Health Highlights: Aug. 13, 2007

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Gene Prevents Tumor Formation

A gene that's able to stop cancerous cells from multiplying and forming tumors has been identified by Canadian researchers, who say the HACE 1 gene can suppress the growth of breast, lung, liver and many other types of human tumors.

The B.C. Cancer Agency scientists said that HACE 1 helps combat stress that, left unrestricted, can lead to the formation of multiple tumors, theCanadian Pressreported.

Cancerous cells form tumors when HACE 1 is inactive and tumor growth is extensive due to additional stress such as radiation. But activating HACE 1 prevented the formation of tumors, the researchers said.

The findings appear in the online advance issue of the journalNature Medicine.

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Bali Suffers First Human Bird Flu Death

Indonesian officials have confirmed the first recorded human death from bird flu on the popular resort island of Bali, theAssociated Pressreported.

The victim, who died Sunday, was a 29-year-old Indonesian woman who had contact with infected chickens. The woman's 5-year-old daughter died on Aug. 3 and officials are still trying to determine if she was killed by bird flu.

There are fears that news of the bird flu deaths on Bali could hurt the island's tourism industry.

Since it first appeared in 2003, bird flu has killed at least 192 people worldwide, including 82 in Indonesia, theAPreported.