring the emotional well-being of the mother is not negatived.

Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Inc. and San Francisco based Medivation Inc. have signed a global partnership for the development and marketing of the US firm's experimental prostate cancer treatment.

Astellas is to make an immediate cash payment of $110-million to Medivation, including being eligible for $335-million in development and regulatory milestone payments, together with $320-million in commercial milestones, news which saw Medivation shares rise 8.2% to $28.25 in pre-market trading.

Japanese stocks fell in Wednesday morning trading due to the strengthening of the yen. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 67.91 points, or 0.66 per cent, to stand at 10,144.55.

The broader-based Topix index also lost 2.25 points, or 0.25 per cent, to stand at 893.24.

Traders said hightech shares in particular suffered losses.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 91.65-69 yen, down from 92.03-05 yen in late trading Tuesday.

The euro traded at 1.4820-24 dollars, down from 1.4887-88 dollars, and at 135.83-87 yen, down from 137.01-05 yen.

Provisional starting grid for Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, the 15th of 17 season races over 53 laps of 5.807 kilometres for 307.573km.

First row 1. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull 2. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota

Second row 3. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, McLaren-Mercedes 4. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India

Third row 5. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Brawn GP 6. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, BMW-Sauber

Fourth row 7. Jenson Button, Britain, Brawn GP 8. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari